Stories tagged with sigma

On our recent visit to Japan to attend the CP+ show in Yokohama we were fortunate to be invited to tour Sigma's factory in Aizu. The Aizu factory is where all of Sigma's lenses are manufactured, including the company's impressive new 'Art' line of primes. Click through to take a virtual tour of the factory, in the company of Kazuto Yamaki, Sigma's CEO. 

At this year's CP+ show in Yokohama Japan we made time to sit down with several senior executives from major manufacturers, including Sigma. In this interview with Kazuto Yamaki, CEO of Sigma, we spoke about the challenges of making lenses for ever-increasing pixel counts, the company's 'small office, big factory' philosophy and why the company is continuing to make cameras. Read more

We were recently lucky enough to visit Sigma's factory in Aizu, Japan, where Sigma allowed us to shoot with a pre-production sample of the recently-announced 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens. The wintry landscape of the Fukushima prefecture was a nice contrast to the CP+ convention center where we last gathered some samples with this lens, and our recent samples are more representative of lens performance on a native mount body (Canon 6D). Have a look

UPDATED: We're at the CP+ show in Yokohama Japan, where Sigma is showing its brand new 24mm f1.4 full-frame prime lens. The latest in the company's 'Art' series of fast primes, we have high hopes for the new lens based on our extremely positive impressions of the 35mm and 50mm lenses which have come before it. Sigma very kindly let us shoot some sample images on a late pre-production lens and it does indeed look very, very nice. Click through to take a look.

One of the most interesting lenses at CP+ for enthusiast photographers is Sigma's new 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art. We made a beeline for the Sigma stand as soon as we arrived on the show floor and got our hands on this intriguing new prime. Click through for some photos and our initial impressions of its build and image quality, based on some initial sample images. 

Sigma has attached prices to its very recently announced 24mm F1.4 Art lens, as well as the 150-600mm F5-6.3 super telephoto that appeared at Photokina. The full frame 24mm lens, which supports Canon, Nikon, and Sigma mounts, will be available next month at a price of $849. The 150-600mm - also designed for full frame bodies - will be priced at $1089 and will ship next month for Canon and Nikon mounts. Read more

With the CP+ tradeshow in Japan about to kick off, Sigma has unveiled a 24mm F1.4 DG HSM wide angle prime lens, joining its 'Art' series of premium glass. Designed to cover a full-frame sensor, it will be offered in Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts with availability and pricing yet to be announced. Read more

Sigma has announced its fourth compact in its unique Quattro series. The dp0 features a fixed 14mm F4 lens (21mm equivalent) along with the unconventional styling of its peers. Its Foveon X3 CMOS sensor is divided into three layers to record red, green and blue wavelengths separately, and the top layer captures 19.6MP of information. Read more

Sigma has acknowledged a problem that Pentax users are suffering from when the company’s 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro HSM Contemporary lens is used on Pentax DSLR bodies with in-camera image stabilization activated. To rectify the issue the lens manufacturer has promised a firmware update for the lens, but hasn't yet specified a release date. Read more

Lens manufacturer Sigma has issued an update to the firmware of its USB dock to make it compatible with the new 150-600mm f/5.6-6.3 DG OS HSM S and 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3DC Macro OS HSM lenses. Although these lenses are available in Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts, the update for the USB dock does not yet cover these lenses in the Nikon fit, and Sigma hasn't indicated when it will. Read more

The stars of Sigma's booth at this years Photokina were two new telezoom lenses - 'C' and 'S' versions of a 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM aimed at enthusiasts and sports / wildlife professionals, respectively. The company was also showing off its new 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM 'C' for APS-C DSLRs. We headed to the company's stand on our final day at the show, and got our hands on the new gear (except the stuff behind glass). Click through to see more.

Optical manufacturer Sigma has expanded its portfolio of lens filters with the introduction of four new models, three of which feature water and oil repellent coatings. The new coatings have been applied to the company's ultra violet and circular polariser filters, as well as a new clear-glass protector. Read more

Sigma has announced that the dp1 Quattro, a large-sensor compact that will be available from mid-October. The dp1 Quattro marries a 28mm equivalent F2.8 lens to the latest generation of Sigma's Foveon technology. The dp1 Quattro joins the 40mm equivalent dp2 Quattro in the company's lineup, with the promise of a 75mm equivalent dp3 Quattro to follow. Read more

Sigma has announced a new superzoom lens for APS-C format DSLRs. The 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM takes its place in the company's 'Contemporary' linep, offering a focal range equivalent to 27-450mm. The new lens will be available next month for $579 in Sigma, Nikon, Canon Pentax and Sony mounts - the latter two will not feature OS optical image stabilization. Read more 

Sigma has announced a pair of new telezoom lenses. Both described as the '150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM' one carries Sigma's 'Contemporary' branding and one is positioned in its 'Sport' lineup. The sports version is dust and splash-proof, while both lenses boast new versions of Sigma's optical image stabilization system. Under the hood though, their construction is significantly different. Read more 

Photographers looking to try out a Sigma dp2 Quattro compact digital camera before making a purchase (and given its radical design, that's a really good idea) can now take advantage of the Sigma 'Try Before You Buy' loaner program, launched today. Under the new program, photographers are invited to test the new camera before it begins shipping. Learn more

Sigma has announced US pricing and availability for its latest camera the dp2 Quattro. Featuring a newly-developed ~19.6 million pixel APS-C Foveon sensor and a completely new body design, the dp2 Quattro has a 30mm F2.8 lens (45mm equivalent) and will be available in the USA in early August at a street price of $999. Click through for the press release.

Sigma UK has revealed pricing and availability for its dp2 Quattro, along with much more information about the camera than we got when it was announced in February. The latest, 45mm-equivalent, model features dramatic styling and a fundamental re-think of the company's Foveon multi-layer sensor design. It will be available in early July with a suggested retail price of £899.99 including VAT. In the USA availability is estimated as early August and the street price will be $999. Learn more

The Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM 'Art' is a fast normal prime for full frame cameras, with an unusually complex optical design. Its premium price tag of $950 / £850 makes it substantially more expensive than either its predecessor, or Canon and Nikon's 50mm F1.4 lenses. However Sigma's recent high-end offerings such as the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM and 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM have been truly excellent, so how does the new 50mm measure up? See the lens test data and our analysis

The 50mm F1.4 DG HSM is Sigma's latest fast normal prime for full-frame cameras, and one of the most hotly-anticipated lenses of the year. But how does it perform in real-world use?  We've been using the lens for a couple of days, and put together a gallery of samples. We've concentrated on large-aperture shots to show sharpness and bokeh, but have also included several taken at smaller apertures. See photos

Sigma has released pricing and availability information of its new 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens. First announced in January at CES, the 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art is a completely new lens, rather than a revision of Sigma's existing 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM. The lens employs the company's Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) system and has 13 elements in eight groups. It will be available for Sigma, Sony, Nikon, and Canon mounts in late April for $949. The UK RRP will be £849.99. Learn more 

The Tokyo District Court has ruled in favor of Nikon in a patent infringement case brought against Sigma. The lawsuit, filed in 2011 and settled last month alleged that six of Sigma's interchangeable lenses infringed on certain Nikon patents relating to VR (vibration reduction) technology. Click through for more details. 

Sigma's 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM | C is the latest version of its popular stabilized superzoom lens for APS-C / DX format SLRs. It's smaller and lighter than the previous model (the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 II DC OS HSM from 2011), but offers an updated optical design with improved close-focusing abilities. Sigma shipped us a sample a few days ago so we could try it out and we've been running around (in typically unpredictable Seattle weather) getting some real-world samples. Click through to see the shots.

Sigma gives us another behind the scenes look at their Aizu, Japan lens factory in a video released during the CP+ trade show. It's an artsy factory tour highlighting the craftsmanship and the process of how their lenses are assembled. They released a similar video during Photokina 2012 and have since gained some popularity with their higher end 35mm F1.4 DG HSM and the 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM lenses. See video

We're at the CP+ show in Japan this week, where Editor Barnaby Britton sat down with Kazuto Yamaki, CEO of Sigma, for a chat about the dp2 Quattro, as well as the challenges of the modern photography industry and what it's like being the head of a family business.

We've never accused Sigma of lacking innovation, and while the Japanese manufacturer is best known for making lenses, Sigma also markets a line of cameras. The latest - the DP2 Quattro - features an all-new ~19.6 million pixel APC-C Foveon sensor and a completely new body design. Is this (in Sigma's words) a 'reinvention of camera'? We won't know until we've tried one out, but in the meantime click through for an initial hands-on look. 

Sigma has revealed the next generation of its DP series of APS-C sensor, fixed focal length cameras, with the dp2 Quattro. The latest, 45mm-equivalent, model features dramatic styling and a fundamental re-think of the company's Foveon multi-layer sensor design. The Quattro sensor still uses three layers to detect color information but now only captures its full, 19.6 million pixel resolution in the top layer, with lower two layers capturing 4.9MP of information each. The sensor will also appear in 28mm and 75mm equivalent dp1 Quattro and dp3 Quattro models.

CES 2014: Sigma Photo had a good-sized booth and were showing off their latest lenses, as well as some old favorites. The new lenses are a budget-friendly 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 superzoom, as well as a 50mm F1.4 Prime. Click to see them in action.

CES 2014: Sigma has announced the 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | A, a fast 'normal' prime for full frame DSLRs. It will also work on APS-C / DX format cameras, offering a 75mm equivalent short telephoto effect. It's a completely new lens, rather than a revision of Sigma's existing 50mm F1.4, with an unusually complex optical formula for its type (13 elements in 8 groups). It'll come in Canon, Nikon, Sigma and Sony mounts; pricing and availability are still to be confirmed.  

CES 2014: Sigma has announced the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM | C, a superzoom lens for APS-C / DX format SLRs. With a 28-300mm equivalent zoom range, it's smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and has a shorter minimum focus distance. It will be available in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma, and Sony mounts; as usual the Pentax and Sony versions won't have optical stabilisation. Availability is still to be confirmed but Sigma USA has set a recommended price of $399.

Over the last few days a number of firmware updates have been posted. Fujifilm has new firmware for the following cameras: X-Pro1, X-E1, X-E2, and X100S. From Sigma, there are updates for the SD1 and SD1 Merrill. And finally from Pentax, the K-3 also has new firmware. Get download links and more information about each update. Learn more

In this series of short articles, DPReview staff will be highlighting their personal standout products of the year. It might be a camera, a lens, an accessory or even a piece of software. In part 4, Richard Butler discusses the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM and what it means for APS-C shooters.

Sigma has posted a statement on its website regarding incompatibilities between its lenses and the Nikon Df. As with the D5300, both autofocus and image stabilisation may not work correctly; however lenses without built-in focus motors are also affected when used on the Df. The company says it will provide free lens firmware updates to fix the issue, but this may not be possible with discontinued models. Click through for full details.

Sigma has posted a firmware update of SIGMA Optimization Pro, the dedicated software for the SIGMA USB DOCK, that enables the D5300 to be fully functional with five lenses. Learn more

Sigma has posted a statement on its website regarding incompatibilities between its lenses and the Nikon D5300. Lenses with built-in focus motors may not autofocus correctly in Live View mode, and Optical Stabilisation (OS) may not work correctly. The company says it will provide a free firmware update for affected lenses to fix the issue, but this may not be possible with discontinued models. Click through for full details.

Sigma has released updates for its SD1 and SD1 Merrill cameras - as well as for its Photo Pro software - to add support for the recently released 18-35 F1.8 DC HSM lens. On the camera side, the SD1 firmware update improves color in peripheral areas of the image when the aperture is wide open. As for software, Sigma's Photo Pro v5.5.3 is now optimized for Raw (X3F) images taken with the SD1 camera and 18-35 lens.

Buried among all of the cameras announced last week was a new 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM lens from Sigma. The company has announced pricing and availability for this full-frame 'Art lens', which will be available for Canon, Nikon, Sigma, and Sony mounts (in that order). You'll be able to pick one up for yourself starting next month at a retail price of $899. In the UK, the recommended retail price will be £849.99.

Sigma has announced the 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM - an image stabilized normal zoom for full frame DSLRs. The 24-105 becomes the latest addition to the company's 'Art' series of lenses designed to offer high image quality. The lens features a 19 element/14 group design including Sigma's FLD glass and both single- and double-sided aspherical elements which the company says will minimize aberrations. It has a minimum focusing distance of 45cm throughout its range, giving a maximum magnification of 1:4.6. Prices and availability have yet to be announced.

Sigma USA has announced availability of the Nikon-mount version of its 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art fast zoom for APS-C DSLRs. The Nikon version will retail for around $799, the same price as the Canon version, and will be available from November. We've been shooting with one for the past few days, and have put together a sample gallery of images showing what it's capable of.

Some people are happy to shoot with lenses and think only of the results, but it can also be fascinating to think about how such complex, precision pieces of engineering are made. Some insight is provided by Dave Etchells over at Imaging Resource, who has just posted a story about his visit to Sigma's factory in Aizu, Japan. However, no matter how hard you try, you can't make every lens perfect - as Lensrentals Roger Cicala explains in his recent blog post. Click through for more.

Sigma has announced firmware updates for two of its most recent lenses. Version 1.02 for the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM A012 (Canon mount) and version 1.01 for the 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM C013 (Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts) bring improvements to autofocus operation and, for the latter, optical stabilisation. The lenses must be updated using Sigma's USB Dock, and owners should download the latest Version 1.1 of Sigma Optimization Pro software first. Click through for more details and the download link. 

Sigma's 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM has generated a lot of excitement since its announcement in April, as the fastest zoom ever made for SLRs. Designed for use on APS-C / DX format cameras, it offers a 28-54mm equivalent zoom range, and promises similar depth of field control to an F2.8 zoom on full frame. But can an F1.8 zoom really work? Read our detailed review to find out.  

It's an open secret that many compact cameras are produced by OEMs - companies that produce large numbers of products that are then sold under other brand names. There are also consumer-grade zooms from big name manufacturers that look much alike (we know for a fact that third-party makers commonly create lenses for the bigger brands). But we were still surprised to read about Sigma's latest patent for a 75mm F1.8 prime lens...

Our friends and collaborators over at DxOMark have been investigating lenses for the Pentax K-50, and have just published an article assessing which score best on this well-featured little SLR. They've looked at 28 different models, from both Pentax itself and third-party makes like Sigma and Tamron, and given recommendations for the best lens to buy in various categories. This week they've also tested the Sigma APO 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM super-telephoto zoom, and compared it to the rather more expensive Nikon AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR. Click through for the links.  

Sigma's USB dock is a unique device, which lets you tinker with your lens's settings to get the best results. In this quick review we give an overview of the device and the accompanying Sigma Optimisation Pro software, and see what adjustments it offers.

Just posted: Our review of the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM | C. This lens occupies its own little niche in the market, as an upgrade to the typical 18-55mm zoom that offers both usefully extended zoom range and a faster maximum aperture. It also includes Sigma's 'Hypersonic Motor' for silent focusing, and built-in Optical Stabilisation. In the latest of our lens reviews prepared in partnership with DxOMark, we see whether it should be top of the short-list for SLR owners looking to progress beyond their kit lens.

Sigma has announced a 'Mount Conversion Service' for any of its recent 'Global Vision' lenses - a paid-for service designed to reduce the uncertainty of changing camera systems. The company says it will charge between $80 and $250, plus shipping costs, depending on the specific lens. The Global Vision range currently includes seven lenses - from the huge 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS Sport for full-frame DSLRs, down to the 19mm F2.8 DN Art for Micro Four Thirds. The company has also extended the warranties on all new products to four years (USA only).

Our friends and collaborators over at DxOMark have been investigating lenses for the Canon EOS 6D, and have tested no fewer than 95 lenses from Canon, Samyang, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and Zeiss to see which score highest. The results are presented in a multipart article, that also compares the EOS 6D results to those from the EOS 5D Mark III and the Nikon D600. Meanwhile for APS-C SLR users, this week DxOMark also reviewed two fast lenses from Sigma, the 30mm F1.4 DC HSM and (in case you missed it earlier this week) the 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM. Click through for the links.  

We've just updated our preview of the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM with lens test data, courtesy of DxOMark. This lens has generated a lot of excitement as the fastest zoom ever made for SLRs, but the big question is whether its speed comes at the cost of optical quality. We've looked into this by comparing the 18-35mm to some current benchmark designs - and the results may surprise you. Click through to read all about it.

Sigma has posted an informative article on its blog by photographer Jack Howard, sharing tips on how to photograph fireworks. The article comes just in time for the 4th of July celebrations in the USA, but is equally relevant to various festivals, year-wide, all over the world. Tips include obvious pointers like making sure you have a good, sturdy tripod, but also more detailed advice about how to set up your camera's exposure and focus modes, as well as how to trigger exposures. Click through for a link to the article at blog.sigmaphoto.com.