PMA Spring 2005 Show
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Sigma's logo. Click here to visit the Sigma website! Booth Report: Sigma Corp.
By Michael R. Tomkins, The Imaging Resource
(Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 14:09 EST)

On the company's booth at PMA, Sigma Corp. showcased not only its SD10 single-lens reflex digital camera, but also a vast array of lenses offered in mounts compatible with cameras from quite a range of other SLR manufacturers.

In the runup to PMA, Sigma firmly declared its commitment to digital photography with a whopping thirteen lens announcements aimed at digital photographers. Of these new models, 10 were APO lenses which are variations on existing designs, but with lens coatings that have been specifically tweaked for the best digital performance. These models all offer a full 35mm image circle, providing compatibility with both 35mm film and digital camera bodies. The remaining three models were engineered specifically for digital cameras with an APS-C or smaller image sensor, offering potential benefits in weight, size and image quality as compared to a lens designed for the larger image circle of 35mm film.

All of these new lenses were on display at PMA (although we did miss getting a photo of the impressively small 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC lens, which can be seen in a press photo from our coverage of the announcement. Sorry!)

We also saw an interesting macro ring flash announced last September, the EM-140 DG, which is compatible with both 35mm film and digital bodies, and is compatible with Sigma-STTL, Canon-ETTL/ETTL II, Nikon-iTTL, Minolta-ADI and Pentax A-PTTL flash metering systems.

All things considered, Sigma's booth really impressed, with a vast range of products catering to pretty much anyone who owns a digital SLR. We're looking forward to trying out some of these lenses ourselves in the future, and seeing how they fare in terms of image quality. We've been very pleased with some of Sigma's lenses in the past - if the new models are as good, they'll offer excellent alternatives to lens models made by the camera manufacturers themselves. Considering that a good array of lenses is generally the most expensive part of a digital photographer's investment, third party glass can be a great way to get the most mileage for your money...


Sigma Booth
Booth shot Booth shot
Booth shot Booth shot
Booth shot Booth shot
Booth shot  
Copyright 2005 by The Imaging Resource. All Rights Reserved.

Sigma Products
Electronic Flash Macro EM-140 DG

Electronic Flash Macro EM-140 DG
Macro ring flash
Flash metering compatibility:

  • Sigma-STTL
  • Canon-ETTL / ETTL II
  • Nikon-iTTL
  • Minolta-ADI
  • Pentax A-PTTL
 EM-140 shot at 1:2 with [a]
30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM
30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM
Digital-specific lens
45mm equivalent on 1.5x crop DSLR
Bright F1.4 max aperture (!)		 30mm shot at 2:2 with [b]
10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM
10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM
Digital-specific lens
15-30mm equivalent on 1.5x crop DSLR
Super wide-angle zoom		 10-20mm shot at 3:2 with [c]
APO 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG HSM
APO 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG HSM
Film / digital compatible
Coatings tweaked for digital performance
75-750mm equivalent on a 1.5x crop DSLR		 APO shot at 4:2 with [d]
APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM
APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM
Film / digital compatible
Coatings tweaked for digital performance
105-300mm equivalent on a 1.5x crop DSLR		 APO shot at 5:2 with [e]
APO 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG OS
APO 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM
Film / digital compatible
Coatings tweaked for digital performance
120-600mm equivalent on a 1.5x crop DSLR		 APO shot at 6:2 with [f]
APO 100-300mm F4 EX DG HSM
APO 100-300mm F4 EX DG HSM
Film / digital compatible
Coatings tweaked for digital performance
150-450mm equivalent on a 1.5x crop DSLR		 APO shot at 7:2 with [g]
APO 120-300mm F2.8 EX DG HSM
APO 120-300mm F2.8 EX DG HSM
Film / digital compatible
Coatings tweaked for digital performance
180-450mm equivalent on a 1.5x crop DSLR		 APO shot at 8:2 with [h]
APO 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM
APO 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM
Film / digital compatible
Coatings tweaked for digital performance
450-1200mm equivalent on a 1.5x crop DSLR		 APO shot at 9:2 with [i]
APO MACRO 180mm F3.5 EX DG HSM
APO 180mm F3.5 EX DG HSM
Film / digital compatible
Coatings tweaked for digital performance
270mm equivalent on a 1.5x crop DSLR		 APO shot at 10:2 with [j]
APO 300mm F2.8 EX DG HSM
APO 300mm F2.8 EX DG HSM
Film / digital compatible
Coatings tweaked for digital performance
450mm equivalent on a 1.5x crop DSLR		 APO shot at 11:2 with [k]
APO 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM
APO 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM
Film / digital compatible
Coatings tweaked for digital performance
750mm equivalent on a 1.5x crop DSLR		 APO shot at 12:2 with [l]
APO 800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM
APO 800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM
Film / digital compatible
Coatings tweaked for digital performance
1200mm equivalent on a 1.5x crop DSLR		 APO shot at 13:2 with [m]
Copyright 2005 by The Imaging Resource. All Rights Reserved.

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