IBC 2026: Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki on the New 85mm f/1.2 Art, 20-60mm f/2.8-4 Contemporary, Aizu Primes, Filters, AI, and Robotics

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Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art:

B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Sigma 20-60mm f/2.8-4 DG Contemporary:

B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

IBC 2026: Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki on the New 85mm f/1.2 Art, 20-60mm f/2.8-4 Contemporary, Aizu Primes, Filters, AI, and Robotics

At IBC 2026 in Amsterdam, Iddo Genuth from LensVid sat down with Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki at the Sigma booth for an in-depth interview covering Sigma’s newest Sony E-mount full-frame lenses, the expansion of the Aizu Prime LF cinema series, a newly redesigned filter lineup, Sigma’s 10+ lens-per-year release cadence, and how the company approaches AI and collaborative robotics at its factory in Japan.

The video above features the full conversation from the show floor, and every detail and specification discussed is broken down below.

1. Sigma 85mm f/1.2 DG | Art: Smallest and Lightest in Its Class

• Completing the f/1.2 Trio: First previewed at CP+ 2026, the new Sigma 85mm f/1.2 DG | Art joins Sigma’s existing 35mm f/1.2 and 50mm f/1.2 Art primes, completing the trio of the three most popular fast prime focal lengths.
• Class-Leading Size & Weight: Available for Sony E-mount and L-mount, the lens weighs just 905g (31.9 oz)—making it the smallest and lightest full-frame 85mm f/1.2 lens in its class (roughly 290g lighter than Canon’s RF 85mm f/1.2 and half the price).
• Optical Construction: The optical formula features 17 elements in 12 groups, a 13-blade rounded diaphragm (upgraded from the 11-blade unit in the 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art), an 82mm filter thread, and an 84cm minimum focusing distance. Compared to f/1.4, the f/1.2 maximum aperture gathers approximately 36% more light (~0.44 stops brighter) with a shallower depth of field.
• Dual HLA Autofocus & Ergonomics: To drive the heavy glass elements quickly and silently at f/1.2, Sigma equipped the lens with a Dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) system where two independent linear actuators move two separate focus groups. External controls include a focus ring, an aperture ring with both click/de-click and lock switches, and two customizable AFL buttons.
• Price & Availability: Shipping began in late September 2026 for $1,600 (£1,299 in the UK).

2. Sigma 20-60mm f/2.8-4 DG | Contemporary: Wider Than a Standard Zoom

• Concept & Handling: Designed for Sony E-mount and L-mount, the Sigma 20-60mm f/2.8-4 DG | Contemporary trades the traditional 24-70mm range for an ultra-wide 20mm starting point while still reaching 60mm for portraits. It is built as a highly compact, lightweight travel and city walkaround zoom, though the barrel does extend when zooming.
• Autofocus & Video Performance: It is driven by a linear HLA autofocus motor and engineered to keep focus breathing to a minimum for video shooters.
• Build Quality: The lens features a dust- and splash-resistant structure along with a water- and oil-repellent coating on the front element.
• Price & Availability: Priced at $849, with US availability starting October 6, 2026.

3. Redesigned Sigma Filter Lineup (No ND or Variable ND Plans)

• Complete Lineup Redesign: Sigma overhauled its screw-in filter series to improve optical performance, introducing slimmer frame profiles on the larger 95mm and 105mm thread sizes and enhanced surface treatments to suppress internal reflections.
• Four New Models: Yamaki highlighted four newly announced filters (shipping late September 2026)
  • WR Ceramic Protector (PTC-21): Constructed from “Clear Glass Ceramics” (harder and safer against shattering than chemically strengthened glass), available in 67mm to 105mm thread sizes.
  • WR Protector + UV (PUV-21): A dual-purpose UV and physical protector featuring a water- and oil-repellent coating, available in 52mm to 105mm sizes.
  • Protector (LPT-21): A standard clear protective filter available in 52mm to 105mm sizes.
  • WR Circular Polarizer (CPL-21): A weather-resistant circular polarizing filter.
• No ND or Variable ND Filters Planned: When asked whether Sigma would expand into solid ND or Variable ND (VND) filters for hybrid and cinema users, Yamaki acknowledged that customers have requested them, but confirmed Sigma has no plans to make ND or VND filters right now.

4. Aizu Prime LF Cinema Lenses & EV Cine Zoom Demand

• Three New T1.3 Focal Lengths: On the cinema side, Sigma added three new large-format primes to its flagship Aizu Prime LF series, all maintaining a fast T1.3 aperture: the 21mm T1.3, 100mm T1.3, and 125mm T1.3.
• 11 of 12 Lenses Now Complete: Yamaki noted that the Aizu Prime LF series was first announced in 2025 and the initial lenses are already shipping. With these three additions, 11 of the 12 planned focal lengths are now accounted for. The final missing lens is the 18mm T1.3, which Yamaki expects Sigma to begin shipping in 2027.
• Mounts, Pricing & Release Date: All three new Aizu Prime LF lenses come in Sony E-mount and PL mount, arriving in November 2026 for $9,799 each.
• Why There Are No “Aizu Zooms” (and What’s Next for EV Cine Zooms): Asked if Sigma would create ultra-high-end cinema zooms for Aizu Prime users, Yamaki explained that Sigma does not consider zooms to belong in the same category. Instead, he pointed to Sigma’s autofocus-capable EV Cine Zoom line launched in 2025—the 28-45mm T2 and 28-105mm T3—noting that both lenses have been extremely popular and that Sigma is receiving heavy demand from shooters waiting for additional focal lengths in that series.

5. Sustaining a 10+ Lens-Per-Year Release Cadence

• “Ideas for Lenses Are Limitless”: With Sigma releasing more than ten lenses per year recently, LensVid asked if the company can realistically maintain such an aggressive pace over the long term. Yamaki answered with a firm yes, explaining that optical concepts are virtually limitless.
• How Sigma Generates New Concepts: As new glass materials and optical technologies become available, Sigma can both modernize classic focal lengths and alter focal length ranges, f-stops, or T-stops to pioneer unconventional hybrids—pointing to the 20-60mm f/2.8-4 as a direct result of this approach.

6. L-Mount Alliance Progress & The Sigma BF

• Steady Ecosystem Growth: Yamaki stated that he is very satisfied with the trajectory of the L-Mount Alliance alongside partners Leica and Panasonic.

• Distinct Camera Philosophies: He noted that the three core brands offer a wide variety of bodies with distinct design philosophies—including Sigma’s own unconventional Sigma BF camera—and that the combination of a broad lens catalog and new manufacturers joining the alliance has steadily expanded the customer base over the past two years.

7. AI in Lens Design vs. Collaborative Robots (“Cobots”) in Aizu

• No AI for Optical Design (For Now): Sigma does not use AI to design its lenses. Yamaki explained that the engineering knowledge required to create high-performance optics is not available on the public internet—it is strictly proprietary know-how kept inside Sigma. Even though companies can train private internal AI models without leaking data, Yamaki remains unsure how AI will develop in optical engineering, leaving it as a possibility for the future.
• Where Sigma Does Use AI: Inside the company’s daily workflow, Sigma actively uses AI for research, automatic meeting minutes, and translation, which Yamaki praised as very helpful.
• Collaborative Robots (“Cobots”) on the Production Line: Because Sigma manufactures 100% of its products in Japan—where labor costs are much higher than in China or Southeast Asia—and because cameras and lenses are highly complex products produced in smaller batches, traditional caged industrial robots are poorly suited for much of Sigma’s floor. Instead, Sigma is introducing collaborative robots (cobots) designed to work safely right next to human technicians without safety cages.

Quick Spec & Pricing Summary (Sony E-Mount Releases)

Product	Mounts	Key Highlights	Price	Availability
Sigma 85mm f/1.2 DG | Art	Sony E, L-Mount	905g, 17 elements/12 groups, 13 blades, Dual HLA AF, 82mm filter	$1,600	Late September 2026
Sigma 20-60mm f/2.8-4 DG | Contemporary	Sony E, L-Mount	Compact extending zoom, HLA AF, low focus breathing, weather-sealed	$849	October 6, 2026
Sigma Aizu Prime LF 21mm / 100mm / 125mm T1.3	Sony E, PL	Large-format T1.3 cinema primes (11 of 12 in set; 18mm coming in 2027)	$9,799 each	November 2026
Sigma Redesigned Filters (PTC-21, PUV-21, LPT-21, CPL-21)	52mm–105mm (Ceramic: 67mm–105mm)	Clear Glass Ceramics (PTC-21), slimmer 95/105mm frames, low-reflection coating	TBA	Late September 2026