New Sigma lens reviews roundup!
It’s time to check how good these two new Sigma lenses are. Here are five links to the latest tests:
1) The Sigma 30mm lens got tested with the E-P3 by Pekka Potka (Click here): “I think Sigma has produced here a lens, which is optically significantly better than I expected. It gives much compared to its price and is definitely worth considering if this focal lenght is otherwise interesting.”
2) Also TheDigitalStory (Click here) tested the same lens on the same camera: “Overall, I rate the Sigma 30mm a notch below Olympus prime lenses. But if you want a mild telephoto with a reasonably fast aperture for an affordable price, you’ll probably like shooting with this glass. I’m going to keep mine.”
3) A Sigma 19mm hands-on with image samples can be found at PhotoMalaysia (Click here): “This lens is just about perfect. Optically I’d say approaches Leica…a real bargain for the asking price!!!”
4) ePhotozine (Click here) about the 30mm lens: “During testing this lens proved itself capable of producing excellent results, even at maximum aperture. The light weight, fast autofocus and excellent build should win this lens many fans, especially with the price being so competitive.”
5) ePhotozine (Click here) also tested the 19mm lens: “This compact lens should make an ideal addition to any Micro Four Thirds or Sony NEX camera kit. Its light weight, compact size and excellent optical performance are complimented by fast auto focus speeds and good build quality.”
Mea culpa Sigma for criticizing you! Doesn’t sound bad at all for these $199 (or 199 Euro) lenses!
The 30mm lens is in Stock at Amazon US (Click here), Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon FR (Click here), Amazon JP (Click here).
The 19mm lens is in Stock at Amazon US (Click here), Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon FR (Click here), Amazon JP (Click here).
Steve Tsiopanos
2 years ago |Why would someone want to buy the Sigma 19mm F2.8 over the Panasonic 20mm f1.7?
Brendan
2 years ago |Because it’s almost half the price.
M
2 years ago |340 € vs 199 € (Amazon Germany)
That’s 141€ in favour for Sigma.
With faster AF, as far as I read.
43shot
2 years ago |Not to mention many people to make it profitable.
jules
2 years ago |$250.
43shot
2 years ago |You can buy a new one for $329 on Amazon, $110 difference is not much considering the speed and size difference.
BB
2 years ago |I don’t see 20mm 1.7 for anything less than $400 on Amazon.
jules
2 years ago |$359 is the cheapest I have found. Fair enough, $140 difference.
Anyhow, it is a basic question of value vs worth.
Having switched from 20mm to PL-25, I don’t miss the smaller size at all. What I do miss is the 20cm minimal focusing distance. Sigma has it too. Speed? I find it less important than it used to be.
Lets say the PL25 never existed. vapor-ware. I’d probably choose the 20mm again, but I would never complain if I was stuck with the Sigma.
Fan
2 years ago |It has faster and quiet AF.
Blinkered
2 years ago |As others have said –
The Sigma lens has:
-faster AF
-quieter AF (better for video where the Pana 20mm can be quite annoying in quiet situations)
-costs less
Overall I still prefer the 20mm but for many who don’t own the 20mm already, the Sigma lens makes an interesting proposition and will work out the better lens for some.
Brod1er
2 years ago |AF on the 20 f1.7 is actually not that slow if you match it to a modern camera although it certainly is noisy. Bokeh can be rough, but at least it has plenty. Personally I would prefer the Sigmas to be twice the price and offer f1.8 like the Panny 20 and Oly 45.
Lars Beduhn
2 years ago |Yeah… I consider the Sigma myself because of the lower price and the way faster auto-focus.
BB
2 years ago |The bokeh of the Panasonic 20mm 1.7 can, at times, be very bad. The 20mm’s out of focus, pin prick highlights are non-circular and just plain ugly.
The Sigma appears to have lovely soft bokeh. The Sigma has 7 curved aperture blades.
For $200. I wouldn’t be surprised if the bokeh from the Sigma and the $500 Panny Leica 25mm are nearly identical.
I just bought one.
Brendan
2 years ago |I picked up the 30mm m43 from B&H the first weekend it was out and I would have to say its the best value for money anything in my entire collection.
MikeH
2 years ago |Smaller size, faster lens, perhaps?
MikeH
2 years ago |Whoops, I dyslexically read the first post..
Lower cost, faster AF might be the reasons to purchase the Sigma.
jules
2 years ago |Admin, please back your mea culpa with putting these lenses in the data base.
admin
2 years ago |Yep! Will do that!
WT21
2 years ago |Well, these focal lengths don’t interest me that much as they are, but Sigma — how about you make a ZOOM lenses covering a little broader than this range, and at constant f/2.8?
Tristan
2 years ago |More please Sigma?! Would love to see a 42.5mm f2.8 Lens (85mm equivalent), and something wider with fantastic optical performance and price prioritised over aperture, ie 10mm f4?
I Have to say that these lenses are making me very excited about the new sigma DP1/2 Merrill Cameras, If the results are this good on m4/3 imagine how well they could perform when matched with the sensor they were designed for?!
Naseer Haider
2 years ago |I m using Sigma Full Kit
I m very happy with Sigma…bi will try this small, low light lense for sure
doro
2 years ago |lenstip did test 30mm f2.8 as well, imho it’s worth reading
http://www.lenstip.com/335.1-Lens_review-Sigma_30_mm_f_2.8_EX_DN__Introduction.html
M
2 years ago |Yes! Sigma give us an affordable UWA! Please! 10mm better 8 or let me dream 7mm. f/4 would be just fine anything faster welcome.
avds
2 years ago |Not bad. Still keeping the 20/1.7 for its size and brightness though, even if it’s compromised by some not insignificant vignetting wide open.
Miroslav
2 years ago |Good sign. Now, let’s hope Sigma uses that technology and makes some lenses that would be more useful to us. How about making 20mm F1.8, 26-75mm F2.8 and 28-400mm (all 35mm equivalent) for m4/3? Sigma makes those for other systems…
Perret cap Joe gear photo blogger
2 years ago |Perret cap joe told you so
Rob
2 years ago |Good for Sigma making nice lenses at an affordable price, the affordable price bit is what u4/3 needs really (and the NEX I guess).
I have to say though PhotoMalaysia stating it approaches Leica optically seems a bit OTT, they are comparing a 200euro lens to 5000+ range there, makes me a bit warey about a review with such statements without giving any explanation to why they think this. The Digital Story seems more realistic saying its close to a Olympus prime but not quite.
Matthias
2 years ago |I can remember that so many people wrote that these lenses are soooo bad when they were announced
Anyway, I need zooms, so… Sorry, Sigma!
Chez Wimpy
2 years ago |If the 12-35 turns out to be f2.5, the OIS zoom will have *all* the photographic advantage over the prime. As it stands, the primes have the advantage of cost (for two even) and size (if you just stick to one of two).
ght
2 years ago |How can this be- whenever Panasonic or Olympus release a new overpriced lens there is always some corporate apologist spouting the now cliche, “Good glass costs money.”
JimD
2 years ago |ght.
‘Truth will out’ as the old saying goes. Are you going to compare a 12-60mm with a 14-42? Just to keep it in the family that is, so no bias can be entered into, same cliché, same truth. (I have all 3 of them, truth is right)
JimD
2 years ago |I am seriously looking at a voigtlander 15mm + a 25mm f4. Then I look at the sigma 19mm and a panny 25mm 1.4. Just can’t make up my mind or should I go…..
Why do we have so many choices?
Brod1er
2 years ago |Get the Panny 14mm and 20mm/or 25mm. The 14 is very good in practice although there is a fair amount of misinformation on the net. FWIW Thom Hogan rates it. The only reason not to get it is if you want to use MF all the time in which case Voigtlander is the way to go. Get the Panny 20 if you want compact, otherwise get the 25.
DonTom
2 years ago |@jimD : I’ve just added the Panny 14/2.5 to my small kit, and it’s a very neat little lens. I also tried the Sigma 19mm today, and would have chosen it over the Panny 20mm…if I didn’t already have it!. I guess it all comes down to bokeh, speed, and how well your camera handles high ISO. I have the E-Pl1, so high ISO isn’t great, and I really value the speed of the 20/1.7. But the Sigma 19/2.8 is very good value, and the size factor isn’t really an issue.
Pricewise, the Panny 14/2.5 and Sigma 19/2.8 are great value, and if you add the Olly 45/1.8 you’ve got a great set of classic primes for the price of one higher end lens. Especially if you buy second hand.
It’s also a great illustration of the strength of the format! Don’t be sad about having choices!