Maybe not.
I can see the marketing guys at Nikon being pretty happy with Sigma here, because at a stroke, they've removed a very good reason not to buy the Nikon D40/D40X/D60.
None of these have in-camera AF drives, meaning that there was little or no affordable way to use them in a birding context, because there were no affordable long lenses with in-lens AF - only the Sigma 80-400mm OS and 50-500mm really, and neither are cheap.
(I believe that Tamron are now in the frame too, but I know little about their current range).
Now, you can have a 400mm or 500mm lens with OS and HSM that won't break the bank, and the D40, D40X and D60 are back in the birding game.
There's also now a realistic upgrade path for users of those cameras who want to get into (say) sports photography.
I suspect the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM is going to surprise a few people. The decision to replace the 80-400mm OS zoom so quickly is astonishing - certainly puts other manufacturers to shame. Losing 40mm should allow the performance at the long end to be significantly improved and if it was already good it should now be even better.
I should think that buyers will have a great choice of options now with both the new Sigma's 120-400, 150-500 and the old 80-400 OS still on dealers shelves (even if it's being discontinued), you can never have too many options, providing the prices are right. Lots of us will be awaiting the reviewers findings with great interest.
Seems like a lot of the same to me. Give me some prime options. Already got a zoom, certainly -don't want another....
Bill
Are you looking to buy one of these? If so tell me and I could do the same in an effort to persuade a local shop to do a deal on the two?
No indications of when shipping but pricing indication is promising...
$850 Preorder Sig150-500 OS/HSM
http://www.42photo.com/pd-productid-14438-k-f5_63_dg_os_(optical_stabilizer)_apo_hsm_lens.htm
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/42ND_St_Photo
As always, caveat emptor...
Dont think it will be any where near as cheap in the UK - it is advertise for £799 which is around $1500.
To be honest I am very surprised at that US price because I have read on several sites that the US RRP will be around $1500 and the street price could be as low as $1200.Blimey, rip off Britain strikes again. :C
BTW Manchester to JFK return mid May £342. Perhaps ours are being wrapped up in velvet and individually imported by hand from the US
To be honest I am very surprised at that US price because I have read on several sites that the US RRP will be around $1500 and the street price could be as low as $1200.
The score is not bad but have you read some of the reviews - makes you wonder if the scores are boasted by some 'friendly' reviewers. A lot of reviews say they are Crooks and others say they are the best thing since sliced bread!Hard to say... 42nd Photo's reseller rating is ~7.5 which is generally a good score - not great. There are some raters that feel they're a bait & switch thus my caveat emptor...:smoke:
In addition to the price point will be the IQ/performance capabilities that are still yet to be determined..
Already got a zoom, certainly -don't want another...
There as been a lot of debate about this on various forums and it has been mentioned that Sigma are dropping the 'EX' category and making all new lenses to the same 'EX' standard.the lenses are not in the "EX" category, so,the quality will be not so great.
That justify the relative low prices.