Pro video blog…Produced by Philip Johnston DoP/Editor

18-35-Sigma-lens

 

HDW… You have been asking me for a good all round zoom lens for large sensor cameras and now we have one, at 18 (27) to 35 (53) bracketing takes into account the 1.5x crop using a Super 35mm sensor, this constant aperture f1.8 Sigma lens is a must for anyone’s lens bag.

Sigma Corporation of America (www.sigmaphoto.com), a leading researcher, developer, manufacturer and service provider for some of the world’s most impressive lines of lenses, cameras and flashes, today announced the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art lens, the market’s first zoom lens to achieve a maximum aperture F1.8 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 1:4.3, the 18-35mm is ideal for landscapes, portraits, still-life, studio, close-up and casual photography.

“Exceptionally fast apertures were previously unavailable in zoom lenses, so photographers turned to several prime lenses in a session to get bright images at various focal lengths. We’re incredibly excited to be the first manufacturer to bring the F1.8 standard zoom to the market and to provide photographers with a new level of creativity 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 angle zoom lens can prove 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 experience with the wide angle designs of our 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 II DG HSM and our 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM, and our research and development in our Aizu factory have prepared us for this technological advancement,” he said. “Our wide, glass-molded aspherical lens and the incorporation of Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass have optimized power distribution of the optical elements and compensated for various aberrations, as well as curvature of field at the widest angle. We’re extremely proud of this achievement.”

The 18-35mm is the latest addition to the company’s company’s Art line of lenses, designed under the newGlobal Vision. The Global Vision lenses have a sleek new design with the manufacturing year stamped on the barrel, and are categorized by use into one of three groups: Art, Contemporary and Sports. The Art category delivers high-level artistic expression through sophisticated and abundant expressive power.

The new 18-35mm lens incorporates Sigma’s improved AF/MF switch and the use of Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) compound material, which has a high affinity to metal parts, consistently performs well at extreme temperatures, and reduces the size and weight of the lens. It is also compatible with Sigma’s new USB Dock, which will be available in coming months, enabling photographers to update lens firmware and adjust 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 polarisers can be used.

The 18-35mm lens’ Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting and provides sharp and high contrast images, even in backlit conditions. 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 smooth focusing and full-time manual focusing capability. Lastly, the nine-blade, rounded diaphragm creates an attractive, round bokeh at large-aperture settings.

author

Having been working in the video business since 1988 I have amassed a great amount of knowledge of both the kit and production values over the last 30 years.

5 thoughts on “SIGMA 18-35mm f1.8 constant aperture lens “Perfect zoom lens for Super 35mm sensors”

  1. Constant aperture over the full zoom range sounds nice. The question is: will the focus point change while zooming. Not a point for still photography but a must for video…

  2. The real question is not “if” but “how much”. Obviously this is not a cinema lens…but a worthy option for any shooting APS-C/S35…photo or video. Just imagine the options on the forth-coming 7DMII and 70D with the high ISO performance DIGIC 5 processors. Distortion in the corners or soft wide open, Sigma will sell a boatload of these. OS would have made it perfect, though.

  3. Nothing against this lens. Most probably I would like to own one – depending on the optical quality and the price. Take my post as a reminder for those of us who forget about differences between photo and video lenses. In case this lens is a “zoom-through” concerning focus, it’s even better!

  4. Bear in mind it’s only a 2:1 zoom, OK for shot composition, but hardly an all-round lens.

    Yes but that 1.5x crop gives you a decent wide (27mm) and a 53mm for some nice interview filming, also cracking for low light filming.

  5. 2:1 zoom only: good point. Interesting anyway and I’m curious concerning the price…

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