The Word "Sigma"?

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jkinzel

Senior Member
The photographic community is familiar with Sigma lenses and I never gave the name much thought until October 8th when I assisted Evergreen Shipping's EVER SIGMA (ex HATSU SIGMA) into its berth at Pierce County Terminal, Tacoma, Washington. I have always known about Sigma lenses and I have assisted this ship in many time, but never gave it a thought, i.e. put 2+2 together, until I purchased a Sigma 10-20 f3.5 for my D90.

So, what is the meaning of the word "Sigma"?

DSC_0914 S.jpg
 
W

WeeHector

Senior Member
Sigma is the 18th letter in the Greek alphabet, which is a favourite source for company names. There doesn't appear to be any special significance as they don't use any of the Greek symbols but was probably chosen for it's European origin. Most Japanese companies like names which are easy for the western world to remember and pronounce.
 
W

WayneF

Senior Member
Sigma has more meaning that just a Greek letter. Greek letters are often used as symbols in scientific/physics/math equations, and can take on meaning associated with them. Pi for circles for example, and Gamma for video correction, and Sigma is associated with Standard Deviation in Statistics, and from that, for quality manufacturing processes (meaning, defect free goals). See Google for Six Sigma (six standard deviations, 6x).

But for the company, it is surely just a name.
 
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J

jkinzel

Senior Member
Thank you for the information, extremely informative and educational. Because the name is associated with cameras and optics I just thought there must be a greater significance.

Thanks everyone.
 
W

WayneF

Senior Member
I imagine the Sigma company did want the word association with higher quality manufacturing processes, and I'm sure they do have good products, but it is just a name, like Acme Corporation (RoadRunner cartoons, from other Greek roots). For example, I might put in a new fried chicken place, named Best Chicken, but the actual quality will depend on other factors. :)

And I don't mean to imply the term Sigma has reserved uses. Anyone can use Sigma as they wish, like the X in algebra, and can be used in any way. For example, the video industry uses Gamma for video correction, but film manufacturers also use the term Gamma for film contrast, which is an entirely different subject, a very different meaning, no relationship. But within those two industries, it has their specific meanings.

And odds are, if any scientific uses simply say Sigma, they probably refer to standard deviation, how widely a selection of samples vary from the norm.
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Since I recently had some interaction with one of Sigma's reps, I just sent an email asking if she knows the answer to this question. If I hear back, I'll let you know. :)
 
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