Lumix 50mm f/1.8 and Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN comparison

[Jonathan-Mac]

Having both of these lenses it makes sense to compare them against each other. While they're quite different in price they're very similar in specs and use case - a reasonably fast 50mm lens that doesn't cost the earth and isn't huge and heavy.

So far all the comparison I've done is to get a general impression of each but I hope to do some better tests over the coming weeks. In terms of sharpness wide open I'd say they're very, very similar, which is to say superb, and I don't expect to find any great differences in any aspect of performance. They are different optical designs as the front element of the Sigma is concave while the Lumix is convex.

The Sigma, being an I-series lens, is much better built with a silky-smooth manual focus ring and a nicely clicky aperture ring. I've said it before - the I-series lenses are the absolute best I've ever used in terms of haptics and feel, even better than many legacy manual lenses. The Lumix is decent enough in that regard but certainly nothing special and having to use the camera's rear wheel to change aperture (for someone who almost always uses Av) is an annoyance. The Lumix has better sealing though, which is very useful, and due to that it'll get a lot more use for certain situations (such as holidays that involve going anywhere near water, sand or rain). It's also 1/3 of a stop faster, which isn't much especially given the high ISO performance of the S5, but it's something. I still think that Sigma missed a trick by not making their 50mm f/1.8 and with a minimum focusing distance at least 10cm lower, just to make it a bit more capable.

Yesterday I put them side by side for a size comparison.


50mm comparison by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr


2023-07-06_06-55-48 by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr


50mm comparison by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

And an image of the Lumix next to my Pentax M 50mm f/1.7 which, even mounted on the adapter, is much smaller than the native lens.


Lens comparison by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

 

[pdk42]

Thanks for this. I’m looking forward to some more thoughts as you get to use them more. I have the Panasonic 50/1.8 and the Sigma 35/2 so can appreciate the difference in their physical design. I definitely prefer the feel of the Sigma, but the lack of an aperture ring on the Lumix doesn’t bother me at all, and I say that as someone who nearly always shoots in aperture priority mode. Using a dial on the camera is IMHO, much quicker and easier than a ring on the lens. So, on my Sigma, the ring stays in the “A” position.

As to IQ, I find both of them perform exceptionally well. I have zero complaints with either. The Sigma gets more use, but that‘s because I prefer the 35mm FOV.

My big complaint about Panasonic lenses is the rubber-coated rings on them. They feel cheap and are dust magnets. I also have some concerns about their long term robustness - will they eventually get loose and slip on the barrel? I may swap the Panasonic 50 for the Sigma 65 at some point.

 

[CharlesH]

So far all the comparison I've done is to get a general impression of each but I hope to do some better tests over the coming weeks.

I'm looking forward to any added tests you do. I generally like this line of Sigma lenses and have the 17mm and 20mm, and probably the 35mm is next. And I've not considered the 50mm yet.

 

[Jon Schick]

Thanks for this. I’m looking forward to some more thoughts as you get to use them more. I have the Panasonic 50/1.8 and the Sigma 35/2 so can appreciate the difference in their physical design. I definitely prefer the feel of the Sigma, but the lack of an aperture ring on the Lumix doesn’t bother me at all, and I say that as someone who nearly always shoots in aperture priority mode. Using a dial on the camera is IMHO, much quicker and easier than a ring on the lens. So, on my Sigma, the ring stays in the “A” position.

As to IQ, I find both of them perform exceptionally well. I have zero complaints with either. The Sigma gets more use, but that‘s because I prefer the 35mm FOV.

My big complaint about Panasonic lenses is the rubber-coated rings on them. They feel cheap and are dust magnets. I also have some concerns about their long term robustness - will they eventually get loose and slip on the barrel? I may swap the Panasonic 50 for the Sigma 65 at some point.

Paul I've got the 65, and like it very much. If you want to give it a try and are willing to pay the postage I'm happy to lend it out until early September when I'll need it back. Cheers, Jon

 

[pdk42]

Paul I've got the 65, and like it very much. If you want to give it a try and are willing to pay the postage I'm happy to lend it out until early September when I'll need it back. Cheers, Jon

That's exceedingly kind of you Jon, but I have very little time in my life between now and the end of the summer so I doubt I'd be able to avail myself of it. Thanks so much for your offer though! What a wonderful community we have here!

 

[inspiredtimothy]

Thanks for this. I’m looking forward to some more thoughts as you get to use them more. I have the Panasonic 50/1.8 and the Sigma 35/2 so can appreciate the difference in their physical design. I definitely prefer the feel of the Sigma, but the lack of an aperture ring on the Lumix doesn’t bother me at all, and I say that as someone who nearly always shoots in aperture priority mode. Using a dial on the camera is IMHO, much quicker and easier than a ring on the lens. So, on my Sigma, the ring stays in the “A” position.

As to IQ, I find both of them perform exceptionally well. I have zero complaints with either. The Sigma gets more use, but that‘s because I prefer the 35mm FOV.

My big complaint about Panasonic lenses is the rubber-coated rings on them. They feel cheap and are dust magnets. I also have some concerns about their long term robustness - will they eventually get loose and slip on the barrel? I may swap the Panasonic 50 for the Sigma 65 at some point.

The 65mm Sigma is an amazing performer if you like the focal length. I'm sure you would not be disappointed.

 

[inspiredtimothy]

Having both of these lenses it makes sense to compare them against each other. While they're quite different in price they're very similar in specs and use case - a reasonably fast 50mm lens that doesn't cost the earth and isn't huge and heavy.

So far all the comparison I've done is to get a general impression of each but I hope to do some better tests over the coming weeks. In terms of sharpness wide open I'd say they're very, very similar, which is to say superb, and I don't expect to find any great differences in any aspect of performance. They are different optical designs as the front element of the Sigma is concave while the Lumix is convex.

The Sigma, being an I-series lens, is much better built with a silky-smooth manual focus ring and a nicely clicky aperture ring. I've said it before - the I-series lenses are the absolute best I've ever used in terms of haptics and feel, even better than many legacy manual lenses. The Lumix is decent enough in that regard but certainly nothing special and having to use the camera's rear wheel to change aperture (for someone who almost always uses Av) is an annoyance. The Lumix has better sealing though, which is very useful, and due to that it'll get a lot more use for certain situations (such as holidays that involve going anywhere near water, sand or rain). It's also 1/3 of a stop faster, which isn't much especially given the high ISO performance of the S5, but it's something. I still think that Sigma missed a trick by not making their 50mm f/1.8 and with a minimum focusing distance at least 10cm lower, just to make it a bit more capable.

Yesterday I put them side by side for a size comparison.

View attachment 759
50mm comparison by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

View attachment 760
2023-07-06_06-55-48 by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

View attachment 761
50mm comparison by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

And an image of the Lumix next to my Pentax M 50mm f/1.7 which, even mounted on the adapter, is much smaller than the native lens.

View attachment 762
Lens comparison by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

How do you find the focus breathing on the Sigma 50mm?
That and lack of weather sealing are my biggest concerns.

I ignored it on the 65mm simply because I wanted a fast lens between 50 and 85 and almost no one else offers them, but it makes me nervous about taking it out in rain or using it at the beach, etc. For video low focus breathing especially seems to be a must if you don't want a jittery frame if the auto focus stumbles.

 

[robin0112358]

I really want to like these Sigma lenses but they are a half-way step to being distinctive. Lumix have the advantage of consistent size, lower weight, same filter ring, better weather sealing, and more controlled focus breathing. So for video use there is no competition.

The Sigma have the aperture ring, but I have no issue using a dial for that. If this could be declicked they would have something interesting.

The other way the Sigma could distinguish themselves is by being significantly smaller, like a vintage lens. But they are only slightly smaller than Lumix while often being heavier. No big win there.

As for being the best in haptics... I presume you have not used a Contax Zeiss lens? Because they trumped even my favourite Pentax lenses (despite lots of emotional and monetary investment). There is nothing like the Contax Zeiss, not even Leica. (Though my experience with the latter is limited, admittedly. I don't want to use a rangefinder and I don't wish to go broke buying a small amount of glass and glue. )

Nonetheless, I am still looking forward to your experience with these lenses.

 

[Jan.Wedekind]

I’m really glad they are so different offerings at same focal lengths (or even unique ones like the 65mm).

I also have the 35f2 Sigma and the 50mm Lumix. The Sigma is definitely sharper IMO but the rendering of the Lumix is also very nice and creamy.

Also had the 65mm but swapped it for the 50mm Lumix. Purely because a) it was too close to my beloved 85mm f1.4 and b) I wanted to try one of the Lumix primes.

At the moment I use the 50mm most. I prefer a tighter FOV but the 85 is often too long indoors.

 

[RBecker]

How do you find the focus breathing on the Sigma 50mm?
That and lack of weather sealing are my biggest concerns.

I ignored it on the 65mm simply because I wanted a fast lens between 50 and 85 and almost no one else offers them, but it makes me nervous about taking it out in rain or using it at the beach, etc. For video low focus breathing especially seems to be a must if you don't want a jittery frame if the auto focus stumbles.

I‘m no videographer, so focus breathing is absolutely nothing that bothers me.

question to the videographers out there: focus breathing is now a test part of nearly every you tube video. But how often do you really switch focus from near to far or vice versa within a video? In this case it would be visible, but I assume that situation is less than 1% of the situations. If you do typical small focus shifts, then the breathing is also smaller and less visible, maybe not even noticable. Or did I miss something?

 

[RBecker]

I own the Lumix 1.8/50, it was a no brainer buy, because a shop wanted to get rid of a sample from the shop with full guarantee. Everything works fine, optic is without flaw.
I now added the 2.8/90 from Sigma to my list. It was able to get for the same price like I had to pay for Lumix 1,8/85, so I had a choice. I like the design from Panasonic to offer all the 1.8 lenses in the same size very much, but the Sigma is smaller, a little bit more lightweight, and the feel of the body housing is much better from my opinion.
I would love to see a small 2.8/135 from Sigma in the future…

 

[CharlesH]

question to the videographers out there: focus breathing is now a test part of nearly every you tube video. But how often do you really switch focus from near to far or vice versa within a video? In this case it would be visible, but I assume that situation is less than 1% of the situations. If you do typical small focus shifts, then the breathing is also smaller and less visible, maybe not even noticable. Or did I miss something?

It is pretty typical. Imagine you are focused on a close subject, say your talent who is saying something, and you want to see the reaction of another person, so you jump the focus to that person. Focus breathing distracts from the effect.

The new Sony wide angle lenses all have excessive focus breathing. Sony addded breathing compensation to their newer cameras, but did not retrofit this to my A7SIII. I ended up selling these lenses and the A7SIII. I do still have the A1 which has the same problem, but I'm more apt to use that camera for photography.

 

[CH_CH]

It is pretty typical. Imagine you are focused on a close subject, say your talent who is saying something, and you want to see the reaction of another person, so you jump the focus to that person. Focus breathing distracts from the effect.

The new Sony wide angle lenses all have excessive focus breathing. Sony addded breathing compensation to their newer cameras, but did not retrofit this to my A7SIII. I ended up selling these lenses and the A7SIII. I do still have the A1 which has the same problem, but I'm more apt to use that camera for photography.

I can second this- this was one of the reasons for me to ditch the a73r- my best lenses for that system (primes) all breathed so much it was very distracting except for the most static of shots. For photography of course it is just a minor annoyance.
The sony solution to it is their standard recipe: crop. Not sure if losing 20% of the advantage to APSC is really what you want when you buy and use a 1.4 expensive lens. That and the crop for active stabilization- and crop in their low-res bodies... To many near-deal breakers.
Still great picture takers and the evf of the A1 makes the shooting experience such a pleasure.

 

[inspiredtimothy]

I can second this- this was one of the reasons for me to ditch the a73r- my best lenses for that system (primes) all breathed so much it was very distracting except for the most static of shots. For photography of course it is just a minor annoyance.
The sony solution to it is their standard recipe: crop. Not sure if losing 20% of the advantage to APSC is really what you want when you buy and use a 1.4 expensive lens. That and the crop for active stabilization- and crop in their low-res bodies... To many near-deal breakers.
Still great picture takers and the evf of the A1 makes the shooting experience such a pleasure.

I actually have a big issue with focus breathing for photography as well. When testing the Sony 35mm GM the focus breathing was so bad that the composition would dramatically shift when trying to focus. It was disorienting and made it difficult to just shoot normally. I would have to focus, then move because now my subjects are positioned differently in the frame, then focus again, etc. It was such a pain.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

I won't be able to do any more testing until August as I'll be on holiday and I'm taking the Lumix 50mm (for it's better sealing). Focus breathing does not concern me as I don't do video and I don't focus stack, but if I should notice any in the future then I'll try to report it.

 

[CharlesH]

Still great picture takers and the evf of the A1 makes the shooting experience such a pleasure.

PetaPixel just did an article ranking the A1 as the best photography camera in 2023. I don't think I would go that far, but it generally does a really good job. I usually prefer Lumix cameras because of ergonomics and for their video capabilities. But I use the A1 for wildlife photography because of the 30 fps frame rate and the pixel count. I've used it for whales and for brown bears.

 

[CharlesH]

I won't be able to do any more testing until August as I'll be on holiday and I'm taking the LumIix 50mm (for it's better sealing). Focus breathing does not concern me as I don't do video and I don't focus stack, but if I should notice any in the future then I'll try to report it.

I would not expect the Lumix 50mm to have a focus breathing issue. Panasonic designs lenses for both photography and video; I don't have the 50mm, but the other Lumix lenses I have are very stable during focus.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

It's not a scientific test by any means but a couple of days ago I was using the Sigma to take photos of my older daughter while she was on her scooter, something I've done before with the Lumix (and also with the Sigma 90/2.8) and I found I had fewer in-focus shots than I had come to expect from the Lumix. Maybe I could test this more rigourously but it's probably an illustration of how much better the Panasonic lenses are designed for AF-C. I rarely use AF-C but it's something to bear in mind.

 

[inspiredtimothy]

It's not a scientific test by any means but a couple of days ago I was using the Sigma to take photos of my older daughter while she was on her scooter, something I've done before with the Lumix (and also with the Sigma 90/2.8) and I found I had fewer in-focus shots than I had come to expect from the Lumix. Maybe I could test this more rigourously but it's probably an illustration of how much better the Panasonic lenses are designed for AF-C. I rarely use AF-C but it's something to bear in mind.

What body do you shoot with?

 

[jomppak]

It's not a scientific test by any means but a couple of days ago I was using the Sigma to take photos of my older daughter while she was on her scooter, something I've done before with the Lumix (and also with the Sigma 90/2.8) and I found I had fewer in-focus shots than I had come to expect from the Lumix. Maybe I could test this more rigourously but it's probably an illustration of how much better the Panasonic lenses are designed for AF-C. I rarely use AF-C but it's something to bear in mind.

I suppose Sigmas with S5M2 are (almost) as good as Lumix lenses. However, the difference with S5 was significant.