Sigma, a name long synonymous with affordable and quality alternatives to high-priced first-party lenses, has slowly become one of the premiere choices for photographers of all backgrounds over the last several decades. They have steadily continued to evolve their business and products and over the past decade or so have really stepped up to become a premiere lens manufacturer renowned for very high-quality optics and innovative designs, while maintaining accessible and attractive price points.

Sigma has always been held in high regard by consumers far and wide, but in recent years they have really picked up the pace and have released some truly incredible and wildly impressive lenses. Particularly, many lenses within their Art and Sports series have garnered significant attention and praise over the last couple of years.  So it’s clear that Sigma is raising the bar when it comes to high-quality third-party lenses but this leads to a pressing question: Is Sigma catching up to the Big Three (Canon, Nikon, and Sony) when it comes to producing top-tier lenses for mirrorless cameras?

In today’s article, we’re going to answer this pressing question and take a look at where Sigma falls in today’s ever-changing market. Let’s get right into it!

A Brief History of Sigma

Before taking a look at the current state of Sigma, it’s worth spending some time discussing their past to figure out exactly how they got where they are today. Founded in 1961 by Michihiro Yamaki, Sigma started out in the world of film photography as a third-party lens manufacturer. They produced many innovative and successful products for some of the most popular cameras at the time. In the early days, they produced all sorts of products including camera bodies and accessories but eventually, they began to primarily focus on producing affordable alternatives to first-party lenses. Sigma still produces camera bodies, but the large majority of their business is selling third-party lenses.

Despite humble beginnings, the company steadily gained a reputation for producing quality optics at very approachable price points. Over the years, Sigma evolved, adopting new technologies and refining their manufacturing processes. This evolution culminated in the launch of Sigma Global Vision in 2012, which introduced the Art, Contemporary, and Sport series lenses. These new lens classifications signaled a significant shift in Sigma's approach to lens manufacturing, focusing more on high-quality optics and innovative design. Sigma decided they would give the big three a run for their money.

The Rise of the Art and Sports Lines

The introduction of these three new series was a fundamental shift in Sigma as a company and of course, the products they offered. The contemporary line contains all of their more affordable lenses. These lenses are great options for budget-conscious photographers, especially those looking to purchase smaller and lighter offerings. The contemporary line is still very popular today and tons of photographers absolutely love these lenses, but for those seeking the absolute best that Sigma has to offer, their Sports and Art lines are the places to look. These lines are where the gap is constantly shrinking between Sigma and popular first-party manufacturers like Canon, Nikon, and Sony.

Upon its release, Sigma's Art series quickly became a favorite among photographers and videographers for its exceptional optics, build quality, and versatility. Lenses like the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art and the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art set new standards for third-party lenses. And more recent releases such as their 15mm f/1.4 Fisheye have received phenomenal reviews and filled a niche in the industry. If you’re an astro-photographer you’ll certainly want to check out this lens. Bottom line, Sigma Art lenses are absolutely phenomenal when it comes to optics, functionality, and build quality. Many of them compete directly with offerings from the big three.

The Sport series, on the other hand, catered to photographers seeking robust, high-performance lenses for action and wildlife photography. With a durable build and great weather resistance, lenses like the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sport offered an attractive combination of reach, durability, and affordability, competing directly with similar offerings from Canon and Nikon. And their relatively new releases such as the 500mm f/5.6 prime and 70-299mm f/2.8 lenses are already incredibly popular amongst photographers in these genres.

Between both the Art and Sports lines, Sigma has slowly been closing the gap. But, have their lenses reached the same level as top-tier glass from first-party manufacturers?

Is Sigma Just as Good as the Big Three?

The question of whether Sigma is on par with the Big Three is a complex topic and you’ll likely get different answers depending on who you ask. It’s also worth noting that first-party manufacturers often offer tiers or levels of lenses just like Sigma. For instance, Canon offers their top-tier L series and Sony accordingly sells G Master lenses. Because we’re comparing optics, I think it’s fair to compare the best of the best from each manufacturer. Which means, the question we should be asking is: Do the very best lenses from Sigma compare to the very best lenses from first-party manufacturers?

Canon, Nikon, and Sony have long been the most popular standard-bearers for lens quality and performance, with vast resources and decades of experience. Of course, other companies such as Fujifilm, Olympus, and Leica produce great optics too but for the sake of today’s article, we’re specifically looking at the big three. Despite the competition, however, Sigma has made significant strides in recent years, especially in the mirrorless camera market.

Sigma's Art series, with its exceptional sharpness and robust build quality, has become a favorite among professionals and enthusiasts alike. These lenses often rival or even surpass the performance of first-party lenses while maintaining a more approachable price point. Similarly, the Sport series has proven to be a strong competitor in the telephoto and super-telephoto categories. I’m not saying that every lens in the Art and Sports lines is outperforming top-tier choices from the big three. What I am saying is that the gap seems to be smaller than it ever has been and when tested in a variety of circumstances, time and time again, they often fall right in line with their first-party counterparts in terms of sharpness and optical performance.

Furthermore, Sigma's adaptability and willingness to innovate have allowed them to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving market. Their strong push into the mirrorless camera space, with lenses designed specifically for new standards, demonstrates their commitment to meeting the needs of modern photographers. And even more recently, it has been confirmed that Canon is now opening up its R-mount to third-party manufacturers, including several interesting lenses from Signa, after holding out for quite some time.

Conclusion

So, has Sigma caught up? Are they on par with much more expensive offerings from the big three? I’m sure this will come as no surprise, but in my opinion, the answer is: It depends… In many ways, I believe that yes, Sigma has caught up and they offer many lenses that go head-to-head with much more expensive first-party competitors. But at the same time, they often don’t make lenses that directly compete with some of the most popular offerings from the big three or make something that might fall just short when tested. At the end of the day, Sigma has continued their legacy of producing really great lenses. They have really stepped on the acceleration pedal in recent years and overall the gap in optical quality and performance seems to be shrinking.

Sigma's journey from their humble origins to a respected leader in the industry is a testament to their commitment to quality and innovation. As they continue to push the boundaries of what's possible with optics, it's clear that Sigma is poised to remain a key player in the world of photography and videography. I have personally owned several Sigma lenses and I’ve always thought that they offer exceptional performance and quality for their price.

I hope this article has been informative and has helped to shine some light on the noteworthy advancements made by Sigma over the last several years.

If you’d like to learn more about Sigma’s current selection of lenses and how they classify their offerings, feel free to check out this article taking A Deep Dive into Sigma Lenses!

I’ll see you on the next one and happy shooting!