History of SIGMA Corporation
Proudly building our own brand since our foundation,
we have gained recognition for our unique products.
1961.9
SIGMA Research Institute Co., Ltd. established
The early days, circa 1961, in front of SIGMA Research Institute Co., Ltd. in Setagaya Ward. The supporting members gather for a group photo. (Michihiro Yamaki on the right).
1961.9
TELEXTENDER
Industry’s first teleconverter
1961.9
miniTEL 200mm F4
First lens to feature our original YS interchangeable lens mount.
1965.11
Moved the office building to Komae, Tokyo
1968.3
Corporate organization changed to joint-stock company.
1968.5
MIRROR-ULTRATELEPHOTO 500mm F8
Reflective compact super telephoto mirror lens
1970.11
Company name changed to SIGMA Corporation.
1973.11
Aizu factory first phase construction completed
Constructed Aizu General Factory in Bandai Town, Fukushima Prefecture
1976
Mark-Ⅰ released
SIGMA’s first 35mm single-lens reflex camera (SLR)
1979
ZOOM y21-35mm F3.5-4 released
World’s first wide-angle zoom starting at 21mm
1979.11
SIGMA Germany established.
1983.2
Aizu factory second phase construction completed
1983.3
New head office building completed in Komae, Tokyo.
1983.4
SIGMA Hong Kong established.
1984.3
SIGMA America established.
1984.6
SIGMA Sa-1 released
1984.1
50₋200mm F3.5-4.5 APO
Launched the first zoom lens in the “APO series”, a high-performance lens series that uses two or more special low-dispersion glasses.
1986.6
ZOOM-βⅡ 60-200mm F4-5.6
SIGMA’s first autofocus compatible lens released
1991.1
SIGMA Benelux established.
1993.2
New factory completed.
1993.6
SIGMA France established.
1993.8
SA-300 released
SIGMA’s first autofocus SLR
1998
28-70mm F2.8 EX ASPHERICAL
Introducing the “EX series” lens group developed with a completely new design
2000.3
APO 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX RF HSM
The first 10x high-magnification super-telephoto zoom from the EX series that covers standard to super-telephoto range
2000.11
SIGMA UK established.
2000.12
20mm F1.8 EX DG ASPHERICAL RF
Released a DG lens compatible with interchangeable lens digital SLR cameras
2002
APO 120-300mm F2.8 EX IF HSM
The 300mm F2.8, which is popular for its single focus, has been converted into a zoom lens
2002
SIGMA SD9 released
World’s first digital SLR (DSLR) to feature the full-color Foveon X3 direct image sensor
2003.12
APO 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX OS
SIGMA’s first telephoto zoom lens equipped with an OS (OPTICAL STABILIZER) mechanism
2005.9
Company moved to new head office building in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.
2007
SIGMA DP1 released
World’s first compact digital camera to feature a large, DSLR-size image sensor
2008
APO 200-500mm F2.8/ 400-1000mm F5.6 EX DG
The world’s first super-telephoto zoom lens that achieves F2.8 at 500mm.
With the supplied attachment, autofocus shooting up to 1000mm was possible.
2011
SIGMA SD1 released
DSLR featuring a 46-megapixel full-color Foveon X3 direct image sensor
2012
SIGMA GLOBAL VISION announced
Full renewal of interchangeable lens lineup featuring 3 lines: Art, Contemporary, Sports
2013.2
SIGMA China established.
2013.9
Started mount conversion service
Launched an original paid service that allows customers to convert the lens mount of the Art, Contemporary, and Sports lines.
2014
SIGMA dp Quattro introduced
Digital camera series of 4 models featuring the next-generation Foveon direct image sensor
2016
SIGMA sd Quattro / SIGMA sd Quattro H announced
System camera sd Quattro featuring the Foveon direct image sensor and sd Quattro H featuring a 51-megapixel Foveon direct image sensor for best-in-class image quality
2016
SIGMA CINE LENS announced
Cinema lens system offering top-level performance for a true motion picture solution
2018.9
L-Mount alliance announced
Participated in the “L-Mount Alliance*”, a strategic collaboration between Leica, Panasonic, and SIGMA.
* L-Mount is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG.
2019
SIGMA fp released
The world’s smallest and lightest full-frame Bayer sensor equipped L-Mount mirrorless camera
2019 Won GOOD DESIGN award
2020 Won reddot award
2020.12
I series announced
Added the new concept “Premium Compact Prime” I series under the Contemporary line
2021.1
SIGMA Nordic established.
2021.9.9