NEW SIGMA DIGITAL

Brand SIGMA

Product Name 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX DG SIGMA AF

Jessops Code SIG153035EXSAF

Jessops Price £509.90

Availability Special Order

Repair Protection Plan £ 30.00

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_Details TOP

Sigmas 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF provides an excellent 15mm ultra-wide (weitwinkel) angle to 30mm wide-angle focal length, one of the first of its kind.

This lens has minimum focusing distance of 30cm at all focal lengths with 110.5 degrees (wide) to 71.6 degrees (tele) angle of view. (Maximum magnification is 1:6.)

It incorporates a hybrid aspherical lens in the front lens group to minimize distortion and astigmatism, and molded glass aspherical lens in the rear lens group to minimize spherical aberration thus improving the clarity and sharpness of your images.

Also, the lens comes equipped with a dual focus mechanism and also inner focusing system. It is ergonmically designed and easy to hold, since the focusing ring does not rotate during auto focusing, and yet it provides adequate torque of the focusing ring during manual focusing the lens.

Sigmas 15-30mm f3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF has a new mechanical design which has six groups zoom system. This new mechanical design will minimize astigmatism for all focal lengths.

The iris diaphragm has 8 blades to obtain a fantastic, 'out focus' of image in the foreground and background.

If required this lens can be used on most digital SLR models. However the range of the lens will be slightly changed at approximately 22.5mm-45mmm on many models.

Specification

Focal length: 15-30mm

Maximum aperture: f/3.5-4.5

Lens construction: 17 elements in 13 groups

Focusing system: Internal Focusing

Angle of view: 110.5°-71.6°

Number of diaphragm blades: 8

Minimum aperture: f/22-32

Minimum focusing distance: 30cm

Maximum magnification: 1:6

Filter size: Rear (gelatin filter insert type)

Lens hood: Petal shape hood (non-removable)

Dimensions: 87mm (diameter) x 130mm (length)

Weight: 615g

_Features TOP

Type Zoom

Focal Range Wide Angle

Lens Fitting Sigma AF

Focusing Auto

Is this lense any different than the previous 15-30? Sounds like they just branded it "digital" and re-released it, or even just threw a new press release out there associating it with the SD9.

Tom

I assume it's 100% new designated a 'DG DF' and only available to order presently. This is just the first of a bunch of new digital lenses from Sigma.

This makes it wider than the Canon and undoubtedly cheaper coming in at around $500 in the States. UK prices are usually 30% higher.

I am pretty sure the lenses released with other mounts (Canon Nikon) will have the corrected focal adjustment to suit the chips.

This is not a press release it is from a Jessops.com product catalogue, they are offering it complete with SD9 as a kit.

Nikon has allready announced a series of DX lenses optimized to the 1.5x sensor DSLRs. Of interest to UW photographers, the first lens shown was a 12-24mm lens. Due in the spring. It will be a G lens and AFS lens. It fits on the standard Nikon F mount. :ph34r:

Its interesting to note these manufacturers now all scrapping to get digital compatible lenses on the market. To think they have all been leading us on since the digital revolution trying to convince us compatability with existing 35mm lenses.

I suggest all digital SLR owners taking their cameras/lenses back to the shops and asking for a refund or free replacement with the new digital compatable lenses. I know what they would say!!!!!!!

Mark

This is not a new lens; it is the same one James had for his S2Pro. It was introduced in 2001 as a DG DF. See the Press Release at www.sigmaphoto.com.

While Nikon has announced digital-specific lenses, Sigma has taken a different approach, labeling several of its 35mm lenses as "ideal for digital photography".

From sigma's UK site:

"The use of lenses in digital imaging uses exactly the same principles as in conventional silver halide (film) cameras. In other words, the better the original image in terms of definition and contrast/colour , the better the final result will be. In terms of maximum aperture of a lens it is always an advantage in the digital arena to have as much light as possible available. SIGMA have a selection of lenses which are ideal for digital photography."

They then go on to list eleven of their lenses.

The first sentence is particularly interesting given the recent flap over that "digital test" thread. No difference in the priciples of lens design for film and digital? Hmmmmmm . . .

Yes, I thought this too and sent them a copy of the report! According to the Sigma rep this IS a new version for small chips - They have probably stuck a washer in to make the footprint smaller!

Well this makes me think twice, the 15-30 was on my next lens list. In fact I even had the zoom ring built for the UK housing. I hope they don't change the ring size on me!

I owned the Sigma 15-30 (film format) lens, but I traded it for the Nikkor 18-35. The sigma is too big in diameter to fit in the Ikelite housings. Not sure if thats a shortcoming of the lens, or the housing...

In either case, why is the lens so big? The nikkor is much smaller. I also had pretty bad flare problems w/ the Sigma - almost as bad as the 14mm. A longer hood helps a bit.

So, is this lens going to be optimized for the 1.7 crop factor of the Sigma SD9? Or will they have a different lens for each mount? 1.5x for Nikon? 1.6x for Canon?

I think Sigma is on the right track. If they can get their lens out before Nikon they will sell a lot of them.

Cheers

James