New Sigma 8-16/4.5-5.6, 17-50/2.8, 50-500/4.5-6.3, 70-200/2.8, 85/1.4 Lenses

Sigma announced a number of new products at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show this year (February 2010). Price and availability aren't yet known (I will add then when they become available), but details on the lenses are shown below.

• A new "FLD" (Fluorine Low Dispersion) glass, said to be similar in properties to fluorite
• Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM lens. This is the widest rectilinear (non-fisheye) lens available for crop sensor DSLRs and is equivalent in field of view to a full frame 12-24mm lens when on Sony/Nikon/Pentax cameras or a full frame 12.8-25.6mm lens when mounted on Canon cameras. The 8-16/4 DC HSM uses Sigma's new FLD glass.
• Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 DC OS HSM. An optically stabilized lens for crop sensor DSLRs, also using Sigma's new FLD glass.
• Sigma 50-500 f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM. An optically stabilized superzoom with full frame coverage.
• Sigma APO 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM. Optically stabilized with full frame coverage, incorporating Sigma's new FLD glass as well as SLD elements.
• Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM. A fast 85mm portrait lens with full frame coverage.

Here is a copy of Sigma's press release along with images of the new cameras and lenses:

8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM

The Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM is the first ultra-wide zoom lens with a minimum focal length of 8mm, designed specifically for APS-C size image sensors. This lens has an equivalent angle of view of a 12-24mm lens when used on digital cameras (The angle of view varies depending on which camera the lens is mounted on.) with an APS-C size image sensor. The wide-angle of view from 121.2 degrees produces striking images with exaggerated perspective, enabling photographers to emphasize the subject. Four FLD glass elements, which have the performance equal to fluorite glass, compensate for color aberration. One hybrid aspherical lens and two glass molded elements give excellent correction for distortion and astigmatism. Incorporating an inner focusing system, the lens produces high-definition images throughout the entire zoom range. The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting while superior peripheral brightness ensures high contrast images throughout the entire zoom range. This lens incorporates Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), ensuring quiet and high speed auto focus, as well as full-time manual focus capability. It has a minimum focusing distance of 9.4 inches throughout the entire zoom range, which allows photographers to emphasize the subject by creating exaggerated perspectives. This lens has a compact construction with an overall length of 4.2 inches and a maximum diameter of 2.9 inches.

17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM

The Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM is a large aperture standard zoom lens designed for digital SLR cameras. It incorporates Sigma's efficient Optical Stabilization (OS) function and is a compact lens with an overall length of just 3.6 inches. This lens covers a focal length from 17mm wide angle and offers a large aperture of f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range, making it ideal for many types of photography such as portraiture and landscapes. The OS function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately four stops slower than would otherwise be possible. For Sony and Pentax mount, the built-in OS function of this lens can be used even if the camera body is equipped with an image sensor shift anti-shake system. As compensation for camera shake is visible in the viewfinder, the photographer can easily check for accurate focus and ensure there is no subject movement. Two FLD glass elements, which have performance equal to fluorite glass, plus two glass mold and one hybrid aspherical lens, provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations. The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghost. This lens has superior peripheral brightness and provides sharp, high-contrast images even at the maximum apertures. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. Incorporating Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), the lens provides fast and quiet auto focus. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 11 inches throughout the entire zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5. The rounded seven-blade diaphragm creates an attractive blur to the out of focus images. The inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the lens particularly suitable for use with the supplied petal-type lens hood and circular polarizing filters.

APO 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM

The Sigma APO 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM is a 10x high-zoom ratio, ultra telephoto zoom lens incorporating Sigma's original Optical Stabilization (OS) function. This lens covers a wide range of focal lengths from 50mm to 500mm ultra telephoto. The OS function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately four stops slower than would otherwise be possible. For Sony and Pentax mount, the built-in OS function of this lens can be used even if the camera body is equipped with an image sensor shift anti-shake system. As compensation for camera shake is visible in the view finder, the photographer can easily check for accurate focus and ensure there is no subject movement. Four Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements provide excellent correction of color aberration. The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting, and ensures high image quality throughout the entire zoom range. This lens has a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.1 (at the focal length of 200mm), making it ideal for close-up photography. This lens incorporates Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), ensuring quiet and high-speed auto focus, as well as full-time manual focus capability. The addition of the optional 1.4x EX DG or 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters produce a 70-700mm f/6.3-8 or a 100-1000mm f/9-12.6 MF zoom lens, respectively. This lens is equipped with a petal-type hood to block out extraneous light. The filter size of this lens is f95mm and the lens is supplied with a step-down ring enabling digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor to use a f86mm filter.

APO 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM

The Sigma APO 70-200 f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM is a large aperture, telephoto zoom lens that incorporates Sigma's original Optical Stabilization (OS) function. The lens covers a medium telephoto range of focal lengths from 70mm to 200mm and has a large maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. The OS function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately four stops slower than would otherwise be possible. For Sony and Pentax mounts, the built-in OS function of this lens can be used even if the camera body is equipped with an image sensor shift anti-shake system. As compensation for camera shake is visible in the view finder, the photographer can easily check for accurate focus and ensure there is no subject movement. Two FLD ("F" Low Dispersion) glass elements, which have the performance equal to fluorite glass, and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction of color aberration. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range and an optimum optical power layout provides superior optical quality in all shooting ranges from close-up to infinity. Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting. This lens incorporates Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), ensuring a quiet and high-speed auto focus, as well as full-time manual focus capability. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 55.1 inches throughout the entire zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:8. The rounded, nine-blade diaphragm creates an attractive blur to the out of focus images. This lens is equipped with a petal-type hood. For digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, a dedicated hood adapter, which expands the length of the lens hood, is supplied.

85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM is a large aperture, medium telephoto lens optimized for use with digital SLR cameras features a focal length of 85mm, ensuring a natural perspective. The large aperture of f/1.4 is especially ideal for portrait and low light photography. When used on digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, the lens effectively becomes a 127.5mm f/1.4 lens. One Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass element and one glass mold element give excellent correction for all types of aberrations and ensure superior optical performance. This lens is equipped with a rear focus system that minimizes fluctuation of aberration caused by focusing. The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghost, even in backlight photography. Incorporating Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), this lens provides quiet and high-speed auto focus, as well as full-time manual focus capability. It features a minimum focusing distance of 33.5 inches and a maximum magnification 1:8.6. This lens has a round, nine-blade diaphragm, which creates an attractive blur to the out of focus images. This lens is supplied with a petal-type hood to block out extraneous light. For digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, a dedicated hood adapter, which expands the length of the lens hood, is supplied and enables the hood to block out extraneous light more effectively.

"F" Low Dispersion (FLD) glass

"F" Low Dispersion (FLD) glass has been adopted and used in Sigma's new, high-performance lenses. FLD glass is the highest level, low dispersion glass available with extremely high light transmission. With a performance equal to fluorite glass, this optical glass has a low refractive index and low dispersion compared to current optical glass. It also benefits from high anomalous dispersion. These characteristics offer excellent correction for residual chromatic aberration (secondary spectrum), which cannot be corrected by ordinary optical glass and ensures high-definition and high-contrast images. FLD glass offers superior optical performance, equal to fluorite, at an affordable price. The density of FLD glass is lower than traditional optical glass, ensuring a lighter construction of large aperture lenses.

FLD glass has been incorporated into three recently announced lenses. Four elements have been included in the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM and two elements have been included in both the Sigma APO 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM and the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM.