Sigma Interview: Canon RF Mount is “discussed and researched”

Sigma Canon Eos R Art Prime Rf Mount

Mr. Kazuto Yamaki, CEO of Sigma, is one of the more interesting personalities in the photo camera industry. Here is an interview he gave to DPReview.

DPReview interviewed Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki. A lot is about the Sigma fp and the L-mount. Here are some excerpts from the interview.

Q: What do you think are Sigma’s unique selling points right now as a camera manufacturer?

Mr. Kazuto Yamaki: I hope that customers try the fp and fp L and discover how much fun they are to use. They’re really small, really easy to take anywhere, and easy and intuitive to use. A small camera makes a big difference when it comes to real photographic experience. I’ve personally learned that using the fp for two years, and it’s what our fp customers are experiencing.

[…]

Q: Can we expect faster autofocus technologies such as linear motors in future Sigma lenses?

Mr. Kazuto Yamaki: Yes. That’s probably one of the most challenging technical issues facing all manufacturers. In general, if the motor has higher torque, and more power, it’s slower. Motors with less torque can move faster. So it’s a trade off between power and speed. We already use linear motors in some lenses, but finding the ideal motor for the mirrorless camera lenses are still challenging.

[…]

Q: Do you think the era of the DSLR is over?

Mr. Kazuto Yamaki: I personally like DSLRs, but I haven’t used one for probably around two years. I hope they stay in the market for a while longer because a lot of customers love optical viewfinders. But I expect they will be largely replaced in the near future.

[…]

Q: Can you update our readers on Sigma support for Canon RF mount and Nikon Z mount support?

Mr. Kazuto Yamaki: I am aware that there’s a very strong demand from customers for Canon RF and Nikon Z. We believe, too, as a lens manufacturer, that it’s our mission to support as many mounts as possible. We would like to support those mounts, and we’re discussing and researching.

Read the interview at DPReview…

Deal: Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art – $949 (reg. $1399, plus SanDisk 1TB, more specials)

Sigma 40mm F/1.4

Today only (03/08/21) B&H Photo DealZone has some rather solid discounts on the Sigma 40mm f/1.4, memory cards, and more stuff.

Sigma 40mm f/1.4 ART at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • Three FLD Elements, Three SLD Elements
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Weather-Sealed, Protective Front Coating
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Get the Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art on sale at $949. That’s 32% off from $1,399.

Get the SanDisk 1TB Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC Memory Card on sale at $249.99. Compare at $399.99. The $150 discount is applied in cart.

There is much more. Check out B&H Photo Depth of Field specials here.


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Sigma CEO Says Canon RF Mount Lenses Are A Possibility (but for the time being too much demand)

Sigma 14-24mm F/2.8 DG HSM Art Kazuto Yamaki

Sigma’s CEO Kazuto Yamaki revealed somewhat what his company’s plans are in regard to the Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts.

In an article he wrote for ICAN Management Review, Kazuto Yamaki talks about Sigma and how the company evolved over the years. He also reveals some bits about future Sigma lenses for the Canon RF mount and the Nikon Z mount. In a paragraph titled “The future lies in passion“, he writes:

It’s true that the photography market has been systematically shrinking for years – in keeping with more and more people simply using smartphones to make photos and videos. Less cameras sold also means less potential customers interested in buying a lens, which is why our short‑term strategy indeed involves a possibility of introducing lenses with new mounts – to such photography systems as Nikon Z or Canon EOS R. So far, however, the number of orders for our lenses is still above our manufacturing capacities, and especially the capabilities of our R&D department.

To me the statement above means “we will make RF mount lenses for sure but we can’t barely hold up with demand for our other lenses”. Hopefully they can start soon because Sigma lenses are a lot of bang for the bucks.

About the photography market:

Photography market is indeed getting smaller – but it won’t be getting smaller infinitely. According to our estimations, it will reach its minimal size next year, in 2021 – and since then it will stay pretty stable. I would compare the ultimate size of this market to the level of camera sales in times of traditional photography, before the great digital revolution. The true number of passionate people, who want to make photos with high‑quality cameras and lenses is now – and was then – probably very similar.

Mr. Kazuto Yamaki is a remarkable personality, and we recommend you read his thoughts in the article at ICAN Management Review.

[via DPReview]

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports Lens – $1099 (reg. $1499, today only)

Sigma 70-200mm F/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports Lens

Only today (12/31/20) B&H Photo has a 27% discount on the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports Lens.

Get the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports Lens on sale at $1,099. Compare at $1,499

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
  • Nine FLD Elements, One SLD Element
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor
  • Intelligent OS Image Stabilization
  • Removable Arca-Type Tripod Foot
  • Dust- and Moisture-Sealed Construction
  • Rounded 11-Blade Diaphragm
  • Compatible with Sigma Teleconverters

More hand-picked deals are listed here.

Deal pages:

Refurbished lenses and DSLRs at Canon Store (best deals might be found here)

Save $10 on Luminar 4 and/or Aurora HDR 2019 and/or Luminar AI using our code “WATCH” at checkout.

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Hot: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM IF ART – $879 (reg. $1299, expires tomorrow)

Sigma 24-70mm F/2.8

Adorama has a great deal on a great lens: the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM IF ART with a 32% discount.

Get the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM IF ART on sale at $879. Compare at $1,299.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM IF ART at a glance:

  • Mount with dust- and splash-proof design
  • Fast AF with full-time manual focus
  • Compatible with Mount Converter MC-11
  • Available SIGMA USB DOCK
  • Available Mount Conversion Service
  • Rounded diaphragm
  • Designed to minimize flare and ghosting
  • High-precision, durable brass bayonet mount
  • Evaluation with SIGMA’s own MTF measuring system “A1”
  • Made in Japan
  • The lens barrel is engraved with the year of release

Last days to get Skylum Luminar AI with double discount.

More hand-picked deals are listed here.

Deal pages:

Refurbished lenses and DSLRs at Canon Store (best deals might be found here)

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Deal: Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary – $729 (reg. $1089, today only)

Sigma 150-600mm

Only for today (12/14/20) B&H Photo DealZone has a 33% discount on the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens.

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/5 to f/22
  • One FLD Element, Three SLD Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic Motor AF System
  • OS Image Stabilization
  • Removable, Rotating Tripod Collar
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Get the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary on sale at $829. Compare at $1,089.


Hand-picked deals are listed here.

Deal pages:

Refurbished lenses and DSLRs at Canon Store (best deals might be found here)

Save $10 on Luminar 4 and/or Aurora HDR 2019 using our code “WATCH” at checkout.

Click here to open the rest of the article