The Meaning Of Sigma Lens Abbreviations (An Easy Guide)

Sigma is one of the most well-known third-party lens makers, and it supplies lenses to several of the world’s largest DSLR manufacturers. As a result, we’ll be learning more about the acronyms used by Sigma lenses today.

Its lenses are adorned with letters and figures that don’t actually make any sense… However, they must have some significance, don’t you think? Of course, the answer is a resounding yes.

Because not all lenses are created equal, these acronyms teach you about all of the characteristics of each lens. They each have a unique set of characteristics that will assist you in capturing your photo. Some cameras, for example, contain unique lens components, while others are designed to reduce camera shaking.

What Are Lens Abbreviations?

As previously said, lens acronyms are critical in informing us about the capabilities of a lens. Because lenses have so many various characteristics, it is advantageous to have a concise means of providing you with the information you want.

Lens abbreviations save you the time and effort of having to go through lens or camera instructions in order to figure out what you can do with each situation. Consider the following illustration.

Example Lens Abbreviation

We can see a few abbreviations here:

These abbreviations tell us the following about the lens:

It is of professional quality.
The lens was created for an APS-C (crop sensor) camera rather than a full-frame camera.
It is equipped with optical picture stabilization.
A hypersonic motor is built within the lens.
A fluorite low dispersion lens element is used.

With a little practice and this article as a guide, you’ll be able to comprehend what they’re saying as well!

Sigma Lens Abbreviations

A – Art. It is well known that these lenses have excellent optical performance and power. Expect them to feature large apertures across a range of lenses, including fisheye, wide-angle, zoom, and macro.

APO – Apochromatic. These lens elements are designed to eliminate chromatic aberration as well as other lens distortions in the image. The image is also given more contrast, color definition, and sharpness as a result of its use.

ASP – Aspherical. These lens elements are designed in such a way that aspherical aberrations are minimized.

C – Contemporary. These lenses have variable apertures that change when the focal lengths of the lens zoom in and out. What we would anticipate from inexpensive lenses made for APS-C camera models is exactly what we get with these lenses. A good example would be the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens, which has a focal length of 100-400mm.

CONV – Compatible with a teleconverter. This acronym indicates that the lens may be used with Sigma APO Teleconverters, which are not included with the lens. These enable the use of a larger focal length while yet retaining automated exposure for the photographer.

DC – These lenses have been particularly built for digital SLR cameras with an APS-C sensor. They will not function on cameras with a full-frame sensor.

DG – Designed primarily for full-frame DSLR cameras, these lenses are also compatible with crop sensor systems.

DN – Micro-four-thirds cameras, for example, are built particularly for small system cameras, such as those designated with this classification.

ELD – Dispersion is really low in this case. This is the same as SLD, although it performs somewhat better in terms of chromatic aberrations.

EX – Prime Lens for Professional Use. These are the high-end lenses that Sigma introduced originally, but which have since been superseded. They are similar in appearance to the Canon ‘L’ series cameras.

FLD – Fluorite with a low dispersion level. Low dispersion glass components are the best currently available for reducing chromatic aberrations and are the least expensive.

HSM – The Hyper Sonic Motor is a high-speed electric motor. It is possible to have silent and quick autofocusing using this function. It is similar to the Ultra Sonic Motor used by Canon and the Silent Wave Motor used by Nikon.

IF – Internal Focus. Instead of moving all of the sections of the lens to focus, the front elements within the lens do so. When you Focus, you should expect the focal length to fluctuate somewhat.

Macro – Macro lenses are used in this case. These lenses are intended to magnify a scene at a close range using macro technology. The magnification required for true macro photography is 1:1, therefore make sure you examine the characteristics of macro lenses before purchasing one. They also enable a closer minimum focusing distance to be achieved.

OS – Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is a technique for stabilizing images using light. The stabilizer is a feature present in longer lenses that makes them more stable. Its goal is to eliminate camera shaking when shooting with a handheld camera. It also gives the photographer the option of decreasing the shutter speed in certain conditions.

RF – Rear focusing is a technique used to focus on something in the distance. These lenses focus by utilizing back elements, which allows them to focus more quickly and quietly than front-focusing lenses.

S – Sport. This is common on telephoto lenses meant for action photography, both fixed and zoom. They are pricey, but they will be able to accommodate rapid apertures.

SLD – Special Low Dispersion. A Sigma lens with glass elements aimed to remove or reduce chromatic aberrations.

TSC – Thermally Stable Composite. An alloy of polycarbonate and metal is used to create this unique substance. Sigma incorporates it into the design of the lens barrel. It provides flexibility, which means that lens elements will not distort when exposed to extreme temperatures.

Conclusion

Please use the acronyms listed below to help you better understand the characteristics of Sigma lenses. Thank you for visiting! When staring at a mix of letters, it might be difficult to discern meaning. Understanding what they imply might assist you in selecting the most appropriate Sigma lens for your photographic needs!