Canon EOS 500D wins best SLR title

Canon's EOS 500D has won European SLR Camera of the Year in the annual contest run by the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA), the membership of which includes AP.

The EOS 500D was described by judges as an 'excellent DSLR for both novices and advanced amateurs'.

The citation added: 'The quality of the HD video is so impressive that it might provoke the beginning of a new movie-making hobby for some users.'

Buy a Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

Olympus's E-P1 was named Camera of the Year, judges applauding the appeal of its elegant retro design. (Buy Olympus PEN E-P1)

Nikon's D3x won the title European Professional Camera and Canon's EOS 5D Mark II triumphed in the Advanced Camera category. (Buy a Nikon D3x)

The European Lens award went to the 'lightweight and affordable' Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM. (Buy Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM AF Lens Nikon)

EISA's best lens for travel was the Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Macro. The top zoom lens accolade was handed to Sony's 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM. (Buy Tamron 18-270mm Canon)

Photo Innovation of the Year honours went to Fujifilm's Super CCD EXR imaging sensor.

Multimedia Camera of 2009-2010 was Panasonic's Lumix DMC-GH1. 'It combines the advantages of a compact camera with those of a DSLR: it is lightweight, has a small body, a high-resolution electronic viewfinder and Live View.' (Buy Panasonic GH1)

Via Amateur Photographer

Sigma extends warranty on all non-EX lenses

All Sigma Corporation lenses are covered by a one-year international warranty. This new extended warranty will now cover all non-EX lenses purchased through an authorized US dealer for another two years beyond the one-year international warranty, for a total of three years. Customers purchasing Sigma’s EX lenses through authorized US dealers will continue to receive an extended, three-year warranty.

Via photorumors.com

Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM launched

This super-wide angle lens has a maximum aperture of F3.5 throughout the entire zoom range.

With its wide angle view from 102.4 degrees it can produce striking images with exaggerated perspective. The maximum aperture of F3.5 is ideal for indoor shooting and it enables photographers to emphasize the subject. Two ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass elements and a SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass element provide excellent correction of color aberration. Four aspherical lenses provide correction for distortion and allow compact and lightweight construction. The Super Multi-Layer coating reduces flare and ghosting. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. The incorporation of HSM (Hyper-Sonic Motor) ensures a quiet and high-speed auto focus as well as full-time manual focusing capability. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 9.4 inches (24cm) throughout the entire zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:6.6. The lens design incorporates an inner focusing system which eliminates front lens rotation, making the lens particularly suitable for using the Petal-type hood and polarizing filter. The Petal-type hood blocks extraneous light and reduces internal reflection.

Via Sigma News

Sigma launches SD15 DSLR

The newest addition to the Sigma SD series of SLR cameras is powered by the 14 mega pixel Foveon X3 direct-image sensor making it possible to capture all primary RGB colors at each and every pixel location and is arranged in three layers. The developing SD15 incorporates the “True II” new image processing engine. It provides high resolution power and reproduces high definition images, rich in gradation and impressive three-dimensional detail. Incorporation of the large 3.0 inch LCD monitor and improved processing speed provide ease of operation.

Since October 2002, Sigma has introduced three digital SLR cameras, the SD9, SD10 and SD14. In March, 2008, Sigma also introduced a high end compact digital camera, the DP1 which uses the same large image sensor as is featured in Sigma’s digital SLR cameras. They have established a strong following from a wide range of photographers, both amateur and professional. Photographers expressed a desire to incorporate the image processing engine “TRUE”, which is used in the DP1, into a digital SLR camera. In order to meet this demand, the SD15, with the high resolution direct image sensor, has been designed around the new “TRUE II” image processing engine. This combination delivers superior image quality as well as improved processing speed, operation and performance.

Via divephotoguide, Sigma press release

Sigma UK to Increases Prices February 1st

Sigma UK Press Release:

Sigma increase prices due to the exchange rate.

It’s a very long time since prices in the photo/imaging market increased. Cameras and lenses fell in price until they offered incredibly good value for money. In times of recession it seems counter-intuitive for prices to rise but that’s exactly what is about to happen, mainly due to the currency fluctuations.

In December 2007, the exchange rate between the UK Pound and Japanese Yen was 235. The very weak pound and unusually strong Yen now means that the exchange rate has fallen to below 130 Yen, a devaluation of approximately 40%. Anybody who has recently been on holiday abroad will have noticed that the pound is very weak against the Euro, Dollar and Yen.

Our parent company, the Sigma Corporation, purchases raw materials in Yen and their overheads are therefore inextricably linked to the Yen and so they have been forced, in line with our competitors, to increase our supply price to reflect the exchange rate between the UK pound and the Japanese Yen. Our prices are therefore set to increase on 1st February 2009. Whilst our price increases reflect the international exchange rate movements we have made every effort, wherever possible, to absorb the price rises and minimise extra expense to the customer. Sigma, in line with our competitors, are constantly monitoring the currency market and our prices are directly influenced by exchange rates. We hope that the UK pound makes a recovery against foreign currencies however it is not altogether impossible that further price increases may be forced upon us all.

As retailers strive to beat the price increase deadline, we have seen tremendous growth in sales in January and as a result our warehouse is very low on stock. Whilst the prices of Sigma products will increase on 1st February, it may be possible for customers to purchase from their local retailers at the original prices for a limited period as long as stocks last.

Whilst these price rises are regrettable it is important to note that, as all our competitors are increasing prices to a similar degree, we still retain our reputation for offering top quality products and excellent value for money.

Via photographyblog

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro reviewed by SLRGear

Andrew Alexander at SLRGear.com has a fresh article and test of the new Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens lens.

From the review:

Every lens manufacturer produces a consumer telephoto zoom in the 70-300mm range; Sigma offers an economical alternative in the form of the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro. A telephoto zoom is typically one of the first lenses consumers acquire after a kit lens. Does Sigma's offering fare well enough to find a place in your bag?

Bottom line:
The Sigma 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6 is a viable alternative to manufacturers' versions of the same lens.

Check out the full review here.

Sigma 50mm f/2.8 Macro EX (DG) reviewed at vnphoto.net

Vietnamese site VNPhoto has a review of the Sigma 50mm f/2.8 Macro EX (DG) macro lens.

Sigma first introduced the AF 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens in 1990, then upgraded it and released the Sigma 50mm f/2.8D EX 1998. The latest version is Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG, Sigma is the optimal for digital machines. However, all 3 lenses are designed with optical lens in 10 groups in 9 so the image quality is almost similar. Both are the 2 to 35mm in both FF and have a smaller sensor.
This is probably the lens AF Macro 1:1 cheapest one you can find on the market. Price new (2009) about $ 240 and only about $ 140 used. While price is quite cheap but quality is very good and most websites gave it high rates. Very suitable for those who want to try Macro picture category, but do not want to invest more money.



Buy the Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens for Canon SLR Cameras now.

Check out the full machine-translated review here.

Sigma rumored to increase lens prices

Nikonrumors via Nikoncafe has some scary info saying that Sigma is going to raise the price of some of their lenses, for example the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM now sells for $439 at B&H (was $399). Check out prices before you buy.

Sigma 18-250mm Lens announced

Sigma has joined Tamron by announcing their new Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM. The lens will be available on March 10th, 2009 in Sigma, Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony mounts.

The SIGMA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM incorporates Sigma's original anti-shake compensation function, with a 13.8 times zoom ratio. As opposed to having an anti-shake function in the camera body, this lens's Hybrid Optical Stabilizer provides not only an anti-shake function for the camera body, but also compensates for image shaking in the view finder as the Optical Stabilizer is built in to the lens. Incorporating four Special Low Dispersion glass elements and three aspherical lens elements provides excellent image quality throughout the entire zoom range. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 45cm (17.7 inches) at all focal lengths and a maximum magnification of 1: 3.4 reproduction ratio, making it ideal for close-up photography. An inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making it suitable for use with circular polarizing filters and the supplied petal-type hood. Incorporating super multi layer coating reduce the ghost in the backlight photography.

Buy Sigma DSLR lenses at Amazon.

Via DentonImages.com

Sigma SD14 review

When it was announced in February 2002, the Foveon X3 sensor was seen by many as the future of digital photography because (unlike almost every camera on the market which uses a color filter array), the X3 sensors measure color information for all three colors at every pixel location. Sigma's SD9, announced alongside Foveon's X3, was the launch camera for the technology, and was followed by its successor the SD10 and Polaroid's x530 compact - the only three commercially available (to consumers, anyway) digicams with full-measured color. The Sigma SD14 and its sibling the Sigma DP1 mark the fourth and fifth cameras to be able to make this claim, and they both share an identical imager.

The Sigma SD-14 has a 4.69 effective megapixel resolution from 14.1 million photodiodes arranged in three layers, as per Foveon's by-now famous layout which records full color information at every pixel location. (Traditional Bayer-sensor cameras capture only one color at each pixel location, and interpolate the other two colors from surrounding pixels, leading to somewhat reduced luminance resolution, and a significant reduction in chrominance resolution and other color-related problems). Maximum resolution is 2640 x 1760 pixels, with a 3:2 aspect ratio, though the SD14 offers an interpolated "Super High" JPEG mode with 4608 X 3072 pixels. The Sigma SD14 captures either JPEGs or .X3F Raw images.

Read the SD14 review at imaging-resource.com

Company profile: Foveon

Foveon is well known for its development of X3 image sensor technology, the patented 3-layer image sensor architecture breakthrough which provides a fundamentally better way of capturing color images. The technology was developed using standard CMOS semiconductor process steps and produced the world’s first commercially successful image sensor that did not require color filters to create a color image.

But there is more to the company than just great sensor technology. Bringing X3 sensors to the imaging market is the result of the efforts of a multidisciplinary, innovative team comprising knowledge in silicon technology, chip design, image processing, firmware creation , hardware design, and manufacturing all working together - dedicated to making the imaging experience better, more colorful, and sharper.

The Foveon X3 image sensors this team has developed have found popularity in DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras manufactured by Sigma Corporation. Sigma has produced DSLR and compact cameras using Foveon X3 image sensors, delighting camera owners with amazing image detail and color.

The close cooperation between Sigma and Foveon led to Sigma’s purchase of Foveon in November of 2008. Foveon continues to be based in San Jose, CA and will produce new and exciting X3 image sensors and image processing techniques to meet the requirements of the demanding image capture market.

From Foveon website