Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 MK1 OR MK2

[youknowhat]

What is the difference between

Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro HSM
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro HSM MKII

Price is different .... but why?

[OsmosisStudios]

The MK2 is missing something in your lens code: OS

This is Sigma's designation for their image stabilization system.

[Henry Wilt]

Your right OS that there are letters missing from the lens code but I don't think it is OS, I think it is APO which refers to the Special Low-Dispersion glass used to reduce colour aberration. (They also added Macro onto the code as well.)
The version with image stabilisation doesn't have a MK number attached.

[Swisstony10]

Sigma do two versions of their 70-200 f2.8 (for Canon, at least).

One is an APO EX DG, the APO referring to the Apochromatic low-dispersion glass that they use for the lenses. That's the one which has been replaced by a Mark II model. I've no idea what improvements they've made to it to make it a Mark II model.

The one which has OS is not an APO lens, it uses a mixture of FLD (apparently equal in quality to the flourite glass that Canon uses in its L series) and SLD (Special Low Dispersion) elements, and has Optical Stabilisation.

The non-APO lens with OS is around twice the price of the APO lens without OS - it's using much better glass, and it has Optical Stabilisation. The APO Mark II lens is more expensive than the APO Mark I lens because, well, because they've done a few things to improve on the original version, and written "Mark II" on the side.

Russ.

[Swisstony10]

I don't know whether the same issue is affecting the US, but I've been unable to obtain either lens here in the UK. When I phoned my usual supplier to ask about availability, they told me that there have been serious issues with focussing, and the lenses had all been temporarily withdrawn. I've no idea how much truth there is in that though. Everywhere I've tried over here is showing them as only available on backorder...

[youknowhat]

* 70-200mm F2.8 EX APO - Original version, minimum focus distance 1.8m (1999)
* 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG - Adds 'digitally optimized' lens coatings to reduce flare (2005)
* 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro (HSM) - Minimum focus distance reduced to 1m (2006)
* 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro HSM II - Improved optical performance (2007)
* 70-200mm F2.8 EX APO DG OS HSM - an image-stabilised fast telezoom with ultrasonic-type silent focusing that provides a direct alternative to recent arrivals from Canon and Nikon. (2010)



But what EXACTLY MK II has improved ??????????????

[Henry Wilt]

Originally Posted by youknowhat

* 70-200mm F2.8 EX APO - Original version, minimum focus distance 1.8m (1999)
* 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG - Adds 'digitally optimized' lens coatings to reduce flare (2005)
* 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro (HSM) - Minimum focus distance reduced to 1m (2006)
* 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro HSM II - Improved optical performance (2007)
* 70-200mm F2.8 EX APO DG OS HSM - an image-stabilised fast telezoom with ultrasonic-type silent focusing that provides a direct alternative to recent arrivals from Canon and Nikon. (2010)



But what EXACTLY MK II has improved ??????????????

You still have letters missing from the code and as stated earlier, the APO refers to the SLD glass used.