Photo Club

Sigma has used Photokina to showcase four new lenses.

First up is the 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG which is equipped with a built-in HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor).

The 14-element-in-12 group lens includes Extraordinary Low Dispersion (ELD) and Special Low Dispersion (SLD) elements.

It will come in Sigma, Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Sony AF fits at a price yet to be announced.

Also new is a 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens designed for use on Four Thirds digital SLRs. Features include a minimum focusing distance of 45cm, maximum magnification of 1:7.4 and full-time manual focus override. It will cost £379.99.

Sigma has also unveiled 10mm and 4.5mm fisheye lenses for Pentax and Sony digital SLRs with an APS-C size imaging sensor. Both include a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and HSM.

The 4.5mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM, priced £599.99, has an angle of view of 180 degrees ‘in all directions’, producing a circular image within the frame (when used with a DSLR with an APS-C size sensor).

‘The minimum focusing distance is 13.5cm and maximum magnification of 1:6 make it particularly useful for close-up photography,’ according to the firm.

While, the 10mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM will cost £449.99 and is said to deliver a diagonal angle of view of 180 degrees.

SLD glass helps to minimise colour aberration on both lenses.

Click photo to see Sigma’s newest lenses announced at PMA 2008.

At the 2008 PMA trade show in Las Vegas, NV, Sigma unveiled three brand-new optically stabilized zoom lenses, and versions of five existing lenses that broaden their compatibility with DSLR brands. The company also displayed the massive 200-500mm lens with a 400-1000mm converter that first barged onto the PMA show floor in 2007. Sigma says it will be available sometime during 2008 for a price that will probably be set between $20,000 and $30,000.

The widest of the brand-new zooms is the compact Sigma 18-125mm F3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM. It includes SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass, a molded-glass aspherical element, and two hybrid aspherical elements to minimize optical flaws. The front element features a super multi-layer coating to reduce flare and ghosting. The lens offers a minimum focus distance of 13.8 inches at all focal lengths and provides a maximum magnification of 1:3.8. It uses Sigma’s HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) to achieve quick, quiet autofocus and full-time manual focusing capability. The lens will be available in Summer 2008 with Sigma, Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony mounts.

The wider of the two new telephoto zooms is the Sigma APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM. It incorporates three SLD elements, HSM autofocus, and super multi-layer coating. It offers a minimum focus distance is 59.1 inches and a maximum magnification of 1:4.2. The lens is also equipped with a rear-focus system to further minimize optical flaws by reducing fluctuations caused by focusing. 

The new ultra-telephoto zoom, the Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM, also includes three SLD elements, HSM autofocus, super multi-layer coating, and a rear-focus system. It offers a minimum focus distance of 86.6 inches and a maximum magnification of 1:5.2. The lens comes with a removable tripod socket.

Both of the telephoto zooms are available with Sigma, Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony mounts, and are compatible with Sigma’s 1.4x EX DG APO and 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters.

New versions of existing lenses include:

• Four-Thirds-mount , which will be available in February 2008 for a $730 retail price;

• Sony- and Pentax-mount Sigma APO 50-150mm F2.8 II EX DC HSM and Sony-, Pentax-, and Four-Thirds-mount APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG Macro HSM. Sigma announced the lenses with mounts for other digital SLR brands in December 2007. The 50-150mm lens will be available in February 2008 for a $1350 retail price, and the 70-200mm lens will be available later this year for a $1420 retail price. Street prices can be expected to be significantly lower.

• Nikon-mount Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG Macro and APO 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG Macro. The new lenses have a built-in motor to make them fully compatible with Nikon digital SLRs that do not use body-driven autofocus. They will cost $200 and $300, respectively, and will be available in Spring 2008.

Sigma APO 70-200mm Macro HSM lens : The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG Macro HSM. This large aperture zoom lens has improved optical performance and retains close-up ability with a minimum focusing distance of 100cm/39.4in and maximum magnification ration of 1:3.5. This lens is suitable for taking all type of subjects such as portraits, landscape, and close-up pictures. Two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) and three ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. The super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting.
APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG Macro
This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed AF as well as full-time manual focusing capability. The lens design incorporates an inner focusing and inner zooming systems. The overall length of the lens does not change during focusing and zooming, ensuring convenient handling. A removable tripod collar (TS-21) is included as a standard component. When this lens is used with the optional 1.4x EX DG APO or 2x EX DG APO dpTele Converters, it becomes a 98-280mm F4 AF telephoto zoom lens or a 140-400mm F5.6 AF telephoto zoom lens respectively. The APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG Macro HSM will be supplied with a Case, Petal-type Hood (LH850-01) and Tripod Collar(TS-21).

Sigma 70-200mm lens Features
• Improved optical performance with a minimum focusing distance of 100cm/39.4in and maximum magnification of 1:3.5
• Two SLD and three ELD glass elements provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations
• Super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting
• HSM ensures quiet, high speed autofocus with full time manual focusing
• APO Tele Converter is available

Sigma 70-200mm lens Specifications
• Lens construction : 18Elements 15Groups
• Angle of view : 34.3°-12.3°
• Number of blades : 9pcs
• Minimum Aperture : F22
• Minimum Focusing Distance : 100cm/39.4in
• Maximum Magnification : 1:3.5
• Filter Size: �77mm
• Lens Hood: Petal-type Hood
• Dimensions(Diameter X Length) : �86.5mm X 184.4mm/3.4in. X 7.3in.
• Weight : 1370g / 48.3oz

Sigma APO 70-200mm Macro HSM lens Accessories
• Sigma DG UV 77 mm 00-85126-92375-4
• Sigma DG Wide Circular PL 77mm 00-85126-92386-0
• Sigma Tripod Socket TS-21 (Supplied) 00-85126-56602-9
• Sigma Tripod Docket TS-41 (Long Tripod Collar) 00-85126-52902-4
• Sigma Lens Hood LH850-01 (Supplied) 00-85126-92419-5

Fisheye lens with close up ability designed exclusively for use with APS-C size digital SLR cameras

10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE HSM

• Fisheye lens designed specifically for APS-C digital SLR cameras
• 13.5cm minimum focusing distance and 1:3.3 maximum magnification allows close up photography
• Equipped with HSM allowing full-time manual focus override
• Equisolid angle projection system is possible for art and scientific use

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE HSM lens.

This autofocus fisheye lens is designed for use with digital SLR cameras equipped with APS-C size image sensors. The Nikon version produces a diagonal angle of view of 180°(154°for Sigma, 167°for Canon). The diagonal field of view of this fisheye lens produces striking images with exaggerated perspective and distortion. The minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm/5.3inch, and maximum magnification 1:3.3 allows subjects to be as close as 1.8cm/0.7inch from the lens’ front element. This close focusing capability allows close-up photography and also it is possible to make use of large depth of field that covers wide range of subjects. The Integral hood blocks out extraneous light and the Super Multi-Layer Coating minimizes flare and ghosting, creating superior image quality. The HSM(Hyper Sonic Motor)ensures fast and quiet autofocusing and allows full-time manual focus override by rotation of the focus ring. This lens is supplied with a gelatin filter holder at the rear, allowing the use of gelatin filters.

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Sigma has introduced an HSM version of its optically stabilized f/3.5-6.3 18mm-200mm autofocus zoom lens, which we tested recently. The addition of a built-in hypersonic motor (HSM) allows quiet, high-speed focusing and makes the lens fully compatible with all Nikon digital SLRs, including those that do not use body-driven autofocus motors, including the D40 and D40x. The lens is designed to be used with cameras that use APS-C-size sensors. Sigma warns that using the lens with larger sensors and film-based 35mm cameras will cause vignetting.

The lens offers a minimum focus distance of 17.7 inches throughout its focal-length range and a maximum magnification of 1:3.9. A magnification scale is displayed on the lens barrel, which also incorporates a zoom lock switch. The optics include a Special Low Dispersion element and three aspherical elements, as well as multi-layer coatings, to minimize optical flaws. The lens has a 72mm filter diameter.

Pentax has introduced a new 14x zoom lens for its digital SLRs. The smc Pentax DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3ED AL [IF] offers the same 76- to 6.5-degree angle of view as a 27.5mm-383mm lens on a 35mm camera. The lens incorporates two extra-low dispersion (ED) elements and two aspherical elements to minimize optical flaws, and offers a close-focus distance of 1.48 feet at any focal length. Its maximum magnification is 0.28x, and it can stop down to f/45 at the long end or f/22 at wide angle. Relatively compact despite its range, the 16-ounce optic takes a 62mm filter.

The lens will be available in October 2007 for $499.95.