2026-04-10 Sigma AF 75-200 f/3.8 Zoom

This Sigma AF 75-200 f/3.8 zoom lens has an interesting garbled origin. Some think Carl Zeiss Jena made the lens elements and had Sigma assemble them in Japan. Some think Carl Zeiss Jena designed the lens and allowed Sigma to use the design to make their own version—making both the zoom’s parts and the lenses in their version. In any case the resulting lenses was sold under various names in different countries.

It is a fun puzzle to explore. Some people think the Sigma branded zoom has a warmer, sharper image than other Sigma lenses. Some trash Sigma lenses as being poorly lubricated with problems with grease migrating to the aperture blades. Some really stand behind Sigma as being sharp, virtual tanks with fine results forever.

I know the lens is heavy—326 g (1 lb. 6 oz)— and built very heavy duty. There is no sign of oil on the eight aperture blades. The push-pull zoom action will creep if the lens is pointed down but that makes the action easier for sports shooting. On the other hand having the zoom creep when pointed up or down can make accurate framing harder.
There is a bit of lettering wear and tear, but this is not uncommon with printing that is painted on steel.

This lens has a Pentax autofocus mount complete with screw-drive coupling and electric contacts. That rear element stays exactly in one place. Some prefer this kind of design because there is less chance of the trombone zoom action sucking in dust with the rear end blocked off with the lens elements.

I can also say, background confusion or not, the Sigma front and rear lenses are gorgeous with no sign of coating colouration. The Sigma 75-200 f/3.8 may “just” be another Japanese zoom lens, but it looks beautiful!

year manufactured 1987

max. aperture: f/3.8

min. aperture: f/22

focal range (mm): 75-200

elements/group: 12/9

angle of view: 32.1º - 12.3º

aperture blades: 8

min. focus distance (mm): 1200

filter rotate focusing: Yes

filter rotate zooming: Yes

max. magnification: 0.22x (1:4.5)

filter diameter (mm): 55

Comments

2026-03-14 - History and Evolution of the Kodak Logo

While working as a junior clerk at the Rochester Savings Bank, George Eastman first began commercial production of dry photographic plates in a rented loft of a building in Rochester, New York in April 1880. In the next few years, Eastman became very successful and expanded the company several times. His company started as the Eastman Dry Plate Company in 1881, later became the Eastman Dry Plate and Film Company in 1884, and soon after the Eastman Company in 1889. The last name change occurred in 1892, when the Eastman Kodak Company of New York was organized. The company has been called Eastman Kodak Company ever since. The word "Kodak" was first registered as a trademark in 1888. The letter “K” had been a favorite of Eastman’s, he is quoted as saying, "I devised the name myself. The letter 'K' had been a favorite with me; it seems a strong, incisive sort of letter. It became a question of trying out a great number of combinations of letters that made word...

2026-03-20-Manfrotto monopods

Sometimes collecting is a matter of persistence. The Manfrotto “GRUPPO” 434SSB monopod (shown top) showed up one day at my local thrift store. They had a price tag of $25 on it. I had bought the lower Manfrotto Compact MMC3-01 monopod at the same thrift store for $3. So I asked, “Why so much?” They answered their “expert” had found it sold for $200 on the internet. I find experts—who almost never clerk in the thrift store, so are unreachable—hard to deal with. There is also the matter someone might actually pay them $25 for a 2.27 kg (5 pound) aluminum pole, so I decided to let the Gods-of-Collecting decide if I was going to ever own it. For weeks I would pick it up, check the price tag to see if they had come to their senses, and return it to the shelf. I did try various clerks to see if they would lower the price, but they said they were not authorized to change prices. I plodded on, week after week without much hope. ...

2026-03-25 The Kiron 70-150 mm F/4

This Kiron 70-150 mm f/4 Macro1:4MC zoom was made by Kino Precision, Japan in 1980. The same company made both 1.5x and 2x extenders for this lens. It is a lovely design featuring a 52 mm filter size —common to many normal lenses—and a constant f/4 at all zoom positions. The f/stops are full stops from f/4 to f/5.6 and from f/16 to f/22 while the other apertures are half stops apart. FOCAL LENGTH RANGE: 70mm - 150mm [2.1X zoom ratio] DIAGONAL ANGLE OF VIEW: 34.3° @ 70mm - 16.4° @ 150mm LENS CONSTRUCTION: 13 elements in 9 groups WEIGHT (Olympus OM Mount): 460 g (with hood, front and rear caps) The macro range sets in below the three foot (0.9 m) marked distance at all zoom positions but you only get to the minimum 1:4 ratio at 150 mm. Macro starts around a 1:8 macro range at 70 mm. This is the only lens I have ever collected that has the original price sticker on the rear cap. At least I assume it is the original price sticker… It ha...

Edmonton Photographic Historical Society

Search This Blog