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Intuition opens the doors of possibility

With perseverance and enterprise,
SIGMA continues to challenge the unknown.
The ultra-wide angle zoom lens category is
one of the products borne out of SIGMA’s tireless efforts.

Photo: Zoom Gamma 21-35mm F3.5-4(MF) released in 1979.

In April 2013, SIGMA announced the new 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM lens as part of our Art line series. The lens quickly became the focus of the photographic community around the world: it was the first ever F1.8 wide-angle zoom lens developed for APS-C size DSLR cameras, with an optical performance that rivaled high-performance prime lenses. “With this single lens, it feels like you carry an assortment of prime lenses with you”, was the verdict. It was a lens that defied the common wisdom of zoom lenses.

The development of this extraordinary lens began in 1979, with the release of SIGMA’s Zoom Gamma 21-35mm F3.5-4 lens. Made to answer the pleas of mountain landscape photographers who require high optical performance and maximum portability, the lens was the first ultra wide-angle zoom lens to be introduced to the market. Wide-angle zooms with focal lengths of 18-35mm and 17-35mm followed and widened the field of view, culminating in the development of the world’s first full-size 12mm ultra wide-angle lens. The 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM for APS-C size cameras realized the widest angle of view yet.

“If the method to improve problems of wide-angle lenses such as the reduction in brightness and clarity in the corners is applied to a large aperture lens, it must be possible to achieve great optical performance and an ideal body balance, even with a zoom lens.” This strong conviction, together with our 30 years of experience in developing ultra wide-angle lenses, we eventually achieved the successful development of the SIGMA 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art lens.

The relationship between optical performance of a lens and its size and weight is one of balance. There is no magic way that will allow us to improve one part of the equation without affecting the other. However, it is one of SIGMA’s strengths to determine the actual physical limits of a given project and then persevere in exploring and testing all possibilities, from the planning stage to the final product.

Behind the scenes, every new innovation was made possible through an unspoken wealth of experience and enthusiasm. SIGMA’s 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art lens, too, bears the invisible footsteps of this process.

SIGMA at the time of developing the Zoom Gamma 21-35mm F3.5-4 (MF). (Komae, Tokyo)
Lens design computer simulator.
8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM became the widest ASP-C lens.
The SIGMA 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art released in 2013.

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