{"id":96920,"date":"2023-09-26T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=96920"},"modified":"2026-03-02T19:42:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T00:42:48","slug":"sigma-nomenclature-acronyms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/sigma-nomenclature-acronyms\/","title":{"rendered":"SIGMA Nomenclature: What to Know About SIGMA\u2019s Lenses, Acronyms, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For more than six decades, the SIGMA brand has revolutionized the way we photograph and film the world. The Japan-based brand organizes its interchangeable lenses into specific product lines: the Art, Sport, and Contemporary lenses, as well as its Cine series and I series. Each line has a specific user and functionality in mind, but how do you know which SIGMA lens series is right for you? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a breakdown of SIGMA\u2019s myriad lens options, including which types of creators are best suited for each line, and what the nomenclature (such as DG vs. DC) really means. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art, Sport, Contemporary Lines<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2012, SIGMA made a major change in its lens offerings under the SIGMA Global Vision. The result: a complete reinvention of the brand\u2019s product lines. It was also a step toward helping photographers more easily determine the lens that works best for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of this evolution, the brand introduced three highly tailored lens lines: Art, Sports, and Contemporary. Each line carries SIGMA\u2019s proven stamp of quality, but they\u2019re tailored to help creators capture content in the way best suited for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art Line<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0Art line\u00a0prioritizes image excellence with stellar optical performance above all else. The Art line lenses are largely fast-aperture primes and fast constant aperture zoom lenses. For this, think the\u00a0new\u00a0SIGMA 14mm F1.4 DG DN\u00a0(perfect for astrophotographers and landscape photographers), the\u00a0SIGMA 50mm F1.4 DG DN<\/a> (ideal for portraits, food, and details), and the\u00a0SIGMA 135mm F1.8 DG HSM<\/a>\u00a0(great for fashion, photojournalism, close-ups, landscapes, and more).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sports Line<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Sports line is, as it sounds, built for action. It\u2019s a collection of super telephoto and telephoto zoom lenses and primes that are crafted to withstand the conditions \u2014 think rugged builds with weatherproofing \u2014 and high customization. Top lenses in this lineup, designed for sport, adventure, and wildlife photographers, include the versatile SIGMA 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS<\/a> and the SIGMA 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contemporary Line<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The SIGMA Contemporary line is designed for those who want high performance but portability and convenience, such as travelers, everyday photographers, family photos, landscape shots, and the like. This mix of standard zooms, telephoto zooms, and high-magnification zooms include the new SIGMA 17mm F\/4 DG DN<\/a>, the SIGMA 18-50mm F\/2.8 DC DN<\/a>, and the versatile SIGMA 150-600m F\/5-6.3 DG OS HSM<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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24MM f\/2 DG DN Contemporary Lens. Photo Courtesy of SIGMA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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SIGMA Mount Conversion Service<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To guarantee creators have ultimate flexibility with their kits, SIGMA also offers a conversion service. For example, if you purchase the lens in a Canon EF mount and decide you want to switch to Nikon, you can switch it to the Nikon F mount. This service from SIGMA is currently available for Art, Sports, and Contemporary lenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIGMA Lens Acronyms<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With dozens of Art, Sports, and Contemporary offerings, you have a lens for virtually every situation. Although, one thing that\u2019s historically puzzling about these lenses is what the pairings of letters within the names mean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we dive into the acronyms, it\u2019s important to understand the two types of sensor sizes in digital cameras. There\u2019s the full-frame sensor, which replicates the 35mm size of a traditional film camera. Then there\u2019s a crop sensor (APS-C). It is smaller than 35mm and therefore slightly crops the photo, providing a closer-up field of view. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, let\u2019s decode the acronyms used for SIGMA lens names:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n