Sigma Announcements Report News & Deals

 
From Sigma:
 
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC HSM, the large-aperture APS-C standard lens.
 
“SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC HSM”, the large-aperture standard lens with an angle of view equivalent to 45mm on a 35mm camera, is a superb go-to lens for artistic photography on an APS-C format digital SLR. Offering the bright f/1.4 aperture and an angle of view extremely close to that of human vision, this lens is ideal for many different types of photographic expression.
 
Featuring an advanced design and the latest manufacturing technologies, SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC HSM, the large-aperture APS-C format standard lens delivers the highest level of image quality worthy of the Art line. The photographer can leverage the shallow depth of field that creates beautiful bokeh for snap shots, portraits, landscapes, and many different styles of photography.
 
Sigma pioneered the large-aperture, APS-C format, standard lens category with its 30mm f/1.4 lens in 2005. With new optical configurations of nine elements in eight groups, as well as rounded aperture blades, this updated lens delivers pleasing sharpness and a beautiful bokeh background. Its minimum focusing distance is 11.8 inches and its maximum magnification ratio is 1:6.8. The lens’ optimized power distribution helps to minimize field curvature, prevent a loss of image quality at the edges of photographs and produce outstanding image quality. Its double-aspheric lens minimizes spherical distortion, astigmatism and coma, and its rear focus system prevents focus-dependent variation in aberration. Together, the new optimized auto focus (AF) algorithm and rear focusing system ensure smooth and accurate focusing. The new 30mm f/1.4 is also compatible with Sigma’s new USB Dock, which will enable firmware updates and focusing adjustments, is expected to be available in coming months.

From Sigma Corporation of America:
 
Sigma Corporation of America announces pricing and availability for 180mm F2.8 macro lens
 

 
World’s first 1:1 180mm F2.8 macro lens arrives in the US in July for street price of $1,699
 
RONKONKOMA, NY July 13, 2012 – Sigma Corporation, a leading researcher, developer, manufacturer and service provider of some of the world's most impressive lines of lenses, cameras and flashes, has announced that the Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSMwill be available in the United States on July 27 for the street price of $1,699.
 
The new APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens boasts Sigma’s proprietary Optical Stabilizer (OS) technology and a wide F2.8 aperture to allow faster shutter speeds for narrow depth of field. With the OS feature, the lens offers the use of shutter speeds approximately four stops slower than would otherwise be possible, enabling handheld, close-up photography. Three “F” Low Dispersion (FLD) glass elements, which have a performance equal to fluorite glass, are included to provide excellent correction for color aberrations, and an inner focusing system enables this lens to photograph objects precisely throughout the entire focusing range. Overall length does not change during focusing.
 
“Macro photography is becoming quite popular and we’ve been growing our lineup of macro lenses as a result,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America. “We’re filling a gap in the industry by introducing the world’s first 1:1 180mm F2.8 lens to the market. The Optical Stabilizer technology and the larger focusing distance also provide photographers with more control for highly sensitive subjects that are on the move, like butterflies and insects.”
 
Equipped with the Super Multi-Layer Coating feature, the APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens reduces flare and ghosting, and delivers sharp and high contrast images, even in backlit conditions. The incorporation of Sigma’s Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) ensures quiet and high-speed autofocus, as well as full-time manual focus override capability. The macro lens has a rounded nine-blade diaphragm to create an attractive blur to the image’s out-of-focus areas. At 1:1 magnification, this lens has a focusing distance of 18.5 inches, which is a greater working distance than shorter focal length macro lenses, making it advantageous when taking pictures of highly sensitive subjects. It is also compatible with Sigma’s 1.4x EX DG APO and 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters.

The Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Lens (press release) has been announced.
 
Sigma has created a special site for the new lens.
 
Preorder at B&H or Adorama.