By site editor Dan Chung:
Japanese lens maker Sigma have been steadily improving their line of photo lenses in the past few years. Their latest ART line in particular has won many fans, not just in the photo world, but also among video users. The 18-35mm f1.8 for APS-C sensors has found its way into many video kits. The latest 24-35mm f2 full frame lens also looks to be a great option.
But have you ever wondered about the craftsmen and women who make these fine pieces of glass? The artfully shot short film ‘SIGMA AIZU Chapter III’ gives us a rare glimpse into the life of Sigma’s repair department and shows the lengths they go to to ensure quality when fixing customers’ damaged gear.
The documentary style short is the third part of a series about the company. In it we see inside the Aizu plant and follow one of the workers as he inspects and fixes the lenses. It is a surprisingly manual process that involves lots of charts and lens projectors, as well as real world testing. I especially love the shot of three workers all pointing cameras in different direction as they test – it is kinda how I imagined a lens factory should look.
We also get a peek inside a 35mm f1.4 ART lens while it is being repaired, giving us a nice chance to see how it is constructed (well, it beats taking a screwdriver to a working lens). If you are a lensaholic like me then you will find it fascinating.
You can see the previous two chapters (which were published in 2012 and 2014) below:
You can also see the films and find out more about Sigma lenses on the company’s Global Vision website.
