BJP continues its coverage of the world's largest trade show: Photokina.
Sigma has kept six new products under wraps over the past few weeks to finally unveil them today in Cologne. The most notable product is the SD15 digital SLR.

This 14 million pixel resolution camera sports the Foveon X3 direct-image-sensor, which Sigma claims 'can capture all primary RGB colours at each and every pixel location arranged in three layers'. It also features the True II image processing engine, providing enough power to reproduce high definition pictures 'rich in gradation'.

Sigma has not released any additional detail about its DSLR, which is still under development.
Since October 2002, Sigma has introduced three DSLR cameras, the SD9, SD10 and SD14 to the market. In March 2008 Sigma also introduced a compact digital camera, the DP1 which uses the same large image sensor as is featured in Sigma’s digital SLR cameras.

In other news, Sigma unveiled its new 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG HSM zoom lens.

This large aperture zoom lens has a Super Multi Layer Coating to reduce flare and ghosting. ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass, two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements and three aspherical lenses provide correction of all types of aberrations, Sigma claims.

This lens also features a Hyper Sonic Motor, to ensure a quiet and high speed autofocus as well as full time manual focusing capability. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 38cm and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.3. The rounded 9 blades diaphragm creates an attractive blur.

It will be available for Nikon, Canon, Sigma, Pentax and Sony mounts. Price and availability have not been communicated yet.

Now, only for Sony DSLR, Sigma has also announced the upcoming release of the APO Tele Converter 1.4x EX DG and APO Tele Converter 2x EX DG.

The new tele converters are capable of maintaining the HSM function of telephoto lenses such as Sigma’s APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG MACRO HSM and APO 50-150mm F2.8 II EX DC HSM whilst increasing the focal length by a factor of 1.4x or 2x.

The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) AF compatibility depends on the capability of the Sony SLR camera to support this function and on the maximum F number of the attached lens.

Still for Sony mounts, but also for Pentax is the 4.5mm F2.8 EX DC HSM, the first Circular Fisheye lens exclusively for use with APS-C size digital SLR cameras, and the 10mm F2.8 EX DC HSM diagonal fisheye lens for Pentax and Sony fitting cameras.

This autofocus circular fisheye lens has an angle of view of 180 degrees in all directions. When used in conjunction with digital SLRs with APS-C size image sensor, it produces circular image within the frame. The minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm and maximum magnification of 1:6 make it particularly useful for close-up photography. SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass, Super Multi Layer Coating and inner focusing system provides superior image quality.

For the same cameras, Sigma will release the new EM-140 DG Macro Flash .

The EM-140 DG Macro Flash is designed to work with both AF 35mm film and digital SLR cameras. Dual flash tubes can fire simultaneously or separately. Using only one flashtube creates shadow, which can give a three-dimensional feeling to the subject. The flash features a guide number of 14 w/ISO 100. The modelling flash function makes it possible to check for reflections and shadows before actually taking the flash picture.

A wireless flash function is also available, when the EM-140 DG is used as master and the EF-530 DG SUPER as a slave unit for creating fine shadow details. High Speed Synchro and Exposure compensation functions are also available for advanced flash photography.

BJP will cover these new products in its next issue released on 08 October. In the meantime, check back later for more news from Photokina.