Sigma 170-500mm f5-6.3 APO DG

[irislynx]

Hi all, I was thinking of getting a Sigma for Nikon 170-500mm f5-6.3 APO DG for my Nikon D80 and I noticed that some are written as Sigma 170-500mm f5-6.3 APO DG and others are written as Sigma 170-500mm f5-6.3 APO RF DG .... I know that RF stands for rear focasing, My question is : Are these two different lenses or do some people just tend to leave the RF out when writing about them?? I have never had a sigma lens before and I'm not sure about if there are two different lenses in the 170-500 or not.

[irislynx]

Well, I found out that there "are" two different lenses although they are very much identical in usage, If anyone has anymore info to offer, I would really like to hear about it, I'm sure there must be some people on here who has/has had this lens.

[amoxtli]

If you go to this page, you'll see there 114 users on PBase that use the 170-500:

http://www.pbase.com/cameras/sigma

It only lists one lens. There is a 170-400 listed as well. A quick look at the Sigma site reveals the lens is not currently in their line-up, yet it is available for sale through several merchants:

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/telephot ... es?page=99

My guess is they only ever made one 170-500.

[irislynx]

amoxti, Thankyou so much for your reply and links ( Much appreciated) They actually made 2 of these lenses, The Apo, And the (apo DG in 2005) They are almost identical but the DG does have some differences ( Different lens coating ect) ~ Checking the Sigma lensés in the search engine for pbase brings up the info and photo on
the Sigma 170-500mm f5-6.3 APO DG lens.