Sigma 400mm lens: Does anyone know anything about the Sigma 400mm 5.6 APO prime lens? I have GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) about as badly as anyone, but don't like to spend large...

nikon_jon Loc: Northeast Arkansas

Does anyone know anything about the Sigma 400mm 5.6 APO prime lens? I have GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) about as badly as anyone, but don't like to spend large amounts of money on lenses that I know up front that I am not going to use very often. This older model Sigma shows up now and again on Ebay for a pretty good price, but I don't like to buy something for even $5.00, if it is a piece of junk.

Thanks for any comments.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

nikon_jon wrote:

Does anyone know anything about the Sigma 400mm 5.6 APO prime lens? I have GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) about as badly as anyone, but don't like to spend large amounts of money on lenses that I know up front that I am not going to use very often. This older model Sigma shows up now and again on Ebay for a pretty good price, but I don't like to buy something for even $5.00, if it is a piece of junk.

Thanks for any comments.

I had that AF lens for over 20 years, loved it. Had I not bought the Sigma 150-500mm OS Zoom, I would still be shooting it. Sold mine for $465 a month ago.
Do NOT get the non-APO version, it is terrible, there is a BIG difference in glass. And don't get one that looks beat up at all, I know of more than one that the internal AF has gone down due to being beaten around. Keep in mind, they have been out of production for like 10 years now I think. The MF version is even older but it also has very nice glass.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I have and used the 400 APO for Canon - great lens - very compact with great manual focus ! The AF is slow so it is more for slow moving or static subjects. I am keeping mine currently for a back-up or to travel light.

Mousie M Loc: Coventry, UK

What does APO mean?

tim57064

Mousie M ,In Astronomy, apo stands for Apochromat ,Apochromatic, which is the type of lens used . Also the same for photographic lenses .Has better correction of chromatic and spherical aberration than the more common Achromat lenses.
Chromatic aberration of a single lens causes different wavelengths of light to have differring focal lengths. The Apochromatic lens is usually of three elements and brings light of three different frequencies to common focus.
APO designation is used rather loosely by some photographic lens manufacturers to describe color accuracy, even though they did not carry the APO designation.

Mousie M Loc: Coventry, UK

Thanks tim.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

i got an older model,only works in manual mode at f 5.6 on my camera. still in all i am getting great images. make sure you get one that hass the extra contacs needed with newer cameras.