A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses Six years after launching the Global Vision line at this very show in 2012, Sigma took the wraps off five new lenses at Photokina this year, and we were there at the launch event to see (and handle) them for ourselves.
Click through for more information and some early first impressions.
First up is the new 56mm F1. 4 DC DN 'Contemporary' for Sony APS-C format E-mount cameras and M43 - where it provides an equivalent focal length of 84mm and 112mm, respectively.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
At 280g (9. 9 oz) the 56mm is a very lightweight lens, and with the lenshood (shown in the previous slide) removed, it's actually the smallest of Sigma's current fast-aperture E-mount / M43 primes.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
Optical construction consists of 10 elements in six groups, and the lens features a nine-bladed aperture. We weren't able to use it on a camera, but Sigma claims that 'smooth autofocus' should make this lens ideal for video use. Pricing and availability will be confirmed at a later date.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
Next up is the latest in Sigma's range of wide-aperture 'Art' series primes for full-frame ILCs - the 28mm F1. 4 DG HSM. Compared to the 56mm, this fast wideangle prime is quite a hefty piece of glass, but if performance is in line with its stablemates, it should be capable of great things.
Sigma tells us that its benchmarks were Nikon and Zeiss's 28mm F1. 4 primes, and performance from its new Art-series option should be 'best in class'.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
Key to the 28mm F1. 4's claimed performance is its optical makeup, which comprises 17 elements in 12 groups, including no fewer than three aspherical elements, two FLD and three SLD ("F" low-dispersion and 'Special' low-dispersion respectively) elements. Sigma claims that this design provides 'thorough' correction of chromatic aberration and minimal distortion.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
Unlike Sigma's earliest Art-series primes, the new range are weather-sealed, and employ water and oil-repellant coating on their front elements. The 28mm F1. 4 certainly feels like a solid professional tool, but Sigma has yet to confirm its actual weight.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
Price, likewise, is TBD but we understand that the upcoming 28mm F1. 4 will be somewhere around $1300, pre-tax.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
Even larger and even heavier is the 40mm F1. 4DG HSM. Created from Sigma's 40mm cine lens, the company claims that this fast standard prime is its sharpest ever lens of this type.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
As you can hopefully tell from our pictures, it's a big lens, measuring 87. 8mm x 131mm (3. 5in. x 5. 2in) and weighing in at 1. 2 kilos (43 oz). An 82mm filter ring is bigger than most, but not quite as bonkers as the 95mm thread on Canon's new 28-70mm F2!
Like Sigma's 28mm F1. 4, the 40mm F1. 4 is dust and moisture-sealed.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
Designed to satisfy the resolution requirements of 50MP sensors and 8K video, the 40mm F1. 4 is highly corrected for distortion (which, it is claimed, is below 1%) and coma. Optical construction consists of 16 elements in 12 groups, including three FLD and three SLD elements. Pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
This is a lens that Sigma fans (and photography fans in general) have been waiting for, for some time: the new 70-200mm F2. 8 DG OS HSM 'Sports' While not an 'Art' series lens, the 70-200mm was designed to meet the needs of the most demanding professional photographers, and the company claims that it will be competitive with own-brand equivalent lenses from the other major camera manufacturers. This shot shows off the various focus and OS switches, and the removable Arca-Swiss compatible tripod mount collar.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
The 70-200mm F2. 8 makes generous use of magnesium alloy in its construction, for strength and low weight. Sigma processes this material in-house, at a brand new factory built at its existing site in Aizu, Japan. In keeping with other Sport-line lenses, it is dust and weather-sealed, and features and oil and water-repellant coating on the front element.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
Optical construction of this internal zoom lens is pretty impressive on-paper, comprising 24 elements in 22 groups, including ten low-dispersion elements - nine 'FLD' and one SLD. Sigma claims that this advanced optical makeup ensures attractive bokeh and excellent correction of color aberrations. On the mechanical side, 'intelligent OS' is capable of correcting for shake in all directions, with total shake-reduction effectiveness still to be confirmed. Ergonomically, while we couldn't mount it on a camera (we're hoping to do that soon!) the lens feels exceptionally nicely made and very well-balanced, and some photographers will be pleased to see that Sigma has put the zoom ring at the front of the lens.
An AF function button can be customized either via the host camera or Sigma's USB Dock, and the 70-200mm will be available in Canon EF, Nikon F and Sigma SA mounts, pricing and availability still TBD.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
Last but definitely not least is the 60-600mm F4. 5-6. 3 DG OS HSM. A beast of a lens (that's a technical term) this 10X sports zoom is among Sigma's most versatile, capable of covering everything from goalmouth action at one end of a football pitch to goalmouth action at the other end without swapping lenses.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
Relatively compact at 60mm (relatively. . . ) at 600mm, this lens is quite a handful, and in terms of optical construction it just beats out the other four lenses released by Sigma by featuring 25 elements, in 19 groups. Like the 70-200mm, the 60-600mm is partially constructed using magnesium alloy from Sigma's new factory.
A closer look at Sigma's new Global Vision lenses
The 60-600mm is highly customizable, and usefully it features a zoom lock at all zoom positions, to help prevent 'zoom creep' when you're trying to frame shots. It will be available in late October for $1999.
. dpreview.com2018-9-27 15:12
