Lens News

The Sigma Corporation of America this morning announced the Sigma 24-35mm F2 DG HSM Art lens, which the company is calling “the world’s first” full-frame zoom lens with a constant aperture of F/2 throughout the zoom range. Sigma has not yet announced pricing or availability for this somewhat unusual piece of premium glass.

The Sigma 24-35mm F2 DG HSM Art lens is the follow-up Sigma’s 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art lens, which is designed for APS-C cameras and was the first zoom to offer a F/1.8 aperture value throughout the zoom range. The 24-35mm F2 DG HSM Art is designed to allow photographers to carry one lens that can do the work of three popular fixed focal length lenses – the 24mm, 28mm and 35mm — with F2 brightness and top optical performance the company says is comparable to Sigma’s 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art and 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art prime lenses.

The new 24-35mm lens includes an optimized autofocus (AF) algorithm designed to produce “smooth, fast, and accurate focusing,” as well as manual focus (MF) override functionality. The lens is made with Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) compound material, which has a high affinity to metal parts, and is designed to consistently perform well at extreme temperatures, while reducing the size and weight of the lens.

In addition, its Super Multi-Layer Coating is designed to reduce flare and ghosting, and to provide sharp and high-contrast images, even in backlit conditions. It’s optimized for close-up shooting, portraits and deep-focus landscape photography.

According to Sigma, the new 24-35mm F2 DG HSM Art lens will also feature:

• Large-diameter, aspherical lens elements, which require advanced technologies to produce, one “F” Low Dispersion (FLD) glass, and seven Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements with two aspherical lenses. The advanced optics and optimized lens power distribution minimizes spherical aberration, axial chromatic aberration and field curvature, resulting in outstanding optical performance

• A video-friendly, inner focusing system that eliminates front-lens rotation, enhancing the lens' stability and allowing use of circular polarizing filters

• A Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) that ensures a silent, high-speed AF function. Smoother AF is achieved when the this AF algorithm is optimized

• Full-time MF by rotating the focus ring of the lens while auto focusing

• A nine-blade, rounded diaphragm creates an attractive blur to the out-of-focus areas of the image

• Specifications: Lens construction containing 18 elements in 13 groups; a weight of 33.2 ounces; a diameter and length of 3.4 inches by 4.8 inches, respectively; a minimum aperture of F16; and angle of view (35mm) of 84.1° to 63.4°; minimum focusing distance of 11 inches; and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.4

This lens is compatible with Sigma’s USB DOCK, which allows photographers to update the lens’ firmware, adjust focus points and customize full-time MF function settings by using Sigma's Optimization Pro software. Sigma’s Mount Conversion Service, which enables users to convert the lens’ camera mount between supported versions, is also available for a fee.

The lens will be available in Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts. Timing, pricing and availability will be announced at a later date, Sigma said.