History of SIGMA Corporation

Proudly building our own brand since our foundation,
we have gained recognition for our unique products.

1960-

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).

SIGMA Research Institute Co., Ltd. established

1961.9

TELEXTENDER

Industry's first teleconverter

TELEXTENDER

miniTEL 200mm F4

First lens to feature our original YS
interchangeable lens mount.

miniTEL 200mm F4

1965.11

Moved the office building
to Komae, Tokyo

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

MIRROR-ULTRATELEPHOTO 500mm F8

1970-

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

Aizu factory first phase construction completed

1976

Mark-Ⅰ released

SIGMA's first 35mm single-lens reflex camera (SLR)

Mark-Ⅰ released

1979

ZOOM y21-35mm F3.5-4 released

World's first wide-angle zoom
starting at 21mm

ZOOM y21-35mm F3.5-4 released

1979.11

SIGMA Germany established.

1980-

1983.2

Aizu factory second phase construction completed

1983.3

New head office building completed in Komae, Tokyo.

1983.4

SIGMA Hong Kong established.

1984.1

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.

1984.3

SIGMA America established.

1984.6

SIGMA Sa-1 released

1986.6

ZOOM-βⅡ 60-200mm F4-5.6

SIGMA's first autofocus compatible lens released

1990-

1990.1

SIGMA Benelux established.

1993.2

New factory completed.

New factory completed.

1993.6

SIGMA France established.

1993.8

SA-300 released

SIGMA's first autofocus SLR

SA-300 released

1998

28-70mm F2.8 EX ASPHERICAL

Introducing the "EX series" lens group developed with a completely new design

2000-

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

APO 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX RF HSM

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

20mm F1.8 EX DG ASPHERICAL RF

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

SIGMA SD9 released

2003.12

APO 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX OS

SIGMA's first telephoto zoom lens equipped with an OS (OPTICAL STABILIZER) mechanism

APO 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX OS

2005.9

Company moved to new head office building in Kawasaki,
Kanagawa Prefecture.

Company moved to new head office building in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.

2008

SIGMA DP1 released

World's first compact digital camera to feature a large, DSLR-size image sensor

SIGMA DP1 released

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.

2010-

2011

SIGMA SD1 released

DSLR featuring a 46-megapixel full-color Foveon X3 direct image sensor

SIGMA SD1 released

2012

SIGMA GLOBAL VISION announced

Full renewal of interchangeable lens lineup featuring 3 lines: Art, Contemporary, Sports

SIGMA GLOBAL VISION announced

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

SIGMA dp Quattro introduced

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

SIGMA sd Quattro / SIGMA sd Quattro H announced

SIGMA CINE LENS announced

Cinema lens system offering top-level performance for a true motion picture solution

SIGMA CINE LENS announced

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.
L-Mount alliance announced

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

SIGMA fp released

2020-

2020.12

I series announced

Added the new concept "Premium Compact Prime"
I series under the Contemporary line

I series announced

2021.1

SIGMA Nordic established.

2022.5

Company moved to new head office building in Kawasaki,
Kanagawa Prefecture.

Company moved to new head office building in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.