shadowcatcher Posted December 8, 2005 Share Posted December 8, 2005 Hiya everybody, I wonder if someone could help me. I am interested in buying the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 lens but have noticed that some shops sell them with adverts marked with Apo Ex and some with just Ex infront of them. I think Ex means'excellent' but not so sure about the apo malarkey. Can someone advise me which lens I should get so I don't make a very expense mistake! Many thanks, Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fk319 Posted December 8, 2005 Share Posted December 8, 2005 Looks like Sigma only makes one lens in the 70-200 model. http://sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3306&navigator=3 They do make two 70-300, one is an APO and the other is not. http://sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses.asp tells you what APO and EX mean to Sigma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melresnick Posted December 8, 2005 Share Posted December 8, 2005 I ran into the same inconsistency when shopping on line. I believe there is only one lens, but you might ask if buying over the phone or look at the lens if you are shopping in person. "APO" is clearly marked in gold letters below "70-200mm 1:2.8." The "EX" designation is on the opposite side of the lens. Great lens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcuknz Posted December 8, 2005 Share Posted December 8, 2005 What does vs signify? Vibration supression? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark u Posted December 8, 2005 Share Posted December 8, 2005 Sigma have recently upgraded the lens to a DG version, which has extra coatings that are designed to suppress flare that occurs occasionally due to reflections from the hot mirror that protects the camera sensor in a DSLR. I think it is otherwise essentially identical to the non DG version. The other variation is that HSM (fast ultrasonic focus motor) is only available (and standard) in Canon, Nikon and Sigma mount versions. Minolta and Pentax mount don't have the benefit of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilkka Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 vs is versus, from latin. Means: compared with. Not lens or photographic terminology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcuknz Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 Of course! That is why I couldn't find any reference to it at the website :-) Thankyou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcatcher Posted December 9, 2005 Author Share Posted December 9, 2005 Many thanks to you all, Not only have I found out about the terminology but managed to get a Latin lesson in as well. My fault completelt,using latin abbreviations on a photography site is a bit dumb I guess(forgive me being a doctor and all that malarkey). I will proceed with my purchase and hopefully show you the fruits of my new lens in the New Year.With very best wishes,Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cian_perez Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 My 70-200/2.8 EX is arguably the sharpest zoom I own. It's sharper at 70mm than is my 24-70/2.8 L and is also sharper at 200mm than is my 100-400IS at equivalent apertures. Its performance wide-open is stunning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_yuhas Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 You'd have to pry my Sigma 70-200 from my cold, dead hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcatcher Posted December 27, 2005 Author Share Posted December 27, 2005 I was going to get the lens after Xmas in the sale but my wife bought it for me as a surprise! It's enormous and very heavy but it takes breathtaking pictures. The build-quality is top-draw, much higher than my equally priced Canon EF-S 10-22mm (no complaints about the images it shoots though). At f2.8 it's very quick but the images are not sharp at all, at 4.5 they are fantastic. Thanks for the advice Chaps, if you haven't got one start saving because you won't regret it. Best wishes and Happy New Year, Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melresnick Posted December 27, 2005 Share Posted December 27, 2005 Kevin, the dedicated teleconverter is very nice, too. (I have the 2x.) Do you have a birthday coming up and a way to drop a gentle hint to your wife? Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcatcher Posted December 28, 2005 Author Share Posted December 28, 2005 Ooooooooooo Mel that sounds very inviting..... Will the autofocus still work when you put the x2 extender on or have I mis-read this? Would the x2 extender need to be a Sigma or Canon one (I have a 300d and 20d). Mel, if I get divorved it's your fault! Many thanks, Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melresnick Posted December 28, 2005 Share Posted December 28, 2005 Hi, Kev, No, the autofocus won't work on Canon equipment and the quality is really terrible. Now that I've saved your marriage, the truth is that Sigma's dedicated "APO tele-extender" comes in a 1.4x and a 2x model. Autofocus remains fully functional with either model. They work on this lens and I think just one other. You can't mount them on other lenses because they fit deeply into the back of the lens. You'll find a good description on Sigma's website and also on B&H's. Go ahead, treat yourself. You deserve it. Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcatcher Posted December 28, 2005 Author Share Posted December 28, 2005 I need a good divorce lawyer and it's all Mel's fault. I had no idea there was a dedicated converter for the lens and that the autofocus also works with it. It's only ﾣ120 so I think it is destiny that my camera bag gets one. I might check E-bay but perhaps it's best I chat to the guy in the camera shop so I don't get the wrong one. That usually happens to me and my wife goes nuts! Many thanks Mel, you're a star. Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcatcher Posted December 28, 2005 Author Share Posted December 28, 2005 I need a good divorce lawyer and it's all Mel's fault. I had no idea there was a dedicated converter for the lens and that the autofocus also works with it. It's only 120 pounds so I think it is destiny that my camera bag gets one. I might check E-bay but perhaps it's best I chat to the guy in the camera shop so I don't get the wrong one. That usually happens to me and my wife goes nuts! Many thanks Mel, you're a star. Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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