Three full frame lenses for imminent release were unveiled by Sigma today, including a fast telephoto prime, faster wide-ish prime (second generation update), and affordable all-in-one zoom. All three will be available in both L-mount and Sony E-mount versions and are expected in-hand before the end of the month. They look gorgeous and capable (look at that header image!) and they’re definitely worthy of your consideration.
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135mm f/1.4 DG Art
The fast pitch: the 135mm f/1.4 DG Art is sturdily built and offers incredible bokeh thanks to its super-wide aperture (for the focal length). The optics are precision-engineered for stunning portraiture and the autofocus is fast and accurate enough to capture fleeting expressions.
A world’s-first combination of 135mm and f/1.4, this telephoto promises absolute joy. (As a die-hard fan of the Olympus 75mm f/1.8, which has an equivalent field of view of 150mm, this is a head-turner for me.) The focal length is distant enough to allow elements of candidness to creep in but close enough to make that critical portrait connection, and an extra stop at this length goes a long way toward allowing for unbelievably creamy bokeh, especially combined with Sigma’s 13-blade diaphragm. The floating focus system ensures consistent resolving power across the whole range and Dual HLAs make sure the AF locks in quickly. The lens features a lockable aperture ring with an optional detent as well as dust- and splash-resistant construction. Plus, check out that Arca-Swiss mount built in! The 135mm f/1.4 stands to really shake up the portraiture game, and I might have to give it some serious consideration for my own kit.
Sample image gallery
35mm f/1.2 DG II Art
The fast pitch: holy f/1.2, Batman! You’ll struggle to find bigger, more beautiful bokeh. Obviously a professional lens; this second-gen version is lighter and smaller than Sigma’s prior 35mm f/1.2 Art lens for these mounts.
It’s already been six years since Sigma released the 35mm f/1.2 DG DN | Art lens in 2019. Can you believe that? In any case, it’s been a wonderful lens these six years, but it’s time to update and improve. The biggest feature upgrade is a size reduction of an astounding 30%—an improvement for which your neck will thank you, undoubtedly. Rendering, resolution, and clarity are all up to the standards of the previous version, of course, if not improved (sagittal coma flare has specifically been minimized, for example). Focus breathing has also been reduced, improving this lens’ performance for video applications. The 35mm f/1.2 DG II Art shares the same outstanding Dual HLA autofocus system with the 135mm f/1.4 DG Art, so expectations for that system’s performance are reasonably high as well. Come check it out!
Sample image gallery
20–200mm f/3.5–5.6 DG Contemporary
The fast pitch: world’s first 20–200mm offers an extraordinary range for carry-everywhere creativity. The lens is compact, light, quick, effortless, yet still broadly capable.
There’s a lot you can do with a 10x zoom lens, especially one that starts as wide as 20mm. This lens covers the whole gamut from architecture-appropriate wide-angle to sports-capable telephoto. Surprisingly, the maximum magnification of the lens is 1:2 (from 28–85mm), so it’s even appropriate for moderate close-up photography. This is your EDC probe—a lens just as capable of catching that military fly-over as it is of capturing an unexpectedly breathtaking panoramic vista on your drive into the mountains. (Check out the southern side of Kenosha Pass for one of the best anywhere in the world.) A zoom lock switch helps keep everything safe, as does dust- and moisture-resistant construction.
