Today, Sigma announced a new super-range zoom lens, the 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM. The new Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM will be available in March 2009 in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony and Sigma mounts.
The combination of optical stabilization (OSM) and the hypersonic motor (HSM) makes this lens very attractive as a consumer-level all purpose lens. In my opinion, Canon really botched the opportunity to make solid super-zoom lens with its new EF-S 18-200mm IS lens by failing to put a USM motor inside it, which has resulted in a slower and noiser autofocus. If the price is right, perhaps this Sigma 18-250mm lens can fill that void with a fast focus speed and optical stabilization.
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF Lens for Sony Digital SLR Cameras
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF Lens for Sigma Digital SLR Cameras
More details in the press release below. [Read more…]
A big move for Sigma, the company has purchased Foveon, Inc, which developed the Foveon sensor. The Foveon is a 3-layer sensor, which detects the three primary colors in each pixel. Expect more from the Foveon in Sigma’s cameras next year and the years to come. The full press release follows.
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG HSM. This large aperture standard zoom lens covers focal lengths from 24mm and is housed in compact construction. The latest optical design provides an overall length of 94.7cm /3.7inch. It is ideal for general photography such as snapshots, portraiture and landscapes. The Super Multi Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting. ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass, two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements and three aspherical lenses provide excellent correction of all types of aberrations. Superior optical performance is ensured throughout the entire zoom range. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), ensuring a quiet and high speed AF as well as full time manual focusing capability. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 38cm/15in and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.3. The rounded 9 blades diaphragm creates an attractive blur. It is possible to attach the included petal-type hood to block out extraneous light.
This large aperture lens becomes a medium telephoto lens offering 100mm equivalent angle of view on Four Thirds cameras. The optimum optical design and molded glass aspherical lens elements provide excellent correction of coma aberration. It ensures superior peripheral brightness and provides sharp, high contrast images even at the maximum aperture. The Super Multi Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting. Superior optical performance is ensured throughout the focusing range. The rounded 9 blades diaphragm creates an attractive blur. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), ensuring a quiet and high speed AF as well as full time manual focusing capability.
This autofocus circular fisheye lens has an angle of view of 180 degrees in all directions. It is exclusively designed for digital SLR cameras with the APS-C size image sensor. When used in conjunction with digital SLRs with APS-C size image sensor, it produces circular image within the frame. The minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm/5.3inch and maximum magnification of 1:6 make it particularly useful for close-up photography. SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass, Super Multi Layer Coating and inner focusing system provides superior image quality. HSM ensures fast and quiet autofocusing and includes full-time manual focus.
This diagonal fisheye lens is designed for use with digital SLR cameras equipped with an APS-C size image sensor. It produces a diagonal angle of view of 180 degrees. The diagonal field of view of this fisheye lens produces striking images with exaggerated perspective and distortion. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm/5.3inch, and maximum magnification 1:3.3. It allows subjects to be as close as 1.8cm/0.7inch from the lens’ front element. The exclusively designed integral hood and the Super Multi-Layer Coating minimize flare and ghosting and create superior image quality.
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new ELECTRONIC FLASH MACRO EM-140 DG for Sony and Pentax cameras.
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new APO TELE CONVERTER 1.4x EX DG and APO TELE CONVERTER 2x EX DG for Sony mount. The new tele converters are capable of maintaining the HSM function of such telephoto lenses as Sigma’s APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG MACRO HSM and APO 50-150mm F2.8 II EX DC HSM whilst increasing the focal length by a factor of 1.4x or 2x. Of course, the HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) AF compatibility depends on the capability of the Sony SLR camera to support this function and on the maximum F number of the attached lens. The Super Multi Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting and the exclusive design maintains the master lens’ high level performance while extending its focal length. Compact and lightweight, these tele converters are a convenient way of increasing the focal length of HSM telephoto lenses.
