Sigma has announced a new wide-angle zoom, the 24-35mm f2 DG HSM Art.
The new lens covers the most common wide-angle focal lengths on full-frame cameras, with a constant f2 aperture and, Sigma claims, the optical quality of separate prime lenses.
The lens follows on from the company’s fast wide zoom for APS-C cameras, the 18-35mm 1.8 Art. This is the fastest zoom lens so far designed for stills cameras, and has also found favour with videographers looking for a high specification zoom for Super35mm sensor cameras such as the Canon C100.
The new lens focuses internally and has an 82mm filter thread. Sigma says that the wide aperture of the lens makes it easier to achieve an out of focus background, even at the wide end, whilst the constant aperture design should allow film makers to zoom in or out, without the need to adjust lighting. The new lens’ closest focus distance is 28cm.
The lens uses a hypersonic motor for focusing, and there is a full-time manual focus override. The lens mount is brass, and Sigma is using a new material, which it calls Thermally Stable Composite, alongside metal in the lens construction.
The 24-35mm f2 is compatible with Sigma’s USB lens dock for firmware updates and for customising settings, and the lens is also eligible for Sigma’s mount conversion service, which allows owners to send the lens back to the manufacturer for a mount change, should they change camera systems.
The lens joins Sigma’s 50mm, 35mm and 24mm f.14 Art lenses. Initially the 24-35mm f2 will be offered in Sigma, Nikon and Canon mounts. The company has not yet said when the new lens will be released, or how much it will cost.
