Sigma 19mm F2.8 EX DN Lens for Panasonic/Olympus

[jim khoo]

You may be right on the image quality, but I still think the 20mm f1.7 is already good enough and the compactness is another plus point.
Of course we cannot compare to those 12mm which we may need to dig deeper into our pockets.

if the 20/f1.7 is good enough for you; great! you'll save quite a fair bit.

and, i do think the cheaper 45mm beats the 20mm on IQ.

 

[jim khoo]

But for M43, 38mm and 60mm are focal lengths that are not familiar to most photographers.
But this is the same for legacy glass, where the FOV can be a little strange for M43 with
the 2.0x crop factor.

i believe it is matter of getting use to the FL. weren't 20mm FL weird when it first launch?

I have the E-mount Sigma 30mm F2.8 and on a NEX 5N, it is sharp, even in the corners wide open. Sigma also says, it doesn't require a hood. It's amazing value for S$250. It also shows that it's possible to design small sharp lenses for the NEX series.

i am glad to hear the 19mm is sharp on the NEX 5N. what about the AF speed?
it is indeed a great price if the lens AF faster than the 20/f1.7.

 

[jim khoo]

In any case, IQ and sharpness is all relative actually and often in the eye of
the beholder.

i don't think IQ and sharpness is matter of relativity (on pro level).
please you share your thought?

I have seen images with very mild motion blur, and the photographer will be
proclaiming that based on that image, the lens is damn sharp...very very sharp...

interesting; could you give a link on this debate or the image for us
to see?

 

[Oly5050]

i don't think IQ and sharpness is matter of relativity (on pro level).
please you share your thought?

interesting; could you give a link on this debate or the image for us
to see?

What some people say is excellent may not be excellent to some. How people judge how sharp a lens is is also relative. Wat makes people say a lens is sharp?

 

[jim khoo]

What some people say is excellent may not be excellent
to some.

in general i don't disagree with your statement. but then again,
it depends on one level of experience/ expertise.

How people judge how sharp a lens is is also relative.
Wat makes people say a lens is sharp?

i don't know how many will agree, but i would judge "sharp" by
the image the lens took at 50% crop on how define/ clear the
image edges are. to be honest, i shouldn't be expecting great
results from a SG$250 lens.

what about you? what do you think?
how would you judge sharpness of a lens?
is S$250 a good price for the 19mm/f2.8 based on the specs?

 

[jim khoo]

btw, i found this 19mm image at 50% crop which i think is a-ok sharp.

now i am waiting to hear a comment on its AF speed. if it is better
than the 20mm. i am most likely to grab it.

 

[tsammyc]

i am glad to hear the 19mm is sharp on the NEX 5N. what about the AF speed?
it is indeed a great price if the lens AF faster than the 20/f1.7.

I can only speak for the NEX version and it's about the same speed as the 24mm 1.8 and 50mm 1.8, so no issues as far as the NEX version is concerned after about 200 shots.

 

[tsammyc]

What some people say is excellent may not be excellent to some. How people judge how sharp a lens is is also relative. Wat makes people say a lens is sharp?

I would say that on the NEX, the Sigma 30mm about as sharp as my Zeiss 24mm 1.8 Perhaps the 24mm is sharper in the center and the Sigma is sharper in the corners. Neither the 24mm or the Sigma 30mm are as sharp as my 35mm Zeiss Biogon on the NEX 5N, but that lens is 2nd only to the Leica Summilux 35mm

 

[jim khoo]

...Neither the 24mm or the Sigma 30mm are as sharp as my 35mm Zeiss Biogon
on the NEX 5N, but that lens is 2nd only to the Leica Summilux 35mm

there are some people that swore by zeiss
so, it's better not get there.

anyway, thanks for the info.

 

[Oly5050]

in general i don't disagree with your statement. but then again,
it depends on one level of experience/ expertise.


i don't know how many will agree, but i would judge "sharp" by
the image the lens took at 50% crop on how define/ clear the
image edges are. to be honest, i shouldn't be expecting great
results from a SG$250 lens.

what about you? what do you think?
how would you judge sharpness of a lens?
is S$250 a good price for the 19mm/f2.8 based on the specs?

I cant comment on whether the 19/2.8 is a good lens or is a good buy. I generally do not buy 3rd party lenses. Only panny and oly so far.

As far as sharpness, I usually use 100% crop at least to judge. Also I look at review sites to look at MTF values at corners and center and how sharp is it wide open. The olympus and panny lenses in general are sharp corner to corner and can be used without concern wide open. As I said before, tolerance for sharpness varies between different people and some people are happy with a certain level of sharpness and declare the lens sharp. Some are happy to stop down to get it sharp. Also, sharpness is an adjective that is dependent on what they have been exposed to. As a comparison, some of the lenses that I would consider sharp are the ZD 50 mm f2, the m4/3 45 f1.8.

 

[jim khoo]

I cant comment on whether the 19/2.8 is a good lens or is a good buy.

ok... i finally decided to try the 19mm out; AF is decent. i wouldn't say that it is sharp
but i am not disappointed with the result either. i consider it to be a good walkabout/
street lens. below are some of the photos i took. not too bad for a lens that cost half
the price of the 20mm; i must say.

 

[Sispecho]

ok... i finally decided to try the 19mm out; AF is decent. i wouldn't say that it is sharp
but i am not disappointed with the result either. i consider it to be a good walkabout/
street lens. below are some of the photos i took. not too bad for a lens that cost half
the price of the 20mm; i must say.

Bro any PP done? The colour signature dnt look 'sigma' to me... Haha. Rather sharp as well i must say. Wide open? Nice pics btw.

 

[jim khoo]

color ones in Standard, PPed lightly in PhotoScape. B+W were shot in Monotone.
leaves was f2.8 and the rest were f8.0.

lens is a great m4/3rd combo for streets, imo.

The colour signature dnt look 'sigma' to me... Haha.

hahah... it that good or bad?

here's some SOOCs...

f8.0

f4.5

f4.5

f4.5

 

[jasonteoch]

when you shake the lens, do you notice that something inside the lens is creating a noise? is that normal?

 

[jim khoo]

something's moving when the lens is shook...
not sure what it is; but it doesn't seems to affect the operations of the lens.

 

[esoeij]

when you shake the lens, do you notice that something inside the lens is creating a noise? is that normal?

Yes it's normal. Something to do with the design of the linear motor system. It will be like that when the power is off.

 

[jasonteoch]

something's moving when the lens is shook...
not sure what it is; but it doesn't seems to affect the operations of the lens.

ic.. Thanks..

 

[jasonteoch]

Yes it's normal. Something to do with the design of the linear motor system. It will be like that when the power is off.

Hopefully it will not affect the lifespan of the lens... Thanks..

 

[jim khoo]

Hopefully it will not affect the lifespan of the lens... Thanks..

its quite affordable; if you look at it that way.

 

[vengels]

Hopefully it will not affect the lifespan of the lens... Thanks..

Still very new so we will not know whether it will affect the lifespan..

If u r worried why not go for the panny 14mm f2.5?
2nd hand price ard the same as brand new Sigma..

The panny is a pretty good and sharp lens..
Moreover its the smallest pancake for m4/3..