Sigma 45mm F2.8 DG DN L-mount lens - Thoughts

Like almost all modern lenses, it's gonna be good. At $559 and 7.6oz, not exactly cheap & ultralight though.

The Sigma body won't come cheap either. Could possibly be $1500-2000. If not shooting video maybe better off with a used a7, which is a bargain at the moment.

And of course there's no way using this on the M. Mechanical adapter could be made, but no infinity focus since the L's flange distance is shorter.
 
I went to Yodobashi-camera a couple days ago and held the SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens in my hand. It’s smaller than I thought it would be; being that Sigma lenses seems to be getting bigger and heavier in my opinion, and it was nice looking and felt like it was well made. I successfully fought off the urge to make a quick impulse buy but I can see myself getting it in the future when I have some money to burn. Also, the lens hood was not on display but I read that it’s made of metal instead of plastic. If that’s true, it would be the only metal lens hood I’ve ever seen on a Sigma lens.

Mike
 
I bought it.

Sony A7III (ILCE-7M3)
Sigma 45mm f2.8 DG DN lens
Yokohama, Japan - November 2019

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All the best,
Mike
 
Sony A7III (ILCE-7M3)
Sigma 45mm f2.8 DG DN lens
Yokohama, Japan - November 2019

A few more taken with this lens.

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All the best,
Mike
 
Yokosuka_Mike said:
I bought it.

Sony A7III (ILCE-7M3)
Sigma 45mm f2.8 DG DN lens
Yokohama, Japan - November 2019

DSC02027.JPG


DSC01965.JPG


All the best,
Mike
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Mike those images look good. As an aside, the bench depicted in the second photo looks to be the world's most uncomfortable bench though it is admittedly, I suppose, artistic in its minimalism. And I suppose it has the added virtue that you won't catch many hobos sleeping on it. :)
 
Huss said:
No kidding.
The Nikon 50 1.8G is $197. It is a full frame AF lens, very good, and more than a stop faster than the Sigma. The Sigma is $600??? Three times as expensive???
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Very odd pricing, indeed. Where are 35 and 50 for E mount, currently costs under 500$ for both.

Or 24 2.8 and 35 2.8 for E mount. Under 600$ for both at current offering.
200 gm total weight vs "lightweight" of Sigma at 215 gm.

This is very impressive. For first time I'm seeing E mount lenses as affordable and small.
 
Huss said:
No kidding.
The Nikon 50 1.8G is $197. It is a full frame AF lens, very good, and more than a stop faster than the Sigma. The Sigma is $600??? Three times as expensive???
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I dunno. I've seen a lot of work with the Nikon 50/1.8G, had one myself, and was not impressed with it. It seemed to me a fairly mediocre performer, decent for the money as a standard normal kit lens but no challenge to the higher end quality lenses.

What I've seen of the output from the Sigma 45mm f/2.8 looks to be in a different class. I haven't seen the lens in person yet, but I'll make the trip up to a camera shop sometime soon and try it out.

G
 
Godfrey said:
I dunno. I've seen a lot of work with the Nikon 50/1.8G, had one myself, and was not impressed with it. It seemed to me a fairly mediocre performer, decent for the money as a standard normal kit lens but no challenge to the higher end quality lenses.

What I've seen of the output from the Sigma 45mm f/2.8 looks to be in a different class. I haven't seen the lens in person yet, but I'll make the trip up to a camera shop sometime soon and try it out.

G
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I’ve had no performance issues with mine, it is an excellent performer. It’s why Nikon issued it as the package lens with the DF. It outperforms their 1.4 version and I have no problem shooting it alongside my Sigma Art 50 1.4. Especially if I don’t need 1.4 and appreciate the size!
I find Nasim’s reviews to be on the money:

https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-50mm-f1-8g

“The Nikon 50mm f/1.8G sets new standards in 50mm fixed lens performance for Nikon mount – it is sharper than all of the predecessors, including the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G at largest apertures. I was quite surprised to see such results in my lab tests.”

One thing I really like about lenses like this is they are so cheap (I buy them used) that I just use them w/o protective filters and just go for it. With my Leica and Zeiss glass I always have a level of apprehension depending on the environment that they will be used in.

I think that the main reason that lenses like this Sigma have become so expensive is that it is now hard to make money in the photo business as the market size has sunk so much due to smartphones. Newly introduced gear has to have a higher price point in order to make them sustainable due to the ever smaller volume of sales.
 
People complaining about the Sigma 45mm lens being large and expensive should check the Holga HL-N: it sells for less than $40 and weights only 50 grams.

Cheers!

Abbazz
 
peterm1 said:
Mike those images look good. As an aside, the bench depicted in the second photo looks to be the world's most uncomfortable bench though it is admittedly, I suppose, artistic in its minimalism. And I suppose it has the added virtue that you won't catch many hobos sleeping on it. :)
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Thank you, Peter! When you’ve been on your feet all day, legs ache, feet are sore and you’re looking for a place to take the load off… even the most uncomfortable bench can be a God send.

A few more taken with this lens.

Sony A7III
Sigma 45mm f2.8 DG DN lens
Yokohama, Japan - November 2019

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All the best,
Mike
 
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