History
Since our beginnings, we have proudly built our brand, earning global recognition for our flagship products — all made in Aizu, Japan.
1961 - Sept.
SIGMA RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD. IS ESTABLISHED
Supporting members gathered in front of Sigma Research Institute Co., Ltd. for a group photo in Setagaya Ward. Our founder, Michihiro Yamaki, stands furthest to the right.
1961 - Sept.
TELEXTENDER
The industry's first teleconverter.
1961 - Sept.
miniTEL 200mm F4
The first lens with our original YS interchangeable lens mount.
1965 - Nov.
OFFICE BUILDING MOVES TO KOMAE, TOKYO
1968 - Mar.
CORPORATE ORGANIZATION BECOMES A JOINT-STOCK COMPANY
1968 - Mar.
MIRROR-ULTRATELEPHOTO 500mm F8
Reflective compact super-telephoto mirror lens.
1970 - Nov.
COMPANY NAME CHANGES TO SIGMA CORPORATION
1973 - Nov.
AIZU FACTORY CONSTRUCTION COMPLETES ITS FIRST PHASE
The Aizu General Factory is constructed in Bandai Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
1976
Mark-I released
Sigmas first 35mm single-lens reflex camera (SLR) is launched.
1979
ZOOM y21-35mm F3.5-4 released
The world's first wide-angle zoom starting at 21mm.
1979 - Nov.
SIGMA GERMANY IS ESTABLISHED
1983 - Feb.
AIZU FACTORY CONSTRUCTION COMPLETES ITS SECOND PHASE
1983 - Mar.
NEW HEAD OFFICE BUILDING COMPLETED IN KOMAE, TOKYO
1983 - Apr.
SIGMA Hong Kong established
1984 - Feb.
50-200MM F3.5-4.5 APO LAUNCHES
The first zoom lens in the "APO series" — a high-performance lens series using two or more special low-dispersion glasses.
1984 - Mar.
SIGMA AMERICA IS ESTABLISHED
1984 - Jun.
SIGMA SA-1 RELEASED
1986 - Jun.
ZOOM-β 60-200MM F4-5.6 RELEASED
Sigma’s first autofocus-compatible lens.
1990 - Jan.
SIGMA BENELUX IS ESTABLISHED
1993 - Feb.
New factory is completed
1993 - Jun.
SIGMA France is established
1993 - Aug.
SA-300 released
Sigma's first autofocus SLR.
1998
28-70MM F2.8 EX ASPHERICAL INTRODUCED
The "EX series" lens group is introduced, developed with a completely new design.
2000 - Mar.
APO 50-500MM F4-6.3 EX RF HSM
The first 10x high-magnification super-telephoto zoom from the EX series, covering standard to super-telephoto range.
2000 - Nov.
SIGMA UK IS ESTABLISHED
2000 - Dec.
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, popular for its single focus, is converted into a zoom lens.
2002
SIGMA SD9 released
The world's first digital SLR (DSLR) to feature the full-color Foveon X3 direct image sensor.
2003 - Dec.
APO 80-400MM F4.5-5.6 EX OS RELEASED
Sigma’s first telephoto zoom lens equipped with an OS (OPTICAL STABILIZER) mechanism.
2005 - Sept.
AIZU FACTORY OBTAINS ISO9001 (QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM) CERTIFICATION. COMPANY MOVES TO NEW HEAD OFFICE BUILDING IN KAWASAKI, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE
2006 - Oct.
AIZU FACTORY OBTAINS ISO9001 (QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM) CERTIFICATION
2008
SIGMA DP1 released
The 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 RELEASED
The world's first super-telephoto zoom lens achieving F2.8 at 500mm. With the supplied attachment, autofocus shooting up to 1000mm is now possible.
2009
SIGMA HEAD OFFICE OBTAINS ISO14001 (ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM) CERTIFICATION
2011
SIGMA SD1 RELEASED
DSLR featuring a 46-megapixel full-color Foveon X3 direct image sensor.
2012
SIGMA GLOBAL VISION ANNOUNCED
The full renewal of the interchangeable lens lineup featuring three lines: Art, Contemporary, Sports.
2013 - Feb.
SIGMA CHINA IS ESTABLISHED
2013 - Sept.
MOUNT CONVERSION SERVICE LAUNCHED
An original paid service allowing customers to convert the lens mount of the Art, Contemporary, and Sports lines.
2014
SIGMA DP QUATTRO INTRODUCED
A digital camera series of four models featuring the next-generation Foveon direct image sensor.
2016
SIGMA SD QUATTRO/SIGMA SD QUATTRO H ANNOUNCED
System cameras featuring the Foveon direct image sensor, with the SD Quattro H offering a 51-megapixel sensor for best-in-class image quality.
2016
SIGMA CINE LENS ANNOUNCED
A cinema lens system offering top-level performance for motion picture solutions.
2018 - Sept.
L-MOUNT* ALLIANCE ANNOUNCED
Participation in the "L-Mount Alliance," a collaboration between Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma.
*L-Mount is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG.
2018 - Sept.
SIGMA FP RELEASED
The world's smallest and lightest full-frame Bayer sensor-equipped L-Mount mirrorless camera.
2019 Wins GOOD DESIGN award
2020 Wins Red Dot award
2020 - Dec.
I SERIES ANNOUNCED
The "Premium Compact Prime" I series is added to the Contemporary line.
2021 - Jan.
SIGMA NORDIC IS ESTABLISHED
2021 - Sept.
SIGMA CELEBRATES ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY
2022 - May.
COMPANY MOVES TO NEW HEAD OFFICE BUILDING IN KAWASAKI, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE
2023 - Nov.
SIGMA AIZU FACTORY CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY
2025
SIGMA BF
The 35mm full-frame sensor equipped L-Mount mirrorless camera, featuring a true unibody, intuitive user interface, and streamlined menu system.
