Sigma has announced the 18-35mm F1.eight DC HSM Art lens for APS-C DSLRs - the world's first constant F1.8 zoom. The lens covers a 27-52.5mm equivalent range, and will be available in Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts. As withal there is no declaration of a recommended cost. The lens will offer the depth-of-field equivalent of a constant F2.7 on full-frame, and permit the use of lower ISO settings in low light, which may under-cutting the need for some photographers to modify formats.

We're impressed to encounter a manufacturer creating a high-end lens for APS-C at a time when the big DSLR manufacturers are trying to tempt users across to total-frame bodies and the additional lenses that such a motion can crave. At a time when APS-C cameras (and their sensors) are and so good, and continue to make upwards such a large proportion of DSLR sales, it makes sense to offer loftier-quality lenses to back up them.

Bound to:

  • Printing Release
  • Specifications

Printing Release:

Sigma Corporation announces world'due south starting time F1.8 constant aperture zoom lens

New xviii-35mm F1.8 DC HSM features Global Vision Art lens design

RONKONKOMA, NY, April. 18, 2013 — Sigma Corporation of America (world wide web.sigmaphoto.com), a leading researcher, developer, manufacturer and service provider for some of the earth's most impressive lines of lenses, cameras and flashes, today announced the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Fine art lens, the marketplace's first zoom lens to achieve a maximum aperture F1.viii throughout the entire zoom range.

This revolutionary, wide aperture, standard zoom lens is created for DSLR cameras with APS-C size sensors, which translates to a focal range of 27-52.5mm on a 35mm camera. With a minimum focusing distance of 11 inches, and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:iv.3, the xviii-35mm is ideal for landscapes, portraits, still-life, studio, shut-upwards and casual photography.

"Exceptionally fast apertures were previously unavailable in zoom lenses, and then photographers turned to several prime lenses in a session to get vivid images at diverse focal lengths. We're incredibly excited to exist the beginning manufacturer to bring the F1.8 standard zoom to the market and to provide photographers with a new level of inventiveness and convenience, with the outstanding image quality at the core of the new Sigma Global Vision," said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America.

Amir-Hamzeh added that because developing a large aperture wide bending zoom lens can show to be technologically and optically challenging, often resulting in various distortions, aberrations and field curvature, Sigma has tapped into its long history as a lens pioneer to overcome those issues in this new generation lens.

"Our feel with the wide angle designs of our 12-24mm F4.v-5.6 Ii DG HSM and our viii-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM, and our enquiry and development in our Aizu factory have prepared united states of america for this technological advocacy," he said. "Our wide, drinking glass-molded aspherical lens and the incorporation of Special Low Dispersion (SLD) drinking glass take optimized power distribution of the optical elements and compensated for diverse aberrations, besides as curvature of field at the widest angle. We're extremely proud of this achievement."

The eighteen-35mm is the latest addition to the company's company'due south Fine art line of lenses, designed nether the new Global Vision. The Global Vision lenses accept a sleek new design with the manufacturing twelvemonth stamped on the butt, and are categorized by use into i of 3 groups: Art, Gimmicky and Sports. The Art category delivers loftier-level creative expression through sophisticated and arable expressive power.

The new 18-35mm lens incorporates Sigma's improved AF/MF switch and the utilise of Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) compound material, which has a loftier affinity to metal parts, consistently performs well at extreme temperatures, and reduces the size and weight of the lens. It is too compatible with Sigma'due south new USB Dock, which will exist available in coming months, enabling photographers to update lens firmware and adapt focus parameters from their computers.

Convenient handling is achieved with internal focusing and zooming, which prevents changes to the size of the lens. Additionally, the front part of the lens does not rotate, so special filters like circular polarizers can exist used.

The 18-35mm lens' Super Multi-Layer Blanket reduces flare and ghosting and provides abrupt and high contrast images, even in backlit weather condition. The petal-type hood that is supplied with the lens will provide extra protection from flare and ghosting. Sigma's Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) ensures a silent, high-speed AF function and the optimized auto focus algorithm results in smoothen focusing and total-time manual focusing capability. Lastly, the 9-blade, rounded diaphragm creates an bonny, round bokeh at big-aperture settings.

Sigma eighteen-35mm F1.8 DC HSM specifications

Principal specifications
Lens blazon Zoom lens
Max Format size APS-C / DX
Focal length xviii–35 mm
Prototype stabilization No
Lens mount Catechism EF-S, Nikon F (DX), Pentax KAF, Sigma SA Bayonet, Sony/Minolta Blastoff DT
Aperture
Maximum aperture F1.viii
Minimum aperture F16
Number of diaphragm blades 9
Aperture notes Rounded diaphragm
Eyes
Elements 17
Groups 12
Special elements / coatings five SLD drinking glass elements, 4 glassmold aspherical elements
Focus
Minimum focus 0.28 m (eleven.02″)
Maximum magnification 0.23×
Autofocus Yes
Motor type Ring-type ultrasonic
Full time manual Yes
Focus method Internal
Altitude calibration Aye
DoF scale No
Concrete
Weight 810 g (1.79 lb)
Diameter 78 mm (3.07″)
Length 121 mm (four.76″)
Zoom method Rotary (internal)
Filter thread 72 mm
Hood supplied Yeah
Hood product lawmaking LH780-03