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Sigma History - 1961 to present day. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Sigma Corporation   
Sunday, 04 September 2005
The corporate name, Sigma, is a Greek letter equivalent to "S" in English. This character has been used as a sign of the total sum in mathematics. It expresses our business concept symbolized by a concert, consisting of technology, knowledge, experience and wisdom.

As archive material is recovered this area will cover the full range of past Sigma products and corporate history.

We believe that SIGMA products embody the high technology, experience and thoughtfulness of each of our staff members.

The products have been manufactured with our consolidated power at Aizu Factory equipped with the latest facilities. This plant utilizes a process production system as an "Intelligent Factory" on which all steps of production, sales and technology are focused. Now the plant has become our base of production where quality and high performance products are manufactured. We deal in a wide variety of image devices around the world. We have decided to contribute through our business achievements to the improvement of communication and the future living standards of the people in the world.

 

Year
Company Development
Product Launches 
1961-69

September 1961:
Sigma Research Center was established in Setagaya-ku

Throughout the 1960s the YS (Yamaki System) interchangable mount was developed.

November 1965:
A new office building was completed at the existing building site in Komae-shi.

March 1968:
Corporate organization was officially changed into a stock company.

  • Trial Lens
  • Fisheye 12mm f/8
  • Tele-Photo 135mm f/2.8
  • Mini-Tele 200mm f/4
  • Mirror Ultra Tele 500mm f/8
  • Compatible Mirror Ultra Tele 500mm f/4
  • Image Extender
1970-1974

The history for this era is not currently divided; products will be placed in order as information is gathered.

November 1970:
Trade name was officially changed to Sigma Corporation.

November 1973:
The primary construction of Aizu Integrated Factory was completed.

  • Fisheye 16mm F2.8
  • Wide Lambda 18mm F3.2
  • Ultra Wide 24mm F2.8
  • Z 24mm F2.8
  • Wide Max 28mm F2.8
  • Z 28mm F2.8
  • XQ 28mm F2.8 Filtermatic
  • Flash Auto 35mm F2.8
  • XQ 55mm F2.8 Macro
  • Micro Macro 100mm F2.8
  • Sigma-Tele 135mm F1.8
  • Tele Max 135mm F2.8
  • XQ 135mm F2.8 System Focus
  • Pro Tele 200mm F2.8
  • Pan Tele 200mm F3.5
  • Macro Tele 300mm F4
  • Wide Zoom 45-135mm F3.5
  • Tele Zoom 70-230mm F4.5
  • System Zoom 80-200mm F3.5
  • Big Zoom 55-300mm F4.5
  • 2X-Tele
1975 
  • XQ Filtermatic
    24mm f/2.8
  • Pan Tele
    135mm f/2.8
  • Mirror Tele
    500mm f/8
  • Mini Zoom XQ
    39-80mm f/3.5
1976 
  • Mini Tele 2 200mm f/3.5
  • Mark 1 (Camera)
    35mm Film
1977 
  • XQ Filtermatic
    18mm f/2.8
  • Compact Zoom XQ
    70-150mm f/3.5
  • HighPower Zoom XQ
    70-230mm f/4.5
1978 
  • XQ Filter
    16mm f/2.8
  • Mini Wide
    28mm f/2.8
  • Pan Tele
    300mm f/5.6
  • Super Tele XQ
    400mm f/5.6
  • High-Speed Tele-Zoom XQ
    80-200mmf/3.5
  • High Speed Zoom
    80-200mm f/3.5
  • Zoom-Lambda
    120-300mm f/5.6
1979November 1979:
Sigma Germany was established.
  • Zoom-Gamma
    21-35mm f/3.5-4
    World's first wide-angle Zoom.
  • Zoom-Delta
    75-250mm f/4.5
  • Zoom-Kappa
    100-200mm f/4.5
  • Tele-Photo
    300mm f/5.6
1980 
  • Mini-Zoom Alpha
    35-85mm f/2.8-4
  • Zoom Beta
    70-150mm f/3.5
  • Mirror Tele
    600mm f8
  • 2x Tele Macro
1981 
1982 
  • Zoom Theta 28-80
    28-80mm f/3.5-4.5
  • Standard Zoom 35-70
    35-70mm f/2.8-4
  • Zoom Beta 70-150
    70-150mm f/3.5-4
  • Mirror 600mm
    600mm f/8
1983

February 1983:
The secondary construction of Aizu Integrated Factory was completed.

March 1983:
New head office building was completed.

May 1983:
Sigma Hong Kong was established.

  • Zoom Theta II 28-85
    28-85mmf/3.5-4.5
  • Zoom Master 35-70
    35-70mm f/2.8-4
  • ZoomAlpha II 35-105
    35-105mm f/3.5-4.5
  • Zoom Kappa II 70-210
    70-210mm f/4.5
  • Zoom Delta II 70-250
    70-250mm f/3.5-4.5
  • Fisheye 8mm
    8mm f/4
  • Mirror 400
    400mm f/5.6
  • Mirror 1000
    1000mm f/13.5
1984 
  • Zoom·Alpha 35-135
    35-135mm f/3.5-4.5
  • Apo Zoom Eta 50-200
    50-200mm F3.5-4.5 APO
  • Zoom·Lambda 75-300
    75-300mm F4.5-5.6
  • SA-1 ”Zoom-man”
1985

Minolta releases the 7000 AF SLR, the first autofocus SLR camera, quickly followed by Nikon, Pentax, Canon, Olympus and Yashica with AF cameras of their own.

Sigma makes a massive investment in R&D, plant and expertise, ceases development of interchangeable mounts, and crosses the point of no return to develop for the new breed of AF cameras. 

Most independent lens manufacturers went out of business.

  • Zoom Gamma 21-35mm F3.5-4.2
  • Zoom Micron 28-56mm F3.5-4.5
  • Zoom Theta? 28-84mm F3.5-4.5
  • Zoom Pi 35-200mm F4-5.6
  • Zoom Delta 75-200mm F2.8-3.5
  • Zoom Kappa 75-210mm F3.5-4.5
  • 80-200mm F4.5-5.6
  • APO Zoom Tau 100-500mm F5.6-8 APO
  • APO Zoom Omega 350-1200mm F11 APO
  • 18mm F2.8
  • 28mm F2.8
  • 28mm F2.8 HL
  • Mirror 400
    400mm F5.6
1986May 1986:
Sigma America was established
  • Zoom·Epsilon 28-70mm F3.5-4.5
    Manual focus 28-70mm ƒ3.5-4.5
    52mm filter.
  • 28-135mm F3.5-4.5
  • Zoom·Eta 28-200mm F4-5.6
  • Zoom·Alfa 35-135mm F3.5-4.5
  • Zoom·Beta? 60-200mm F4-5.6
  • 70-210mm F3.5-4.5 APO
  • Super Wide 24mm F2.8
  • Tele-Photo 400mm F5.6
  • 600mm F8 Mirror
  • 1.6x AF Multi Converter
1987 
  • 28-80mm F3.5-4.5
  • Zoom·Beta 55-200mm F4-5.6
  • Zoom·Kappa 70-210mm F4-5.6
  • 75-200mm F3.8
  • 500mm F4.5 APO
  • 2x-Tele Macro
  • AF35D-TF ”Tele Flash
1988 
1989 
1990 
1991May 1991:
Sigma Benelux was established
  • 24-50mm F4-5.6
  • 35-80mm F4-5.6
  • 35-135mm F4-5.6 UC
  • 75-300mm F4-5.6
  • 14mm F3.5
  • 28mm F1.8
  • 28AFZoom
  • 50AFZoom
  • Zoom-Super70
  • Zoom-Super100
  • Zoom-Super28
1992May 1992:
Sigma Singapore was established.
1993

February 1993:
New factory was completed.

September 1993:
Sigma France was established.

  • 28-70mm F3.5-4.5 IA
    28-70mm ƒ3.5-4 Power Zoom (IA)
    For Minolta Dynax xi range.
  • 28-105mm F4-5.6 UC
  • 28-200mm F3.8-5.6
  • 35-135mm F4-5.6
  • 70-210mm F4-5.6 IA
  • 75-300mm F4-5.6 APO
  • 14mm F3.5
  • 18mm F3.5
  • SA-300
1994 
1995 
1996 
  • 28-80mm F3.5-5.6 Mini-Zoom-Macro
  • 28-80mm F3.5-5.6
  • 28-200mm F3.8-5.6 UC
  • 70-300mm F4-5.6 DLMacro
  • 135-400mm F4.5-5.6 APO RF
  • 170-500mm F5-6.3 APO RF
1997Sigma begins to release HSM - Hyper Sonic Motor - AF lenses.
1998Sigma launches the first EX designation lenses.
1999 
2000
 
  • 28-80mm ƒ3.5-5.6 Mini Zoom Macro HF
    Announced in September 2000.
  • 28-135mm ƒ3.8-5.6 IF
    Announced in February 2000.
2001January 2001:
Sigma U.K. was established.
2002

Sigma launches their first digital SLR - the SD9 - using the Foveon X3 sensor.

This 3.3 x3 (9 Megapixel) DSLR is unique in providing full RGB capture at every pixel location, and the output file resolution compares well with contemporary professional digital systems.

2003 
2004

Wedneday 3rd March:
Sigma announce colaboration in 4/3rds system, the first announcement from anyone other than Olympus.

Tuesday 3rd August:
Sigma UK advert cleared by Advertising Standards Agency following disputes over the claimed resolution of the x3 Foveon sensor.

2005

January 2005:
Four new lenses for Konica Minolta (now Sony) Mount are announced.

February 2005:
Sigma announce 10 new DG lenses.

March 8th 2005:
Sigma UK introduces 2 year warranty for EX series lenses.

July 2005:
New head office building was completed.

December 2005:
Firmware issue with some Nikon D200 models confirmed, the fix involves changing the lens firmware.

 

2006

1st September 2006:
SigmaUser site launched.

Tuesday 26th September:
Preview sites for two new Foveon x3 based digital cameras are launched following Photokina announcements. The Sigma DP1 will be a compact camera of exceptional optical quality using an APS-C format sensor in a point-and-shoot size body.

The Sigma SD14 continues the tradition of Sigma's Foveon based Digital SLRs, but brings consumer-friendly features like built-in flash, UDMA CF card support, JPEG file compression in camera and compact standard battery packs.

2007

March 2007:
Sigma announce the 200-500mm f/2.8 EX HSM at PMA

April 2007:
SD14 available worldwide.

Latest lens Brochure (.pdf)

June 2007:
SD14 price drops by 20% worldwide

August 2007:
Sigma Macro 70mm f/2.8 EX DG awarded EISA best product 2007-2008

November 2007:
Sigma UK announces £200 cash back deal on SD14, to run until February 2008

2008

February 2008:
Sigma UK preview the latest products at Focus on Imaging including the newly announced DP1 camera.

DP1 digital compact camera with APS-C Foveon sensor available in the UK - early production units on show in February, general sale begins in April.

Photokina sees previews of DP2, SD15 and 24-70mm HSM lens.

May 2008:
The DP1 is given TIPA and GCP 2008 Editors Awards

November 2008:
Sigma aquires Foveon Inc.

2009 
2010
  
Last Updated ( Friday, 15 January 2010 )
 
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