Following a “development” announcement last month, the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 OS | Sports series lens has been officially announced and is available for pre-order at a cost of $1499 for Sony E and L-mounts.
The long awaited lens uses two high-speed linear motors to internally focus for fast and accurate AF, and the body of the lens is heavily sealed against moisture and dust for use in adverse conditions. Sigma’s OS2 stabilization algorithm improves the OS performance of the new lens, providing 7.5 to 5.5 stops of stability improvement (wide to telephoto, respectively), and photographers and video shooters will both appreciate the manual aperture ring that can be locked and de-clicked. Internal zooming further improves stability, and reduced focus breathing will be appreciated by film makers. The tripod foot is Arca-Swiss compatible.
Sigma used lightweight magnesium and thermally stable composite (TSC) to construct the lens, dramatically reducing its weight compared to earlier versions. The E-mount version of the lens weighs 1335g, which is also significantly lighter than the original Sony 70-200 f/2.8 GM lesn (1480g), though it hasn’t quite caught up to the GMII (1045g).
And although the Sigma lens can’t match the Sony GMII’s weight, it beats the Sony’s price by $1300: the Sigma’s release price is $1499, while the Sony will cost $2799.
The new lens will begin shipping December 7th, and is currently available for pre-order from Adorama and B&H Photo.
