Camera Labs

This is interesting... I'll admit one of the weaknesses of Sony against the likes of Canon is the relative lack of SSM/USM/HSM type lenses at the lower cost end. Sony only tend to put it in their more expensive lenses, and most 3rd party ones don't do it either. But poking around the Sigma site, I found some

First up is the 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM. Street price is a bit higher than Sony's own non-SSM equivalent.

Next up, is the even more interesting 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM. As far as I can see on the web site, this has optical stabilisation too, and nothing says that is taken out on the Sony model, which already has sensor shift stabilisation in camera body. I haven't so far found it for sale for the Sony, but for comparison the Canon one is very affordable.

Finally there is also the 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM II. I wonder how this works with a 2x TC?...

The first two are not currently listed on dyxum, the last one is under 'announced'.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Sorry to disappoint you, popo! But the Sigma website says:
"HSM: CA,NA, SA / AF: SO (MA), PA"
That means: No HSM for Sony!
It also says:
"Keine OS Funktion an Pentax und Sony Kameras."
Meaning there is also no OS for Sony!

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Got links? In the original post I linked to Sigma's UK site. For HSM lenses other than the ones linked, they explicitly exclude Sony and Pentax but they didn't for these. Of course I can't rule out a mistake on their part.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

It's from the German site: http://www.sigma-foto.de/cms/front_cont ... &idart=282

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Aww... damn them! I wonder why they don't put HSM on Sony and Pentax though? If they have the lens already for Canon and Nikon, isn't it as simple as a different end fitting and controller chip? Or is there more to it than that?

Ooh, if I read it right, the German site does list the 50-150 HSM including Sony. Maybe this will make a poor mans 70-200G replacement? (€799 list)

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I don't know why they leave out the HSM-drive for some lenses!?
But with the 50-150/2.8 they seem to come to their senses and offer HSM for Sony too.

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

I hope that's a positive sign for the future.

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Popo, I happen to know why Sigma does not have HSM lenses for Sony. When Sony entered the market, Sigma had to decide what kind of lenses they'd make for Sony. At that critical moment, they decided not to make HSM-lenses, because they thought Sony DSLRs wouldn't support the HSM motor. Sigma is busy developing HSM-lenses for Sony though. That's why the 70-200mm HSM is still listed as NEW.

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

By implication, if Sony can do SSM, why couldn't Sigma do HSM? The only thing I can think of that might be limiting is power delivery e.g. if the HSM mechanism works at different levels than Sony bodies can easily provide. Or is there some software consideration too? But that might be resolvable in firmware.

Anyway, that's now a second potential candidate in addition to the 50-150 earlier.

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.