In the world of photography, it is important to be familiarized and/or well-acquainted with different lens abbreviations to find the one best fit for your taste and budget.
Lenses, which are produced by Sigma, have become increasingly more well-known on account of some high-certified optics. This article illustrates the most significant lens abbreviations that we might encounter in the world of Sigma. Even though Sigma has an extensive lens arrangement, there are not that many of them, meaning it wouldn’t be too much information to remember.
1. What are the different Categories? How about the various Abbreviations of Class?
Let’s start by taking a gander at various lens categories, otherwise known as “product lines.” In the not so distant past, Sigma had begun modifying its arrangement. According to Sigma, the principle motivation behind why this is occurring (what Sigma calls it Global Vision) is on the grounds of frustrations photographers face in choosing lenses due to the colossal variety of products and the poorly characterized distinctions.
Sigma placed every individual lens into a particular category as well as radically changed the quality and design language. This implies that lenses which belong to that category share a few significant features. It can be stated that they are joined with a solitary concept.
Here are the four categories and the following are their description:
- C— The first category can be termed Contemporary or C. This is fundamentally the spot for Sigma's budget zoom lenses, comprised mostly of general use of zoom lenses with changeable aperture settings. For example, zoom lenses such as the standard or telephoto for the APS-C cameras (the Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OS HSM Macro C) fall into this category.
- A (Art)— Prime lenses that are extremely fast are enclosed in this product category! According to Sigma, this product line is structured with attention to optical performance of high-quality and profuse expressive power. This classification will also contain some macro, fishy, wide-angle, and zoom lenses with fast aperture settings such as 18-35mm f/1.8 HSM A.
- S (Sport)— This category is catered towards sports and wildlife photography containing telephoto lenses (focal length as well as the zoom setting is fixed). These lenses can be very expensive; however, a highlight would be the settings in maximum aperture are moderately fast.
- EX— Finally the last category is termed EX. Sigma's top-notch quality old lenses (identical to the Canon L as well as the gold ring series of Nikon). Even today, it is still possible to locate a couple of new and utilized optics having this particular assignment. Sigma has forgone this product line to make way for upcoming lenses, so we won't see any ongoing items that would have a place with the EX arrangement.
2. Is it possible to explain the different Abbreviations that exist in Format?
Sigma prides itself in being a major intermediary lens producer and, thusly, structures lenses for an assortment of sizes for sensors:
- There are the DG lenses, which are catered to comply with DSLR cameras sensor with a full-frame.
- Then comes the DC lenses, intended to serve cameras such the APS-C DSLR.
- DN – These lenses are catered to be compatible with cameras which have a compact system. However, Sigma hasn’t released lenses for mirrorless cameras that have full-frame, like for example Sony duo. Once released, it is unclear if these lenses will contain their very own assignment (very likely) or have a place with either the DN or the DG arrangement.
3. How about the Technology Abbreviations? What are they?
- HSM – Designed to provide fast and silent focusing. HSM stands for Hyper Sonic Motor and is endowed with a ring-type ultrasonic engine. This product line is comparable to Canon USM as well as to the technology of Nikon SWM.
- OS – Similar to Tamron VC, Canon IS, and Nikon VR, the optical picture stabilization innovation is utilized in Sigma lenses.
- ASP (Aspherical) – The optical structure of these lenses is embossed with a spherical glass component.
- Apochromatic or APO lenses are intended to address chromatic and different kinds of aberrations more adequately. Apochromatic focal points include intriguing fluorite components as well as zero chromatic variations of any means. Sigma claims that the APO lenses have telezoom and telephoto lenses that utilize unique optical structures as well as optical materials (such as SLD and/or ELD glass) which enhances the performance. The resulting outcome is pictures that have more noteworthy color, sharpness, and contrast definition than an equivalent non-APO lens type.
- The RF lenses have a rear focus design. This implies that when focusing, just a few components situated behind the diaphragm are relocated (as opposed to all the components), which results in inconceivably quicker AF operation as well as non-pivoting front components.
- IF – These lenses are inward focusing and consist of several optical components in front of the diaphragm are moved during focusing (as opposed to all the components). Focal length may change marginally as we focus, but the size of the lens would stay constant.
- SLD – This abbreviation stands for Special Low Dispersion, which is glass components intended to limit chromatic variations.
- ELD – This abbreviation stands for Extraordinary Low Dispersion. These glass elements may have a somewhat amusing name; however, they ought to outperform SLD.
- FLD – This abbreviation stands for the F Low Dispersion. Following Sigma FLD, it is the glass with the most elevated level of low dispersion accessible with transmission still having very high light. It ought to essentially provide high performance just as elements which are fluorite in nature (that is the thing that the "F" represents). It, however, is far more affordable.
- Thermally Stable Composite or TSC is defined as a unique material that mixes characteristics of polycarbonate as well as metal utilized in the development of certain lenses. As per Sigma, there is 25% more noteworthy flexibility than polycarbonate. Embodied with a low thermal shrinkage, TSC coordinates soundly with the metal parts, adding to high-accuracy development of the lenses.
4. Lastly what are the different Abbreviations of Lens which are Specialized?
- MACRO – An extremely well known and profoundly respected Sigma macro lens is the 150mm f/2.8 OS HSM. These lenses are intended to give great magnification as well as a generally short focus distance. In any case, on the off chance that the expectation is of the customary magnification 1:1 (or to say the least 1:2) from every single one of the macro lenses, we would be in for somewhat of a shock. For a considerable length of time, this description was utilized even on Sigma's cheap/common zoom lenses which would be able to focus somewhat nearer than presumably expected, yet still not even close to actual macro distances. Therefore, it became a feeble attempt to bait less proficient customers, much like squeezing extra megapixels in a small camera and claiming it was in some way or another "better" as a result of it. Hence if you’re a user of macro lenses for Canon or Nikon that are commonly equipped for 1:1 magnification, you should ensure the particulars of the macro lens for Sigma before buying it to save yourself from any terrible shocks.
- Then there is the Fisheye lens which comes as circular and diagonal. I'm certain very little clarification is required for this situation. Fisheye focal points give wide edges of view along (180 degrees isn't extraordinary) with unmistakable and solid distortion. The diagonal lenses envelop the entire frame whereas the circular one portrays a circular round image contained by the parameters of the frame.
Putting it all together
Does this feel like too much information to process? Have no fear, analyzing a real Sigma lens will help put things in perspective, and to do that I have picked 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM | S focal point. Ongoing Sigma lens has names that have been very short and, formally, this one is just called Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM. As should be obvious, this is a telephoto zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 all through, is very wide, and has a focal length range of 120-300mm.
DG implies that it is planned considering cameras which have a full-frame, so it can be utilized on bodies like Nikon D800 as well as Canon 5D Mark III (clearly, a fitting mount version is required for both frameworks). The lens originates from the Sports product line (S), has optical image stabilization (OS), as well as ring-type HSM.
Diving deeper, we notice that it highlights SLD as well as FLD glass elements, which assist to oppose chromatic variations, improve sharpness, and also is composed of TSC i.e. Thermally Stable Composite. Even though there are no different abbreviations, the lens also integrates some protection for dust as well as water.
