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.
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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)
