Lens Guides

Hands-on reviews, technical information, and advice on SIGMA Art, Sports and Contemporary lenses for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.

Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | Sports: Hands-On

There’s so much to love about the new Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | Sports lens, the third iteration of this unique fast-aperture telephoto zoom lens that pairs the performance of a 300mm F2.8 with the versatility of a constant-aperture zoom for quickly adjusting the composition.

Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art: First Impressions

We’ve just announced the world’s first F1.8 constant aperture zoom lens, the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art lens, and I’ll readily admit, we on the Sigma Corporation of America team have been just as excited about this lens leading up to launch as photographers have been since it was officially announced in the wee hours of April 18th. And now that I’ve spent some time with my hands on a preproduction version of the lens paired with my Sigma SD1, I, truly cannot wait ’til this lens starts shipping and I can share high-resolution end result photos! Today we’re going to focus on what we can talk about–the hand feel, build quality, and such of this brand new lens designed specifically for APS-C DSLRs.

SIGMA Optimization Pro and USB Dock: Screencast Demo

The Sigma USB Dock paired with Sigma Optimization Pro software brings lens customization to an entirely new level. Photographers can now personally update the firmware of Sigma’s new Global Vision lenses and make performance enhancements including multi-zone microfocus adjustments of +/-20 from the factory default settings.

First Look: SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC HSM | Art

The Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC HSM | Art lens replaces the very popular 30mm EX DC HSM lens as the fast, standard prime designed exclusively for DLSRs with APS-C sensors including the Sigma SD1 Merrill, the Canon EOS Rebel, 60D and 7D and a number of Nikon models including the D7100, D90, and D5100. And based on the updates and upgrades, the 30mm F1.4 Art lens is going to make a lot of photographers very happy.

Sigma DP3 Merrill for Amazing Close-up Details

The Sigma Dp3 Merrill is the newest member of the DP family, and the fourth camera in the Sigma line built around the amazing Merill Generation Foveon Direct Image Sensor. The Dp3 Merrill is fitted with a 50mm F2.8 DP prime lens that equates to 75mm on the APS-C stacked image sensor. And, in a first for the DP lineup, it offers 1:3 macro magnification.

The Sigma DP Merrill Series: Pixel Perfect Times Three

The question for photographers who demand the ultimate in image quality in a compact camera is simple.

Which DP Merrill camera do you choose: The new DP3 Merrill with its 50mm F2.8 Macro lens, the DP2 Merrill with its 30mm F2.8 or the DP1 Merrill with its 19mm F2.8 lens? Each of these luxe compact cameras is the perfect pairing of a fast prime lens, the Merrill Generation X3 Direct Image Sensor, and specially tuned image processing algorithms. And the images, of course, speak for themselves–both with incredible detail and sharpness, and in the big-camera feel to background blur when shooting with shallow depth of field.

Sigma Photo Pro 5.5 Monochrome: First Look, First Photos

Sigma Photo Pro 5.5 is a significant update to the raw processor for X3F Raw files from Sigma’s cameras featuring the unique Foveon X3 Direct Image sensor as there is a completely new, dedicated monochrome processor for raw files from the original Sigma SD1 and all Merrill generation cameras, the SD1M, DP1M, DP2M, and the brand-new DP3M. And it is now available for download.

Sigma Photo Pro 5.5 Monochrome: Video Tutorial

Sigma Photo Pro 5.5 now offers dedicated Monochrome processing for X3 raw files from the original SD1 and all cameras in the Merrill Generation, the SD1 Merrill, the DP2 Merrill, and the new DP3 Merrill.

First Look: The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro Contemporary Lens

First announced at Photokina 2012, The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro is the first in the Contemporary line of lenses in the Sigma Global Vision to be released. This fast, compact, variable aperture standard zoom for APS-C DSLRs is going to make a lot of photographers very happy. Even though it covers a very similar focal range as the often-bundled starter lens with many DSLRs, It is a serious step up from the typical kit offering, including true macro capture.

A Bit about Bokeh, Background Blur and Selective Focus

The holiday season is a great time to make photos with gorgeously softened backgrounds and shallow depth of field for painterly, creative, and festive results. Indoors and out, the Christmas trees bedecked with tiny lights, Menorahs, and decidedly secular seasonal displays that brighten the world each December present the perfect opportunity to experiment, explore and create. While we’ll obviously be featuring a number of Sigma lenses in this how-to, much of the information here is universal.