The Best Third Party Lenses

The new lineup of Sigma lenses have been causing quite a stir in the photographic community. A flagship lens from Canon or Nikon costs a premium and were unaffordable to most consumers, then Sigma shifted its focus towards creating top notch quality lenses at an affordable price. Check out the video below to see our thoughts on the new lineup of Sigma lenses.

Sigma: A New Chapter In Third Party Lenses | Gear Talk Episode 9

Sigma Art Series

Sigma has 3 distinguished lines of lenses: the Contemporary lenses, the Sports lenses, and the Art Lenses. Here’s what Sigma has to say about the Art lenses:

Engineered for those who see photography as a critical expression of self, our Art line offers sophisticated optical performance and abundant expressive power to deliver faithfully on your artistic vision.

Sigma currently makes 8 Art series lenses.

• 19mm F2.8 DN | A $199 (Mirrorless)
• 30mm F2.8 DN | A $199 (Mirrorless)
• 60mm F2.8 DN | A $209 (Mirrorless)
• 30mm F1.4 DC HSM | A $499 (Crop Frame)
• 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | A $799 (Crop Frame)
• 24-105mm F4 DG (OS)* HSM | A $899 (Full Frame)
• 35mm F1.4 DG HSM | A $899 (Full Frame)
• 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | A $949 (Full Frame)

At SLRLounge, we’ve had a lot of experience with these Art lenses, and they’ve all impressed us beyond our expectation. When Matt Saville did his field review of the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8, we knew immediately that this was a lens lineup to be excited about. Pye and I also did a gear talk on the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 and Anthony Thurston gave us his initial impressions on the Sigma 24-105mm f/4. The Sigma Art series has gained a solid reputation, and if you choose to invest in one, you’re guaranteed to have an outstanding lens.

Sigma Sports Series

Sigma has also surprised the photography world by releasing their Sports lenses, a brand of lenses that have outstanding performance at an affordable price. Here’s what Sigma has to say about their Sport lenses.

Engineered for dynamic capture and split-second timing, our Sports line delivers sophisticated optical performance to get you closer to those powerful action shots you’re after.

Sigma currently has 2 lenses in their Sports series.

• 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S $1999
• 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | S $3599

Let’s take a step back and appreciate what Sigma has done here. If you shot Canon and wanted a Canon lens that went up to 300mm at f/2.8, then you would have to buy their Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens which costs $6599. Sigma has created a lens that has the reach, aperture, and quality at nearly half the price. With that being said, comparing primes to zoom is like comparing apples to oranges, primes will always have better image quality, but when you consider the versatility and price, the Sigma becomes a strong contender for the best overall sports lens.

Sigma Lenses

Below is a full list of Sigma Lenses.  Last updated 2/28/2020.

Zoom lenses

Wide-angle zooms
8–16mm f/4-5.6 DC HSM
10–20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM
10–20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM
12–24mm f/4.5–5.6 EX DG Aspherical HSM
12–24mm f/4.5-5.6 DG Aspherical HSM II
12–24mm f/4 DG HSM Art
14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art – REVIEW
14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art – REVIEW
15–30mm f/3.5–4.5 EX DG Aspherical
17–35mm f/2.8–4 EX DG Aspherical HSM
18–35mm f/3.5-4.5 Aspherical
20–40mm f/2.8 EX DG Aspherical
21–35mm f/3.5-4.2
24–35mm f/2 DG HSM Art
Standard zooms
17–50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM
17–70mm f/2.8–4.5 DC MACRO HSM
17–70mm f/2.8-4.0 DC OS MACRO HSM
17–70mm f/2.8-4.0 DC OS MACRO HSM C
18–35mm f/1.8 DC HSM A
18–50mm f/2.8 EX DC
18–50mm f/2.8 EX DC MACRO
18–50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM
18–50mm f/3.5–5.6 DC
24–60mm f/2.8 EX DG
24–70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro
24–70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM
24–70mm f/3.5–5.6 Aspherical HF
24–105mm f/4 DG OS HSM A
24–135mm f/2.8–4.5 Aspherical IF
28–70mm f/2.8 EX DG
28–70mm f/2.8–4 DG
28–70mm f/2.8–4 UC
28–70mm f/3.5–4.5 UC
28–80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical Macro
28–84mm f/3.5–4.5
28–85mm f/3.5–4.5
28–105mm f/2.8–4 DG
28–105mm f/3.8–5.6 Aspherical IF
28–105mm f/4–5.6 UC
28–135mm f/3.8–5.6
28–135mm f/4–5.6
28–200mm f/3.5–5.6 DG Macro
28–200mm f/4–5.6
28–300mm f/3.5–6.3 DG Macro
28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DL Hyperzoom Aspherical IF
35–70mm f/2.8–4
35–70mm f/3.5–4.5
35–80mm f/4–5.6 DL
35–105mm f/3.5–4.5 Macro
35–135mm f/3.5–4.5
35–135mm f/4–5.6 UC
35–200mm f/4–5.6
39–80mm f/3.5 XQ
Telephoto zooms
50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM
50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM II
50-150mm f/2.8 APO EX DC OS HSM
50–200mm f/3.5-4.5 APO
50–500mm f/4–6.3 EX DG HSM
50–500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM
55–200mm f/4–5.6
60–600mm f/4.5–6.3 DG OS HSM S
70–150mm f/3.5
70–200mm f/2.8 EX DG MACRO HSM
70–200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM
70–200mm f/2.8 EX DG MACRO HSM II
70–200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO OS HSM [10]
70-210mm f/2.8 APO
70–210mm f/3.5–4.5 APO
70-210mm f/4-5.6 UC
70-210mm f/4-5.6 UC-II
70–210mm f/4.5
70–250mm f/3.5-4.5
70–300mm f/4–5.6 DG MACRO
70–300mm f/4–5.6 APO DG MACRO
75–200mm f/2.8-3.5
75–200mm f/3.8
75–230mm f/4.5
75–250mm f/4-5
75–300mm f/4.5–5.6 APO
80–200mm f/3.5
80–200mm f/3.5-4.0
80–200mm f/4.5–5.6
80–400mm f/4.5–5.6 EX OS
100–200mm f/4.5
100–300mm f/4 EX DG HSM
100–300mm f/4.5–6.7 DL
100–500mm f/5.6–8 APO Zoom Tau
120–300mm f/2.8 EX HSM
120–300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM
120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM
120–300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S
120–300mm f/5.6
120–300mm f/5.6-6.3
120–400mm f/4.5–5.6 APO DG OS HSM
135–400mm f/4.5–5.6 DG
150–500mm f/5–6.3 APO DG OS HSM
150–600mm f/5–6.3 DG OS HSM C
150–600mm f/5–6.3 DG OS HSM S
170–500mm f/5–6.3 DG
200–500mm f/2.8 EX DG (2x teleconverter included, allowing 400–1000mm f/5.6)
300–800mm f/5.6 APO EX DG HSM
350-1200mm f/11 APO

Prime lenses

Wide-angle primes
8mm f/3.5 EX DG Circular Fisheye
8mm f/4 EX DG Circular Fisheye
10mm f/2.8 Fisheye Ultra-Wideangle
12mm f/2.8 Fisheye Ultra-Wideangle
14mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical HSM
14mm f/3.5
15mm f/2.8 EX DG Diagonal Fisheye
16mm f/2.8 XQ Filtermatic Diagonal Fisheye
18mm f/2.8 Filtermatic
18mm f/3.2 XQ
18mm f/3.5
20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
20mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical RF
24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
24mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro
24mm f/2.8 XQ Filtermatic
24mm f/2.8 Aspherical
24mm f/2.8 Super Wide
24mm f/2.8 Super Wide II
28mm f/1.8 Aspherical
28mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro
28mm f/2.8 XQ Filtermatic
28mm f/2.8 Mini Wide II
35mm f/1.4 DG HSM ‘A’
35mm f/2.8 GN (guide number)
Standard primes
30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM (45mm equivalent on most APS-C systems, 48mm equivalent on Canon APS-C, 51mm on Sigma, 60mm on Four Thirds)
30mm f/1.4 DC HSM A (available for Canon, Nikon, and Sigma mounts)
50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
50mm f/1.4 DG HSM A
Macro primes
Macro 50mm f/2.8 EX
Macro 50mm f/2.8 EX DG
Macro 55mm f/2.8 XQ
Macro 70mm f/2.8 EX DG
Macro 90mm f/2.8
Macro 100mm f/2.8 XQ
Macro 105mm f2.8 EX
Macro 105mm f/2.8 EX DG
Macro 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM
APO Macro 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM
APO Macro 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM
APO Macro 180mm f/2.8
APO Macro 180mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM
APO Macro 180mm f/3.5 EX DG IF HSM
APO Macro 180mm f/5.6
Telephoto primes
85 mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM [11]
135mm f/1.8 DG HSM A
135mm f/1.8 XQ
Sigmatel 135mm f/1.8
135mm f/2.5 T-mount
135mm f/2.8
135mm f/3.5
200mm f/2.8 XQ
200mm f/3.5
200mm f/4
APO 300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM
APO 300mm f/2.8
300mm f/4 XQ
APO 300mm f/4 Macro
APO 300mm f/4 HSM Macro
APO 300mm f/4.5
300mm f/5.6
400mm f/5.6
400mm f/5.6 Mirror
APO 400mm f/5.6
APO 400mm f/5.6 Macro
APO 400mm f/5.6 HSM Macro
500mm f/4 Mirror-Ultratelephoto
APO 500mm f/4.5
APO 500mm f/4.5 EX DG HSM
APO 500mm f/7.2
500mm f/8 Mirror
600mm f/8 Mirror
APO 800mm f/5.6 EX DG HSM
APO 1000mm f/8
1000mm f/13.5 Mirror
DC lenses for APS-C
4.5mm f/2.8 EX DC Circular Fisheye HSM
8–16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM
10mm f/2.8 EX DC Fisheye HSM
30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
10–20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM
10–20mm f/4–5.6 EX DC HSM
17–50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM
17–70mm f/2.8–4.5 DC MACRO HSM
17–70mm f/2.8-4.0 DC OS MACRO HSM
17–70mm f/2.8-4.0 DC OS MACRO HSM ‘C’
18–35mm f/1.8 DC HSM A
18–50mm f/2.8 EX DC
18–50mm f/2.8 EX DC MACRO
18–50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM
18–50mm f/3.5–5.6 DC
18–125mm f/3.5–5.6 DC
18–125mm f/3.8–5.6 DC OS HSM
18–200mm f/3.5–6.3 DC
18–200mm f/3.5–6.3 DC OS (HSM Version for Nikon only)
18–200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM II
18–200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM C
18–250mm f/3.5–6.3 DC OS HSM
50-100mm f/1.8 DC HSM [12]
50–150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM
50–150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM II
50–150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM
55–200mm f/4–5.6 DC
DN lenses for mirrorless cameras
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary [13]
19mm f/2.8 EX DN
19mm f/2.8 DN A
30mm f/1.4 DC DN C[14]
30mm f/2.8 EX DN
30mm f/2.8 DN A[15]
60mm f/2.8 DN A