Sigma 400/5.6 AF - any ifno?

axl · 09-18-2009, 02:41 AM

Hi everybody,
I've been struggling to keep my promise of LBA moratorium. I still have 3.5 months to go, but now I came across something that makes me think. Used Sigma 400/5.6 AF. It looks like there have been 3 versions of AF 400/5.6 from Sigma. The first non APO, second APO and third APO macro. The last one is well discussed and documented on the web but any information about the first two is really spare. Even in our lens review section there is only 1 review.
So,
does anybody know anything about these two? Or does anybody have any experience with them?
Any info/links/pics will help.

Thank you,
Peter

ivoire · 09-18-2009, 11:57 AM

If the one you are looking at is the 400mm f5.6 APO Macro in very good condition, buy it. The others are very inferior.

Miserere · 09-18-2009, 02:14 PM

The non-APO: Don't even think about it.

The APO version, I owned it, and it was well built, sharp, and handled nicely. Sadly, it was a PF monster and I sold it.

Everyone says the APO Macro is the version to buy.

At the moment I have a Tokina A-TX 400mm f/5.6. No PF, but it's not as sharp wide open as the Sigma was. I guess you pick your poison, right?

DreTAX · 09-18-2009, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by axl

Hi everybody,
I've been struggling to keep my promise of LBA moratorium. I still have 3.5 months to go, but now I came across something that makes me think. Used Sigma 400/5.6 AF. It looks like there have been 3 versions of AF 400/5.6 from Sigma. The first non APO, second APO and third APO macro. The last one is well discussed and documented on the web but any information about the first two is really spare. Even in our lens review section there is only 1 review.
So,
does anybody know anything about these two? Or does anybody have any experience with them?
Any info/links/pics will help.

Thank you,
Peter

Don't make silly promises Peter, especially with the APO macro, it's a superb lens but weight puts it in a different catagory for me. Despite the bashing, V1 is very good IQ wise, PF is less of an issue with good exposure-to the right- and equal if not better than zooms with the same speed.My research pointed more towards V2 as a problem with lens seperation & fogging. Get a good copy and i'm sure you will be more than happy. Does anyone know if the barrel colours of V1(grey&black) and V2(white&black) represent different build dates? ie possible fixes to QC issues.

axl · 09-19-2009, 12:23 AM

thanks for the replies,
The one I saw is V1 and it goes for £149. But I think I'll think about it...
Anyway, I have still 3.5 months to go. Not bad, I haven't bought any lens since June. Considering, before I had bought 15 lenses, 2 flashes and 4 camera bodies (I sold some) in 2.5yrs

BR
Peter

DreTAX · 09-19-2009, 06:52 AM

Originally posted by axl

thanks for the replies,
The one I saw is V1 and it goes for £149. But I think I'll think about it...
Anyway, I have still 3.5 months to go. Not bad, I haven't bought any lens since June. Considering, before I had bought 15 lenses, 2 flashes and 4 camera bodies (I sold some) in 2.5yrs

BR
Peter

Somebody stop me! I know where you've been cause i'm still living it. 14 lenses,3 flashes, 3 bodies, tripod, 2 monopods,heads, bags etc. All in the last 13 months, i have managed to slow down but i can't seem to stop, I might need help!.........finding the next lens that is. Stay strong Peter.

7.62lew · 09-19-2009, 10:23 AM

I have what would be the second version I guess. It is apo 5.6 manual focus. I have been very pleased with my copy. No purple fringing when taking aircraft photos

I got mine for an incredible bargain on craigslist.

Here is a link to a couple of previous discussions. See my post for a link to some photo's I have taken.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/56312-sigma-ap...ual-focus.html

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/52421-info-400...hoto-lens.html

Have a good one

axl · 09-20-2009, 07:35 AM

Originally posted by DreTAX

Somebody stop me! I know where you've been cause i'm still living it. 14 lenses,3 flashes, 3 bodies, tripod, 2 monopods,heads, bags etc. All in the last 13 months, i have managed to slow down but i can't seem to stop, I might need help!.........finding the next lens that is. Stay strong Peter.

Good to know I'm not alone.
I've been struggling to keep my moratorium since June. But so far succesfuly. But there is always something tempting out there. Yesterday I've seen used DA21 in LN condition. Veeeeeeeeeery tempting indeed

creampuff · 09-20-2009, 05:47 PM

Had the first version... forgettable
Tried a friend's second version... a little better but still soft at f/5.6

Make sure you check the optics 100% as element separation does show up with this Sigma lens.
For a legacy lens like this, it will be throwing money away as there are no replacement elements available and there is no solution to the element separation.

09-18-2009, 02:41 AM	#1
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Sigma 400/5.6 AF - any ifno? Hi everybody, I've been struggling to keep my promise of LBA moratorium. I still have 3.5 months to go, but now I came across something that makes me think. Used Sigma 400/5.6 AF. It looks like there have been 3 versions of AF 400/5.6 from Sigma. The first non APO, second APO and third APO macro. The last one is well discussed and documented on the web but any information about the first two is really spare. Even in our lens review section there is only 1 review. So, does anybody know anything about these two? Or does anybody have any experience with them? Any info/links/pics will help. Thank you, Peter

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09-18-2009, 11:57 AM	#2
ivoire Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,381	If the one you are looking at is the 400mm f5.6 APO Macro in very good condition, buy it. The others are very inferior.

09-18-2009, 02:14 PM	#3
Miserere Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,993	The non-APO: Don't even think about it. The APO version, I owned it, and it was well built, sharp, and handled nicely. Sadly, it was a PF monster and I sold it. Everyone says the APO Macro is the version to buy. At the moment I have a Tokina A-TX 400mm f/5.6. No PF, but it's not as sharp wide open as the Sigma was. I guess you pick your poison, right?

09-18-2009, 06:21 PM	#4
DreTAX Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria. Photos: Gallery Posts: 118	Originally posted by axl Hi everybody, I've been struggling to keep my promise of LBA moratorium. I still have 3.5 months to go, but now I came across something that makes me think. Used Sigma 400/5.6 AF. It looks like there have been 3 versions of AF 400/5.6 from Sigma. The first non APO, second APO and third APO macro. The last one is well discussed and documented on the web but any information about the first two is really spare. Even in our lens review section there is only 1 review. So, does anybody know anything about these two? Or does anybody have any experience with them? Any info/links/pics will help. Thank you, Peter Don't make silly promises Peter, especially with the APO macro, it's a superb lens but weight puts it in a different catagory for me. Despite the bashing, V1 is very good IQ wise, PF is less of an issue with good exposure-to the right- and equal if not better than zooms with the same speed.My research pointed more towards V2 as a problem with lens seperation & fogging. Get a good copy and i'm sure you will be more than happy. Does anyone know if the barrel colours of V1(grey&black) and V2(white&black) represent different build dates? ie possible fixes to QC issues.

09-19-2009, 12:23 AM	#5
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183 Original Poster	thanks for the replies, The one I saw is V1 and it goes for £149. But I think I'll think about it... Anyway, I have still 3.5 months to go. Not bad, I haven't bought any lens since June. Considering, before I had bought 15 lenses, 2 flashes and 4 camera bodies (I sold some) in 2.5yrs BR Peter

09-19-2009, 06:52 AM	#6
DreTAX Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria. Photos: Gallery Posts: 118	Originally posted by axl thanks for the replies, The one I saw is V1 and it goes for £149. But I think I'll think about it... Anyway, I have still 3.5 months to go. Not bad, I haven't bought any lens since June. Considering, before I had bought 15 lenses, 2 flashes and 4 camera bodies (I sold some) in 2.5yrs BR Peter Somebody stop me! I know where you've been cause i'm still living it. 14 lenses,3 flashes, 3 bodies, tripod, 2 monopods,heads, bags etc. All in the last 13 months, i have managed to slow down but i can't seem to stop, I might need help!.........finding the next lens that is. Stay strong Peter.

09-19-2009, 10:23 AM	#7
7.62lew Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,192	I have what would be the second version I guess. It is apo 5.6 manual focus. I have been very pleased with my copy. No purple fringing when taking aircraft photos I got mine for an incredible bargain on craigslist. Here is a link to a couple of previous discussions. See my post for a link to some photo's I have taken. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/56312-sigma-ap...ual-focus.html https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/52421-info-400...hoto-lens.html Have a good one

09-20-2009, 07:35 AM	#8
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183 Original Poster	Originally posted by DreTAX Somebody stop me! I know where you've been cause i'm still living it. 14 lenses,3 flashes, 3 bodies, tripod, 2 monopods,heads, bags etc. All in the last 13 months, i have managed to slow down but i can't seem to stop, I might need help!.........finding the next lens that is. Stay strong Peter. Good to know I'm not alone. I've been struggling to keep my moratorium since June. But so far succesfuly. But there is always something tempting out there. Yesterday I've seen used DA21 in LN condition. Veeeeeeeeeery tempting indeed

09-20-2009, 05:47 PM	#9
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	Had the first version... forgettable Tried a friend's second version... a little better but still soft at f/5.6 Make sure you check the optics 100% as element separation does show up with this Sigma lens. For a legacy lens like this, it will be throwing money away as there are no replacement elements available and there is no solution to the element separation.