Sigma announces 18-250mm telephoto zoom with more macro

Sigma has announced a new 18-250mm lens for DSLRs. The new version is shorter than the current model and has better macro photography properties. In addition, a different material is used for the housing.

Instead of the usual polycarbonate, Sigma uses a material that is said to be more resistant to expansion and contraction due to temperature differences in the lens body of the 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM lens. Sigma calls this material: ‘Thermally Stable Composite’.

Compared to the current Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM lens, the new superzoom lens can focus from a shorter distance; instead of a minimum distance of 45cm, you can focus from a distance of 35cm. This also increases the maximum magnification factor: 1:2.9 for the new lens compared to 1:3.5 for the current version.

The design of the new 18-250mm lens has also been changed. Instead of eighteen lens elements divided over fourteen lens groups, Sigma has reduced the number of lens elements to sixteen and the number of lens groups by one. This has been made possible, among other things, by the use of double-sided, aspherically ground lenses.

As a result, the lens has not only become shorter and thinner, but the filter size has also become smaller. The new lens is 88mm long, has a diameter of 73mm and a filter size of 62mm. The previous 18-250mm lens was 101mm in length, 79mm thick and used 72mm filters.

The new lens will be available in the Canon mount from July, and will also be available for Sony, Nikon and Pentax DSLRs at a later date. Sigma has not yet announced pricing for the 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM.