Sigma 200-500mm f2.8 - Who actually buys a lens like this?

[Kermit power]

Jessops currently have the above lens at a bargain basement rate of just £15,659.56. This seems like quite a bargain, considering Park are asking over £20k

Thing is, I just really can't understand who would actually use that sort of lens?

I realise the benefits of that sort of zoom length at f2.8 and all that, but even so! It's over 700mm long, and weighs over 15kg.

Can anyone really envisage a scenario where you could justify the extra £9k or so over a Canon 400mm f2.8 IS L prime, for example?

[_dobbo_]

If you make a living from photography then it's a realistic prospect, I don't think it's aimed at the amateur market though.

Check this out:


http://blogs.reuters.com/blog/2007/07/18/unleashin...

[Cabinet Enforcer]

Kermit power said:

Jessops currently have the above lens at a bargain basement rate of just £15,659.56. This seems like quite a bargain, considering Park are asking over £20k

Thing is, I just really can't understand who would actually use that sort of lens?

I realise the benefits of that sort of zoom length at f2.8 and all that, but even so! It's over 700mm long, and weighs over 15kg.

Can anyone really envisage a scenario where you could justify the extra £9k or so over a Canon 400mm f2.8 IS L prime, for example?

Using a gimbal mounted on the back of a landie, it would make an awesome safari lens, it has a dedicated 2x TC that comes with it, 400-1000 5.6 is quite some range.

Actual pics from the lens can be found HERE.

[havoc]

Cabinet Enforcer said:

Using a gimbal mounted on the back of a landie, it would make an awesome safari lens, it has a dedicated 2x TC that comes with it, 400-1000 5.6 is quite some range.

Most things that are gimbal-mounted on the back of a Landie in Africa tend to be intended for a different sort of shooting...this looks like it'd fit right in though!

Utter monster, but I'm sure a few people could make use of it...

[B3N]

That is just lens porn.

[ajg31]

holy ste!

[sidaorb]

Not recommended for aircraft photography near any airport or airbase. Also best not point it at any government building, unless you want a little visit under the new counter terrorism powers

[LukeBird]

sidaorb said:

unless you want a little visit under the new counter terrorism powers

Going by what's in the press, with a lens like that they'd shoot first!

[havoc]

LukeBird said:

sidaorb said:

unless you want a little visit under the new counter terrorism powers

Going by what's in the press, with a lens like that they'd shoot first!

It does look like an anti-tank weapon...can imagine the Secret Service having 'extreme prejudice' against any 'tog pointing that in the wrong direction...

[Road2Ruin]

B3N said:

That is just lens porn.

Atchung Panzerfaust

[LMC]

[quote]Actual pics from the lens can be found HERE.
[/quote]

Why would anyone need a lens this big to shoot close ups of postage stamps ?

[_dobbo_]

All that money and it doesn't even have HSM.... Lewd-y-crous.

[RobDickinson]

_dobbo_ said:

All that money and it doesn't even have HSM.... Lewd-y-crous.

It doesnt need HSM, it has its own battery & probably motor from a washing machine..

No idea who its intended market is, its a fast lens, so its for sports/wildlife etc, but who can cart and use it?

[Famous Graham]

Wasn't there a little article about using this monster to cover the French Premier's inauguration march or something? Was certainly a huge lens, can't remember if it was this one though.

eta - D'oh, it's the link posted by _dobbo_ in the second post

Edited by Famous Graham on Saturday 21st February 15:56

[VxDuncan]

Yes it's a lot of money, but then photography isn't massively expensive in terms of equipment needed for business - when you compare that too say an engineer with a seat of the average CAD system (call it 25k), or a toolmaker with a 30k CNC lathe, or a steady cam operator with a 100k rig, or a humble AA man with a van full of kit. Even the average jobbing builder will have a van plus about 5k of tools. It's a lot for a lens, but as a tool of the job, to get pictures that will be used on the front of a newspaper in every country in the world, it's not a lot.

[poah]

I'd buy it if I was rich lol

[Bee_Jay]

They have it to play with on the Sigma stand at Focus...

[Bee_Jay]

VxDuncan said:

Yes it's a lot of money, but then photography isn't massively expensive in terms of equipment needed for business - when you compare that too say an engineer with a seat of the average CAD system (call it 25k), or a toolmaker with a 30k CNC lathe, or a steady cam operator with a 100k rig, or a humble AA man with a van full of kit. Even the average jobbing builder will have a van plus about 5k of tools. It's a lot for a lens, but as a tool of the job, to get pictures that will be used on the front of a newspaper in every country in the world, it's not a lot.

Excellent and very valid point well put. Poeple tend to look at photography equipment pricing from a hobbyist's view.

[onomatopoeia]

Bee_Jay said:

They have it to play with on the Sigma stand at Focus...

I couldn't resist giving it a try yesterday and very lovely it is too. Also fookin huge ! Can't quite appreciate how big until you see it, wouldn't want to cart that thing around all day. Or at all in fact.

[peterattheboro]

This is the recommended lens if you want to take photos of cars going round Silverstone