When you think camera optics, you would think that the companies pushing the boundaries of how much light you can actually let in for a sensor would be something along the lines of the Canon 50/1.2L or the Leica Noctilux 50/0.95 right? While prime lenses have been getting quicker and quicker, zoom lenses have hovered around the f/2.8 range for a while. That is, until Sigma decided to make an 18-35mm f/1.8 zoom for crop sensor cameras.
Sigma have gone from a questionable 3rd party lens manufacturer to a reputable alternative lens as opposed to ones from the big boys. In some circumstances, a Sigma prime is just as sharp and good as the Canon or Nikon equivalent (or better). The 18-35mm f/1.8 is the first of its kind in the world being constructed with 17 elements in 12 groups, has a filter size of 72mm and weighs a decent 810g. The lens also contains a HSM which allows for quick, silent focusing. The build looks very simple and not cheap at all, as expected of most Sigma lenses to date.
There is no availability date or price for the lens at the moment. This is a great indication of technology to come from the big guns and now its all up to them to show what’s next.
(Source: Digital Camera Review)
