Most Wanted 43
Photography News | Issue 38 | absolutephoto.com
Sigma launches lenses for stills &video
Specs
12-24mmf/4 DGHSMArt Price £1649.99
Mounts available Canon, Nikon, Sigma Optical construction 16 elements in 11 groups Aperture range f/4-22 Minimumfocus 24-25.8cm Filter size N/A Weight 1150g Mounts available Canon, Nikon, Sigma Optical construction 14 elements in 12 groups Aperture range f/1.2-16 Minimumfocus 80cm Filter size 86mm Weight TBC Mounts available Canon, Nikon, Sigma Optical construction 16 elements in 11 groups Aperture range f/4-32 Minimumfocus 3.5m Filter size 46mm rear mounted Weight 3.31kg Sigma 85mm f/1.4DGHSM Price £1199.99 Sigma500mm f/4DGOSHSM Price £5999.99
Leading independent lens maker, Sigma, launched three classy optics at Photokina adding to its already comprehensive selection of optics. For wide-angle fans there is a third-generation 12-24mm f/4 DG HSM Art lens that offers zero distortion and exceptional optical quality with across-the-frame sharpness achieved thanks to use of FLD (F low dispersion glass) and a large 80mm diameter aspherical lens. The latter minimises distortion, coma and spherical aberrations. Price is £1649.99. The lens features f/4 at all focal lengths and the minimum focus of 24cm at the long end means you can get in really close to your subject for dramatic compositions. Focusing is by a newly designed Sigma Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) with 1.3x more torque than its predecessor which claims stable performance even at low speeds. In keeping with Sigma’s Art line, the build is exemplary and features a dust and splash-proof construction. Next up is the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DGHSM, another lens in the brand’s Art line and is priced at £1199.99. With its medium telephoto focal length and fast f/1.4 aperture, this lens is sure to appeal to discerning portrait photographerswho demand outstanding image quality even when used wide open. What’s more, with its wide aperture and advanced optical design there is the opportunity for beautiful bokeh. The lens’s design, using two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements and one with a high refraction index deliver images of staggering clarity. The final lens in the new trio is
a 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM lens, a member and flagship of the Sports line, and priced at £5999.99. As befits a top-of-the-range lens, this model bristles with features and the very latest technology to deliver outstanding performance in less than perfect conditions. The lens features enhanced dust- and splash-proof construction, there is an OS (Optical Stabiliser) to minimise the risk of camera shake when handholding, and Sigma’s latest HSMmotor gives super-quick AF. Preset AF modes mean the lens can remember the focus position of your choosing and there are two switchablemanual focusmodes. Two FLD and one SLD glass elements keep spherical and axial chromatic aberration to very low levels, and optical quality remains high even when the lens is used in conjunction with one of Sigma's range of teleconverters. Finally, Sigma is entering the world of video with lenses for ultra high megapixel
shooting in Canon EF and Sony E, with PL fittings coming later. The High Speed Zoom range includes an 18- 35mmT2anda50-100mm T2 while in the FF Zoom line there’s a 24-35mm T2.2. Five options sit in the
FF High Speed Prime series and these include a 20mm F1.5, 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5 and an 85mmT1.5. The video lenses will start to be available towards the end of 2016.
sigma-imaging-uk.com
Innovative Laowa Specs
Chinese brand Laowa is a recent arrival in the lens world and it has already made a name for itself with some innovative and unusual glass. TheLaowa12mmf/2.8ZeroDis the world’s fastest rectilinear ultra wide- angle lens for full-frame cameras. Optical construction comprises 16 elements in 10 groups which includes three extra-low dispersion elements and two aspherical elements to give edge-to-edge image sharpness free from chromatic aberrations even at the maximum aperture. The optical design overcomes barrel distortion. With manual focusing down to 18cm, this 122° angle-of-view lens can give really dramatic compositions with impressive sharpness throughout its aperture and focusing distance ranges. This lenswill be available inCanon EF, Nikon AI, Sony A, Pentax K and
Sony E fittings and in the shops from the end of this November at the price of £899.99. Going on sale in early 2017 will be a 15mm f/2 Zero D and 7.5mm f/2. Like the 12mm f/2.8, both lenses are manual focus, fast-aperture, ultra- wide lenses; the 15mm for Sony FE fit cameras and the 7.5mm f/2 for Micro Four Thirdsmodels. The 15mm f/2 is the fastest rectilinear lens for full-frame cameras of that focal length and it's designed to give close to zero optical distortion. Lightweight and compact, the 7.5mm f/2 is suitable for use on drones, but alsomakes a great partner for land-based shooting with its fast aperture making it perfect for low light situations. Prices of both lenses will be confirmed in due course.
Laowa 7.5mm f/2MFT Price £TBC Mounts available Micro Four Thirds Optical construction TBC Aperture range f/2-22 Minimum focus 12cm Filter size 49mm Weight 170g
Laowa 12mm f/2.8 ZeroD Price £899.99
Laowa 15mm f/2 FE ZeroD Price £TBC Mounts available Sony E Optical construction 16 elements in 11 groups Aperture range f/2-22 Minimumfocus 15cm Filter size 72mm Weight 500g
Mounts available Canon EF, Nikon AI, Pentax K, Sony A, Sony E Optical construction 16 elements in 10 groups Aperture range f/2.8-22 Minimumfocus 18cm Filter size N/A Weight 560g
laowalens.co.uk
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