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The new version with optical stabilizer (OS) is already anounced in Germany, but there is no price, no release date and no technical data.
Could anybody give us the heads up on this lens?

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

Hi Thomas, I'm keen to test this lens too!

I just asked Sigma UK and they told me they there's no further news on price or its optical construction, although they hoping it will be available in the next couple of months. Nothing's been confirmed yet though.

I guess it's a case of watching this space!

Gordon

Supposedly the lens is now available for Sony/Konica Minolta in Europe for around 440EUR incl taxes (the list price in Germany is set to 649EUR). See here: http://geizhals.at/eu/a219196.html
That would be a more than 40% price premium over the non-OS lens
Availability should be May 07 (so I wonder where those two shops got theirs?!?).
The optical construction is not yet published, but the lens is much larger (79x100mm) than the non OS (70x78mm) and heavier (610g vs 385g)!
B.t.w. the Nikkor 18-200mm VR is 77x96.5mm and 560g an is stil almost impossible to get
Interestingly the fov is noted as 76,5° - 8,1° with the OS vs. 69,3°-7,1° with the non-OS??? And it doesn't have HSM
See for yourself:
OS: http://www.sigma-photo.de/cms/front_con ... &idart=240
non-OS: http://www.sigma-photo.de/cms/front_con ... &idart=172

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

Hmm, that's interesting about the coverage. I'll be sure to compare it against the original 18-200mm to see how it compares. When I get hold of it, that is!

Gordon

Yeah, strange!
The enlargement of the OS-lens is stronger with 1:3.9 at 45cm than the 1:4.4 of the non-OS-lens at 45cm distance.
That seems to fly in the face of the wider field of view (fov).
But as we have seen with the Nikkor 18-200 strange things happen, when you zoom to the max and focus very close. As explained here: http://www.cameralabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=57

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

Still availability seems low in Europe. Just checked my favorite Price-machine and not one of the 35 dealers have it in stock.

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

This is a non-HSM lens that will autofocus on the Nikon D40(x), as per Sigma's own list.

The MSRP listed on its Sigma home page is $820.00 USD

Darrin

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Nikon D40 | Nikkor 18-55 VR | Nikkor 55-200 VR | Voigtländer Ultron 40mm SL-II | Nikon Speedlight SB-400

I'm thinking about this lens too. I think it's a bit expensive though. Cheaper than the equivalent Nikon, but not by much. It does have a lens lock though. That would sway me if all else was equal.

Zorro.

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http://zorrofox4.deviantart.com/



Various lenses, SB800 & Manfrotto 190 with 460MG head

Around 500EUR in Germany - but as I said zero availability, not even a date

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

Hmmm, read Klaus Schroiff's test here
There is a visible quality gap between this and the Nikkor.

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

Thomas, have a look at Sigma USA, the recommended retail price there when converted to Australian dollars equates to about half the retail price of the 18-200 VR Nikon and that will be the deciding factor for many Nikon owners who want a super zoom but don't want to pay Nikon prices.

Interestingly, despite carrying a large price premium over the non stabilized lens in their range, they didn't fit the HSM motor it seems.

And as yet it hasn't appeared as a retail product in Australia, but the grey market from Hong Kong is selling them into Australia on line.

Well, in Germany it's 500:650EUR and if you look at the IQ, I'd be more than willing to pay a 30% premium. But that may turn out to be different in different regions of the world...
Is the lens already broadly available in Australia?

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

It doesn't seem to be listed anywhere yet Thomas, after a quick look around, ebay seems to be the only source here.

I totally agree with you on the price difference, if that was the focal lengths I was after I would pay the premium for the proven Nikon lens as well.

The Nikon mount gets HSM

http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/lens/digital/18_200_35_63_os.htm

Darrin

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Nikon D40 | Nikkor 18-55 VR | Nikkor 55-200 VR | Voigtländer Ultron 40mm SL-II | Nikon Speedlight SB-400

I think this might be good for the canon people. Their lens lineup is in dire need of an ef-s superzoom.

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rv65
C-5050Z | SD700IS (IXUS800 IS) | JamCam | Quantaray RZ 800 w/ 50mm prime lens (just found but broken) (aka Cosina CT-7, Various other brands) | EOS 50D