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. IS 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. IS ESTABLISHED
1961 September

TELEXTENDER

Industry's first teleconverter.

TELEXTENDER
1961 September

miniTEL 200MM F4

First lens to feature our original YS interchangeable lens mount.

miniTEL 200MM F4
1961 September

MOVED THE OFFICE BUILDING TO KOMAE, TOKYO

MOVED THE OFFICE BUILDING TO KOMAE, TOKYO
1968 March

CORPORATE ORGANIZATION BECOMES A JOINT-STOCK COMPANY

1968 May

MIRROR-ULTRA TELEPHOTO 500mm F8

Reflective compact super-telephoto mirror lens.

MIRROR-ULTRA TELEPHOTO 500mm F8
1970 November

COMPANY NAME CHANGES TO SIGMA CORPORATION

1973 November

AIZU FACTORY CONSTRUCTION COMPLETES ITS FIRST PHASE

Constructed Aizu General Factory in Bandai Town, Fukushima Prefecture.

AIZU FACTORY CONSTRUCTION COMPLETES ITS FIRST PHASE
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 November

SIGMA GERMANY ESTABLISHED

1983 February

AIZU FACTORY SECOND PHASE CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED

1983 March

NEW HEAD OFFICE BUILDING COMPLETED IN KOMAE, TOKYO

1983 April

SIGMA HONG KONG IS ESTABLISHED

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 IS ESTABLISHED

1984 June

SIGMA SA-1 RELEASED

1986 June

ZOOM-βⅡ 60-200mm F4-5.6

Sigma's first autofocus-compatible lens.

1990 January

SIGMA BENELUX IS ESTABLISHED

1993 February

NEW FACTORY IS COMPLETED

NEW FACTORY IS COMPLETED
1993 June

SIGMA FRANCE IS ESTABLISHED

1993 August

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 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.

APO 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX RF HSM
2000 November

SIGMA UK IS ESTABLISHED

2000 December

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

World's first digital SLR (DSLR) to feature the full-color Foveon X3 direct image sensor.

SIGMA SD9
2003 December

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 September

COMPANY MOVES TO NEW HEAD OFFICE BUILDING IN KAWASAKI, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE

COMPANY MOVES TO NEW HEAD OFFICE BUILDING IN KAWASAKI, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE
2006 October

AIZU FACTORY OBTAINS ISO9001 (QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM) CERTIFICATION

2008

SIGMA DP1 RELEASED

The world's first compact camera featuring an APS-C size sensor.

SIGMA DP1 RELEASED
2008

APO 200-500MM F2.8/400-1000MM F5.6 EX DG

The world's first super-telephoto zoom lens achieving F2.8 at 500mm. With the supplied attachment, autofocus shooting up to 1000mm is now 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.

SIGMA SD1 RELEASED
2012

SIGMA GLOBAL VISION ANNOUNCED

The full renewal of the interchangeable lens lineup featuring three lines: Art, Contemporary, Sports.

SIGMA GLOBAL VISION ANNOUNCED
2013 February

SIGMA CHINA IS 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

A digital camera series of four models featuring the next-generation Foveon direct image sensor.

SIGMA DP QUATTRO
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
2016

SIGMA CINE LENS ANNOUNCED

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

SIGMA CINE LENS ANNOUNCED
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.

L-MOUNT ALLIANCE ANNOUNCED
2019

SIGMA FP RELEASED

The world's smallest and lightest full-frame Bayer sensor equipped L-Mount mirrorless camera.

SIGMA FP RELEASED
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.

I SERIES ANNOUNCED
2021 January

SIGMA NORDIC IS ESTABLISHED

2021 September

SIGMA 60TH ANNIVERSARY

2022 May

COMPANY MOVED TO NEW HEAD OFFICE BUILDING IN KAWASAKI, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE

COMPANY MOVED TO NEW HEAD OFFICE BUILDING IN KAWASAKI, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE
2023 November

SIGMA AIZU FACTORY 50TH ANNIVERSARY

2025

SIGMA BF

The 35mm full-frame sensor equipped L-Mount mirrorless camera, featuring a true unibody, intuitive user interface, and streamlined menu system.

SIGMA BF