We get the lowdown on SIGMA’s autumn lens series, with new additions to its Art, Contemporary and Sports ranges
Having sat down with representatives from SIGMA, the Japan-based lens and camera manufacturer is clearly taking L Mount very seriously and we’re hugely excited to see what’s to come from the much-talked-about Panasonic, Leica and Sigma alliance. But, existing customers needn’t worry – they can still expect the wide range of third party mounts that are currently available from SIGMA. And, if you’re looking for proof, the company has announced five exciting new lenses across its Art, Contemporary and Sports ranges. Let’s take a closer look…
70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM
If we had to choose a favourite lens from this varied line up, it would have to be the 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM. This versatile telephoto zoom sits within SIGMA’s Sports range, and is constructed using a whopping nine fluorite low dispersion [FLD] glass elements and a single special low dispersion [SLD] glass element. As you’d expect, this unheard of number of low-dispersion elements adds weight, but the lens’ light magnesium alloy build helps to counteract this. We were only able to handle the lens for a short period of time, but the weight only added to the optic’s durable feel and sense of quality.
Available AF mounts: SIGMA, Nikon and Canon
Launch date: TBC
60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM
The second Sports series lens in SIGMA’s autumn line up is the big 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM. This super-telephoto zoom will no doubt appeal to sports and wildlife photographers targeting distant subjects, but the huge focal range certainly makes it versatile in a pinch too. A feature that certainly warrants mentioning is the presence of both a conventional zoom ring and a push/pull zoom mechanism. It’s likely that you’ll favour one over the other, but there’s no doubting the speed of a push/pull zoom, which could prove very handy during those fleeting moments of action. The lens is constructed from 25 elements in 19 groups, with three FLD glass elements and one SLD glass element to help reduce chromatic aberration. If that wasn’t enough, the lens can be used for telephoto macro photography (at 200mm), with a magnification ration of 1:3.3.
Available AF mounts: SIGMA, Nikon and Canon
Launch date: October 2018
56mm f/1.4 DC DN
The only Contemporary series lens in the line up is the tiny 56mm f/1.4 DC DN. This super-fast f/1.4 mid-tele lens is built for APS-C mirrorless cameras and is currently the smallest in its class. SIGMA has likened the lens’ image quality to its Art line up, so we’re expecting beautiful bokeh and impressive brightness for a lens that’s designed for APS-C sensors. It looks like video shooters will be able to take advantage of the 56mm’s smooth AF, and it’s worth noting that the optic is compatible with Sony’s Fast Hybrid AF.
Available AF mounts: Micro Four Thirds and Sony E mount
Launch date: TBC
28mm f/1.4 DG HSM
Fans of the classic 28mm prime can look forward to SIGMA’s claim that this wide-angle lens from the company’s Art range delivers best-in-class performance. The premium optic boasts a 9-blade rounded diaphragm and is constructed from two FLD glass elements and three SLD glass elements. SIGMA tells us that the lens’ aspherical lenses serve to “provide thorough correction of magnification chromatic aberration”. The lens’ construction should provide edge-to-edge sharpness and the front element’s water and oil-repellent coating, and the dust and splash-proof build will provide protection when shooting out in the field too.
Available AF mounts: SIGMA, Nikon, Canon and Sony E mount
Launch date: TBC
40mm f/1.4 DG HSM
Cine lenses are known for their quality and meticulous craftsmanship, so we’re super-excited to hear that this Art series lens has inherited the same development philosophy that SIGMA uses when creating its cine lenses. Indeed, SIGMA has stated regarding its Art line that “optical performance comes first” and we expect the 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM to be no different. The 40mm shares the same weather-resistant features as its 28mm counterpart (above) as well as a 9-blade rounded diaphragm. The lens is constructed from three FLD glass elements and three SLD glass elements, and SIGMA tells us that it produces beautiful bokeh and boasts an 8K-compatible resolution.
Available AF mounts: SIGMA, Nikon, Canon and Sony E mount
Launch date: TBC
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