History
Since our beginnings, we have proudly built our brand, earning global recognition for our flagship products–all made in Aizu, Japan.
1961 September
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 September
TELEXTENDER
Industry’s first teleconverter.
1961 September
miniTEL 200mm F4
First lens to feature our original YS interchangeable lens mount.
1965 November
Moved the office building to Komae, Tokyo
1968 March
Corporate organization changed to joint-stock company
1968 may
MIRROR-ULTRATELEPHOTO 500mm F8
Reflective compact super telephoto mirror lens.
1970 November
Company name changed to SIGMA Corporation
1973 november
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 November
SIGMA Germany established
1983 february
Aizu factory second phase construction completed
1983 March
New head office building completed in Komae, Tokyo
1984 january
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.
1984 March
SIGMA America established
1984 June
SIGMA Sa-1 released
1986 june
ZOOM-βii 60-200mm F4-5.6
Sigma’s first autofocus compatible lens released.
1990 january
SIGMA Benelux established
While the number of lens elements used in its construction is the same as that of the previous model, the overall length has been shortened owing to an advanced optical design.
1993 february
New factory completed
1993 june
SIGMA France established
1993 august
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 march
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 november
SIGMA UK established
2000 december
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 december
APO 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX OS
Sigma’s first telephoto zoom lens equipped with an OS (OPTICAL STABILIZER) mechanism.
2005 september
Company moved to new head office building in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture
2006 OCTOBER
Aizu Factory obtained ISO9001 (quality management system) certification.
2008
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.
2009 AUGUST
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
Full renewal of interchangeable lens lineup featuring 3 lines: Art, Contemporary, Sports.
2013 february
SIGMA China established
2013 september
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 september
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 december
i series announced
Added the new concept “Premium Compact Prime” I series under the Contemporary line.
2021 january
SIGMA Nordic established
2021 september 9
SIGMA 60th Anniversary
2022 may
Company moved to new head office building in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture
2023 november 2
SIGMA Aizu factory 50th Anniversary
2025
SIGMA Aizu factory 50th Anniversary
The 35mm full-frame sensor equipped L-Mount mirrorless camera, featuring a true unibody, intuitive user interface, and streamlined menu system.
