Sigma Announces Two New Lenses — and a Rice Farm

Sigma dropped a triple announcement this week that left the photography world doing a double-take. Two new lenses? Expected. A rice farming operation? Not so much.

Alongside the Sigma 15mm f/1.4 DC Contemporary and the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art, the company revealed it will establish Sigma Aizu Farm Corporation on April 1, 2026 — a new agricultural venture to grow rice in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, where every single Sigma lens and camera is manufactured.

Yes, the same company that grinds aspherical glass elements to nanometer tolerances will now be planting rice paddies. And honestly? It makes more sense than you might think.

The Lenses: Smaller, Lighter, Sharper

Sigma 15mm f/1.4 DC Contemporary (APS-C)

The successor to the beloved 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary from 2017, this new wide-angle prime is a significant upgrade in nearly every way. At just 220 grams, it is the lightest lens in Sigma’s f/1.4 DC Contemporary series — roughly 50% lighter and 30% shorter than the outgoing 16mm.

The optical formula includes one FLD element, three SLD elements, and three double-sided aspherical lenses, all working together to deliver improved edge-to-edge sharpness and better suppression of sagittal coma flare. A nine-blade aperture produces smooth circular bokeh, and a stepping motor ensures fast, quiet autofocus with minimal focus breathing for video work.

The 15mm f/1.4 DC Contemporary offers a 22.5mm equivalent field of view on Sony and Fujifilm APS-C bodies (24mm on Canon). It is available for Sony E-mount, Fujifilm X-mount, and Canon RF-mount at $579, shipping March 12, 2026.

Recommended Bodies for the 15mm f/1.4

This APS-C lens is available in Sony E, Fujifilm X, and Canon RF mounts. Here are the best bodies to pair it with:

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art (Full-Frame)

The 35mm f/1.4 Art has been one of Sigma’s most iconic lenses since the original DSLR version launched in 2013. This third-generation update is part of a broader industry trend toward smaller, lighter optics without sacrificing performance.

The new 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art weighs 512 grams — about 20% less than its predecessor — and is 14% shorter at 96mm. A completely redesigned 15-element, 12-group optical formula uses four aspherical elements, two SLD elements, and a new Advanced Amorphous Coating (AAC) to minimize ghosting and flare.

The 11-blade aperture and dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) autofocus system carry over from the excellent 35mm f/1.2 DG II Art. Sigma says this lens delivers the best optical performance ever in the 35mm f/1.4 Art line.

Available for Sony E-mount and L-Mount at $1,059, launching April 16, 2026.

Recommended Bodies for the 35mm f/1.4 Art

This full-frame lens ships in Sony E and L-Mount. These bodies make the most of its resolving power:

The Rice Farm: Sigma Goes Agricultural

Here is where it gets interesting. Sigma’s Aizu factory has been the company’s sole production facility for decades. Every Art, Contemporary, and Sports lens rolls off the same lines in this region north of Tokyo. The company has deep roots here — and now it wants to put down literal ones.

Like many rural areas in Japan, Aizu has faced a growing shortage of agricultural workers. Farmland is being abandoned. Rice paddies that once supported local ecosystems and cultural traditions are disappearing. Sigma sees this as a problem it can help solve.

“As a company that has been long supported by the nature and people of Aizu, Sigma aims to further clarify its commitment to regional contribution and to a manufacturing philosophy that coexists in harmony with the natural environment,” the company stated.

The plan is straightforward: Sigma Aizu Farm Corporation will cultivate rice starting in early summer 2026, with a first harvest expected in autumn. The rice will be milled over winter and then distributed to employees at both the Aizu factory cafeteria and the corporate headquarters in Kawasaki.

It is part of Sigma’s broader sustainability and community investment efforts — a move from simply benefiting from the region’s resources to actively giving back. The initiative also creates stable employment in an area that needs it.

Why It Matters

In an industry where most manufacturers have moved production overseas, Sigma’s commitment to Aizu is already unusual. Adding an agricultural arm to protect the local landscape and culture takes that commitment to another level entirely.

There is something poetic about a company that builds lenses designed to capture the beauty of the natural world also working to preserve that world in its own backyard. Whether you are shopping for a new prime lens or just appreciate a company that puts its money where its values are, Sigma’s announcement is worth paying attention to.

The 15mm f/1.4 DC Contemporary ships March 12. The 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art follows on April 16. And the first rice harvest? Autumn 2026. Mark your calendars for all three.