View Full Version : Ultra Telephoto
feb31films
03-23-2007, 11:24 AM
Call me crazy, but I'd like to put this thing on the front of Spike and see what it can do!
jbeale
03-23-2007, 12:21 PM
You're crazy.
feb31films
03-23-2007, 12:27 PM
IN case anyone's interested, here is the report on this lens from a recent tradeshow in Las Vegas...
And Lastly, Something Long & Fast from Sigma
O.K. everybody, get out your pack mules. Sigma has introduced what they describe as 'the world's first Ultra-Telephoto Zoom lens' - the Sigma APO 200-500/2.8 EX DG. And yes, that f2.8 is a constant f2.8. As for the size of this lens, let's just say it would look right at home hanging off the wing of a 747. It is huge. Producing a lens of this sort was no mean feat. According to Sigma, the new lens incorporates 4 Special Low Dispersion glass elements as a means of maintaining high levels of optical performance and minimal levels of optical aberrations throughout the zoom range. For filtering, there's a filter-draw towards the rear of the lens that also allows for rotating Polarizers.
Size and specs aside, the imaging possibilities made possible with this lens are enormous; just make sure you have a serious tripod with you because you might hurt yourself lifting this rig to your eyes.
Included with each lens is an optically-matched 2x teleconverter that converts this baby into a 400-1000/5.6 lens. Keep in mind if you plan on using this lens on an APS-sized DSLR (1.5x FOV) it is effectively a 300-750/2.8, or a 600-1500/5.6 with the 2x converter.
Alas, this amazing lens is somewhat of a teaser in its own right as pricing and availability are - you guessed it - not available.
Stay tuned.
Steve Gibby
03-23-2007, 01:02 PM
I wonder if it has manual iris capability? If it does, and with a Nikon mount to adapt it to RED One, it could be a serious wildlife and sports lens...
chuck colburn
03-23-2007, 01:05 PM
feb31fims
where is the report?
Steve Gibby
03-23-2007, 01:15 PM
Here's the DP Review report on it:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0703/07030805sigma200500mm.asp#press
That was a PMA report. Curiously, nothing up on the Sigma web site yet, that I could find: http://www.sigmaphoto.com/
chuck colburn
03-23-2007, 01:27 PM
Gibby,
Not to much info huh? Looks like you can manual focus but I don't see any stop indicator on the rear end. Mayby one of those rings at the rear is it and it shows up on the lcd. Don't know.
Thanks,
Chuck
Steve Gibby
03-23-2007, 01:37 PM
Yeah...a cool feature of that LCD is that gives you focal length and distance to the subject you're shooting...maybe laser measurement?
Price guess...the Sigma APO 300-800 f5.6 has an MSRP of $7,200 USD. I'd guess this new APO 200-500 f2.8, with a supplied 2x, and an LCD, will be about the same price as the 300-800.
Here's a few more links, but no more info in them, except you can get a feel for the size in the pic with a guy holding the lens:
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/13360/sigma_apo_200_500/
http://www.photographyblog.com/index.php/weblog/comments/sigma_apo_200_500mm_f28_ex_dg_lens/
http://www.popphoto.com/photonews/3930/pma-sigma-intros-200-500mm-f28-lens.html
http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/336/C12003/
PaulClements
03-23-2007, 01:51 PM
I'm sure many have seen this one as well since the lens from the OP was posted a while ago in off topic. But the Zeiss lens which is slightly larger has this about it's focussing:
"The finished lens weighs a staggering 256 kg (564 lbs.), placing unique demands on the focusing mechanisms. To address this issue, Carl Zeiss developed a totally new way of operating a telephoto lens, including servo controlled aiming and focusing systems like those used in large telescopes and similar instruments for astronomical scientists."
Linked from: http://www.zeiss.com/photo
Click on Apo Sonnar T* 4/1700 link bottom right.
chuck colburn
03-23-2007, 01:59 PM
Gibby,
Well that puts things in perspective! There is something magical about big/long glass for sure. Remember when you were a kid and got a telescope for Xmas? It didn't matter if it was only a Tasco or Sears POS it was your pos. But then my folks didn't by me Dr. Zeuss books. I got ones with titles like, "The Boy Engineer". ( I wish I still had that along with my "Mr. Machine) So mayby it's just me. lol
Hey did you order that commie pinko zoom for you Steadicam yet?
Chuck
Steve Gibby
03-23-2007, 02:07 PM
Gibby,
Well that puts things in perspective! There is something magical about big/long glass for sure. Remember when you were a kid and got a telescope for Xmas? It didn't matter if it was only a Tasco or Sears POS it was your pos. But then my folks didn't by me Dr. Zeuss books. I got ones with titles like, "The Boy Engineer". ( I wish I still had that along with my "Mr. Machine) So mayby it's just me. lol
Hey did you order that commie pinko zoom for you Steadicam yet?
Chuck
No doubt..lugging them up a mountain or down a beach is filed under "dues paying". I dig telescopes too! My presents were Erector sets, etc.
No commie pinko zooms yet...waitin' for NAB to see what's new! BTW...I love zooms! I usually use them as simply variable focal length primes, 'cause walking to each focal length is impossible in some of the genres I shoot (sports, nature, etc.)
A confirmed glassaholic...with no intentions of entering rehab either...
Robert Jackson
03-23-2007, 03:52 PM
I wonder if it has manual iris capability? If it does, and with a Nikon mount to adapt it to RED One, it could be a serious wildlife and sports lens...
If you gyro-stabilize it and park in a boat off St. Barts you can get footage to sell to the tabloid news shows. I think you've just found a way to pay for the Red One in less than a week of gigging. ;-)
Steve Gibby
03-23-2007, 03:56 PM
If you gyro-stabilize it and park in a boat off St. Barts you can get footage to sell to the tabloid news shows. I think you've just found a way to pay for the Red One in less than a week of gigging. ;-)
LOL...no doubt, the ultimate paparazzi "spy on the stars" lens. No doubt all the tattle-tale tabloids are licking their chops at it, with its 2x extender...
Hard to be inconspicuous with it though...guess that's what bushes and trees are for...
Robert Jackson
03-23-2007, 04:24 PM
Hard to be inconspicuous with it though...guess that's what bushes and trees are for...
Heh...Bill Bob Thornton was interviewed on something recently...the Rollins show maybe? I can't remember. He said he went outside one night to smoke and there was a guy emptying his trash cans out on the lawn and photographing the contents. He made some crack about how you hear stories about celebrities being charged with assault and you assume it's some prima donna, but back in Arkansas kicking someone's ass for dumping your garbage cans out on your lawn wouldn't even be a misdemeanor. ;-)
feb31films
03-23-2007, 08:42 PM
LOL...no doubt, the ultimate paparazzi "spy on the stars" lens. No doubt all the tattle-tale tabloids are licking their chops at it, with its 2x extender...
Hard to be inconspicuous with it though...guess that's what bushes and trees are for...
Would not surprise me at all if this bad boy showed up in a future episode of DIRT.... which coincidentally, is a digitally acquired show (Varicam).
I think there is huge potential for more shows that are good quality but "budget challenged" to be made if they maximize the benefits of a digital workflow. DIRT and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and several other shows only exist because shooting digital allows them to keep costs down. If rental houses start pricing RED packages at or below your basic Varicam or CineAlta package, RED is poised to make a HUGE impact on TV production. (And considering the cost of the camera, there is no reason it shouldn't be priced lower, unless rental houses start price gouging...) And that's good news for independent producers as well because if that happens, RED goes from being a skepticized unknown to an accepted standard...
Andrew Benz
03-24-2007, 12:24 AM
...but back in Arkansas kicking someone's ass for dumping your garbage cans out on your lawn wouldn't even be a misdemeanor. ;-)
Hahaha... yeah that's true. A really stubborn, hard working, eclectic mix of people (though once you cut through some ignorance-- really Arkansans may be viewed as simpletons at first glance but they are a very complex bunch). For the most part you won't find a better group of people on this earth if you are in desperate need of help... I have seen this many times over myself and I have seen alot of tragedy throughout this world from the pov of the military and as a cameraman.
Since we are all storytellers, I thought I would give a little insight. Oh, check out "Come Early Morning" by fellow arkansan Joey Lauren Adams, two guys that I know worked in the g&e depts.-- I was still not working at the time...
Sweet lens btw, but it hurts my back looking at it. Gibby, thanks for all the links on this lens. I hope you get to demo one.
Steve Gibby
03-24-2007, 07:02 AM
Gibby, thanks for all the links on this lens. I hope you get to demo one.
Me too...ahhhh, I guarantee you it won't be hand held though! Guess I'll need to use sticks with that glass bazooka...:weight_lift:
I wonder if this is a genuine production lens, or just an attention-seeking prototype for a trade show?
Much as I love long lenses, it's hard to see this one being practical for many real world situations.
Robert Jackson
03-24-2007, 02:47 PM
Hahaha... yeah that's true. A really stubborn, hard working, eclectic mix of people (though once you cut through some ignorance-- really Arkansans may be viewed as simpletons at first glance but they are a very complex bunch). For the most part you won't find a better group of people on this earth if you are in desperate need of help... I have seen this many times over myself and I have seen alot of tragedy throughout this world from the pov of the military and as a cameraman.
Last spring I shot for four months in the coal fields of Kentucky. Same kind of spirit, IMO. Very clannish and hard to get to know initially, but once you've made friends they'd walk through fire to lend you a hand. A greatly underestimated group of people. You find pockets of real Americans here and there, but they're usually being derided by people who think they're just too stupid to live in big cities and be like everyone else.
Andrew Benz
03-24-2007, 03:07 PM
Last spring I shot for four months in the coal fields of Kentucky. Same kind of spirit, IMO. Very clannish and hard to get to know initially, but once you've made friends they'd walk through fire to lend you a hand. A greatly underestimated group of people. You find pockets of real Americans here and there, but they're usually being derided by people who think they're just too stupid to live in big cities and be like everyone else.
Nice insight RR, thanks.--- to the others- sorry for the tangent, but I find that these interstitial moments just as beneficial to me--
cheer ya'all!
feb31films
03-24-2007, 07:35 PM
I wonder if this is a genuine production lens, or just an attention-seeking prototype for a trade show?
Much as I love long lenses, it's hard to see this one being practical for many real world situations.
Funny you should say this, considering that is what many people said (and worse) about the RED ONE camera at NAB last year....
I guess it's all a matter of perspective.
Hardly comparable. Sigma is an established and respected lens manufacturer and I don't doubt their ability to manufacture this lens. In the same way as car manufacturers make one-off prototypes for trade shows that have zero chance of reaching the showrooms, it occurs to me that this might be Sigma showing what they can do in a highly visible way.
Nobody ever doubted the demand for a low cost 4k digital cine camera - just the ability of a start-up to make a workable one for $17.5k. I do, however, wonder how much demand there is for a lens that is portable only by mule.
I am not being critical of Sigma in any way - I own 2 Sigma lenses, one of which I like very much (120-300mm f2.8) - merely curious to see if this will really hit the shelves in B&H.