Sigma to launch non-stabilized 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC HSM for Sony and Pentax

Sigma is launching a non-stabilized version of its 17-50mm F2.8 EX DG HSM for Sony and Pentax. The lens replaces the existing OS versions for these two mounts, for which most cameras have built-in stabilization. The latest version will be available from December 9th. The Japanese recommended selling price remains the same as for the OS version.

Press Release:

SIGMA 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC HSM F/SONY, F/PENTAX

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC HSM for Sony, and for Pentax.
This large aperture standard zoom lens is designed for digital SLR cameras and covers a focal length from 17mm wide angle. It is a compact lens with an overall length of just 91.8mm (3.6”). This lens offers a large aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range, making it ideal for many types of photography such as portraiture and landscapes. Two FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, which have performance equal to fluorite glass, compensate for color aberration. Two glass mold and one hybrid aspherical lens, provide excellent correction for field curvature and astigmatism.

The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghost. This lens has superior peripheral brightness and provides sharp, high contrast images even at the maximum apertures. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. Incorporating HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), the lens provides fast and quiet AF. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 28cm (11”) throughout the entire zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5. The rounded 7 blade diaphragm creates an attractive blur to the out of focus images. The inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the lens particularly suitable for use with the supplied petal-type lens hood and circular polarizing filters.

17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM for Sony and for Pentax will be discontinued with the launch of this lens.

Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC HSM Specifications:

You may also like

Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM available in July for around $799 / £800 Jun 14, 2013	Roger Cicala gets inTouit with a new Zeiss lens Jun 13, 2013	Samyang announces 16mm f/2.0 and 300mm f/6.3 Reflex lenses Jun 13, 2013	Pentax announces K-50 and K-500 mid- and entry-level DSLRs Jun 12, 2013

Comments

Total comments: 97 1 2

By duartix (Dec 2, 2011)

WTF?
Is IS free?
Or is this a new thing in marketing?

3 upvotes

By cgarrard (Dec 2, 2011)

Talk about a redundant lens. Buy the 18-50mm f/2.8-f/4.5 OS HSM save a lot of money and get IS to boot. Who cares about the extra on the wide end, take a couple steps backward :)

What I find odd is that often the lenses for the Nikon and Canon mount are less than the PK or A-mount from Sigma and Tamron.

0 upvotes

By Argote (Dec 3, 2011)

I have the 18-50/2.8-4.5 and I'm sure the 17-50/2.8 has significantly better IQ, especially regarding corner sharpness, plus it has a much wider aperture in the long end.

While the 18-50/2.8-4.5 is a great lens for it's price, this product is much higher end.

0 upvotes

By viking79 (Dec 3, 2011)

Not really, the 17-50mm is 2.8 at 50mm, the 18-50 you mention is 4.5, that is over 1 f/stop smaller aperture.

0 upvotes

By GK UK (Dec 2, 2011)

Strange to get less for the same money. That said I could never see the appeal for the 17-50 over the 18-50 model (see attached review). Sure it is not f2.8 across the range but it is a lot less in terms of £ or $. It also has OS although it is not EX.

http://photographic-central.blogspot.com/

0 upvotes

By Argote (Dec 3, 2011)

Well, you can make the argument that the removal of the OS element inside the lens results in higher IQ.

For an example see the fact that the 70-200 non-OS version was sharper than the new OS version and on Sony and Pentax mounts it was already Image Stabilized.

0 upvotes

By MightyMike (Dec 3, 2011)

are the IS elements removed or locked in place? they are both 17 element 13 group... no elements removed

0 upvotes

By Mistral75 (Dec 3, 2011)

Locked in place I presume.

0 upvotes

By Mescalamba (Dec 3, 2011)

Well, you cant remove those elements, otherwise you would need to redesign optical formula. It can be slightly sharper (but probably not much sharper than OS version with OS switched off, which should lock OS elements in place).

0 upvotes

By Dolan Halbrook (Dec 2, 2011)

Is it any smaller or lighter? If not then this is a bit of a bad joke.

3 upvotes

By Mistral75 (Dec 3, 2011)

15 grams lighter.

0 upvotes

By HopeSpringsEternal (Dec 2, 2011)

Less For More! What is behind this move? Optical stabilization is useful on the Sony when doing video recording. Optical stabilization also helps with stabilizing the viewfinder as well as the AF and metering sensors, something that is not possible with the Sony and Pentax IBIS systems.

5 upvotes

By A Fergy (Dec 2, 2011)

Strange, no price difference for the non-OS version. How much does it actually cost to put that in a lens? How much less effective is Sigma's version than Canon's where the IS in the Canon 70-200 f/4 costs $600 over their non-IS 70-200 f/4? That would be funny if someone discovered that the IS mechanism only costs Canon like $15/lens ;) Not including R&D of course, which Sigma might just reverse engineer. Just thinking out loud.

0 upvotes

By GatanoII (Dec 3, 2011)

spec from the canon website:

$2499 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II 23 elements in 19 groups (1 Fluorite and 5 UD elements)
$1999 70-200mm f/2.8L IS 23 elements in 18 groups
$1449 70-200mm f/2.8L 18 elements in 15 groups

$1349 70-200mm f/4L IS 20 elements in 15 groups
$710 70-200mm f/4L 16 elements in 13 groups

canon asks a lot more for IS, but for sure the IS models projects are more modern than the non IS, so you are paying more for a new and better glass, if the difference was lower anyone will buy the IS versions, instead this way they also have "cheap" quality glass

IS don't costs that much for canon that developed it ages ago (and the production cost is evidently cheap compared to the whole lens), a new glass R&D instead still costs and a new and better lens is going to be more appealing to the buyers, so having this kind of prices differences is acceptable as canon sells all of it's 70-200 range filling any customers needs.

0 upvotes

By Peter Sanders (Dec 4, 2011)

Ok,Ok. But anyone care to comment on the Sigma lens
image quality in real photographic situations?
All am reading here are technicalities of design, nothing
about what we should be all about, the image the lens
creates when we see a photo opportunity.
nokton.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 97 1 2