Sigma announces 50/1.4 HSM, FF

http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/ne ... _14_dg.htm

Actually this is big news, as this would be the fastest prime lens Sigma has made for a full-frame camera. (And it's apparently the first ever 50mm lens with a ring-type USM/HSM/Silent Wave motor) They do make wider prime lenses for the major manufacturers, but they are 1.8 or slower.

 

This is big news for the Nikon d40 and d60 users. Again, Sigma is doing a good job filling in the holes left by the big boys

 

Craig,

How is that good for Nikon D40/60 users? I thought Roger said it was a Full-Frame lens?

 

It has a built in motor; Nikon's 50/1.4 can not AF with the D40/D60 series. This one can.

What the FF comment was about: Sigma makes a 30/1.4 for APS-C cameras, another void left by Nikon, and for Sony and Canon you need to pay out at least 4 figures to get something close. This one is designed with a full size image circle.

 

They haven't announced MSRP yet, but Adorama is selling current models at 62.5% of MSRP. My bet is that it will be a little more than the 30/1.4, which is selling around $400, so prob $450 to $500; But I may be wrong since the dollar continues to freefall; in a little over a year the yen has gained 13% on the dollar.

 

The more I think about this, I guess it isnt that big of news anyway. Sigma's 30 1.4 also has the built in motor.
At 50mm 1.4 full frame I would prefer the nikon over sigma if the price is close.
If I had a d40 or d60 I would have to have the sigma 30 1.4 already!

 

The bigger news is the first ring motor in any 50mm. Even Canon's USM uses the small motor in the 50/1.4. I have no idea what the real world implications of that would be.

As for pricing, it shouldn't take long - the lenses they introduced at PMA this year are scheduled to arrive next month and I know Adorama has their prices up already.

 

I have no idea!
Roger?

 

photo.net recommends that lens for the APS-C cameras of Nikon and Canon.

http://photo.net/equipment/nikon/

(scroll down past the camera info, I remember going here to decide between film bodies)

 

haha Craig, I was posting mine when you posted, I clicked post, left the page to read another, finally came back for the error message to look at a another post that was made after I began to compose the post....

 

I bought a used A2 to try and use up my film stash two years ago, before then it had to be early 2000. Realized the digital age was here around 7/4/01 and how slow using film was with the Al Gore's Internet era. (Try taking pictures after 7 pm, the 1 hr photo places weren't 24 hours, and someone had a first gen broadband card in the parking lot). I didn't even try to compete.