Just traded my Sigma 16-28 for a Sigma 35/2

[Jayneboo]

Interestingly, I took three shots at 35mm and f8 with the three lenses I have that can do this focal length - 20-60, 24-105, and the Sigma 35. It was hard to tell them apart to be honest. If I had to pick a sharpness winner though it would be …. the 20-60. Strange world.

But I do think there’s a slightly different look to the Sigma lens - there’s just that little bit more pop and a “feeling” of extra definition. Pixel peeking reveals that it’s not any sharper though. Maybe this is the famed “micro contrast”?

The 20-60 performs well above it's weight if you ask me.. constantly surprises me and I have found myself leaving the 24-105 at home in it's favour.

Of the four Sigma contemporary primes I have, the 65 f/2 from wide open and on, is the sharpest, but I'm a fan of all of them , generally I'm more interested in the colour and rendering of lenses than the sharpness. I would really like Sigma to add a 135mm to the contemporary range, tried the 1.8 but it's just too hefty for me, I have a couple of 135's I can adapt but would be nice to complete the set!

 

[pdk42]

The 20-60 performs well above it's weight if you ask me.. constantly surprises me and I have found myself leaving the 24-105 at home in it's favour.

Of the four Sigma contemporary primes I have, the 65 f/2 from wide open and on, is the sharpest, but I'm a fan of all of them , generally I'm more interested in the colour and rendering of lenses than the sharpness. I would really like Sigma to add a 135mm to the contemporary range, tried the 1.8 but it's just too hefty for me, I have a couple of 135's I can adapt but would be nice to complete the set!

I have this sort of love/hate relationship with prime lenses. Of course I love their IQ, compact size, fast aperture, and I guess that sort of smug feeling that "I'm shooting with a prime" (preferably said in a Jeremy Clarkson accent). But I just really prefer the flexibility of framing that a zoom delivers. I wouldn't even consider landscape with a prime. But I do think for city walkabout and street photography that a prime can work, esp a 35mm. For portraits, I always reach for a 50mm lens - I prefer a shorter FL for people shots.

 

[huwm]

I did a similar check during a lens swap around comparing the Sigma 35 Art, 35 contemporary and the SL 24-70 at 2.8 and 5.6 I think and preferred the 'rendering' of the SL zoom to the primes
A sprinkle of Leica 'fairy dust' on what is a Sigma based zoom seems to make a difference, the cynic in me calls it confirmation bias of course
I've subsequently acquired the SL 35 asph which has had a 'dusting' too, but on a Pana base and is currently my most used lens

 

[pdk42]

I did a similar check during a lens swap around comparing the Sigma 35 Art, 35 contemporary and the SL 24-70 at 2.8 and 5.6 I think and preferred the 'rendering' of the SL zoom to the primes
A sprinkle of Leica 'fairy dust' on what is a Sigma based zoom seems to make a difference, the cynic in me calls it confirmation bias of course
I've subsequently acquired the SL 35 asph which has had a 'dusting' too, but on a Pana base and is currently my most used lens

I am a bit of a sceptic on most things (I try to avoid outright cynicism!). My observation is that the eye and skill of the photographer is 99.9% of the final result. The remaining 0.1% is probably 50/50 split between sensor and lens. But the photographer‘s interest and motivation is dependent to some degree on the gear, so maybe the gear contributes a bit more than the headline might suggest - even if it is only confirmation bias. I’m very sceptical of claims that expensive lenses make that much difference. I’ve seen a lot of very ordinary snapshots taken with $10,000 Leica lenses, and some extraordinary images taken with an iPhone.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

If you stop just about any modern lens down to f/8 then you'd be hard pressed to get a technically bad photo from it. Barring flare resistance the quality difference shows wide open or close to it but some lenses just have pixie dust in them and I think the Sigma 35/2 is one of them.

I prefer primes to zooms in general as even a constant f/2.8 zoom makes me feel restricted more than a fast 50 or 35 does, though part of that is the sheer size of zooms.

I agree that Sigma's next I-series lens should be a 135mm, preferrably f/2.8 to keep the size down. 135/2.8s are very common in legacy lenses and some of them perform extremely well even now, but I'd love to have an AF one that wasn't too big or heavy. The 90/2.8 is about the size and weight of a legacy 90/2.8 so I see no reason why a 135/2.8 couldn't be the same.

 

[kbouk]

Interestingly, I took three shots at 35mm and f8 with the three lenses I have that can do this focal length - 20-60, 24-105, and the Sigma 35. It was hard to tell them apart to be honest. If I had to pick a sharpness winner though it would be …. the 20-60. Strange world.

But I do think there’s a slightly different look to the Sigma lens - there’s just that little bit more pop and a “feeling” of extra definition. Pixel peeking reveals that it’s not any sharper though. Maybe this is the famed “micro contrast”?

What body you use Paul , S1R or S5 ?

 

[pdk42]

What body you use Paul , S1R or S5 ?

The S5. I sold the S1R - its size and weight eventually defeated me!

 

[jomppak]

I decided to trade my 16-28 (now replaced by the 14-28) for a Sigma 35 f2. I like the 35mm FOV and a nice wide prime is always a pleasure of a lens to use. The Sigma 35/2 seems to get good reviews so I thought “why not”.

I'm just contemplating between those lenses. After returning TTArtisan, I don't have UWA right now. But on the other hand, I would like to have a small prime... Difficult decisions in life...

To be honest, my GX800+20/1.7 serves very well, so maybe I just go for 14-28.

 

[Pete_W]

Just get it. Life’s too short?

GAS won!

I've just ordered the Sigma 35mm f2. I found a good deal on eBay for only AUD $677, which equates to approx GBP £360 or USD $440. It also ships with a Sandisk 64GB SD card.

 

[pdk42]

GAS won!

I've just ordered the Sigma 35mm f2. I found a good deal on eBay for only AUD $677, which equates to approx GBP £360 or USD $440. It also ships with a Sandisk 64GB SD card.

That’s a fantastic deal. I’m sure you’ll love it when it arrives.