Buckle up, folks. It’s time for another “Gear in Review”, where we recap all the new additions to the SIGMA catalog. 2024 saw us reinventing old favorites while simultaneously taking to uncharted territory with more niche innovations, going where no optics company has gone before!
From the 15mm F1.4 DG DN Diagonal Fisheye | Art to the 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II | Art to the very first Canon RF Mount lens collection – sanctioned by Canon but crafted by yours truly – there was a lot to celebrate this year. So let’s dive in and celebrate together.
February 20, 2024
500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports
15mm F1.4 DG DN Diagonal Fisheye | Art
The 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports is one of the smallest, lightest ultra-telephoto lenses on the market, yet features the upgraded OS2 stabilization algorithm for up to 5 stops of stabilization. L-Mount shooters have the potential to reach even farther with SIGMA’s 1.4x or 2.0x Teleconverters. Combined with its thermally stable composite and magnesium components, this reliable lens features the rugged durability that the SIGMA Sports line is known for.
On the opposite side of the shooting spectrum, February also saw the release of the 15mm F1.4 DG DN Diagonal Fisheye | Art lens. This specialized wide-angle option provides a 180° angle of view that covers the entire frame. Astrophotographers who were fans of the 14mm F1.4 DG DN | Art released in 2023 may find a lot of familiarity with this lens, including a manual focus lock switch, a lens heater retainer, and locking front cap with filter storage slots.
Check out what SIGMA Ambassadors Jim Koepnick and Jack Fusco had to say about their shooting experience with these lenses below:
April 18, 2024
50mm F1.2 DG DN | Art
In 2023, SIGMA released the 50mm F1.4 DG DN | Art for Sony E-mount and L-Mount mirrorless camera systems. Only a year later and we have another, brighter option in the 50mm F1.2 DG DN | Art designed for the same mirrorless camera systems. The best part? The F1.2 version maintains nearly the exact same dimensions as the F1.4 at barely 3 ounces heavier. You won’t see any sacrifice in features such as weather sealing or custom buttons, and you’ll even get two more aperture blades for a total of 13 rounded diaphragm blades to boot, for rounder, smoother bokeh.
We don’t recommend pointing your camera at the sun (without proper filters), though we won’t blame you for wanting to capture some gorgeous starbursts with this lens. But before you make any hasty decisions, check out what SIGMA Ambassador Meg Loeks has to say about this amazing lens in the video below:
May 16, 2024
24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II | Art
The original 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Art designed for mirrorless was released back in 2019. While a solid lens, the standard for premium mirrorless lenses has evolved quickly, thus it was time for an update. The upgraded 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II | Art is 7% smaller, 10% lighter, and features 3x times faster autofocus than the previous model.
Much in line with the improved standard in quality of life features, and following in the footsteps of our other F2.8 essential zoom that launched last year, the 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN | Sports, this updated 24-70mm also features a much sought-after aperture ring. This lens is everything you could want in a standard range workhorse.
Check out SIGMA Ambassador Martina Abreu’s first impressions of the lens for portrait photography on the Sony E-mount, and Ambassador Anabel DFlux’s cosplay shoot to get an idea of this lens’s versatility.
June 3, 2024
28-45mm F1.8 DG DN | Art
All the way back in 2013, SIGMA released the 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art lens, a crop sensor lens for Canon and Nikon DSLR systems. Over the years, this lens has maintained significant interest for video applications largely due to its constant F1.8 aperture and handy focal range (a full-frame equivalent of approximately 27 – 52.5mm). 11 years later, SIGMA has introduced the 28-45mm F1.8 DG DN | Art, a one-of-a-kind take on this legendary lens type, now for full-frame mirrorless Sony E-mount and L-Mount camera systems.
Now, don’t let the focal range, aperture and the above paragraph fool you; while this lens is a videographer’s dream, photographers can also find a lot to love about a constant F1.8 aperture and a focal range that covers many coveted prime focal lengths. Two customizable buttons, a high-response linear actuator (HLA) focus motor, and an aperture ring make this lens a prime choice for those who are perhaps looking to trim down their overall kit.
But don’t just take our word for it! See what SIGMA Ambassador and Emmy Award-winning producer and cinematographer, Graham Sheldon, has to say about this lens.
June 25, 2024
18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary for Canon RF Mount
This year was a big one for Canon EOS R System shooters, as SIGMA began to roll out its APS-C lenses for Canon RF Mount. To kick things off was the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary, an essential APS-C workhorse lens with a full-frame equivalent focal range of 27-75mm and a constant F2.8 aperture; it’s no wonder this was the first lens released for the system.
One of the greatest strengths of this lens is its extremely compact form factor, weighing in at only 10.6 oz. (300g) for Canon RF Mount. A particularly difficult lens to beat for travel and street photography, the 18-50mm is also one of the first lenses we recommend if you’re looking to upgrade from your kit lens. There’s a lot that’s already been said about this lens, so if you’re interested in learning more, check out our First Look article below.
September 5, 2024
28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art for Sony E and L-Mount
10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary for Canon RF Mount
Early September saw the release of two lenses: the all new 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art for Sony E-mount and L-Mount, and the launch of the 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary for Canon RF Mount, which had already been available for Sony, Fujifilm and L-Mount as well.
Much like the 28-45mm F1.8, the 28-105mm F2.8 was designed for the kit-conscious photographer looking for an all-rounder in the wide to mid-telephoto range with a constant F2.8 aperture. This lens has all the features one would expect from a SIGMA Art lens: two AFL buttons, HLA focus motor, dust and splash-resistant structure, and even a 1:3.1 reproduction ratio for subtle macro application — a great quality of life feature for wedding photographers who like to capture details too, all with one lens!
For Canon EOS R System shooters, the 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary is fantastic wide-angle companion lens to the previously released 18-50mm, but also serves as an ideal video option for vloggers and content creators. For more about the 10-18mm plus 18-50mm lens combo, check out this travel piece by pro photographer Jillian Lenser on why these lenses make such excellent travel companions.
November 19, 2024
Canon RF Mount Primes: 16mm, 23mm, 30mm, and 56mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary
At the tail end of 2024, we announced the availability of even more options for Canon RF Mount; two F1.4 APS-C prime lenses, the 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary and the 56mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, will be available in early December 2024. Meanwhile, our wide-angle options, the 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary and 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, will be releasing in January 2025.
These prime APS-C lenses will give you just about everything you need to cover most shooting scenarios with your Canon RF Mount camera. Shoot concerts with the 56mm F1.4, bright and sharp enough for low light situations; compose portraits with the 30mm F1.4 and revel in the buttery bokeh; capture all of life’s simple moments with the 23mm F1.4, just wide enough to tell the full story; or frame landscapes with the 16mm F1.4 and take a try at photographing the stars!
For more about what these lenses are capable of, browse our First Look article specifically about what the Canon RF Mount version of these lenses can do.
The future is bright for 2025
With the first Canon RF Mount lenses in production, it’s hard not to be optimistic for the future. It’s impossible to guess what innovations we’ll see next, but one thing is for certain – the future of photography looks extremely bright.
We hope you’ll always continue to consider SIGMA for your photography and video needs. Whether you’re a pro or simply a hobbyist, the world is better for the art you create, and we sincerely hope to always play our part in your work. Here’s to you, creators, for bettering the world with your craft; and here’s to photography for bringing us all closer together, one captured moment at a time.
Thank you, SIGMA fans, and best wishes for 2025!
