This afternoon, Sigma announced three lenses to exemplify their new lens categorization schema. Sigma’s new lenses will be placed in one of three classes:
- C : Contemporary lenses, which are designed to be compact, stylish, and convenient.
- A: Art oriented lenses, which focus on creative freedom and high optical quality, or
- S: Sports lenses, which rely on fast auto-focus and large apertures, and similar features geared towards capturing fast action.
I suspect that there will be some conceptual overlap between groups, which may make the designations less useful, but at least Sigma has not yet decided to add the new class-letter to their already lengthy lens titles.
In any case, the lenses usually speak for themselves. The new Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM is an updated version of their popular, fast consumer lens, with improved optics and styling, embodying its new “C” class.
In the new “A” class we find a 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM, a standard lens for APS-C cameras with wide apertures for more pleasing bokeh and subject/background separation.
Finally, for “Sports” photographers, Sigma has produced an improved version of their 120-300mm f/2.8 OS HSM zoom lens, providing fast HSM focus, a constant, wide f/2.8 aperture, weather sealing, and focus speed & limitation controls. Improvements are primarily in the lens’ electronics and firmware.
