A Journey Through Innovation With Sigma's Wildest Lenses

The Sigma Corporation, founded in 1960, has a deep history of producing innovative and daring camera lenses, which has earned them a prestigious reputation, particularly in recent years.

Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this fascinating video showcases Sigma's adventurous spirit through a tour of some of their most unusual and groundbreaking lenses. Sigma's willingness to experiment has led to many firsts in the optics world, such as the introduction of teleconverters in 1961 and the first ultra-wide zoom lens in 1979, representing a philosophy of pushing boundaries that appeals to those seeking unique photographic tools.

One of the standout lenses discussed is the 50-500mm, known as the "Bigma," introduced in 2001. This lens was revolutionary for its time due to its extensive zoom range, making it ideal for safari and birdwatching. Despite its early version having poor image quality, Sigma's redesign in 2010 brought significant improvements, including image stabilization and sharper images, making it a worthy consideration even today.

Another notable lens is the 300-800mm "Sigmonster," launched in 2002. This lens, with its constant f/5.6 aperture and massive size, is a beast both in terms of weight and performance. While it lacks image stabilization and is cumbersome to carry, its sophisticated autofocus and impressive reach make it a valuable tool for wildlife and sports photography. I fondly wished for one for many years when I first started in photography.

Sigma’s innovation continued with the 20mm f/1.8 in 2008, the first ultra-wide-angle lens with such a bright aperture. This lens was a favorite for artistic photography, though it had limitations like soft image quality and heavy vignetting. Its successor, the 20mm f/1.4 Art lens, vastly improved on these shortcomings, offering superior sharpness and functionality, particularly for astrophotography.

In the same year, Sigma pushed the limits with the 200-500mm f/2.8, an enormous lens that stands out for its extreme specifications. Weighing 16 kg and requiring a battery for zoom and focus, this lens is not for casual use. However, its unique capabilities, such as achieving 1000mm with a teleconverter, make it a dream for specific professional applications despite its impracticality for everyday photography. It's still a legendary lens today.

The 18-35mm f/1.8, introduced in 2013, was the first zoom lens with such a wide aperture for APS-C cameras. Its exceptional image quality, rivaling prime lenses, made it a favorite among video creators and photographers alike. This innovation was followed by the 50-100mm f/1.8, which offered similar benefits and continued to set Sigma apart as a leader in lens development.

The latest from Sigma is the 28-45mm f/1.8 Art lens, the brightest aperture full frame zoom ever made. Its exceptional image quality and versatile zoom range make it a potential replacement for several prime lenses, although it remains a specialty item due to its size and cost. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Frost.