Essential Knowledge Of Acronyms Used In SIGMA Lenses

SIGMA lenses are a popular choice for all kinds of photographers. Many photographers are constantly searching for full-frame cameras. These cameras have image sensors the same size as a 35mm film frame. However, without a larger sensor, it is not possible for the photographer to capture more light and information. This happens because many photographers are not aware of the acronyms of SIGMA lenses.

SIGMA uses “DG” and “DC” to denote lenses designed for specific types of cameras. It has also been seen that without having appropriate knowledge of camera mounts, you can mount a DC lens (designed for crop-sensor cameras) on a full-frame camera. This way, you’ll encounter vignetting (dark corners in your images) or cropped images.

Knowing the acronyms of SIGMA lenses available on the SIGMA website prevents you from buying a lens that won’t work correctly with your camera. This blog will explain the most common lens options simply. The well-explained blog will help you confidently choose the right lens for your camera.

Getting Familiar With Different Sigma’s Different Lens Types

Before learning about the acronyms, it is essential to know the types of SIGMA lenses:

• Contemporary (C):These lenses are small and light, making them great for daily photography and travel. They provide a good mix of quality and easy carrying. SIGMA Contemporary lenses are ideal for those who need a balance between performance and portability.
• Art (A): SIGMA Art lenses can capture beautiful, creative ideas, prioritizing image excellence and artistic expression. It represents the photographer’s unique style and vision. Fashion photography and filmmaking professionals often favor these lenses.
• Sports (S): Designed for sports photography and wildlife photography, these lenses feature high performance, fast autofocus, and excellent weatherproofing. They help capture dynamic moments with precision and durability.

Decoding The Common Acronyms Of SIGMA Lenses

Now, let’s explain the most common acronyms found in SIGMA lenses names:

• DG: The acronym DG indicates that optical engineers design camera lenses for digital cameras with full-frame sensors whose dimensions match the size of a frame of 35mm size film. They can work with smaller sensor cameras, but the lens designers design them to perform best with full-frame cameras.
• DC: Specifies that the optical engineers have created the lenses for cameras with APS-C (crop) sensors. These lenses are smaller and lighter than DG DN lenses and offer a good choice that gives quality at a lower price.
• DN: The DN acronym indicates that the optical engineers have designed the camera lenses for mirrorless cameras. You will often see “DN” along with either “DG” (which means it’s for full-frame mirrorless cameras) or “DC” (which means it’s for crop-sensor mirrorless cameras). For example, the SIGMA 18-50mm F/2.8 DC DN lens is made for crop-sensor mirrorless cameras.

Notable Examples Of SIGMA Lenses and Their Features

Let’s see how these acronyms combine in real lens names:

• SIGMA 18-35mm f/1.8 DC Art: This is an Art series lens made for crop-sensor DSLRs (DC) with a fast autofocus motor (HSM). The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) motor uses sound waves to help the lens focus quickly and silently. This means that the camera lens focuses fast without making much noise. It is great for family photos and adventure photography.
• SIGMA 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art: An Art lens for full-frame DSLRs (DG) with HSM autofocus. Autofocus in SIGMA lenses means the lens can focus on its own to make the picture sharp and clear, so you don’t have to adjust it by hand. This lens is widely used for landscape shots and astrophotographers who need sharp, detailed images.
• SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports: A Sports series teleconverter lens for full-frame DSLRs (DG) with image stabilization (OS) and HSM autofocus. Super telephoto lenses like this are excellent for sport photography, wildlife photography, and telephoto zoom shots. The metal exterior ensures durability in rough conditions.

Understanding Specialized Lens Terms

• Zoom lenses: These lenses allow you to adjust focal length, offering flexibility for various photography styles like fashion photography and family photos.
• Prime lenses: These lenses have a fixed focal length, providing sharper images and better light transmission for professionals like videographers and cine lens users.
• Wide-angle lens: Used for capturing expansive landscapes and adventure photography.
• T-stop vs. F-stop: T-stop is used in cine lenses to measure actual light transmission, whereas F-stop is the standard for photographic lenses.
• Interchangeable lenses: These lenses provide flexibility, allowing photographers to switch lenses based on their needs.

Wrapping Up

Knowing the acronyms of SIGMA lenses is vital for photographers, and it empowers them to decipher lens names. Learning these terms makes it easier to choose the right lens for your photography. When picking a lens, think about full-frame or crop-sensor, DSLR, or mirrorless. Photographers may appreciate the interchangeable lenses that combine the optics and mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a digital image sensor. Digital image sensors are the heart of a DSLR camera, responsible for capturing the light that forms an image.

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