Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens Announcment

[JimC]

If you haven't seen this yet, Sigma has announced a 50mm f/1.4

Although this lens will be available for other popular camera brands, I'm posting this here since Nikon D40/D40x/D60 owners are probably going to be interested in it more than most (because it gives users of these cameras a bright prime that is a longer focal length compared to the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, and it will Autofocus on these Nikon camera models).

In addition, this lens is designed to work on models like the D3 with a larger sensor. Sigma has not announced pricing an availability yet. See the press release for more:

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens Announcement

[NHL]

Kind of funny when one reads the latest D60 review in DPReview, they list at least equal amount of Sigma HSM lenses to Nikkor AF-S
-> The surprise is in the tele-zoom and primes

[JimC]

I noticed the disclaimers, too (especially the lenses not clearly differentiated part).

Sigma and Tamron announced they're adding focus motors to some more of their lenses at the end of January.

For example, their 70-300mm f/4-5.6 offerings. But, you can't tell by looking at dealer listings if the ones they have on the shelves have the AF motor or not (since the lower priced offerings like this get the same kind of motor these lenses in Canon EF mount get, versus HSM motors with a different model name including HSM in it). At this point, I'm a bit unclear on which ones like this are shipping yet.

[ryssmarr]

Any idea when it will be available.

[Zamzim]

Does anyone see a big difference with the Nkor 50mm 1.4D?
the sigma is twice as expensive...was wondering if anyone sees the big difference besides its better style and fit to a D300

[FrankD]

There is a review and some comparisons here:

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/sigma_50_1p4_c16/

[JimC]

Zamzim wrote:

Does anyone see a big difference with the Nkor 50mm 1.4D?
the sigma is twice as expensive...

That depends on where you buy 'em. ;-) The Nikkor looks like it's running around $299 now at most of the lower priced reputable dealers, and you can find the Sigma for around $500.

The Sigma tests better and it also has HSM for faster focusing (and that also means that bodies without an AF motor built in like the D40, D40x and D60 would have Autofocus with the Sigma, since these bodies won't Autofocus with the existing Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 and f/1.8 AF primes).

Nikon has a new 50mm f/1.4 AF-S lens coming out soon. You'll see it in the new products list you'll find in Steve's Photokina Show Report. It's going to sell for $439, and I've seen some dealers taking preorders for it now (although it's not supposed to be available until December). See this press release about it:

http://press.nikonusa.com/2008/09/ni..._75th_anni.php