Japanese camera and lens manufacturer SIGMA is brought over its line of robust autofocus zoom lenses to Cine Gear 2026, and ProVideo Coalition got an up-close look while walking the show floor.

The AF Cine Line 28-45mm T2 and 28-105mm T3 – released in November 2025 and April 2026, respectively – are a pair of robust, highly-capable lenses, bridging the gap between traditional cinema optics and modern hybrid production workflows. Both lenses combine cinema-oriented mechanics with advanced autofocus performance, an increasingly important feature as productions lean harder into gimbal work, solo operators, virtual production, and fast-moving documentary environments.

Built on the optical foundations of SIGMA’s well-regarded Art-series still lenses, the AF Cine Line adapts those designs into housings tailored for professional motion work. The lenses feature industry-standard 0.8 MOD gearing, clickless aperture rings, limited-rotation focus throws, and support for both Sony E-mount and L-Mount systems.

Both lenses are designed to maintain high resolution, controlled flare and ghosting, and consistent image rendering throughout the zoom range, while also minimizing focus breathing: a key consideration for narrative and commercial cinematography.

The standout feature – as well as its namesake – is autofocus integration. Unlike traditional manual cinema zooms, SIGMA’s AF Cine Line supports continuous autofocus and subject tracking when paired with compatible camera systems, giving operators additional flexibility in situations where speed and mobility matter more than conventional focus-pulling setups.

The 28-45mm T2 FF offers a constant T2 aperture across its range, making it particularly attractive for low-light shooting and shallow depth-of-field work. Meanwhile, the newer 28-105mm T3 FF extends the versatility of the lineup into a broader focal range suitable for documentary, corporate, event, and run-and-gun productions where lens changes may be impractical.

Physically, both lenses carry the size and weight expected of full-frame cine zooms, but remain relatively compact compared to many traditional cinema lens options with similar coverage and speed. Their matching gear positions and consistent design language also make them easier to integrate into existing cine production setups.

With autofocus technology seeing further acceptance and adoption in professional filmmaking, SIGMA shifts the conversation, setting the bar in how these cinema lenses are now being designed. The AF Cine Line proves that autofocus is no longer a “prosumer” shortcut, but a powerful asset for high-end production pipelines.

By packing an ultra-fast High-response Linear Actuator (HLA) directly into a housing that features standardized 0.8 MOD gears and hard mechanical stops, SIGMA has built a rare hybrid that serves both the traditional focus puller and the solo gimbal operator. It’s a definitive statement that as camera tracking AI and sensor technologies evolve, cinema glass must evolve with them—redefining on-set efficiency without demanding a compromise in optical artistry.