I see the 24-70mm f2.8 HSM has joined the 70-200mm f2.8 HSM with both now available in Sony/Minolta fitting. Shop price is about £650 each. I expect Sigma will release all their HSM lenses in the A mount from now on.

 

Things are looking up for us Sony users at last from Sigma

 

How much better (or worse) is this lens compared to this?

 

I should imagine the quality will be the same, it is just the difference in the way the drive focuses the lens.

HSM is quicker and quieter

 

I have the Non HSM version and it is a real belter of a lens. I really can't see the benefit of spending an extra £400 on the HSM version for a slightly quieter and marginally faster focus.

 

The new lens is an entirely different design, with very different MTF curves if you look at the Sigma site.

 

The fact that they've managed to knock 20mm off the length of the old version certainly bears that out! And I agree that the charts look better... but are they better enough to justify a £400+ premium compared to the non-HSM version? Over to Mr Crawley I think...

 

Ah, now there's a question!

 

Definetly not, you should spend £800 more on the Zeiss lens in the same focal range...

 

is anyone else else having problems with an A700 backfocusing with sigma lenses or is it just me?

 

Please not that posting the same question in more than one forum or thread is against forum ettiquette...

 

Is an APO lens better than a Non-APO lens?

 

Like for like ... yes.

 

... would be nice to see his findings

But, on the subject of HSM, SSM, USM and the rest ... the lens motor method of focussing is always quieter than the body drive design BUT it is too often assumed that it is faster, and this is not necessarily the case. However the lens motor does often use smaller steps than body drive method so can be more accurate. The down side is more complication ... more to go wrong.