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Sigma 24mm F2 DG DN C lens review
Sigma is well known for its Art series lenses, but the maker’s full-frame ‘Contemporary’ or C series lenses deserve equal recognition for offering great image quality in a smaller, lighter package. Take the Sigma 24mm F2 DG DN C lens reviewed here, for example, with a metal outer barrel and milled metal aperture and focus rings, it’s a very nicely made lens indeed. What’s more, weighing just 365g and measuring 72mm in length, the L-mount version I was sent pairs incredibly well with the tiny Sigma fp sent for testing. Inside, the lens has 13 elements arranged in 11 groups, with one fancy, fluorite-like FLD element, two SLD (Super-Low Dispersion)…
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Fujifilm Fujinon GF50mm F3.5 R LM WR lens review
What is it? The Fujifilm Fujinon GF50mm is a highly compact and relatively lightweight lens for Fujifilm medium format mirrorless cameras. It’s the equivalent of a 40mm on a full-frame 35mm camera, and at one time, back in the 70s, this focal length was hugely popular. Much of that had to do with price, as they competed with medium-speed (F1.8/2) 50mms – the kit lenses of the day – and were often sold as a more affordable alternative. These smaller and lighter 3-group, 4-element Tessar ‘pancake’ designs were and still are highly compelling. Indeed, the Olympus Zuiko 40mm F2 is around £600, secondhand, and the Contax Zeiss T* 45mm F2.8…
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SIGMA 28-45mm F1.8 DG DN Art
Technical Data Manufacturer Sigma Model SIGMA 28-45mm F1.8 DG DN | Art Web www.sigmauk.com Elements/construction 18 elements in 15 groups (5x SLD, 3x Asph) Angle of view 75.4°-51.3° (diagonal) Max aperture F1.8 Min aperture F16 Min focus distance 0.3 m (11.9 in) Mount SL & FE mount Filter size 82mm Length 151.4/153.4 mm (6.0 in.) SL/FE Diameter 87.8mm (3.5 in.) Weight 960/950g (33.9/33.5 oz) Price £1299 inc VAT ($1,349) The SIGMA 28-45mm F1.8 DG DN Art will be on sale from the 20th of June with an RRP of £1,299 inc VAT. Pre-order: WEX UK | Amazon | Park Cameras UK B&H Photo US | Adorama | Amazon To…
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What I would like to see released in 2024
Manufacturers are often accused of not listening to customers when it comes to introducing new features but I’m sure it’s complicated to strike a balance between what’s achievable and their users’ wishes. Nevertheless, it’s still odd that we haven’t seen some features that would appear to be easy to add, such as those via software or firmware updates. So, here’s a list of some firmware or software (via the maker’s app) features that I would like to see added to cameras this year: Auto aperture series selection, where the photographer can program the camera to select and capture a series across a range of aperture settings. The camera must alter…
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Sigma announces world’s first F1.8 zoom for full-frame 35mm cameras: SIGMA 28-45mm F1.8 DG DN Art
Lens maker Sigma has announced the SIGMA 28-45mm F1.8 DG DN Art, the world’s first F1.8 high-speed zoom lens for full-frame 35mm mirrorless cameras (narrowly beating the much more expensive Canon RF 28-70mm F2.0L USM for the EOS R series). The new top-of-the-range Art series lens will be available in two versions to fit Sony E-mount and Leica SL-mount cameras. The new lens weighs 960g and features 18 elements in 15 groups (5 SLD, 3 aspherical elements). It adopts both inner zooming and internal focusing. There are many benefits to this, but one that’s not often mentioned in marketing material is that the design makes it more durable than lenses…
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Fujifilm announces two Tilt / Shift lenses: Fujinon GF30mm F5.6 T/S and GF110mm F5.6 T/S Macro
This week Fujifilm, became the latest manufacturer to add Tilt/Shift lenses to their medium format system. The introduction of the G30mm F5.6 T/S is good news for architectural photographers and landscape photographers in general. The GF110mm F5.6 T/S Macro is, of course, aimed at studio/tabletop photographers. As for the wider market, I can’t understand why Sigma hasn’t introduced any, or Sony for that matter, although in a discussion with a senior Sony executive some ten years ago now, I was told that “they [Sony, Japan] aren’t interested commercially… “. At the time I thought that was shortsighted but let’s hope that position changes. Nevertheless, I applaud Fujifilm for pushing ahead…
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Sigma announce 14mm F1.4 DG DN Art series lens for Sony E- and L-mount cameras
Sigma has announced a new high-grade Art series 14mm F1.4 DG DN lens for Sony E (FE) and Leica L-mount cameras. It is available from the 23rd June at £1399 inc VAT or $1599 in the US. Preorder WEX (Sony FE mount/ Leica L-Mount) B&H Photo US Sigma says the lens has been “optically optimised” for astrophotography and it’s described as the World’s fastest lens for this kind of work and thus should be highly corrected for coma at infinity focus. However, it’s important to stress the lens also is corrected through profiling in-camera as well; through the use of what’s now being euphemistically called “digital or mathematical elements”.…
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Sigma Black Friday Promotion Details
Sigma US have outlined their Black Friday promotion, with up to $250 off their High-Performance Sigma Art Prime Lenses. It is, however, limited to just three models and the MC-11 converter for Canon EF mount lenses on the Sony a7/9 bodies. 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art: (MSRP $899 USD; $649 with promotional savings) – Sigma’s first and best-selling Art series lens. Excellent image quality at a relatively affordable price. B&H Photo | Amazon US 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art: (MSRP $949 USD; $829 with promotional savings) – One of the best normal focal length lenses available with high sharpness and attractive rendering. B&H Photo | Amazon US 85mm F1.4 DG…
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Sigma 45mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens review: Great rendering and build quality
Sigma’s range of ‘Contemporary’ series lenses, such as the Sigma 45mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary, are all about maintaining a balance between size, performance and price. They’re not smaller versions of the Art series lenses, which are meant to deliver the best possible image quality, regardless of size. With a 55mm filter thread, and weighing 215g ( 7.58 oz) its diminutive size in E-mount nicely complements the Sony a7/9 series and in the L-mount version, maybe also the larger Leica SL and Lumix S1 models, which it has also been designed for. At around £549 / $549 [advertiser links], this all-metal lens is beautifully made. It even comes with…
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Sigma fp announced: The world’s smallest full-frame camera
Sigma has announced the world’s smallest full-frame camera, the ‘fp’. Despite owning the Fovean sensor design company, the new fp model features a 24.6MP BSI-CMOS Bayer design. The body is highly compact, measuring just 113 x 70 x 45mm and weighs just 370g. However, it is intended as a modular camera – there will be a range of grips, a flash bracket and a viewfinder eyepiece available. In order to retain its compact dimensions, the new fp camera adopts only an electronic shutter – there is no mechanical shutter – a first for this type of camera. Naturally, the camera features an L-mount and the lenses announced earlier by Sigma…
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