How to tell which version Sigma 50-500mm Lens I have....

stl09 · 04-29-2010, 08:27 PM

I recently picked up a copy of a Sigma 50-500mm Lens. It did not come with the box or paperwork. Reviewing the Sigma website it appears there are different versions of this lens.

Does anyone know how to tell them apart?

The receipt had a description AF 50-500mm APO EX DG

Where these all Rear Focus until the new HSM model came out?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks....

JeffJS · 04-29-2010, 09:25 PM

The Bigma I had was (rear focus). I think the HSM version is a fairly recent development. For a short while, during the transition, the Bigma couldn't be found anywhere.

stl09 · 04-29-2010, 10:09 PM

Originally posted by JeffJS

The Bigma I had was (rear focus). I think the HSM version is a fairly recent development. For a short while, during the transition, the Bigma couldn't be found anywhere.

So do you think that anything prior to the HSM release were all rear focus? I know that Sigma has released multiple versions of the same lens with other models.

JeffJS · 05-01-2010, 02:26 AM

Originally posted by stl09

So do you think that anything prior to the HSM release were all rear focus? I know that Sigma has released multiple versions of the same lens with other models.

I don't know for certain. I'm thinking that by Rear Focus you mean camera driven screw drive focus and not some sort of in lens focus motor. That's how the one I had worked.

Spyder · 05-01-2010, 07:53 AM

I think there have been 3 versions of this lens now. The first two are optically identical but have different coatings, the newer one being marked DG. These are both EX lenses and are screw driven in Pentax mount, although in other mounts the second version is HSM.

The new bigma that's just starting to filter into shops looks to be a fairly substantial redesign, with different numbers of elements, different aperture range, a much shorter minimum focus distance and a bigger front element (95mm filter ring vs 86mm).

It sounds like you have the 2nd version.

stl09 · 05-01-2010, 08:39 PM

Originally posted by Spyder

I think there have been 3 versions of this lens now. The first two are optically identical but have different coatings, the newer one being marked DG. These are both EX lenses and are screw driven in Pentax mount, although in other mounts the second version is HSM.

The new bigma that's just starting to filter into shops looks to be a fairly substantial redesign, with different numbers of elements, different aperture range, a much shorter minimum focus distance and a bigger front element (95mm filter ring vs 86mm).

It sounds like you have the 2nd version.

Thanks Spyder,

I think your right, mine does have the DG badge on it.

04-29-2010, 08:27 PM	#1
stl09 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Photos: Gallery Posts: 487	How to tell which version Sigma 50-500mm Lens I have.... I recently picked up a copy of a Sigma 50-500mm Lens. It did not come with the box or paperwork. Reviewing the Sigma website it appears there are different versions of this lens. Does anyone know how to tell them apart? The receipt had a description AF 50-500mm APO EX DG Where these all Rear Focus until the new HSM model came out? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks....

04-29-2010, 10:09 PM	#3
stl09 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Photos: Gallery Posts: 487 Original Poster	sigma 50-500 Originally posted by JeffJS The Bigma I had was (rear focus). I think the HSM version is a fairly recent development. For a short while, during the transition, the Bigma couldn't be found anywhere. So do you think that anything prior to the HSM release were all rear focus? I know that Sigma has released multiple versions of the same lens with other models.

05-01-2010, 07:53 AM	#5
Spyder Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: West Sussex, UK Posts: 62	I think there have been 3 versions of this lens now. The first two are optically identical but have different coatings, the newer one being marked DG. These are both EX lenses and are screw driven in Pentax mount, although in other mounts the second version is HSM. The new bigma that's just starting to filter into shops looks to be a fairly substantial redesign, with different numbers of elements, different aperture range, a much shorter minimum focus distance and a bigger front element (95mm filter ring vs 86mm). It sounds like you have the 2nd version. Last edited by Spyder; 05-01-2010 at 07:57 AM. Reason: Typo

05-01-2010, 08:39 PM	#6
stl09 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Photos: Gallery Posts: 487 Original Poster	50-500mm Originally posted by Spyder I think there have been 3 versions of this lens now. The first two are optically identical but have different coatings, the newer one being marked DG. These are both EX lenses and are screw driven in Pentax mount, although in other mounts the second version is HSM. The new bigma that's just starting to filter into shops looks to be a fairly substantial redesign, with different numbers of elements, different aperture range, a much shorter minimum focus distance and a bigger front element (95mm filter ring vs 86mm). It sounds like you have the 2nd version. Thanks Spyder, I think your right, mine does have the DG badge on it.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
SIGMA 50-500MM LENS	charliezap	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	8	02-17-2010 05:59 PM
Teleconverter for Sigma 50-500mm Lens	e_hutchinson	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	13	02-12-2009 06:04 AM
Sigma launches 18-250mm DC OS HSM lens. Will the Pentax version have OS as well?	ftpaddict	Pentax News and Rumors	15	01-20-2009 09:11 PM
For Sale - Sold: FS: Sigma 50-500mm, newest DG version	mikerigel	Sold Items	8	03-30-2008 11:30 AM

04-29-2010, 09:25 PM	#2
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	The Bigma I had was (rear focus). I think the HSM version is a fairly recent development. For a short while, during the transition, the Bigma couldn't be found anywhere.

05-01-2010, 02:26 AM	#4
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by stl09 So do you think that anything prior to the HSM release were all rear focus? I know that Sigma has released multiple versions of the same lens with other models. I don't know for certain. I'm thinking that by Rear Focus you mean camera driven screw drive focus and not some sort of in lens focus motor. That's how the one I had worked.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search