3.5D lens (not dg) difference?

[Tobyh]

Hi all,

I have found a secondhand Sigma 180mm in a shop near me and have just spoken to them (not yet bought it) and asked them to confirm the lettering on the lense.

I'm advised its a Sigma 180mm APO 3.5D HSM IF EX - what does the fact that it isn't a DG lense mean? Is that any big deal that I would need to be concerned about? It will be used on a D300. I'm advised it's maybe 18 months old.

Thanks for any advice.

TobyH

[Lancashire Lad]

I would suggest asking them to repeat exactly, in the order as written, what is shown on the lens.

I have a Sigma 180mm in Nikon fit, purchased (from that well known high street retailer) just before last Christmas.

The exact wording on the top of lens, (behind the focus distance indicator window) is: -

SIGMA, (on a line of its own), underneath which is written: -
180mm 1:3.5 APO MACRO DG HSM D
The wording APO MACRO DG HSM are in gold lettering, the remainder in white.

Round to the right hand side of the lens, is a small square insert legend plate, with EX (above a line, below which is) SIGMA. The lettering and the line are gold coloured.

On the underside of the lens, is the serial number, and LENS MADE IN JAPAN both written in white.

I'm not aware of any other versions of the lens having been available (certainly not within the last 18 months), so what is written on the lens should tally with the above.

If it doesn't, or you are not convinced by what the seller is saying, perhaps a quick e-mail to Sigma Imaging (UK) ltd. might elicit a definitive answer?

Good luck with the lens, I think it is an absolute cracker.

Regards,
Mike.

[Tobyh]

Thanks Mike,

When I asked them to read it out he read it off the lense but I'm unsure if he got the order right but definitely didn't say DG - and I asked about this. I was advised the lens had been used by a digital user so should be fine on my D300 - I'm going to take my body down on Wednesday to check it out.

I assume the lack of the DG tag just means that this one maybe isn't optimised for digital but seems that it should work ok, I just don't know what that difference could be

They are a reputable and long established shop and have said they will give 6 months warranty also so am happy that I can go back if there are issues.

When I google images of the 180, I can see there are different versions of how the wording is - the one I looked at isn't how you describe exactly - most of the main wording is in white and (I think) the HSM and IF lettering is elsewhere.

Thanks Mike - still looks like this is a slightly different version which hopefully will be good on a D300.

Glad to hear you like the lense - I'll check out your Gallery if you have anything posted from it.

TobyH

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi TobyH,

When I was first considering a Sigma lens, I too noticed some variation in the lettering order shown on photos of the lenses (even on Sigma's own website).

I put this down to the probability that they will have used the same photo to illustrate the lens, regardless of what camera fitting it is in.

So, for example, they might actually be showing a Canon fit lens, on the Nikon fit description page, and the wording on the Canon fit lens version might be slightly different? (I haven't actually checked this out, as I don't know anyone else who has the lens in a different fit).

From what you have said though, the seller seems to be offering a good warranty situation, so it doesn't look like you have much to fear.

I have it on a D80, which, because of the sensor, gives a true focal length of 270mm (Not sure if that will apply with your D300).

My Gallery is currently about 50-50 with regards to photos taken with the D80, and with a Finepix S9600 bridge camera.(I regularly use both, along with a Nikon 60mm macro).

Unfortunately, (apart from a very few pics), I haven't been showing camera information, so you won't easily be able to determine what was taken with what

These recent ones were definitely taken with the Sigma though: -




Any imperfections you might see are definitely the fault of the photographer, and not the lens

Regards,
Mike.

[Tobyh]

Thanks Mike, much appreciated.

The Eyelash fungus picture is freaky! Good sharp pictures though

Barring any major issues popping up I'm pretty sure I'll grab the lense on Wednesday, looking forward to a new toy

TobyH

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by Tobyh

....The Eyelash fungus picture is freaky! Good sharp pictures though ....

Yes there are some strange things around when you start looking for them.

That one is a good example for the lens, because the largest of those orange fungi discs is only around 6mm across, so you get a good idea of how small each actual "eyelash" is, and how well the lens can render it.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with the lens, I can't fault mine.

Regards.
Mike.

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

I use a Sigma 180mm non DG on my 40d with no problem at all

neil

[Tobyh]

Even more good news!

Thanks Neil

[NJP87]

I don't use the 180, but i have used many non DG lenses and they work fine

[Lancashire Lad]

Just had a look on a couple of Photography forums, and from what's being said, it seems that the non-DG version has a slightly different coding on the chip, which can lead to err99 lens-camera incompatibility with certain models of digital camera. All the sites I have looked at say there is no optical difference between the DG and the non-DG version.

Looks like its a case of, if the non-DG works from the word go on your particular camera body, then to all intents and purposes you've got everything you would have with a DG version.

So with a six month warranty, any such problem should have shown up long before then. Looks like you're sorted.

Regards
Mike.