Telephoto Zoom Lenses

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SIGMA IN THE NEWS Read what the experts have to say about lenses from the world’s leading independent lens manufacturer ELECTRONIC Flash Series FOR CREATIVE TTL PHOTOGRAPHY A range of dedicated flashguns that light the way to superb indoor and outdoor photography. SIGMA EF-610 DG ST A fully automatic flashgun which includes an auto-zoom bounce, swivel head and a powerful Guide Number of 61. SIGMA EF-610 DG SUPER An equally powerful yet versatile flashgun with advanced features including wireless and high speed flash, exposure control, strobe flash and modelling flash. SIGMA EM-140 DG MACRO FLASH A dual tube macro flash perfect for shadowless, fine detail photography. Flash tubes can be fired together or separately for different lighting effects. All three flashguns are compatible with the latest TTL systems from popular SLR manufacturers. For further information, visit your nearest Sigma stockist or contact us at Sigma Imaging (UK) Ltd. 13 Little Mundells, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. AL7 1EW Tel: 01707 329 999 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sigma-imaging-uk.com photography is our world The Sigma Corporation, Japan is the world’s largest independent lens manufacturer. Since it was founded by Michihiro Yamaki in 1961 the corporation has constantly been at the forefront of lens technology. Here in the UK, the photo press soon realised that the name SIGMA was synonymous with build quality and optical excellence. They embraced the output from the new company and put the lenses through rigorous testing both on the workbench and in the field. Time and time again they were amazed at the results and produced reviews that reflected this. It is the complete dedication to design and quality control that sets SIGMA apart from other manufacturers. This is proven by the string of complementary test reports and rave reviews appearing in the photo press on a regular basis culminating in many well deserved awards for excellence. In the following pages we reproduce a selection of quotes taken directly from the UK photo press, published both in magazines and on the web. COVER IMAGE BY GECKOPHOTO As digital cameras become more and more popular, sensor technology inside them gets better and better. Whilst the increased number of pixels benefits print resolution, the overall image definition is not greatly improved unless the lens is capable of resolving the required amount of information onto the sensor. As sensor dimensions decrease, lenses need to focus the same amount of detail onto a smaller area, creating a further need for high resolution lenses. This is where Sigma's DC and DG lenses come into their own. The resolving power is substantial, making them perfectly suited for current and future digital SLR cameras. Sigma have developed a new multi-layer coating to counteract the highly refelective characteristic of image sensors. With older style lenses, light would reflect off the image sensor, bounce off the rear elements of the lens, and re-enter the image sensor, creating a ghost image. The multi-layer coating dramatically reduces this effect. In addition to this, an optimum, neutral colour balance is ensured, increasing the white balance accuracy of the digital camera. F2 Magazine ‘The 70-200mm EX DG produced some of the best digital images we've had out of these two cameras. Tests showed there was no doubt... the new DG is visibly higher in contrast, saturation and resolution than the old design.’ THE NEW GENERATION DC Lenses for digital SLR's A striking feature of Sigma's DC lenses is their compact and lightweight dimension. The photographers dream of high image quality from a compact and lightweight lens is made possible because the image circle is designed specifically to match the APS-C size image sensors of most popular digital SLR cameras. In addition, the advanced aspherical technology and highly efficient design exactly suit the characteristics of digital cameras. DG lenses for both film and digital SLR's The most suitable lenses for 35mm film single-lens reflex cameras, as well as for digital SLR cameras. Sigma's development of the DG (Digital) range of lenses has concentrated on the correction of distortion and aberrations. The optical designs and cutting-edge technology eliminate flare and ghosting from the image sensor and create excellent colour balance. These high performance lenses are equally suited for digital and analogue cameras. 10mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM 4.5mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Practical Photography ‘The lens itself feels solid and well made, and the autofocus is fast and quiet. Results are good, with high levels of sharpness at the centre of the frame. A well made specialist optic that’s unique in the market place and hard to fault.’ PhotoPlus ‘Fit one of these to your camera and you get an instant wow-factor just looking through the viewfinder. Autofocus comes courtesy of Sigma’s fast and near silent HSM system, which worked flawlessly in our tests. As well as creating a fisheye effect, this lens is also great for use with computer s t i t c h i n g s o f t w a re , s o yo u c a n transform images into navigable virtual reality scenes. And to the best of our knowledge, if you want a circular fisheye for your smaller-sensor camera, this is the only one of the market.’ 8mm f/3.5 EX DG Ephotozine ‘...when using software to create panoramics or for those involved in scientific measurement of angles, where the output from this lens is quantifiable, this lens is an excellent tool.’ Professional Photographer ‘This lens is built and finished to a very high standard. The optical performance is extraordinary considering the lens delivers circular images.’ Practical Photography ‘Lenses this short often suffer from flare in the lens elements but we found no such problems with this one, even shooting directly into bright light.’ Digital SLR User ‘The Sigma 8mm is an excellent fisheye lens. It makes a tempting choice compared to more expensive own brand options.’ Freelance Photographer ‘This is a lens almost without competition and justifies the EX DG branding.’ FISH EYE LENSES Digital Photographer ‘There’s clearly a lot of glass and metal crammed into a small volume, but it does feel very wellmade as a result. The focusing is fast and quiet too. It will focus right down to 13.5cm which is an advantage where you want to produce striking perspectives and distorted relationships between nearby objects and their backgrounds. Optically, the performance is very good.’ PhotoPlus ‘For a non-zoom lens, this is a chunky piece of kit, which is explained not only by the huge lump of optical glass at the front that creates the fisheye effect, but also by its fast f/2.8 maximum aperture.’ IMAGE BY ROB FRANKLIN 15mm f/2.8 EX DG Amateur Photographer ‘Optically the Sigma 15mm f/2.8 tested a nose ahead of the Canon.’ Outdoor Photography ‘With an impressively close minimum focusing distance of 15cm, this lens allows you to fill the frame with certain subjects. It is also a real ‘go anywhere’ lens. Its compact dimensions and tough build mean that you will be confident it will stand up to the rigours of shooting in the wilderness...’ Professional Photographer ‘Overall resolution is excellent. The level of colour saturation and contrast are excellent, whilst chromatic aberration is minimal.’ Digital SLR User ‘I was reluctant indeed to hand it back and have no hesitation in wholeheartedly recommending it.’ FAST PRIME LENSES 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Ephotozine ‘Sigma, who have grabbed the opportunity of the digital revolution with both hands, need to be congratulated on this one!’ ‘The picture quality alone, will pay dividends for those of you who purchase this lens. Me? I don’t really want to send it back!’ Digital Photographer ‘Best of all is the sharp results…this is the lens that will excel in low light conditions, or for portrait use. The bokeh (how well a lens renders out of focus points of light) is also first rate, leading to nice, evenly blurred backgrounds.’ Professional Image Maker ‘Gathering another three stops over a typical widerange zoom lens is a significant benefit. If you need a really wide aperture to preserve the atmosphere of a ceremony or to shoot without being detected, this is about the only lens in town.’ IMAGE BY ENDHALS 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM 20mm f/1.8 EX DG 24mm f/1.8 EX DG Amateur Photographer ‘The colour is accurate... the lens holds shadow and highlight detail very well. VERDICT: I am very pleased with the results from the SIGMA 20mm f/1.8 - so much so that I really, really want one.’ Amateur Photographer ‘The 24mm f/1.8 offers visually outstanding sharpness from corner to corner, especially around the f/8 mark. Vignetting too is undetectable, even when wide open. Colour and contrast are faithfully recorded, with plenty of detail in the highlights and shadow areas...this is a popular focal length and should satisfy many users. Digital photographers will love the useful 36mm comparative focal length. A top-flight optic.’ Practical Photography ‘Even though it’s clearly aimed at digital SLR users, this lens is a welcome addition to the arsenal of lenses available to film users due to its low light capabilities.’ Digital Camera Buyer ’The unique selling point of this particular lens is its fast maximum aperture of f/1.8.’ WINNER OF: THE EISA LENS AWARD 2001-2002 28mm f/1.8 EX DG Amateur Photographer ‘This is a fast and quiet lens in operation, with the extra stop giving a bright, clear viewfinder image for picking out those details, particularly in low light...the vignetting aspect of the lens, even wide open, is astonishing. If you like prime lenses and appreciate the quality, the 28mm f/1.8 is a lens that is seriously worth considering. The near-human-eye viewpoint for the digital SLR user is another bonus that should ensure the optic's success.’ British Journal of Photography ‘Optical distortion is amazing and shows low barrel distortion for this angle of view.’ WINNER OF: THE AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER LENS OF THE YEAR 2008 Practical Photography ‘One of the only effective 50mm primes on the market and a great price too – there’s nothing like it.’ WINNER OF: THE AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER LENS OF THE YEAR 2010 British Journal of Photography ‘This lens is the first major redesign of its genre for half a century, and it looks like no other 50mm f/1.4 ever made. At f/1.4 the centre of the image is not only focused perfectly at any distance, it’s critically sharp, resembling the best results at f/8 from high-end zooms. At full aperture it’s better than any other previous lens I’ve used... you get the first 50mm f/1.4 that is as sharp centrally at f/1.4 on full-frame 24 million pixels as at any other aperture.’ 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Professional Image Maker ‘The engineering is the high standard we have come to expect from Sigma. A nice touch is the provision of a deeper lens hood extension for users with APS-C size chips... the narrow zone of an image that is in focus is bitingly sharp.’ What Digital Camera ‘...this is a very nice lens that offers a bright viewfinder and excellent image quality.’ Ephotozine ‘Sigma have created a real gem... an excellent value lens, more than capable of producing superb results.’ IMAGE BY BOB MARTIN, PRACTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY/BAUER MEDIA 50mm f/2.8 EX DG 70mm f/2.8 EX DG British Journal of Photography ‘...In the case of Sigma, Canon and Konica Minolta mounts, there is an unusually small minimum aperture of f/45 (f/32 for Nikon and Pentax). This can provide beautiful effects with some shots and Sigma is to be applauded for providing this option. Both lenses produced excellent results, with fine detail and smooth tone gradation over a range of magnifications.’ Practical Photography ‘Our test charts reveal that it will produce a high level of sharpness across the frame. If you are thinking of investing in a macro lens for general-purpose use, this would certainly be a good choice.’ Photography Monthly ‘Although it’s designed for use on full frame cameras, it’s equally at home on models with an APS-C sized sensor.’ Digital Photographer ‘But now for the winner… the Sigma excels in our view, as it is a true macro lens in every sense of the word. We love its brilliant magnification, really enabling you to pick up great texture and contrast in the smallest of subjects. If you’re after a decent macro performer, then this is a must for anyone looking to get closer than close.’ Amateur Photographer ‘The most noticeable feature is its excellent, virtually perfect drawing – that is, the absence of curvilinear distortion. Combined with low spherical aberration, it means there is good definition at full aperture with high resolution across the frame.’ What Digital Camera ‘Image quality from the lens is great. It’s as sharp as a knife, with excellent contrast and resolution. Sigma’s optics rarely fail to impress...’ Professional Photographer ‘At larger apertures the in-focus parts of the picture are so sharp you need gloves to handle them, while the out of focus parts are soft and smooth. In fact, the Sigma continues to impress even wide open at f/2.8, where it performs superbly as a portrait lens.’ WINNER OF: EISA & TIPA LENS AWARDS 2007-2008 British Journal of Photography ‘At this price, and with such a high level of performance, the 70mm Macro, which is available in Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax and Sigma mounts, is little short of remarkable.’ Photography Monthly ‘With razor sharp, wide-open images, this is possibly the best of Sigma’s highly rated macro lenses. Suitable for full frame and 35mm cameras, we think this lens will find a home in many photographers’ bags.’ 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Practical Photography ‘Available in Four Thirds mount too, the Sigma is the only macro lens available for every D-SLR owner.’ British Journal of Photography ‘Although diffraction reduces resolution at such settings - f/45 becomes an effective f/90 at 1x magnification, approaching pinhole dimensions - this can provide beautiful effects with some shots and Sigma is to be applauded for providing this option.’ Digital Camera ‘The Sigma in particular produced razor-sharp images at close quarters.’ What Digital Camera ‘Where the Sigma 105mm optic performs well is in its control of chromatic aberration.’ Which Digital Camera ‘A superb lens that’s excellent value for what you get. This lens will deliver to even the most critical users.’ IMAGE BY ROSS HODDINOTT Photography Monthly ‘It’s a real cracker and its showing even at f/45 is impressive.’ MACRO LENSES 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Amateur Photographer ‘With regards to controlling distortion, the Sigma 150mm is clearly a first-class optic.’ F2 Magazine ‘The Sigma 150mm f/2.8 Macro was, quite simply, excellent on full frame digital, excellent on full frame film, and stunning on APS-C sensor digital...’ Professional Image Maker ‘The performance of the Sigma was essentially flawless – this is a lens you can trust to do any job.’ Digital SLR Photography ‘Image quality is superb, with bitingly sharp results throughout the aperture range.’ Ephotozine ‘A well made and thought out macro lens with enough focal length to enable skittish insect photography without putting them to flight. Good balance on the excellent tripod collar makes for easy tripod work.’ Which Digital Camera ‘Focusing is internal so the lens doesn’t change size as you focus closer. AF is smooth and almost silent, thanks to Sigma’s Hypersonic Motor, and a 3 position focus limiter stops the lens hunting through its full range.’ PhotoPlus ‘Handling the sublime, with wonderfully smooth manual focusing to complement the Sigma’s dead-on autofocus accuracy. Best of all, the optical quality is absolutely top drawer, combining razor sharpness with glorious colour performance and bags of contrast.’ TELEPHOTO LENSES 300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM 800mm f/5.6 EX DG HSM Digital SLR User ‘Being part of Sigma’s EX range, the lens is designed to withstand the rigours of professional use, and the build quality is certainly very impressive. The focus ring is one of the best I have used...’ Practical Photography ‘The hypersonic motor focusing is great – really smooth, fast and quiet... If you need top level performance and long focal length then this is the lens for you.’ Photography Monthly ‘Excellent flat-line performance is what we would expect from a prime lens and this 300mm is no disappointment. A serious contender up against its marque rivals.’ PhotoPlus ‘With an HSM autofocus system, focusing proved extremely quiet and almost as fast as the Canon 500mm in out tests, and the lens features the same full-time manual override capability. Another neat inclusion is a drop-in filter holder at the rear of the lens for fitting specialist filters. This is useful because the diameter of the front elements of super-telephoto lenses are far too large for frontmounting filters to be practical. Optical performance is extremely good all round...’ PhotoPlus ‘It looks and feels beautifully made and is fantastically fast and quiet when focusing. My pictures really proved the advantage of the super fast f/2.8 maximum aperture.’ 500mm f/4.5 EX DG HSM Ephotozine ‘Overall this lens performs extremely well and produces some excellent shots…if you have a genuine need for this type of lens, you won’t be disappointed.’ Outdoor Photography ‘First impressions of the lens were good: it has a compact solid feel, it’s well designed, nice to hold, sturdily constructed, and yet fairly lightweight. The lens features a Hypersonic Motor (HSM) and I can confirm that it worked as described – it was very fast and very quiet. Colour rendition, contrast and sharpness were all excellent. When you consider it’s around £2,000 cheaper than similar ‘named’ models it is a serious contender.’ IMAGE BY DARREN BAKER WIDE ANGLE ZOOM LENSES IMAGE BY KWEST Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM What Digital Camera ‘Sharpness at the 8mm setting is excellent right across the aperture range.’ Ephotozine ‘This lens is sharp! At 20mm, resolution tests showed it matched, and at one point even slightly out performed the venerable Canon 17-40mm L. The performance is excellent and the size and weight is little more than a standard. With the wide field of view that this lens gives the digital SLR owners that require panoramic style angles, this lens is an answer to their prayers.’ WINNER OF: PLUS X LENS OF THE YEAR AWARD 2010 Practical Photography ‘...despite being so wide, distortion is minimal. This lens is really about fun and taking advantage of the 24cm minimum focusing distance to get in close to subjects for extreme effects.’ WINNER OF: THE TIPA LENS AWARD 2006 Master Photo Digital ‘For room interiors, you simply can not include all four walls unless your lens covers more than 90 0 horizontally. This Sigma covers slightly over 100 0 which makes it one of the best working tools for interior and architectural photography.’ Digital Photo ‘If you’re looking for a good value wide-angle lens, this one is hard to fault. The Sigma 10-20mm offers a superb combination of focal length, quality and affordability – the very things that are worthy of a Gold Award.’ British Journal of Photography ‘Sigma once again creates a design that exceeds all the ambitions of every camera maker. It ranks alongside Thomas Sutton’s 220 0 wide angle lens of 1859, or the Zeiss Hologon 15mm f/8 for Leica, of 1972.’ Amateur Photographer ‘First impressions are always important when testing lenses… as the images came up on screen the sense was of excellent resolution/contrast – the detail glittered.’ The Photographer ‘The build quality of this lens is quite superb...the extreme wide-angles of this 10-20mm zoom produce breathtaking effects which will certainly inspire and extend your photographic creativity.’ Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM Photoworld ‘The geometry of the lens is very good across the full range from 10 – 20mm. The HSM focusing is wonderful and seems to give much finer settings with wide-angle lenses than screw focus. The lens itself is superbly built…’ What Digital Camera ‘About a year ago, when Sigma’s variable aperture (f/45.6) 10-20mm zoom was tested, a doubt was expressed about whether the then-forthcoming f/3.5 lens would be much better optically. The answer is a definite yes: the latest version has stunning resolution and performs brilliantly in real-world use. In short, this is an absolute gem that deserves a place on every photographers wish-list.’ 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM Amateur Photographer ‘...a very high-quality lens that has been corrected to exceptional standards.’ Practical Photography ‘...this Sigma lens is the most versatile lens on the test and really looks like an impressive piece of pro gear too.’ WINNER OF: THE EISA LENS AWARD 2004-5 and AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER LENS OF THE YEAR 2005 The Photographer ‘I have a Sigma 12-24mm full-frame EX DG HSM zoom on the 1Ds MkII and I have never seen anything like it in my life. Curvature at the edges is virtually non-existent.’ Digital Photographer ‘...it is an amazing piece of optical engineering. The results are truly remarkable given the amount of correction needed.’ Photoworld ‘After returning from this shoot, the quality from the 12-24mm blew me away.’ 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Ephotozine ‘Focusing is powered by a silent HSM type motor, which focuses smoothly and quickly in good conditions. The specification for the price is very good indeed… the build quality is good, the optical stabiliser works quite well and the lens is capable of excellent results…’ PhotoPlus ‘This Sigma is beefier than my kit lens but felt nicely weighted on my 400D. We had some good conditions when testing this lens, and coupled with the OS the results were pretty consistent as a result. Overall, this is a nice step up from my kit lens.’ 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC OS HSM 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG IF HSM What Digital Camera ‘MFT testing reveals this to be a very impressive lens with very little chromatic aberration seen. Overall it is hard to believe that this lens is for real: it has stunning resolution, optical stabilisation, a morethan-four-times zoom range and can be purchased for not much over £300. Fantastic.’ Practical Photography ‘…you’re getting a high performance lens that reduces distortion, flare and aberration that could ruin a great shot.’ British Journal of Photography ‘At macro distances…contrast at dark to light object edges is at a high level; sharpness is excellent and fine details are well resolved with colours near to neutral. Zooming from the wide to tele end of the lens is smoothly and firmly accomplished, focal length selection is finely adjusted and holds position without slacking.’ WINNER OF: EISA LENS OF THE YEAR AWARD 2010-2011 and TIPA BEST ENTRY LEVEL LENS 2010 Freelance Photographer ‘At 17mm, the Sigma is as sharp as more expensive marque offerings. What it does still offer is amazing close focusing down to a magnification of 1:2.7, with a 47mm distance between the lens and subject.’ PhotoPlus ‘Performance for chromatic aberrations, vignetting, ghosting and flare are all impressive. The lens is very sharp, even at maximum apertures, and extremely sharp with just a single-stop reduction in aperture.’ STANDARD ZOOM LENSES British Journal of Photography ‘The Sigma seems comparable to the current Canon wide open… and sharper centrally than the Nikkor. Colour transmission, contrast and the look of the image are hard to fault.’ Master Photo Digital ‘It’s strikingly sharp centrally and has good even coverage at 70mm. If you want an ultrasonic focusing 2470mm f/2.8 at around half the price of your own brand, this is your only option.’ 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Ephotozine ‘With two hybrid aspherical elements, one glass mould aspherical and two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) elements in the construction, chromatic aberrations and distortions have been well controlled and I found no concerns...’ Photography Monthly ‘As sometimes happens when using lenses designed for 35mm cameras on cropped DSLRs, they turn in an excellent edge performance. That’s the case here, especially at 70mm.’ Digital Photographer ‘Contrast has been improved with the DG coating that has now been adopted by all of Sigma’s lenses. Being an inherent element in perceived sharpness, this contrast, along with good resolution, means the images produced by the lens look nice and clean. If you are still mixing digital with film, or full-frame with cropped, this is a very good buy.’ IMAGE BY THOM JONES HYPERZOOM LENSES 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS PhotoPlus ‘You still get a respectable 200mm effective focal length at the telephoto end and there are some big attractions, including Sigma’s fast and near-silent HSM autofocus system, which proved deadly accurate in our tests, wrapped in a compact and lightweight package of very good build quality. Other plus points include excellent sharpness and contrast, the lens producing punchy image quality throughout the zoom range, even at is largest apertures, while distortions are less noticeable than with most other lenses on test.’ Ephotozine ‘Being designed for cropped sensors only, the lens is light in weight and, being compact as well, can easily be carried on the camera all day as a walkabout lens.’ Photography Monthly ‘As focal lengths increase, so the chance of camera shake increases. Having a stabilisation system fitted in the lens gives a much greater working window for that lens, and this is very much the case here. We managed to take sharp images at 1/3sec at 200mm, which equates to a shutter speed four stops slower than would normally be advised. A significant help then!’ Digital Camera ‘The Sigma 18-125mm is wonderfully compact, and at just £240 it’s also the cheapest lens in the group. Along with a very high standard of finish, the lens features Sigma’s latest four-stop OS (Optical Stabiliser) system, which works a treat, as well as super-quiet and reasonably rapid HSM (Hypersonic Motor) auto focus. There’s a lot to love here. Unless you really need the extra telephoto reach offered by the bigger lenses in the group, the Sigma 18-125mm makes an excellent choice for a wide range of camera makes and models. Verdict – A highly accomplished lens in all respects.’ Outdoor Photography ‘...the lens boasts an impressive 11x zoom ratio covering wideangle through to medium telephoto and has been awarded the EISA European lens of the year 2005-2006. …it focuses down to 45cm at all focal lengths with a maximum magnification of 1:4.4. This is useful for close-up work of subjects such as flowerheads or dragonflies as well as producing dynamic wideangle images with bags of impact.’ Photography Monthly ‘Typically Sigma, this lens is attractively finished and handles well. All in all, this is a nice lens that performs respectably.’ Camera Labs ‘Delivering a focal range equivalent to 27-300mm, the Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC is a highly versatile lens. Its massive 11.1x zoom range allows you to capture both wide landscape shots and decent close-ups of distant subjects such as wildlife without worrying about carrying additional lenses.’ Digital SLR User ‘… this is a quality lens for the price tag and is definitely worth a look.’ What Digital Camera ‘This lens does a great job at controlling chromatic aberrations at 200mm, with a blinding result at the centre and above average in the corner.’ WINNER OF: THE EISA LENS AWARD 2005-06 IMAGE BY PETER GIBBONS What Digital Camera ‘Its outstanding characteristic is the Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), which performs marginally faster and quieter than the more expensive Nikon. Its well-built optic with a solid feel and robust grips. This stabilised version with the most elements of the group is a stunner. The lens offers the highest resolution of any here.’ Digital Photo ‘It works a treat, with sharp shots achievable at 1/15sec at 200mm. Snatching the Digital Photo Gold Award is the Sigma 18-200mm DC OS. Optically, this was the best lens we tested, just nudging ahead of the Canon and Nikon 18-200mm models.’ 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM F2 Magazine ‘...It is far better than my Sony 18-250mm, or the Tamron 18-250mm which preceded that. Distortion is extremely low for such a long range and, even at 250mm, full aperture sharpness is retained well. Overall, it proved a better lens than any other such design I've used.’ Photography Monthly - July 2009 ‘Tamron’s record breaking 18-270mm will deliver a good set of images… but I did find the focusing to be less assured, the zoom mechanism to lack the solidality and smoothness of the Sigma and crucially, the optical quality to be marginally less impressive than the Sigma’s. The Sigma 18-250mm, then, is our Superzoom winner.’ WINNER OF: THE TIPA LENS AWARD 2009 and the PLUS X AWARD FOR INNOVATION TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENSES IMAGE BY PETER CHISOLM 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Digital Photo ‘Unpack the Sigma DC 50-200mm f/4-5.6 HSM lens and the first thing that strikesyou is the refined finish and build quality. Boasting the top notch black mattfinish we’re accustomed to seeing Sigma EX pro range of lenses, allied with a smooth action to both the zoom and focus rings, the Sigma DC 50-200mm is a solid lens.’ Practical Photography ‘This 50-200mm from Sigma delivers a 35mm equivalent zoom of 75-300 on 1.5xcrop or 80-320mm on a 1.6x crop. It incorporates the Sigma optical stabiliser that does a fantastic job of controlling the shakes at longer zoom ranges. You also benefit from the HSM motor technology that provides fast focusing. For £300 this is a great little lens that produces good quality images.’ 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG MACRO Digital Photo ‘Impressive results that are close to those of the APO version. There’s a good level of sharpness throughout. This is a well-built lens and great value for the price.’ Photography Monthly ‘Often dismissed in favour of its slightly more expensive APO brother, this lens is a capable performer for those on a tight budget or those just dipping their toes in the SLR water.’ 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG MACRO Digital Camera Shopper ‘The auto focus mechanism itself is impressively quick in normal operation. Impressive sharpness throughout the zoom range and speedy autofocus make this a very attractive lens at the price.’ What Digital Camera ‘At 300mm, the central control is as good as that of the Nikon and Olympus models.’ Practical Photography ‘With a better build quality and great results it proves itself to be a formidable lens and therefore earns our Best Buy award.’ 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Photoworld ‘I have never had sharper pictures from any telephoto in this range, even at the long end it delivers fine detail wide open. The stabilisation is superb, and the optical quality as seen from my Alpha 900 is better than my Sony 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 G SSM...’ F2 Magazine ‘First, let me say this lens is one of the best 70-300mm‘s I’ve used, a match for the Nikon 70300mm or the Sony 70-300mm G.’ Practical Photography ‘...it is the cheapest full-frame stabilised lens by around £100. If you need a lightweight performer with the reassurance of stabilisation system, then this lens offers unbeatable value.’ FAST TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENSES 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro HSM II 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Digital Photo ‘It has a very good minimum focus distance of only 100cm through the entire zoom range, allowing plenty of scope for close-up photography and a maximum reproduction of 1:3.5. It's a really well made lens and gives its more expensive rivals a good run for their money.’ Digital Photography Review ‘The near-silent hypersonic motor delivers fast, accurate and consistent autofocus ...and feels no less speedy or responsive than Canon or Nikon systems.’ Amateur Photographer ‘Matching the Canon for specification, Sigma offer a constant f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens at a lower price. Zooming is smooth across the span. This is a first class modern lens that is easy for the action and sports photographer to use.’ Digital Photography Review ‘It tends to be very sharp in the center of the frame even wide open… giving truly excellent results across the frame by F5.6 - F8. Of particular note is the almost complete lack of chromatic aberration, which presumably is due to the use of the latest 'FLD' glass in the lens's construction. The resultant absence of color fringing is important as it means the images look extremely clean right across the frame, and this has a strong positive impact on the overall perceived image quality. Sigma has clearly been working hard in the lens's stabilization and focusing systems, and we found that both performed extremely well.’ Ephotozine ‘During testing this Sigma lens has proved itself quite capable of producing excellent results. At f/2.8 the resolution in the centre is already very good… Here the sharpness across the frame is excellent. Sigma's optical stabiliser is certainly capable and is about as effective as the system found in marque lenses. This adds to the feeling of good value this lens provides, especially as it's around £400 cheaper than the marque competition.’ IMAGE BY JEFF WALTHALL 50-500mm f/5-6.3 EX DG OS HSM Digital Photographer ‘In terms of specifications, the Sigma 50-500mm must surely be the ultimate telephoto zoom. The 10x zoom range is impressive enough, but the Optical Stabiliser completes the package. The Sigma 50-500mm does an awful lot for the money - well worth the investment.’ TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENSES Digital Photo ‘For the price you expect the build quality to be firstclass and the good news is, it is! The zoom and focus rings offer plenty of grip; the zoom extended smoothly to its maximum 500mm range and can be locked at 50mm to prevent zoom creep. For such a big zoom it felt surprisingly well-balanced, too. Image quality tests revealed sound levels of sharpness at 500mm.’ Digital Camera Essentials ‘The optical stabiliser has made a big difference, cutting camera shake and making it far easier to compose accurately at full zoom while handholding the lens. The 10x zoom offers a wide range of compositional choice. You can crop in tightly on details, and the shallow DOF at long zoom settings gives pleasing effects. For a giant lens, the Sigma has a remarkably ‘wide’ minimum focal length of 50mm, making it very versatile.’ Professional Image Maker ‘By many standards, this is a spectacular lens with one of the largest (if not THE largest) zoom ranges around in DSLR photography.’ 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM British Journal of Photography ‘I was not disappointed, nor surprised to find the 120-400mm turning in a result marginally improving the high marks obtained for one of the finest Nikon zooms ever produced.’ 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Ephotozine ‘In terms of features versus value for money, this lens has to be the telephoto bargain of the century to date. With both a sonic focusing system and an optical stabilisation system, coupled with a good optical performance and reasonably compact dimensions, I can see this optic finding a lot of suitors.’ Photography Monthly 'The lens’ AF system uses Sigma’s Hypersonic Motor (HSM). This gives quick and silent operation comparable to what you’d expect from a Canon USM or Nikon SWM lens.’ Outdoor Photography ‘The OS, Sigma’s Optical Stabilisation seems just as effective as the Canon’s, and I managed to get sharp shots at around 100sec handheld, amazing for a 500mm. The optical quality is astounding in this price bracket.’ IMAGES BY ROGER REYNOLDS 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG HSM Outdoor Photography ‘Zoom-wise, this lens has no real competitor and so is in a class of its own.' 'The AF was fast, silent and accurate. The results of this session were stunnng - I couldn't have been happier. Since viewing the results...this lens has gone virtually everywhere with me. Would I buy one? Yes.’ The Photographer ‘From time to time landmark products redefine our photography. These products may be new cameras or the latest imaging software, but sometimes they are the most important items which produce our images: the lenses. A big advantage of this lens is that you are able to adjust the zoom to the precise focal length required to frame your subject… Imagine being on safari and finding that the 500mm lens you have on the camera is not tight enough… you might need, say, 726mm to fill the frame. With this Sigma zoom, you’ve got every possible focal length from 300mm to 800mm in a single lens – and all at the same f/5.6 aperture.’ Ephotozine ‘The optical qualities of the lens make it worth carrying the weight along with you. It is sharp throughout the range, has excellent contrast and good neutral colour rendition. With a constant aperture of f/5.6 throughout the focal lengths and excellent performance wide open there is very little to criticise…once it is in a situation where it is comfortable, there is not a lot that can touch it. With converters, it can match the focal lengths achieved by Digiscoping with an enormous leap in quality. I’ve used it on 4,6,10 and 12mp cameras and all the results are stunning.’ IMAGE BY BARSIK TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENSES 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Digital Photographer ‘The lens is fitted with Sigma’s HSM autofocus system and is quiet and responsive in use. Focusing speed is dependent on the camera that it is fitted to, but this lens is fast! In our tests, we found the contrast throughout the zoom range to be consistently good and it’s virtually as sharp wide open as it is stopped down two or three apertures.’ Photography Monthly ‘…a cracking piece of optical engineering with good wide-open performance that quickly jumps to excellent within a stop of the widest aperture. The lens is a fast prime with the ability to zoom out - an excellent concept. It does have superb optical performance.’ Ephotozine ‘From the moment you take this lens out of the box you realize the build and feel is excellent.The lens does not change length when zooming or focusing with all adjustments happening internally. This is an excellent feature when using the lens on a beanbag as the focus ring does not turn during autofocus.’ RPS Journal ‘When combined with the 1.4x teleconverter, it gave a useful range of focal lengths and autofocus performance was still impressive. Even wide open at f/2.8, the 120-300mm was sharp across the whole frame, with little deterioration in the corners. Stopping down to f/4, it was even better - on a par with the best prime lenses. Sharpness was still very good when the lens was combined with the 2x converter.’ British Journal of Photography ‘Sigma is not so much a cost-competitive brand as one that delivers innovative products and professional performance at a very affordable price. Overall, the 300-800mm zoom works brilliantly and captures some very eye-catching images. At £5,000 it isn’t cheap, but it is a lot less costly than some of its potential rivals. More importantly, it is a very versatile and superbly built lens that, for the right users, will surely justify every penny of its price.’ Digital Photographer ‘The optical qualities of the lens make it worth carrying the weight along with you. It is sharp throughout the range, has excellent contrast and good neutral colour rendition. With a constant aperture of f/5.6 throughout the focal lengths and excellent performance wide open, there is very little to criticise. Distortion is almost immeasurable with figures of less than a half of one percent at both ends of the zoom.’ RPS Journal ‘The ability to continuously vary the focal length of such a long lens was very useful, since it was possible to fill the frame with a single bike at various distances from the track. Autofocus was fast enough to follow moving bikes, which seems particularly impressive when you consider the volume of glass in the lens. The large zoom and focus rings were easy to find, and continuous manual focusing was useful on occasions when the camera lost autofocus and needed a manual tweak to get it back.’ Photography Monthly ‘This lens is in a class of its own – no other zoom lens on the market approaches its pulling power. There is very little drop-off in resolution between the shorter and longer ends of the zoom and the difference between centre and edge is minimal.’ Freelance Photographer ‘It’s a flexible and uncommon bit of hardware that, if you’ve given the right assignments, will pay for itself. Rather than hiring, owning one gives you the chance to take some astounding images – cityscapes to wildlife, covert ‘spy’ shots, sports – the range of applications for this lens is huge. More impressive is that the AF is fast; the zoom control is light and precise, with no creep.You simply cannot fault the results this lens gives.’ DIGITAL SLR SYSTEM DIGITAL COMPACTS SIGMA SD15 SIGMA DP1x Outdoor Photography ‘I opened the smart black box containing the SD15 with anticipation; I was feeling so eager because pictures I have taken with the special X3 Foveon sensor while reviewing Sigma's similarly equipped DP1 and DP2 cameras, are the shots I keep returning to and thinking, ‘yes, there is definitely something a bit special here’. This is a handsome, no nonsense looking camera and it’s well put together. The grip is deep and extremely comfortable, while build quality, fit and finish are all first class.’ Trusted Reviews ‘The DP1x is technically an advanced compact, since it has a full range of manual exposure controls, a flash hot-shoe and can shoot in Raw mode…The DP1x has an all-metal body and does feel quite sturdy…’ Sigma's big claim about the Foveon sensor is that it produces better colour depth and sharper detail than an equivalent conventional Bayer-mask sensor. This is certainly true; there's no question that it produces vastly superior image quality to a conventional sensor.’ Looking at the sample images from the DP1x it's easy to be impressed by the sharp detail and excellent colour depth on a computer monitor…’ Black and White Photography ‘In practice, I have found that the Foveon does indeed provide exceptional per pixel sharpness and colour accuracy that really helps give images a depth that is unique in the digital arena. I can honestly say that the SD15 is the most intuitively straightforward camera I have used in a long time. There are no frills... yet somehow the camera is all the better for it.’ Digital Camera ‘If you haven’t seen what the Foveon sensor can do, you’ll be amazed at the clarity of the fine detail it produces. Each pixel is razor sharp. The 17-70mm Sigma lens supplied for this review proved rather good, too.’ Digital Camera Essentials ‘Sigma’s ace-in-the-hand is a triple-layered 14megapixel Foveon CMOS sensor. Many shots displayed a painterly look that can be attractive, given the correct subject.’ SIGMA DP2s Trusted Reviews ‘At 50-200 ISO it produces a level of detail, dynamic range and colour depth that easily surpasses any other compact on the market, and even puts some mid-range DSLRs to shame. There is no trace of image noise at 200 ISO, and even at 400 and the maximum 800 ISO noise is slight, even and grain-like. The lens too is superb, with brilliant corner-to-corner sharpness... The control over depth of field provided by the wide maximum aperture and large sensor allow real creative control for portrait shots.’ Digital Camera Essentials ‘The special thing about the Sigma DP2s is its sensor size. At roughly the same measurements as a DSLR, it is capable of taking some excellent images.’ ‘ If you haven’t seen what the Foveon sensor can do, you’ll be amazed at the clarity...’ DIGITAL CAMERA