At Cine Gear, we caught up with Kazuto Yamaki-san, SIGMA’s owner and CEO, to discuss their ambitious new Aizu Prime cinema lens series. This ground-up redesign marks SIGMA’s serious commitment to the professional cinema market. The new SIGMA AIzu T1.3 large format prime lenses were unveiled just a few days ago, and they’ve received a warm welcome from DPs and rental houses alike. The aesthetic look they provide, coupled with their daring yet competitive price of $8,299, is definitely marking a new era for SIGMA. From Photo Heritage to Pure Cinema Design SIGMA’s new Aizu Prime series marks a significant shift in the company’s approach to cinema lenses. Unlike their previous cinema offerings, which were adaptations of existing photo lenses, the Aizu Primes boast entirely new optical designs meticulously crafted for cinema use. SIGMA’s Yamaki-san receiving the CineD best of show award for the Aizu prime lenses. Credit: CineD Two-and-a-Half Years in Development The Aizu Prime project began two and a half years ago, with SIGMA taking an unusually comprehensive approach to the development process. Rather than developing lenses individually, the company designed the entire set from the beginning, optimizing the manufacturing process by bringing all focal lengths into development simultaneously. This holistic approach allowed SIGMA to share optical design assets across the range while maintaining consistency throughout the series. The Challenge: T1.3 in Compact Form The primary technical challenge for the Aizu Primes was achieving T1.3 across the entire range while maintaining compact, lightweight designs that meet modern production...
Published By: CineD - Today