squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
Curious about these. I have shot with both DP cameras so I'm vaguely familiar with how they render; do you like these on your m4/3 camera? Are they fast to focus or slow? Quiet or noisy? Any impressions would be welcome. I'm talking about the 30mm and 19mm f/2.8's.
segedi
RFicianado
I can only give my impression on the NEX 5n, but here it is...
They are slow to focus - not overly slow compared to the it lens, but nothing like the experience of using a dslr. And I've been using manual focus lenses a lot on various rangefinders and on the NEX and GXR. I find manual focus to be a better experience as having no control of an AF lens that's hunting to lock in isn't the best. Especially in low light. In fairness, when they are fast to lock in focus, it's probably way faster than manual focus.
I haven't really noticed the noisiness of either lens. There is a weirdness to them though when moving the camera around - it seems like the element group shifts position in the barrel. You can hear and feel it. It's weird but apparently normal.
The 30mm is fairly sharp across the frame. The 19mm is a little less so along the edges.
I like that Sigma lenses with a little lens case. The 19mm comes with a hood, but the 30mm does not and there isn't a way to mount one save a screw in. Both take the same filter size which is nice.
The f/2.8 is faster than the kit lens which is nice, but if you have a faster 28mm that's adaptable, the 30mm can probably be skipped. For wide angle on the NEX, the 19mm is probably better than most wides, but I'll have to test the Zeiss and CV 21mm on it to see if they fair any worse. My copies are f/4.5 and 4 so they aren't the fastest though.
They are slow to focus - not overly slow compared to the it lens, but nothing like the experience of using a dslr. And I've been using manual focus lenses a lot on various rangefinders and on the NEX and GXR. I find manual focus to be a better experience as having no control of an AF lens that's hunting to lock in isn't the best. Especially in low light. In fairness, when they are fast to lock in focus, it's probably way faster than manual focus.
I haven't really noticed the noisiness of either lens. There is a weirdness to them though when moving the camera around - it seems like the element group shifts position in the barrel. You can hear and feel it. It's weird but apparently normal.
The 30mm is fairly sharp across the frame. The 19mm is a little less so along the edges.
I like that Sigma lenses with a little lens case. The 19mm comes with a hood, but the 30mm does not and there isn't a way to mount one save a screw in. Both take the same filter size which is nice.
The f/2.8 is faster than the kit lens which is nice, but if you have a faster 28mm that's adaptable, the 30mm can probably be skipped. For wide angle on the NEX, the 19mm is probably better than most wides, but I'll have to test the Zeiss and CV 21mm on it to see if they fair any worse. My copies are f/4.5 and 4 so they aren't the fastest though.
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
.......Thanks!
fireblade
Vincenzo.
after testing it, ordered and waiting for the 30mm to come in, great lens.....took the 19mm that was in stock, fab lens.
ISO-1600, No NR
ISO-1600, No NR
dbm
Established
I have both versions in the NEX mount - Great lenses.
I have both versions in the NEX mount - Great lenses.
Here's the 30mm...
And here's the 19mm
I have both versions in the NEX mount - Great lenses.
Here's the 30mm...
And here's the 19mm
segedi
RFicianado
OK, my 19mm is acting up. It will not focus at all... it opens the and closes the aperture and in doing so will "blink" over expose the scene and then switch to manual focus. Which appears useless. It's going back to the store... 10 year warranty on Sigma in Canada though, so that's good!
The 30mm on the other hand is very quiet and fast to focus.
The 30mm on the other hand is very quiet and fast to focus.