Sigma 1000mm F8 APO
Launched September 1988, February 1989/1992

One of Sigma’s classic lenses, and rarely seen, the 1000mm F8 APO cost nearly £3000 in 1992. It’s hard to work out if this covers two lenses, as it appears to have been announced at Photokina 1988 but then re-announced in February 1989, before a 1992 press release which seems to give different specifications but an otherwise identical description.

Sigma Apochromatic Ultra Telephoto 1000mm F8.0 for Nikon, Canon Manual Focus (1988/9 states “all M.F”) S.L.R cameras, Nikon AF cameras, Minolta AF cameras and Canon AF cameras.

As a 1000mm F8 ultra-telephoto lens, this lens is the world’s first AF lens (of this focal length?). Also, it is designed as the world’s smallest in its class, having a telephoto ratio of 0.58 for ease of operate (sic). Since it incorporates an inner focusing mechanism, it is realized a quick focus Super Ultra telephoto. To minimized chromatic aberration, which is the inherent problem of ultra-telephoto, this lens is using two large elements of ultra low dispersion glass in the front group.

July 1992 Amateur Photographer review – PDF

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