A Summary of Sigma Lens Rumors

[ecka]

My missing Art lens list is:
Sigma 12mm f/2.8 DG ART
Sigma 20mm f/1.8 DG ART
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG MACRO (1:3-ish) ART
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG ART
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG OS ART
Sigma 100-300 f/4 DG OS ART

Missing in this list is the 28mm, or is 28mm a dead prime focal length?

As a prime shooter, I don't really miss anything in-between 24mm and 35mm FLs . Sigma has the old 28/1.8 DG Macro in their line up, which isn't that great on FF (actually, none of the 3 are). If I remember correctly, they released all three (20/1.8, 24/1.8 and 28/1.8 ) at the same time some 15 years ago. So, if they decide to remake all three lenses for their Art lineup, then 28mm would get the least of my attention, unless it would be superior optically by a reasonable amount. For me, something like a single 21/1.8 DG Art would be perfect .

 

[garyknrd]

I am personally really excited about the 300-600mm lens. Will have to wait and see what it is. And a few reviews. Having two of Sigmas telephoto lenses, and using them with the FANTASTIC Pentax K-3. I am in heaven. I love it so much I sent all the gear into C.R.I.S. to get calibrated together. Might pick up a GH4 to go with the Sigma lenses for video..
I am just about to buy the 18-35 1.8.. In Pentax mount... If AF is ok.. I will be in heaven...

Man I am hoping Canon really knocks my socks off with the 7D II..

 

[Lee Jay]

hmmmmm...I rather like the sound of a 24-70mm f/2 DG ART....

But you probably wouldn't like the weight. Or vignetting. Or price (ymmv). Really, this won't happen, where's a reason the rest of the world builds f2.8 zooms - "faster" means accepting a unbalance not compatible with mass market production/sales.

Which is, apparently, why no one builds a 70-200/2.8, a 120-300/2.8, a 300/2.8 prime, a 200/2 prime, or anything bigger than a 24-70/2.8.

 

[Plainsman]

Surely 300-600/5.6 ie same front lens size as their 120-300.

With very moderate 600/300 ratio it should in theory mean consistent performance across the zoom range.

Best of luck to Sigma if they pull it off and actually make this one.

Unfortunately, the 120-300 weighs 3.39 kg, just over a kilo more than the Canon 300mm f/2.8 II. That is too heavy for me without a tripod or monopod.

...when you add a Canon 2x TC to the 300/2.8II then the weight difference is not very much.

The Canon 300/28 II with 2xTC III weighs 2.675 kg, which is 0.715 kg or 1lb 9 oz lighter than the Sigma 120-300mm, which some of would find to be quite significant held at the end of a camera.

....but actually to get the flexibility of a 300-600 you would need to carry the extra 1.4xTC in your kitbag so the weight difference is actually pretty negligible...

 

[AcutancePhotography]

Sigma 135mm f/1.8 OS Art. Aghhhhh.....

It be a shutup and take my money moment.

That would be sweet. Sad, since I recently purchased a 85mm that I like.. but at that time there was no rumour of a Sigma 85. Sigh.

Note to Sigma, if you publish a list of future lenses, it gives potential customers the infomation they need to schedule their lens purchases.

I guess I will wait for the 135. I have never shot a 135 prime before but I hear good things about that FL.

 

[mrsfotografie]

My missing Art lens list is:
Sigma 12mm f/2.8 DG ART
Sigma 20mm f/1.8 DG ART
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG MACRO (1:3-ish) ART
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG ART
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG OS ART
Sigma 100-300 f/4 DG OS ART

Missing in this list is the 28mm, or is 28mm a dead prime focal length?

As a prime shooter, I don't really miss anything in-between 24mm and 35mm FLs . Sigma has the old 28/1.8 DG Macro in their line up, which isn't that great on FF (actually, none of the 3 are). If I remember correctly, they released all three (20/1.8, 24/1.8 and 28/1.8 ) at the same time some 15 years ago. So, if they decide to remake all three lenses for their Art lineup, then 28mm would get the least of my attention, unless it would be superior optically by a reasonable amount. For me, something like a single 21/1.8 DG Art would be perfect .

Actually the 20mm is a rear focus design and it doesn't change length when focusing. That makes it a bit of a different beast from its 24 and 28 mm siblings that have a front focusing design. I'm really satisfied with my copy by the way - it's a solid piece of glass that interestingly can generate quite nice bokeh when you use its near focusing ability.

 

[Matthew Saville]

Why do people keep thinking that a 24-70mm f/2 is even remotely likely?

Have they not held the already behemoth Canon 24-70 2.8 mk2 or Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC, both which require 82mm filter threads just to sharply render that zoom range at 2.8?

Have they not noticed that the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC is only a 2x zoom, not a 3x, and that it only needs to worry about a largest diaphragm of 35 / 1.8 and an APS-C image circle? (HUGE difference from 70mm f/2 with an FX image circle!!)

Whether or not they actually make one, my point is that existing facts point to their being absolutely zero possibility / likelihood of it happening. The whole thing was started as wishful thinking, and remains nothing more than just wishful thinking / urban myth, to this day.

Now a 16-24mm or 18-28mm f/1.8 FX, THAT I could get behind.

=Matt=

 

[Marsu42]

Why do people keep thinking that a 24-70mm f/2 is even remotely likely?

Hope dies last and if there is nothing really looking forwards to (clean iso 12800, f2 zooms, ...) you won't be able to satisfy your gear acquisition syndrome in the future, meaning severe withdrawal symptoms in the future.

 

[ecka]

My missing Art lens list is:
Sigma 12mm f/2.8 DG ART
Sigma 20mm f/1.8 DG ART
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG MACRO (1:3-ish) ART
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG ART
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG OS ART
Sigma 100-300 f/4 DG OS ART

Missing in this list is the 28mm, or is 28mm a dead prime focal length?

As a prime shooter, I don't really miss anything in-between 24mm and 35mm FLs . Sigma has the old 28/1.8 DG Macro in their line up, which isn't that great on FF (actually, none of the 3 are). If I remember correctly, they released all three (20/1.8, 24/1.8 and 28/1.8 ) at the same time some 15 years ago. So, if they decide to remake all three lenses for their Art lineup, then 28mm would get the least of my attention, unless it would be superior optically by a reasonable amount. For me, something like a single 21/1.8 DG Art would be perfect .

Actually the 20mm is a rear focus design and it doesn't change length when focusing. That makes it a bit of a different beast from its 24 and 28 mm siblings that have a front focusing design. I'm really satisfied with my copy by the way - it's a solid piece of glass that interestingly can generate quite nice bokeh when you use its near focusing ability.

Well, I didn't find any decent samples from Ʃ20mm f/1.8 when I was looking for something really wide and the reviews weren't very promising either. So I just skipped it and grabbed a Samyang 14/2.8UMC. However, I was considering the 12-24mm DG HSM zoom too, but Sigma's QC was awful back then. Crazy copy variation lottery wasn't very tempting, rather scary. Maybe Art version of 12-24mm is more realistic and reasonable expectation. The new(ish) Sigma 8-16mm DC HSM is very good.
And yeah, that macro feature is a very nice and unique selling point. I hope Sigma will include it in their next 24mm.

 

[mrsfotografie]

Well, I didn't find any decent samples from Ʃ20mm f/1.8 when I was looking for something really wide and the reviews weren't very promising either. So I just skipped it and grabbed a Samyang 14/2.8UMC. However, I was considering the 12-24mm DG HSM zoom too, but Sigma's QC was awful back then. Crazy copy variation lottery wasn't very tempting, rather scary. Maybe Art version of 12-24mm is more realistic and reasonable expectation. The new(ish) Sigma 8-16mm DC HSM is very good.
And yeah, that macro feature is a very nice and unique selling point. I hope Sigma will include it in their next 24mm.

That feature alone make the 20mm Sigma a lens worth having IMHO. I consider it one of my specialty/fun lenses that may not win any technical awards but it sure is a great creative tool if used wisely.

I've attached two samples shot with this lens that show its capabilities. Both shot with a 5D MkII.

 

[ecka]

Well, I didn't find any decent samples from Ʃ20mm f/1.8 when I was looking for something really wide and the reviews weren't very promising either. So I just skipped it and grabbed a Samyang 14/2.8UMC. However, I was considering the 12-24mm DG HSM zoom too, but Sigma's QC was awful back then. Crazy copy variation lottery wasn't very tempting, rather scary. Maybe Art version of 12-24mm is more realistic and reasonable expectation. The new(ish) Sigma 8-16mm DC HSM is very good.
And yeah, that macro feature is a very nice and unique selling point. I hope Sigma will include it in their next 24mm.

That feature alone make the 20mm Sigma a lens worth having IMHO. I consider it one of my specialty/fun lenses that may not win any technical awards but it sure is a great creative tool if used wisely.

I've attached two samples shot with this lens that show its capabilities. Both shot with a 5D MkII.

Nice shots. But when I look closely I see f/8, the uniqueness is lost and the 20mm doesn't have that feature, or does it? I think it is 1:4+ at MFD, similar to many other wide angle lenses like 17-40L.

 

[mrsfotografie]

Well, I didn't find any decent samples from Ʃ20mm f/1.8 when I was looking for something really wide and the reviews weren't very promising either. So I just skipped it and grabbed a Samyang 14/2.8UMC. However, I was considering the 12-24mm DG HSM zoom too, but Sigma's QC was awful back then. Crazy copy variation lottery wasn't very tempting, rather scary. Maybe Art version of 12-24mm is more realistic and reasonable expectation. The new(ish) Sigma 8-16mm DC HSM is very good.
And yeah, that macro feature is a very nice and unique selling point. I hope Sigma will include it in their next 24mm.

That feature alone make the 20mm Sigma a lens worth having IMHO. I consider it one of my specialty/fun lenses that may not win any technical awards but it sure is a great creative tool if used wisely.

I've attached two samples shot with this lens that show its capabilities. Both shot with a 5D MkII.

Nice shots. But when I look closely I see f/8, the uniqueness is lost and the 20mm doesn't have that feature, or does it? I think it is 1:4+ at MFD, similar to many other wide angle lenses like 17-40L.

The MFD is shorter; 0.2m.

Attached: f/2.5, f/1.8. Hand held.

It is a lens I use rarely, so it's fine by my standards.

 

[Lee Jay]

Why do people keep thinking that a 24-70mm f/2 is even remotely likely?

Have they not held the already behemoth Canon 24-70 2.8 mk2 or Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC, both which require 82mm filter threads just to sharply render that zoom range at 2.8?

They are modestly sized lenses. Not big at all.

Have they not noticed that the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC is only a 2x zoom, not a 3x, and that it only needs to worry about a largest diaphragm of 35 / 1.8 and an APS-C image circle? (HUGE difference from 70mm f/2 with an FX image circle!!)

18mm f/1.8 on crop is a harder thing to get to than 24mm and f/2. This is because Sigma's crop lenses don't reach into the body like EF-s lenses do, so they have to have the regular back focus distance of a full-frame lens. This makes 18mm much more strongly retrofocus than 24mm, and f/1.8 is still faster than f/2. I doubt much in the 18-35 is driven by the aperture at the long end, and 70/2 is still only 35mm, which isn't very much aperture. My 85/1.8 is silly tiny and has 47mm of aperture.

 

[ecka]

Well, I didn't find any decent samples from Ʃ20mm f/1.8 when I was looking for something really wide and the reviews weren't very promising either. So I just skipped it and grabbed a Samyang 14/2.8UMC. However, I was considering the 12-24mm DG HSM zoom too, but Sigma's QC was awful back then. Crazy copy variation lottery wasn't very tempting, rather scary. Maybe Art version of 12-24mm is more realistic and reasonable expectation. The new(ish) Sigma 8-16mm DC HSM is very good.
And yeah, that macro feature is a very nice and unique selling point. I hope Sigma will include it in their next 24mm.

That feature alone make the 20mm Sigma a lens worth having IMHO. I consider it one of my specialty/fun lenses that may not win any technical awards but it sure is a great creative tool if used wisely.

I've attached two samples shot with this lens that show its capabilities. Both shot with a 5D MkII.

Nice shots. But when I look closely I see f/8, the uniqueness is lost and the 20mm doesn't have that feature, or does it? I think it is 1:4+ at MFD, similar to many other wide angle lenses like 17-40L.

The MFD is shorter; 0.2m.

Attached: f/2.5, f/1.8. Hand held.

It is a lens I use rarely, so it's fine by my standards.

Nice sky in the second one. Now I can't stop thinking about this lens . Could be GAS infection.

 

[mrsfotografie]

Nice sky in the second one. Now I can't stop thinking about this lens . Could be GAS infection.

That's the way GAS works, anyway if you think your creativity is enhanced by such a lens, you should go ahead and buy one. I personally think the new price is a bit steep at the moment (€619 in the Netherlands, somehow this lens is getting more and more expensive to buy new) but it's a good lens to pick up second hand if you can find a nice and clean copy.

 

[lexptr]

My missing Art lens list is:
Sigma 12mm f/2.8 DG ART
Sigma 20mm f/1.8 DG ART
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG MACRO (1:3-ish) ART
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG ART
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG OS ART
Sigma 100-300 f/4 DG OS ART

The Sigma 100-300 f/4 DG OS ART is an interesting option. I have the old one, but it is the worst lens I have and the only one of my lenses I would prefer not to buy. It is capable to give very good results. Sometimes... Look at any birds on my website: www.len-lex.com/gallery.asp - all ware taken with that lens. But sometimes it just keeps failing. E.g. I shoot in good light from tripod with remote release and fine-focusing with liveview, fast shutter, no wind or earthquakes, but the result is damn blurry! Very inconsistent. Maybe it is just a bad copy. Anyway, with current level of Sigma's lenses it is very interesting to see such lens reworked. And OS would be a very useful thing on it. Kinda love and hate story, which probably would be better with the renewed version
And if we speak about birding – 100-300 is too short actually. Even with TC x1.4. So the rumored 300-600mm f/? OS Sport would also be interesting. I hope it will be constant f/4. It is not an easy task, but really isn't something impossible for Sigma. What I would be even more interested to see is a refresh of their super-telephoto primes! I do hope one day to get something like 500mm f/4 IS, but Canon's options are insanely expensive. Something IQ-comparable from Sigma for half the price and I'm in!

 

[ecka]

My missing Art lens list is:
Sigma 12mm f/2.8 DG ART
Sigma 20mm f/1.8 DG ART
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG MACRO (1:3-ish) ART
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG ART
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG OS ART
Sigma 100-300 f/4 DG OS ART

The Sigma 100-300 f/4 DG OS ART is an interesting option. I have the old one, but it is the worst lens I have and the only one of my lenses I would prefer not to buy. It is capable to give very good results. Sometimes... Look at any birds on my website: www.len-lex.com/gallery.asp - all ware taken with that lens. But sometimes it just keeps failing. E.g. I shoot in good light from tripod with remote release and fine-focusing with liveview, fast shutter, no wind or earthquakes, but the result is damn blurry! Very inconsistent. Maybe it is just a bad copy. Anyway, with current level of Sigma's lenses it is very interesting to see such lens reworked. And OS would be a very useful thing on it. Kinda love and hate story, which probably would be better with the renewed version
And if we speak about birding – 100-300 is too short actually. Even with TC x1.4. So the rumored 300-600mm f/? OS Sport would also be interesting. I hope it will be constant f/4. It is not an easy task, but really isn't something impossible for Sigma. What I would be even more interested to see is a refresh of their super-telephoto primes! I do hope one day to get something like 500mm f/4 IS, but Canon's options are insanely expensive. Something IQ-comparable from Sigma for half the price and I'm in!

Yes, I remember all the old Σ100-300/4 reviews being very controversial, due to obvious reasons like bad QC and copy variation. Now, the new Σ120-300/2.8 is just crazy good (for a sigma zoom ), even with TCs. IMHO, the updated Σ100-300/4 (or 300-600mm) should be really good.