Sigma 19mm F2.8 DN

Pros Compact. Impressive center sharpness. Inexpensive. Available for Micro Four Thirds and NEX cameras. Hood and soft case included.

Cons Edges don't impress until f/8. Modest aperture. No image stabilization. Bottom Line The Sigma 19mm F2.8 DN is a compact wide-angle prime for select mirrorless cameras. Its price is attractive, but it lacks image stabilization and only delivers an f/2.8 aperture.

By Jim Fisher

The Sigma 19mm F2.8 DN ($199 direct) is a wide-angle prime lens that's available for Sony E-mount cameras in the NEX and Alpha families and Micro Four Thirds cameras from Olympus and Panasonic. Due to the different sensor sizes in those bodies its field of view varies based on which version of the lens you buy; the NEX version (which we tested) acts like a 28.5mm lens on a full-frame, and the Micro Four Thirds version is closer to a 38mm. A 28mm on a full-frame camera is a classic wide-angle field of view, but the narrower 38mm angle edges closer to a standard-angle design.

Regardless of which version you buy, you'll get the same compact 1.8 by 2.4 (HD), 5.6-ounce lens; only the mount differs. The barrel is smooth metal that's cool to the touch. The smoothness actually makes manual focus a bit of an odd experience; it's a strange departure when compared with most lenses which feature a textured ring over the manual focus control. It can focus on objects as close as 7.9 inches, supports 46mm threaded filters, and is available in black or silver. A reversible hood and a soft carrying case are included with the lens.

I used Imatest to check the sharpness of the lens when paired with the APS- C Sony Alpha 3000. At f/2.8 it scores 2,045 lines per picture height on our center-weighted test, which is better than the 1,800 lines that we use to call an image sharp. The edges are a bit soft, just around 1,550 lines, but that's typical of compact wide angles. Its edges are still better than those captured by the Sony 16mm f/2.8 prime lens for the NEX system.

Stopping down to f/4 brings up the overall score to 2,105 lines, but doesn't do much at the edges. At f/5.6 we start to see some sharpening there; the overall score is 2,185 line and the edges hit 1,720 lines. Edges are at their best at f/8 (they approach 1,900 lines), but the overall sharpness drops just a bit to 2,165 lines due to some loss of sharpness at the center of the frame. Distortion is a minor issue; the 19mm shows 1.4 percent barrel distortion, which is just slightly noticeable in field conditions. It's something that's easy enough to fix in software if it's detracting from a shot.

We tested the lens on a Sony camera, but Micro Four Thirds shooters will benefit from the smaller sensor: The soft edges that we saw in our tests will be cut off and the lens should provide more even sharpness from edge to edge at wider apertures. But if you've got the money, you're better served with the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f1.8, which has a more ambitious aperture and a better manual focus ring. Neither lens has image stabilization; most Olympus bodies have that built-in, but most Panasonic and all Sony NEX bodies lack it. For a wide-angle like this it's not crucial for stills, but it does go a long way for video use.

The Sigma 19mm F2.8 DN is a good lens for mirrorless cameras, but it's not an outstanding one. We haven't yet tested the Sony 20mm f/2.8 for NEX cameras, which is noticeably smaller but also $150 more expensive. The 19mm is light and compact in its own right, and a good value for any shooter who is a fan of that focal length. Micro Four Thirds owners have more options in the 19mm focal range, including the excellent Olympus 17mm lens, an ultra fast (and expensive) 17.5mm f/0.95 lens from Voigtlander, and the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7; they all capture more light than the Sigma, but can't match it on price. 

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Sigma 30mm F2.8 DN

Pros Very sharp from edge to edge. Minimal distortion. Compact design. Inexpensive. Available for Micro Four Thirds and NEX cameras. Includes hood and case.

Cons Modest aperture for a prime. No image stabilization. Bottom Line The Sigma 30mm F2.8 DN is a sharp, compact prime lens for Sony and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras, but it doesn't offer image stabilization.

By Jim Fisher

The Sigma 30mm F2.8 DN ($199 direct) is one of a trio of lenses that Sigma produces for mirrorless cameras. This model can be purchased for Sony NEX or Micro Four Thirds cameras, and delivers a slightly different shooting experience depending on the camera with which it is used due to the differing sensor sizes in the systems. We reviewed it on a NEX camera, where it delivers a 45mm (full-frame equivalent) field of view, but if you shoot with a Micro Four Thirds camera the smaller sensor makes it more like a 60mm lens.

The lens itself is impressively compact. It measures just 1.6 by 2.4 inches (HD), weighs in at 4.9 ounces, it supports 46mm threaded filters, and a reversible lens hood and soft case are included. It can be had in silver or black, and the metal barrel gives it a solid feel. The large focus ring is smooth, which isn't my preference for manual focus control; a ring with ridges or a similar texture provides a better grip. The minimum focus distance is 11.8 inches, which makes it a far cry from a macro lens. NEX shooters would be better served with the Sony 30mm f/3.5 Macro if close focus is a concern; its aperture is only a half-stop narrower and it can focus to 3.7 inches for 1:1 magnification. As is the case with the Sony macro, there's no optical image stabilization, you'll need to move up to the Sony 35mm f/1.8 to get that in the NEX system. Micro Four Thirds shooters with Panasonic cameras may also want to consider a stabilized lens, but Olympus cameras feature in-body stabilization.

I used Imatest to check the sharpness of the Sigma lens when matched with the APS-C Sony Alpha 3000. It's one area where there are no disappointments. At f/2.8 the lens manages 2,144 lines per picture height with sharp edges and minimal (1 percent) distortion. That's better than the 1,800 lines we require for a photo to be called sharp. Performance increases gradually as you narrow the aperture; it peaks at 2,256 lines at f/5.6. At corresponding apertures it outperforms the Zeiss Touit 1.8/32 for NEX. The Zeiss is more expensive, but it captures more than twice the light as the Sigma at its widest aperture.

You can't argue with the value for your money that the Sigma 30mm F2.8 DN delivers. For less than $200 you get a compact, standard-angle prime lens that is sharp from edge to edge at every aperture. But there are a couple things that you miss—image stabilization and close focus to be precise. If you're a macro fan, the extra $80 you'll spend on the Sony 35mm Macro is worth it, and its f/3.5 maximum aperture is only a half-stop narrower than the Sigma's f/2.8. But if you have the money, the Sony 35mm f/1.8 is your best bet for a similar lens in that system—it has the same close focus limitation as the Sigma lens, and it's not super sharp at f/1.8. But it does deliver solid performance from f/2.8 onward, and stabilization will let you shoot at narrower apertures and still get a blur-free image.

Micro Four Thirds photographers have fewer options in the 30mm focal range. Olympus's lineup has a 17mm lens and a 45mm lens, but nothing in between. Panasonic offers a Leica-designed Summilux 25mm f/1.4, but that's more than three times the cost of the Sigma. And Voigtlander makes a low-light beast in the Nokton 25mm f/0.95, but it's manual focus only and $1,200. That makes this lens appealing if you're looking for something in this focal range on a budget, especially if you own an Olympus camera or the stabilized Panasonic GX7.

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Sigma 60mm F2.8 DN

Pros Very sharp from edge to edge. Minimal distortion. Available for Micro Four Thirds and NEX cameras. Includes hood and soft case.

Cons Lacks image stabilization. Bottom Line The Sigma 60mm F2.8 DN is the largest and most expensive mirrorless lens in the company's lineup. It's sharp, but lacks image stabilization.

By Jim Fisher

The Sigma 60mm F2.8 DN ($239 direct) is the largest and most expensive lens that the company currently offers for mirrorless cameras, but it's still fairly light and compact when compared with SLR glass. The prime produces a 90mm (full-frame equivalent) field of view when paired with a Sony NEX camera, and a tighter 120mm viewpoint when mounted on a Micro Four Thirds camera. It's not optically stabilized, which is a downer given its short-telephoto design, but Olympus Micro Four Thirds photographers and Panasonic GX7 owners will be fine thanks to in-body stabilization.

It measures 2.2 by 2.4 inches (HD), weighs 7.5 ounces, and sports a 46mm filter thread. Like the other lenses in the DN series, it's available in black or silver, its barrel is metal, and the focus ring has no texture to it. Your mileage may vary, but I prefer a focus ring that delivers a bit more grip. A reversible lens hood is included, as is a soft carrying case. The minimum focus distance is 19.7 inches, so it's by no means a macro lens. Micro Four Thirds shooters should look to the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f2.8 Macro if close focus is a concern.

I used Imatest to check the performance when paired with the Sony Alpha 3000. It's an impressive performer, delivering 2,342 lines per picture height at f/2.8 and virually no distortion. Edges are nearly as sharp as the center, and sharpness is even from f/2.8 through f/5.6. My only gripe is that it's not stabilized, which coupled with the f/2.8 aperture and short-telephoto field of view forces you to use a faster shutter speed to get a crisp handheld shot. It's not the only short-telephoto lens for mirrorless cameras that's impressed us; the Sony 50mm f/1.8 resolves 2,055 lines at its maximum aperture, is capable of capturing more than twice the light as the Sigma, and is optically stabilized.

The Sigma 60mm F2.8 DN is another solid entry in the company's lens catalog. It isn't stabilized, but it comes in at an attractive price point. Micro Four Thirds shooters may prefer the Olympus 60mm Macro due to its close focusing capability, but its price tag is double that of the Sigma, and many Micro Four Thirds cameras have built-in stabilization. If you're looking at the lens for a NEX system, you're better served with the Sony 50mm f/1.8. Its field of view is a little wider, but it's also quite sharp, it's stabilized, and it's not that much more expensive than the Sigma.

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