There are a lot of macro lenses out there, what makes this one stand out from the crowd? Sharpness? Of course it’s sharp – tack sharp. But then again, pretty much all macro lenses are sharp, and my poor old 10 megapixel sensor won’t be able to distinguish between them. The focal length is a bit unusual – most macros are in one of three focal length ranges: 50-60mm (“normal lens” range), 90-105mm (short telephoto) and 180mm (telephoto). The longer lenses typically have the advantage of a longer working distance,… read more →
One of my first lenses that I received from Sigma South Africa was the Sigma 8-16mm DC HSM f4.5-5.6. I have been using it almost exclusively for interior and architectural work. Now many photographers out there do not like the ultra wide lenses for interior or architectural use due to extreme effects they tend to have on perspective. That however, is the beauty of these lenses in my opinion. They create space and have the ability to create a feeling of open space in what might otherwise be perceived as… read more →
Eager to try the new Sigma 500mm Sports lens? While stock won’t be available for a few more weeks in South Africa, Sigma Japan has launched their new “Impression” page for the lens (access the page here) with some amazing photos taken by photographer Satoru Korenaga. See a few of the new amazing sample photos below or access the Impressions page for more high resolution photos. From these photos you can see just how sharp this new lens is, as well as its excellent colour and contrast rendition. We can’t… read more →
We would like to announce the availability of a new firmware update for the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports in SIGMA and Canon mount, and the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary in SIGMA and Canon mount. The firmware can be updated using SIGMA Optimization Pro. The lens firmware update improves the AF accuracy and reduces the operating sound of the diaphragm blades when it is attached with the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11. For customers who own the following applicable products and the SIGMA USB… read more →
By Sigma Ambassador Keith Connelly If you missed it, please read Part 1 of this series here. So this post is merely a guideline from my own perspective. I will be using Photoshop and Nik Software as these are the two programs I use mainly in my conversions. Of course there are very effective ways of producing these images in Lightroom as well. So before getting into the detail I want to reiterate some of the points from my last post: Start with a quality raw image Look for Images… read more →
SIGMA 500mm F4 DG OS HSM | Sports The SIGMA Corporation is pleased to announce the flagship lens of the Sports line, SIGMA 500mm F4 DG OS HSM | Sports which has both outstanding functionality for challenging shoots and top-level optical performance. The SIGMA 500mm F4 DG OS HSM | Sports incorporates SIGMA’s latest technologies and delivers a full range of advanced features and functions: enhanced dust- and splash-proof construction, Optical Stabilizer (OS) system, SIGMA Tele Converter compatibility, AF function switch, SIGMA’s latest-generation Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), and more. Combining… read more →
Alan van Gysen has been a professional surf photographer for 16 years and is the Zigzag photo editor. Follow him on Instagram @alanvangysen Mastering the Namib mirage Google ‘Skeleton Bay’ and rows and rows of awe-inspiring photographs will appear on your screen of the worlds best wave. Stacked up in digital rows just like the real-life scene, rolling tubes appear seemingly out of nowhere through the fog of the Namibian desert. It’s the definition of perfect. A high school surfers textbook sketch brought to life. At 2.1km-long, this freakishly perfect… read more →
The SIGMA Corporation is pleased to announce that it will enter into the cinema lens market by releasing a new line of SIGMA CINE LENSES, designed specifically for cinematography. In the world of digital film production, there is an increasing demand for higher resolution, and SIGMA’s new lineup of high-performance lenses is compatible with the latest, high-resolution digital cinema cameras. SIGMA has developed its own production system by establishing the required technology for mass production of high-performance lenses for ultra-mega-pixel shooting. The company feels this valuable new lens line could… read more →
In photography, composition refers to the structure, organization, and visual characteristics of the elements in your photograph. Compositions can be complex, powerful, boring, moody, uplifting, and a plethora of other adjectives. When you hear photographers refer to the composition of a photograph, likely they are talking about things like subject placement, lighting, colour, lines, space, balance, and more. Although composition is one of the most important aspects when it comes to photography it is also one of the most difficult things to master, especially in wildlife photography when your subject… read more →
We would like to inform you of the lens firmware updates which incorporate a new algorithm to improve AF performance even further. Although we announced on April 14th, 2016 that release of the firmware updates is planned around June to August, the development has been delayed and the actual release will start from October onward. For customers waiting for the availability of the lens firmware updates, we apologize for the inconvenience. We appreciate your understanding and will continue the development with our utmost efforts. Release of the firmware updates will… read more →