You might have heard the rumors about a new wide angle zoom lens with a crazy open aperture of f/1.8. Those rumors have just been confirmed to us by Sigma: it's real and it's the first zoom lens to maintain an f/1.8 aperture over the entire length of the zoom range. Now that is exciting. Meet the 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art lens.
The 18-35mm is the latest addition to Sigma's Art line (a categorization it shares with the critically acclaimed 35mm f/1.4). In case you were unaware, the Art designation is part of Sigma's new Global Vision. From Sigma: "The Global Vision lenses have a sleek new design with the manufacturing year stamped on the barrel, and are categorized by use into one of three groups: Art, Contemporary and Sports. The Art category delivers high-level artistic expression through sophisticated and abundant expressive power."
This revolutionary, wide aperture, standard zoom lens is created for DSLR cameras with APS-C size sensors, which translates to a focal range of 27-52.5mm on a 35mm camera. With a minimum focusing distance of 11 inches, and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.3, Sigma is calling the the 18-35mm ideal for landscapes, portraits, still-life, studio, close-up and casual photography.
The 18-35mm lens incorporates Sigma’s improved AF/MF switch and the use of Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) compound material, which has a high affinity to metal parts, consistently performs well at extreme temperatures and reduces the size and weight of the lens. It will also be compatible with Sigma's new lens dock that will be released later this year.
The lens has internal focusing and zooming, which prevents changes to the size of the lens (big points for this). Additionally, the front part of the lens does not rotate, so special filters like circular polarizers can be used.
The 18-35mm lens’ Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting and provides sharp and high contrast images, even in backlit conditions. The petal-type hood that is supplied with the lens will provide extra protection from flare and ghosting. Sigma’s Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) ensures a silent, high-speed AF function and the optimized auto focus algorithm results in smooth focusing and full-time manual focusing capability. Lastly, the nine-blade, rounded diaphragm creates an attractive, round bokeh at large-aperture settings.
Specifications:
Lens Construction: 17 elements in 12 groups
Minimum aperture: F16
Filter size: 72mm
Angle of view (SD1): 76.5°-44.2°
Minimum focusing distance: 11 in.
Dimensions (Diameter x Length): 3.1 inches x 4.8 inches
Number of diaphragm blades: 9 (rounded diaphragm)
Maximum magnification ratio: 1:4.3
Weight: 28.6oz
The only downside I can see from reading about the new lens is that it is only for APS-C camera bodies, a real bummer for those who use full frame cameras. But look at it this way: Sigma is totally capable of releasing something like this (like make a 24-70 f/1.8? Please?) for a full frame camera. Honestly, it's only a matter of time.
As of now, there is no pricing or availability released but we will let you know as soon as we hear from Sigma.
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY.
LMAO RIGHT
okay give me 4000$ and it will be yours :D
EXACTLY!! TAKE IT ALREADY!!!
Hahahaha!! Best answer.
Would pay $4k for this in a 35mm format.
That is a dangerous statement Mike :p
I had to vote you down man... don't give them ideas! lol
why not save half that and get the 14-24mm f/2.8G if your a nikon dude that is.. best landscape lens on the planet:)
The 17-35 2.8 is actually the best landscape lens on the planet b/c of the threaded front. Sorry. (affordable) GND's don't work on the 14-24. I've owned both.
actually a TS is the best landscape lens. not some zoom lens.
I guess I am wrong, the lens doesn't matter at all if the photographer behind it is shitty. So any lens is a good lens if you are a good photographer.
Call me a negative nancy, but I'm scared of Sigma.
I've heard nothing but stellar things about their 35mm f/1.4...and I imagine this will get rave reviews too. But I have a 50mm f/1.4 that keeps back focusing more and more everytime I use it.
then maybe you should go get that checked out ;)
Yeah, although its a common problem among the 50mm f/1.4s....
So if I get it fixed, its only a matter of time before I'm paying Sigma to fix it again.
i'm sure you've tried already but can you not use micro adjustment to help with back focusing? (if your camera has micro-adjustment?) I've never had back focusing issues so i've never had the chance to use that in-camera feature
Yep, its currently at a 19. Six months ago it was a 14. The more I use it the worse it gets...so any much more use, and it'll be unusable.
However, Sigma has seemed to really fixed its quality control problem with its new Art Line
I was scared too until I got both the new 35mm 1.4 and 17-70. Not scared anymore, stellar lenses. I can't wait to buy this lens!
I think a big thing Sigma has to overcome, and it is something that will take time is that this "new Sigma" is very different than the old sigma. They don't seem to be interested in making budget lenses that have decent optics but skip out on build quality.
Every lens under their new line has been arriving with stellar and amazing performance. I am VERY eagerly awaiting for them to update their 50mm F1.4 and 85mm F1.4 under their new design philosophy.
You're using an old lens. You can't judge new Sigma based on old Sigma :)
zach, everyone on the Canon forums who had focusing problems and sent their lens and body for calibrating to Sigma got their lenses back spot on. I did that for my 17_70 and 30mm.
just going to post a "hah!" to everyone online calling this fake and laughing about how ridiculous it is and that we're all stupid for thinking that a zoom this size could be a 1.8. hah.
I would be extremely interested if I still had my 7D
I was excited until I read DC. The 35mm 1.4 is the best lins that's ever been on my nikons. This would have been an instant buy if it were full frame.
Wow! This is awesome.
we were made for each other.
make one for 4/3 please! (BMCC pocket cam FTW!)
So what you're saying is I should just start saving up now, because I'm for sure buying this lens!
Goes to show APS-C has some life to it yet and I hate all that price premium just because it is a full frame! Honestly, the increase in image quality for Full Frame with the new processors is not that significant over APS-C with their new processors to justify the 2 fold increase in price for a DSLR.
X Mount please!!
I agree....but photography snobs just sigh and complain it's not Full Frame. Heck I sold my D700 and bought a few D7000s a few years ago. I shot at least 1 full wedding season with DX cameras which worked out better than the FF cameras at the time (I couldn't afford 3 D3s cameras).
I think there is some legit concern over the fact that it is DX. Well I'll happily say that FX has a 2 stops ISO advantage over DX which makes the 1.8 no better than the 2.8 for speed. Larger sensor also negates bokeh advantages.
However, I wouldn't suggest getting a f1.8 FX zoom, cause... well it'll just be too damn heavy and expensive to be worthwhile.
The F1.8 DX in and of itself, pretty good but why the hassle when upgrading the body alone will make all the F2.8 lenses available F1.8 DX equivalent and let primes perform to their full potential.
For Nikon at least, all it needs to refresh its lenses are VR and bringing back the aperture ring. that'll then be perfect for video and photography. I'm currently using mostly AF-D glass cause (of $ and) there's just so much more control for every thing imaginable and I don't even shoot video yet.
This will lock my thought of getting aps-c sensor for back up.
This is one of those "OH MY FREAKING GOD" announcements that seem too good to be true... Then you discover it is designed for APS-C bodies...
I don't understand why everyone is so upset about the APS-C bodies. I mean, this is the first time in my career I actually own all FF sensors but that is only because the D400 never came out. IMO it's still really convenient to have a DX camera. The image quality in every single DSLR out at the moment blows away the quality I had with my first D200 and maybe even my D700 at this point. If a FF 1.8 zoom is not physically possible (weight, size, cost) then honestly it seems like the next batch of DX cameras could actually be better than the FF counter parts if you gain over 2 stops of light with a zoom lens that is 1.8.
Patrick...you and me are in the same boat. I was waiting for D400 until Fujifilm came and snatched me away. Shame Nikon!!
And I agree with you wholeheartedly. With so much improvement in the APS-C scene, why the need for full frame really?
make one for M4/3 please.
can't stop looking at it, these new designs are absolutely gorgeous
Something to keep in mind: the shorter true FL and longer camera-subject distance due to this being a cropped lens compromises its shallow DoF capabilities. Still, fast f/1.8 WA is impressive. Will hold off buying the Nikon 28mm.
24-70 f/1.8 for full frame then you got my attention, and most likely my money.
yeah, allllll of your money ;)
Seriously folks, there's a reason great lenses cost a lot of money and it ain't the brand name.
There's probably tons of vignette wide open; you can't bend the laws of physics.
You don't have to, if the glasses are large enough and if the construction is well-designed, the vignette will be decreased to a level you can wipe in off easily in Lightroom.
Judging from the lens mount, this is not a large lens. To get proper f/1.8 this thing would need to be twice as large
this is going to be perfect for apsc. since its too good be true, i'm quite wary of the price.
Given the recent performance vs price ratios of new sigma and tamron lenses I doubt it will be very expensive for the quality of the glass. That is if this zoom can perform as well as the "A" on the lens implies.
Crop sensor only #fail... I wish they would do this for the full frame guys.
I would be much more excited if this was full frame.
sweet !
What?!?! Go Sigma. Game changer. If it is sharp and affordable. Game changer for Nikon and Canon.
definitely not the first zoom lens to maintain f/1.8, just the first designed specifically for (APS-C) still cameras. Fujinon has a few t/1.9 (so probably even faster than f/1.8) S35 PL mount lenses (again, APS-C size coverage) and Zeiss has a few T/2.0 (about f1/.8) 2/3" lenses. Even though photo has been around longer, the slightly smaller film/sensor sizes (and large hollywood budgets) have allowed for more interesting developments in technology, earlier.