Photo by Vincent Tsai
Vincent F. Tsai kindly gave me permission to republish this photograph of his, taken with a Panasonic G5 and the Sigma 60mm ƒ/2.8 DN lens (the link is to the Micro 4/3 version). It was published at 4/3 Rumors, where I saw it. It's been screen-grabbed and the TypePad interface isn't always perfectly kind to the technical subtleties of photographs, but I think you can at least get a sense from this shot why I like the visual properties of the Sigma lens. It's very sharp, but it's not what Arthur Kramer used to call "hard-sharp"; it has a gentleness to its in-focus rendering. As for the bokeh, it can be nearly ideal to my eye...in this shot, the sunlit branches in the foreground are just the sort of subject that gives the out-of-focus rendering of most lenses such fits; that it doesn't ruin this shot speaks well of the Sigma 60mm's way with o-o-f.
Not a flashy lens, but that's not what you want for portraits. It reminds me in spirit of the old Nikkor Series E 75–150mm ƒ/3.5 zoom, which was marketed as a budget zoom for beginners, but which became a cult favorite of top fashion photographers because of its clear but uniquely smooth and gentle rendering.
Unlike many lenses, online samples will give you a fair idea of what there is to like about this lens. I'd encourage you to investigate more samples if you find yourself interested. That it costs only $209 is a bonus.
Mike
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Aaah - the 60mm f/2.8. It is cheap as chips and looks like a small beer can. But it is a great lens. It is one of my favourite lens. I use it on m-4/3 (G3 and GX1).
Posted by: Tom Simonsen | Wednesday, 03 December 2014 at 04:06 AM
Despite not having a body that can use it in any kind of "native" way, I find myself unable to get rid of my old Series E 75-150mm. Probably my favorite small telezoom ever.
The only Sigma I've used is the 30mm. Sharp, but ... meh.
Posted by: JK | Wednesday, 03 December 2014 at 07:41 AM
This is a great lens! Have used the Art version on both EM5 and Sony A600. On the EM5 I preferred it over the Oly 15/1.8 as it had more "personality".
Plus it is so cheap you think it must be a typing error!
Posted by: Per Kylberg | Wednesday, 03 December 2014 at 07:50 AM
One of my absolute favorite lenses on a Panasonic GH4. I use mine for portraits.
Posted by: Kirk tuck | Wednesday, 03 December 2014 at 09:26 AM
This fall I made a couple senior photos for my daughter with it that she liked...
http://www.juneauphotographs.com/Family/Elia-the-Senior/i-6RGWjrb
Generally it's a good performer on my EM1. Compared to the 45 1.8 I've found it to be a little more likely to miss focus so I have to double check more often. Feels good on the camera and I wish Sigma made more lenses for mirrorless cameras (although supposedly the widely praised Oly 75 1.8 is a Sigma design).
Posted by: John Krumm | Wednesday, 03 December 2014 at 09:55 AM
Everyone likes this lens since it's such a great bit of kit for not a lot of money, but personally I still prefer the rendering on the Olympus 45mm f/1.8, and depending on where you are it's nearly as cheap as the Sigma.
I also use the 35-100/2.8 in such situations but obviously it's quite a lot more expensive so maybe it's not the best comparison, but if you already are thinking of the zoom I do suggest in picking it up. While it's nearly twice as heavy it's a small amount in absolute terms of less than 180g.
Posted by: YS | Wednesday, 03 December 2014 at 10:08 AM
Seeing the price made me almost think I need another lens. Almost.
Roy
Posted by: Roy | Wednesday, 03 December 2014 at 11:20 AM
as one of the lucky ones to have Fuji + Oly m4/3rds, I have avoided buying lenses in the latter, mainly because the Fuji drains the resources. but, this seems like a good buy (not needle sharp is of great appeal to me) to break the use of Zeiss M-mounts, and superb pinhole cap from Wanderlust Cameras, on the Oly.
thanks for the lead.
[ ps ] I purchased it by using the link through the blog to Amazon, and I hope it worked — in that I clicked on the Amazon link, then did a search, and purchased. it is my understanding that putting it in the cart voids the referral.
Posted by: kodiak xyza | Wednesday, 03 December 2014 at 12:52 PM
This is my current 'favourite' lens and is a real keeper for me. I picked up a minty secondhand one at work for £90 for my E-M5. It does fill a gap for me as a lovely portrait lens, very pleasant draw. I wasn't too sure about the 120mm equivalent but I have found that I have an eye for that focal length. f2.8 is fast enough and it performs amazingly well from it's widest aperture. I tell people how good the Oly 45mm is, yet I've only ever borrowed that lens and meant to buy it, now, probably not.
Don't be put off by the rattle of the Sigma 60 when not in use, apparently it's a design trait.
Regards, Mark Walker.
Posted by: Mark Walker | Wednesday, 03 December 2014 at 03:32 PM
Just wanted to add that the other two Sigma primes (19 f2.8 and 30 f2.8) don't do it for me, I think that this is the standout lens in that trio.
Posted by: Mark Walker | Wednesday, 03 December 2014 at 03:37 PM
I was the one who pointed out that lens to Ctein.....he was not interrested.....btw the 19 is also a verry decent lens. But having said that, I'm selling all my digital Olympus, Panasonic and Nikon crap in favour of a Canon.....why? Two words. Magic Lantern....and again Open Source rocks in favour of firmware designed by economists!
Greets, Ed.
Posted by: Ed | Thursday, 04 December 2014 at 04:22 AM
I've gone with the Samsung, for reasons that seem good to me (on-sensor PDAF, 30mm f/2 pancake & absurdly good price with LR4 last week among others). Frustrating that many mirrorless lenses have gone to m4/3 and sony-E but not NX - perhaps Samsung hasn't opened the mount to enough partners? I'd like a tiny Tokina 300mm and Sigma DNs please, with a Samyang 12/2 for later :^)
Posted by: jim r | Thursday, 04 December 2014 at 11:25 PM
Make sure you try out the Magic Lantern. Firmware "designed" by engineers isn't always that intuitive. I'd argue that that's the core issue with the Olympus firmware!
Posted by: SF Murph | Friday, 05 December 2014 at 10:57 AM