Shooting with Sigma 60mm F2.8 DN Art Lens

The Sigma 60mm f2.8 DN is a lens I've heard a lot of good things for portraits.  Since I only shoot with Micro Four Thirds cameras I want a slightly longer portrait lens option.  However, this lens is discontinued by Sigma.  The only lens on eBay was from Germany.  Then I saw one at MPB Photographic for £92 shipped.  At that price it can not get any cheaper.  If I don't like it, I can sell it on eBay for virtually the same money.  I must say I do not like the focus ring as it is totally smooth!  Although I don't focus manually much.  The lens hood is very short for this focal length.and may get hold of an alternative hood in future.  Apart from that, it feels solid and well built.

The first photoshoot after receiving this lens was a is a park with Charlotte.  As it is a F2.8 lens, I shot all photos wide open at F2.8.  It was midday and I used a Godox flash in high speed sync mode to add fill light.  Rather than writing more, I will just share the photos from the shoot.

All photos, Olympus OMD EM1 Mk2, Sigma 60mm F2.8 DN, model Charlotte Daintelle

I am very happy with the output of this lens.  The photos are sharpe and focus accurate.  Also the out of focus background is pleasing to look at.  Focus speed is not as fast (but not slow) as Olympus lenses I have.  But it is more than fast enough for portraits.  Overall, it is a great lens and I am keeping it.  For the cost you can pick it up, it is a bargain.  I almost forgot to mention, the lens rattles when powered off, but is is normal.

Lens Bokeh Tests on Panasonic GX9

My first post for a long time.  I have changed camera system completely.  I used to have Canon full frame and Micro Four Thirds.  Recently I sold all my Canon sytem.  Now I am fully converted to Micro Four Thirds using both Olympus and Panasonic cameras with a selections of Panasonic, Olympus, Zhongyi, Kamlan and adapted lenses.  The camera I use the most is the Panasonic GX9.  I started using it about a year ago and I am very happy with it.  Using this camera is a joy and I love it.  I shoot mostly portraits and I want to see the collection of lenses I have looks like for bokeh.  For the test I tried to keep the framing the similar regardless of focal length.  In Lightroom, I processed them the same way.

The lens I tested are (the Zenit Helios 44M images were added later):

1. Olympus 45mm f1.8

2. Zhongyi 25mm f0.95

3. Kamlan 50mm f1.1

4. Yashica 50mm DX f1.7 (a vintage M42 lens)

5. Yashica 50mm DX f.1.7 with Zhongyi Lens Turbo II

6. Zenit Helios 44M 58mm F2

7. Zenit Helios 44M 58mm F2 with Zhongyi Lens Turbo II

The first image is a reference image using the Olympus 45m f1.8 lens.

Olympus 45mm f1.8

Second image is from Zhongyi 25mm f0.95

Zhongyi 25mm f0.95

Third image is from Kamlan 50mm f1.1

Kamlan 50mm f1.1

Forth image from Yashica 50mm DX f1.7

Yashica 50mm DX f1.7

Fifth images is from Yashica 50mm DX f1.7 with Zhongyi Lens Turbo II

Yashica 50mm DX f1.7 with Zhongyi Lens Turbo II

Sixth image is from Zenit Helios 44M 58mm F2

Zenit Helios 44M 58mm F2

Seventh image is from Zenit Helios 44M 58mm F2 with Zhongyi Lens Turbo II

Zenit Helios 44M 58mm F2 with Zhongyi Lens Turbo II

Conclusions

Out of these photos I will say the Yashica lens has very low contrast and sharpness.  It was by far the worse.  The Lens Turbo don't think made much difference.  I think the lens is so poor it was on a loosing battle.  It did made the image brighter and wider though.

The Zhongyi 25mm has some distortion, but in terms of bokeh, it was better than the Olympus 45mm.  Even with the distortion, it is a lens I use a lot and enjoy using it.  You just need to know it's short coming.

Images from Zenit Helios 44M 58mm f2 is much better than the Yashica lens here.  The Lens Turbo deginitely degarded the photo quality.  I would class this lens behind the Kamlan and Zhonyi lenses.  Bokeh is nothing to write home about.  However, I need to test outdoor to experience the famous swirly bokeh to compare.

For bokeh, I will say the Kamlan is better but the Olympus is not far behind.  The Olympus lens is by far the better overall package. It has fast auto focus, good contrast and very little distortion.  For everyday use, take the Olympus 45mm f1.8.  But if you want to create something different and have the time, use the Kamlan or Zhonyi.

What did this excerise showed me?  Vintage lens is all good and fun but they are not sharp and do no perform better than native MFT lens.  The price of the Olympus 45mm f1.8 lens is quite low now and it is definitely the lens to get for portraits.  Then have fun with adapted lens if you want.