In the past few years, we have witnessed the beginning of the end for the DSLR. CIPA reports have shown a toward-facing trend in the past, with this segment seeing a 20% decline. While people debate that the DSLR reign will continue, despite the odds, we must face the harsh truth: nobody is ready to revive them. And now, it appears Sigma has finally understood this, as they recently announced the discontinuation of a legendary lens. Joining this is yet another entry from their contemporary range.
Sigma Reportedly Discontinues Another DSLR Lens
According to Asobinet, a Japanese publication, Sigma has discontinued the 150-600mm f5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary, one of the compact entries in this range. At the moment, the SA mount, which is used on Sigma cameras, has also been discontinued. Sales are available for Canon and Nikon DSLR mounts, but it remains unclear how long the lenses will be available. Asobinet believes that if the SA mount has been discontinued, the chances of EF and F mounts following suit are not too far.
The discontinuation is the case in Japan, where camera stores such as Kitamura, Map, Bic, and Yodobashi state the lens discontinuation. The Sigma USA website states that the lens is still in stock. However, it is not clear how long that will continue.
A little bit about the lens. The DSLR version was introduced in 2015, and it was a cost-effective lens for those who wanted more reach. However, the lens was competing against Tamron’s and other offerings from Nikon, Canon, and Sony at that time. Due to its slower autofocus, the 15-600mm faced competition and, despite its size, had some issues handling for a lens of this range. However, considering the price and the optical quality of its time, the lens was a favorite amongst many sports and wildlife enthusiasts.
There was also a Sports version of this, which has already been discounted. You can check Sigma Global’s discontinued lenses section and find that Sigam, Nikon, and even Canon versions have stopped production. So, if Sports is out, Contemporary will certainly follow suit.
Just last week, the company also discontinued the DSLR version of the 60-600mm f4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM. Perhaps by this year’s end, they will continue to stop producing DSLR lenses and use that research for mirrorless segments. Quite recently, Sigma became the first company to launch Canon RF mount lenses for their APS-C cameras. And so, they may be working on this lineup more than others. However, DLSR will not come back anytime soon.
CIPA’s Latest Data Also Reveals A Decline
Nikon Rumors released the latest data for September 2024, showing a clear direction of the market. While mirrorless cameras saw a 5.4% rise in volume (5.4%) and 14.3% in value (14.3%) compared to previous years, the DSLR saw a 21% decrease in sales since 2023. Up until July, the numbers had already shown a 20% decline. However, September saw a 1% decrease despite it being a season for holidays and sales.
It seems that many of those who still did not wish to switch had to for various reasons. Today, many mirrorless offerings from Sony, Panasonic, and Nikon are pushing boundaries, allowing for distinct features that may attract professionals. However, that does not mean a DLSR is not a good option. The Canon 5D Mark IV is a great option despite being launched in 2016. The same goes for Nikon D850. However, the only concern is that after a point, there will be shutter lag and a limited range of lenses. So, a mirrorless seems like a better option for someone who wants to purchase a new camera.
Perhaps that is why it’s safe to say the end of this segment is here. Maybe the new generation will revive it as another photography trend.