Sigma Reorganizes Lens Lineup & Introduces New Products and QC Measures

Sigma Reorganizes Lens Lineup & Introduces New Products and QC Measures

Here's a little interesting development: Starting immediately, all newly produced interchangeable lenses from Sigma will be designed for and organized into one of three product categories: Contemporary, Art and Sports. Sigma is also launching three new lenses. Haven't seen this from anyone done quite the way Sigma is going at it. So what does it mean?

Sigma has broken down the lenses into three categories:

Contemporary – These lenses incorporate the very latest technology and keep size and weight to a minimum, without compromising their advanced optical performance or utility. High-performance, versatile, compact and superbly portable, these lenses will be largely comprised of standard zooms, telephoto zooms and high-magnification zooms for an array of photography, including landscape and travel photography, and casual portraiture.

Art – These lenses are developed with an emphasis on artistic touch and are designed to meet the expectations of users who value a creative, dramatic outcome. Along with landscapes, portraits, still-life, close-up and casual snaps, these lenses are perfect for the kind of photography that unleashes the inner artist. Ideal for studio photography, they offer just as much of an expressive scope when capturing architecture, starry skies, underwater shots and many other scenes. This category will be comprised of many focal lengths and designs, such as large-aperture prime lenses, wide-angle lenses, ultra wide-angle lenses, and macro and fisheye lenses.

Sports - With their high-level optical performance and expressive power, these lenses can capture fast-moving subjects, even at distance. This line also offers a variety of functions to aid the photographer in challenging conditions and scenarios. Besides sports photography, the lenses are also ideal for nature shots featuring birds, wild animals and other creatures, and for the capture of aircraft, trains, race cars and more. The Sports line is also unique in that users can adjust the lenses’ focus speeds and the focus limiters via a button on the lens. The Sports category will be comprised of telephoto lenses, telephoto zoom lenses, super telephoto lenses, super telephoto zoom lenses, and more.

With these categories come three new lenses:

 

 

17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM




This new Contemporary lens is designed for cameras with an APS-c sensor and covers a range equivalent to 25.5 to 105mm on a 35mm camera. An upgrade to its predecessor, which was released in December 2009, this general purpose lens offers a new design and a more compact build.

 

 

35mm F1.4 DG HSM




This Art lens provides photographers with a state-of-the-art alternative to the more conventional 50mm. This lens’ axial chromatic aberration is minimized, which renders a cool and smooth out-of-focus image. At low apertures, it can perform like a wide-angle lens; when opened up to F1.4, it will provide background bokeh and make the subject pop like a mid-range telephoto lens.

 

 

120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM




With redesigned mechanics and performance, this Sports lens is an update from its predecessor released in February 2011. This high-performance lens eases difficult shooting conditions by offering a maximum focal length of 300mm and a wide-open aperture of F2.8. This lens, like the other Sports category lenses to come, is dust and moisture resistant, and allows users to adjust the focus speed and the focus limiter via a button on the lens.

 

 

But wait! There's more. Sigma also releases new user-control tools and software with new quality control measures:

The new Sigma Optimization Pro software and USB Dock are designed exclusively for the new lenses within the new product lines. They will enable Sigma users to connect their lenses to their computers to update lens firmware and fine-tune focus parameters via easy-to-use, on-screen controls.




All of these new lenses will also be subject to Sigma’s new, proprietary modulation transfer function (MTF) measuring system called “A1.” Named in honor of the company’s sole production base, the Aizu factory in Aizu, Japan, the A1 system will allow inspectors to verify previously undetectable high-frequency details in each lens before it is shipped.
Jaron Schneider's picture

Jaron Schneider is an Fstoppers Contributor and an internationally published writer and cinematographer from San Francisco, California. His clients include Maurice Lacroix, HD Supply, SmugMug, the USAF Thunderbirds and a host of industry professionals.

Log in or register to post comments
21 Comments

AMAZING.. I want them ALL

Great stuff coming from Sigma! I had the original 17-70 and I'm sure this new one will be ever better with OS and HSM. The new 35/1.4 is just what I was looking for as my next lens actually. The real groundbreaking product though is the ability fine tune the AF of a lens on your computer. Gone are the days of sending back back-focusing lenses!

After spending months looking for a decent alternative to the 35L, I was pretty much ready to cave in and buy it... Gonna have to check out the Sigma now. I love the new styling but there's no indication of what type of motor it has - hopefully an HSM.

The quality gap between the craptastic Canon 35mm f/2 and the 35L is ridiculous. There's definitely a market for an autofocusing fast 35 for Canon.

Found the specs: 
http://www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses/cas/product/art/a_35_14.html

It is an HSM motor and it uses their new FLD glass :)

As someone who is hanging off buying a 35 2.0 from Canon on the off chance that they'd update it soon, the Sigma 1.4 looks pretty tasty. I may have to try one out when they're available.

I've never owned a Sigma lens, but that 35mm looks sweet - I am eagerly awaiting a review!!!

I'm excited. I love the design of the lenses, and glad to hear of the improved QC they're putting into practice. I am especially interested in the 120-300 as an alternative to the 70-200's we're all accustomed to. I have always wanted that extra reach while at 2.8.

 If it's anything like it's predecessors then I would get a head start at the gym now whilst they're waiting to release the weight specs.... the last two (and probably this one) are beasts, weighing just short of double the weight of a 70-200 f2.8I S ii

But, much handier than taking out a 70-200 and a 300 prime

Fine tuning focus from a computer seems like some forward thinking.

Looks classy, the way i like it.

It's gonna be lots of fun doing quality control in person at home by ourselves.
https://www.voyageeyewear.com

Anyone know when pricing will be introduced? That 35 is calling my name...

cool to see sigma pushing Nikon and Canon to come up with something new. Lets hope the IQ and picture quality lives up to the looks and innovation :) 

I really love my Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS, if the 35mm f/1.4 comes in an EF mount, I will have to pick one up!

 If the 35 is anything like the 50/1.4 & 85/1.4, it's going to be awesome ;)

I wonder what happened to the 'EX' designation.  The 35 f1.4 and 120-300mm f2.8 look like they're worth having the EX brand.

Yes, I was wondering where the EX designations were and why the lenses are plain black with no gold band ... they also seem to use a new font and a new style which almost looks like a refinement of more traditional lenses.

I'm not interested in the 17-70, but the 35 f/1.4 & the new 120-300 both interest me somewhat :)

Is Sigma redesigning the whole lens line-up?

The 17-70 OS is amazing as a replacement/upgrade from many APS-C kit lenses. I had the version before this.

That 35 is calling my name though.

Would love a wide Shallow DoF prime. 
Let's see what the price is - Nikon 35mm 1.4G is £1300!(24mm 1.4 is £1500!)

I haven't owned a Sigma lens in twenty years or more but these look nice. Anyone know if the 120-300 has image stabilization? I'm not sure what DG and OS stand for.