Nikon D40 and Sigma Lenses

(Note: This article is applicable to the Nikon D40 / D40X and D60)

Update, July 26, 2007: Good news from Sigma! They've announced updated HSM support for two of their lenses: the 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC MACRO HSM (which is extremely popular walk-around lens with the Canon digital SLR folks) and the 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC MACRO HSM, which is a popular alternative to the expensive Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 DX lens. This means that owners of the Nikon D40 / D40x cameras now have two additional AF (auto focus) lens choices to spend their hard-earned money on :-). Read the press release at DPReview.com.

Update, Feb 10, 2007: See what Nikon lenses D40 owners are shooting with (Nikkor 70-200mm, Nikkor 70-300mm VR, and other good stuff here)

Gathered here is a list of Sigma lenses that the Nikon D40 camera can autofocus (AF) with - basically, any Sigma lens with the HSM (which means Hyper Sonic Motor) designation. Sigma lenses with HSM are able to focus quickly and quietly, since they have their own built-in focusing motors, and all the D40 has to do is transmit the necessary AF signals to the lens. AF-S lenses are Nikon's equivalent to the Sigma HSM ones.

The one Sigma lens that does not have the HSM designation but will focus on the D40 is the 80-400mm with Optical Stabilization.

You might also like to read up the list of Nikon lenses that will AF on the D40.

Keep in mind that Sigma also manufactures lenses for other camera brands such as Canon, Pentax and even Sigma's own digital SLR cameras, so be careful to purchase the version that is made "for Nikon".

In the list below, click the approximate USA price indicated next to the lens to obtain the latest prices and deals (targeted to the country you're surfing from) for that particular Sigma lens (please be careful to perform the usual due diligence on whether the store is good to do business with, and not a scam operation, before effecting the final steps in the purchase process). For a brief explanation of the acronyms used for Sigma lenses, refer to this list maintained by Sigma Imaging (UK) Ltd. Specifications and test charts for the entire collection of HSM or non-HSM lenses manufactured by Sigma can be obtained here.

Sigma DC Lenses

DC lenses from Sigma can only be used with digital SLR cameras having a sensor with a "crop factor" (such as the Nikon D40) - in other words, they are not intended for use with film SLR cameras or digital SLR cameras with full-frame sensors such as the Nikon D3 and D700.

  1. Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM - (some stunning samples photos can be seen here), $499
  2. Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC MACRO - $384.95, specs
  3. Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro HSM - $460, specs
  4. Sigma 18-50mm f3.5-5.6 DC HSM - specs, $369.
  5. Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM (this should prove to be a popular short prime AF lens for the Nikon D40) - $429. Get more information and links related to the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM lens. I'd also like to point you to this AndreasE's gallery of travel photos shot in Dubai exclusively with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lens - I think you'll get a pretty good idea of the photographic possibilities with this lens. Read more about Andreas's opinion of the D40 plus Sigma 30mm f/1.4 combination (which is especially good for available light photography) in this forum post.
  6. Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC APO HSM - $999
  7. Sigma 55-200mm F4-5.6 DC HSM - $169, specs

Sigma Wide Zoom Lenses

  1. Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG ASP (Aspherical) HSM - $690
  2. Sigma 17-35mm f/2.8-4 EX ASP HSM - $449

Sigma Wide Prime (Fixed) Lenses

  1. Sigma 14mm f/2.8 EX ASP HSM - $899

Sigma Telephoto Zoom Lenses

  1. Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO RF HSM - $999
  2. Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO Macro HSM - $890. Despite lacking Vibration Reduction technology, the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 is an excellent alternative to the much more expensive Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR lens.
  3. Sigma 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 APO EX OS - $995
  4. Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG APO IF HSM - $1099
  5. Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF HSM - $2699
  6. Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX APO IF HSM - $6999

Sigma Macro Lenses

For nature macro photographers, the following lenses from Sigma present a better, not to mention cheaper, proposition to the Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro lens. The longer focal length of the Sigmas allow a greater working distance to the subject, and gives a nicer isolation.

  1. Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG APO Macro HSM - $589 | Reviews and Samples.
  2. Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM - $799

Sigma Telephoto Lenses

  1. Sigma 300mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF HSM - $2499
  2. Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX DG APO IF HSM - $4199
  3. Sigma 800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO HSM - $5199

It's more than a little unfortunate that really nice and popular Sigma lenses such as the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro and Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro lenses can't be autofocused on the Nikon D40. ... read my Jul 26, 2007 update.

Big thanks goes out to Tdkd13 who first created the list here.

Just remember, any Sigma lens with the HSM designation can autofocus on the D40 / D40X / D60. Good luck with your lens shopping!

Archive of comments from the old Nikon D40 blog

  1. Thomas Thomsen Says:

    December 30th, 2006 at 9:53 am

    I'm not so quite sure about the statement, that the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro can’t be autofocused on the Nikon D40.

    I recently read two reviews, and they both claim that this lense has a focus motor:

    1. Photozone
    http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/sigma_1770_2845/index.htm
    “The 17-70mm DC features a conventional AF micro motor …”

    2. Photodo
    http://www.photodo.com/topic_65.html
    “Autofocussing is fairly quiet for a conventional motor …”

    So, I would conclude that the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro can be used on the Nikon D40 for automatic focusing. Am I right, or do I miss something here?

  2. David Chin Says:

    February 8th, 2007 at 9:58 am

    Thomas, as long as the Sigma lens doesn't have an HSM designation, that lens can't autofocus on the D40. The only exception is the 80-400mm optically-stabilized lens - that one doesn't have the HSM label, but will autofocus on the D40 :> http://www.sigmaphoto.com/news/news.asp?nID=3289

  3. Rick Huizinga Says:

    March 15th, 2007 at 5:20 am

    Can the new Sigma 18-200 mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS lens autofocus with the D40?

    I thought there may be an exception for this OS lens as the 80-400mm optically-stabilized lens does not have the HSM designation and can still auto-focus with the D40.

  4. Rick Huizinga Says:

    March 16th, 2007 at 1:11 am

    I wrote Sigma on the compatibility of the 18-200mm OS lens on the D40, and here was their response:

    “Thank you for your inquiry. Since the new 18-200mm OS DC lens has similar mechanics as the 80-400mm OS lens, it should be compatible with the D40 camera. We can provide more information when the new lens become available.”

  5. showbeagle Says:

    September 13th, 2007 at 11:50 am

    Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC Telephoto Zoom Lense
    versus
    Nikon 55-200mm ED AF-S Lens

    pros? cons?

    thanks!

  6. Dave Says:

    March 31st, 2008 at 2:28 am

    Hi - I bought a Sigma 18-200mm OS f/3.5-6.3 DC Zoom HSM for my D-40. It does auto-focus very quickly and I've noticed no unusual effects on the D-40.

    However, the lens is VERY heavy, and there is a point at about mid-full zoom where it is unusually “sticky”, or difficult, to change when backing out the zoom extent.

    I'm on the fence with this lens and I'm willing to pay the 10% restocking fee if the Nikkor equivalent is better. Am I just paranoid or too picky?

    Thanks for your help!
    Dave

  7. Azmi M.N Says:

    June 29th, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    Regarding the Sigma 18-200mm f/ 3.5 - 6.3 DC OS HSM lens that I bought with my D40, I experienced problem when using the built-in flash. Shadow of the lens would be cast in all shots at 18-25mm wide angle. Above this no shadows appear.

    Any idea why this happens. Is there any setting that I can do to eliminate this problem?