History
Since our beginnings, we have proudly built our brand, earning global recognition for our flagship products--all made in Aizu, Japan.
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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).
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1961 September
TELEXTENDER
Industry's first teleconverter.
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1961 September
miniTEL 200mm F4
First lens to feature our original YS interchangeable lens mount.
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1965 November
Moved the office building to Komae, Tokyo
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1968 march
Corporate organization changed to joint-stock company
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1968 may
MIRROR-ULTRATELEPHOTO 500mm F8
Reflective compact super telephoto mirror lens.
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1970 November
Company name changed to Sigma Corporation
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1973 november
Aizu factory first phase construction completed
Constructed Aizu General Factory in Bandai Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
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1976
Mark-I released
Sigma's first 35mm single-lens reflex camera (SLR).
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1979
ZOOM y21-35mm F3.5-4 released
World's first wide-angle zoom starting at 21mm.
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1979 November
Sigma Germany established
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1983 february
Aizu factory second phase construction completed
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1983 March
New head office building completed in Komae, Tokyo
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1983 april
Sigma Hong Kong established
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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.
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1984 March
Sigma America established
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1984 june
Sigma Sa-1 released
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1986 june
ZOOM-βii 60-200mm F4-5.6
Sigma's first autofocus compatible lens released.
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1990 january
Sigma Benelux established
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1993 february
New factory completed
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1993 june
Sigma France established
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1993 august
SA-300 released
Sigma's first autofocus SLR.
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1998
28-70mm F2.8 EX ASPHERICAL
Introducing the "EX series" lens group developed with a completely new design.
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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.
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2000 november
Sigma UK established
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2000 december
20mm F1.8 EX DG ASPHERICAL RF
Released a DG lens compatible with interchangeable lens digital SLR cameras.
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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.
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2002
Sigma SD9 released
World's first digital SLR (DSLR) to feature the full-color Foveon X3 direct image sensor.
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2003 december
APO 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX OS
Sigma's first telephoto zoom lens equipped with an OS (OPTICAL STABILIZER) mechanism.
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2005 september
Company moved to new head office building in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture
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2006 OCTOBER
Aizu Factory obtained ISO9001 (quality management system) certification.
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2008
Sigma DP1 released
World's first compact digital camera to feature a large, DSLR-size image sensor.
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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.
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2011
Sigma SD1 released
DSLR featuring a 46-megapixel full-color Foveon X3 direct image sensor.
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2012
Sigma GLOBAL VISION announced
Full renewal of interchangeable lens lineup featuring 3 lines: Art, Contemporary, Sports.
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2013 february
Sigma China established
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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.
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2014
Sigma dp Quattro introduced
Digital camera series of 4 models featuring the next-generation Foveon direct image sensor.
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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.
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2016
Sigma CINE LENS announced
Cinema lens system offering top-level performance for a true motion picture solution.
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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.
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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
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2020 december
i series announced
Added the new concept "Premium Compact Prime" I series under the Contemporary line.
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2021 january
Sigma Nordic established
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2021 september 9
Sigma 60th Anniversary
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2022 may
Company moved to new head office building in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture
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2023 november 2
Sigma Aizu factory 50th Anniversary
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2025
Sigma BF
The 35mm full-frame sensor equipped L-Mount mirrorless camera, featuring a true unibody, intuitive user interface, and streamlined menu system.
