What's the difference....

[HankScorpio]

I (and a few others) have a:
Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 APO EX HSM

And recently launched is the:
Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX DG

Now, this "new" one does have HSM and APO glass but they've dropped those from the name, stuck in a "DG" and hiked the price by a hundred quid.

From the published spec, these are the same dimensions, the same weight, the same optical config, the same minimum focus distance and the only difference I can see is the "DG" which translates as:
"These are large-aperture lenses with wide angles and short minimum focusing distances. With an abundance of peripheral illumination, they are ideal lenses for Digital SLR Cameras whilst retaining suitability for traditional 35mm SLRs."

Which actually means eff all in terms of digital/traditional compatability. The "old" one is also "large-aperture lenses with wide angles and short minimum focusing distances. With an abundance of peripheral illumination, they are ideal lenses for Digital SLR Cameras whilst retaining suitability for traditional 35mm SLRs"

Have I missed something or does this look purely like a marketing ploy...?
Are people who buy £600 lenses swayed by this?
If you could found an "old" one, would you opt for the new DG at the £100 premium?

(But if they'd added OS, I might have been tempted to trade up....)

[te51cle]

Having watched Sigma over the years they do show a pattern of introducing a lens at price X, then gradually discounting/putting it on special offer over a year or so, then bringing out a revised version using the same optics and internal structure but with a different texture body or some such feature.

I think its a fairly standard marketing technique, but I also know that they do have to revise the firmware in the lens electronics regularly to keep up with the changes in the manufacturers interface specifications. There was quite an issue a few years ago when a new Canon came out and Sigma's lenses didn't work properly with it so they had to do a lot of chip upgrades under warranty.

[z4monster]

The reason that Sigma have to do upgrades for new Canon cameras is that they refuse to pay Canon a royalty fee so that their lenses work with up coming cameras. They reverse engineer with existing cameras and produce cheaper lenses as a result.

They are much the same as other companies when it comes to realigning their ranges. Marketing demands mean that most electronic equipment has a very shot lifespan and gets replaced much more frequently than it used to.

[simpo two]

'with wide angles'? 70mm? How does that work then Marketing at its finest...

z4monster said:

The reason that Sigma have to do upgrades for new Canon cameras is that they refuse to pay Canon a royalty fee so that their lenses work with up coming cameras. They reverse engineer with existing cameras and produce cheaper lenses as a result.

Also true for Nikon. Early Sigma 70-200 lenses had focusing problems with the D70. Sigma could re-chip the lens for about £30, or you could buy a later version (serial number 4xxxx) which had it already fitted. I was lucky in getting a mint late model for £350.

NB Did they ever actually say what 'DG' meant?

[HankScorpio]

www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/lens-tech.htm

[simpo two]

sigma said:

'These are large-aperture lenses with wide angles and short minimum focusing distances. With an abundance of peripheral illumination, they are ideal lenses for Digital SLR Cameras whilst retaining suitability for traditional 35mm SLRs.'

I don't see how a 70mm lens can have a 'wider angle' than any other 70mm lens. We know perfectly well that it suits both 35mm and digital, so no change there either. Maybe they've reduced the minimum focusing distance, but that's all I reckon.

NB They forgot the word 'balanced'.