Sigma 19mm f2.8 - Another Look

Despite being extremely cheap for a wide angle lens, with auto focus to boot, the Sigma 19mm f2.8 for Sony E-Mount has garnered some good reviews from its users. I fully understand there are some with clear distaste for Sigma lenses, and Michael from Austria comes to mind :)  Seriously, Sigma is winning me over with their new company direction. Excellent optics at very reasonable prices. What's not to like?

Sometimes I forget that my camera is capable of auto focus, because I use mostly manual focus lenses on it. It's a nice surprise once in a while I shoot with a lens that focus itself. No need to worry about checking focus; even a slight focus error for this lens would not cause too much concern, as the the lens of such wide angle has lots of depth of field to cover minor focus errors. The aperture is set on f8 or f9 and I just composed and shot. It's not as sharp at the corners as the 30mm f2.8 but good enough for me. I have decided not to complain or even mind about the slightly softer corner, given it's low price, compactness and light weight. I just want to enjoy it, and make pictures with it.

I visited Canada's Sugar Beach today. It's a little oasis in the city. Sugar Beach is a small man made beach, converted from a parking lot. Its name was derived from the next door Red Path sugar refinery. There are beach umbrellas and beach chairs available for anyone to sit and enjoy. I intend to take advantage of it in the coming months when the weather is hot, I would spend half hour of my lunch there to soak up some sun and Vitamin D as byproduct :) It's only a few minutes away from my work.

Relaxing in the sun - Sony NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8 @ f9. Click for larger.

Beautiful path along the lake - Sony NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8 @ f9. Click for larger.

The Corus Building - Sony NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8 @ f9. Click for larger.

Sugar Beach - Sony NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8 @ f9. Click for larger.

Note Red Path sugar refinery in background - Sony NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8 @ f9. Click for larger.

Downtown Toronto - Sony NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8 @ f9

Sigma E-Mount 19mm f2.8 - Photo Set

The Sigma 19mm f2.8 is a versatile lens. With an equivalent focal length of 28.5mm on the NEX cameras, it's wide enough for most shooting situations, but not so wide that it's hard to control. I have been shooting with it in the last few days, and I quite like it. The only thing that pulls it back is its corners, when compared to the 30mm f2.8. It's not as sharp and the distortion is slightly worse. Nevertheless, this is all forgiven due tot he low price. It's a nice bargain indeed.

Yellow School Bus - NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8. Click for larger.

The (seemingly) abandoned building - NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8. Click for larger.

The Lock - NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8. Click for larger.

Old & New - NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8

Sigma E-Mount 19mm f2.8 Shoots Kensington Market

Personally, I think the Kensington Market in Toronto is a quirky, off-beat place. Many of its buildings are old and run-down, but at the same time, many more are uniquely decorated and colorful. The shops sell a variety of products from second hand bicycles to freshly grown produce with many restaurants, cafes and specialty food stores spread through out the market.  What strikes most first time visitors is the many wonky shop names and interesting painted store fronts. Definitely a great place for photos.

The lens I used for this shoot was the E-Mount Sigma 19mm f2.8. It is the sister lens of the 30mm f2.8, which I am very enamored of. Although the lens is very sharp in the center at f2.8, its corner sharpness is not as good as the 30mm f2.8, even when stopped down. At f8, the corners are acceptably sharp, but not quite up there to the level of the 30mm. The barrel distortion is also quite a bit worse as well, but miles ahead compared to the kit zoom lens at the same focal length and it's quite a bit better than the Sony E-16mm f.28 pancake. I know it's not fair to compare a very wide angle (19mm) to a mini wide (30mm). The design is different. The wider the lens, the more challenges the designers must overcome to achieve a balance of cost vs quality; both material and optical. At $99, it's a very good deal.

Kensington - NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8. Click for larger.

Truck & the run-down house/shop - NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8. Click for larger.

What colors - NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8. Click for larger.

One of the many "painted houses" - NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8. Click for larger.

Bistro - NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8. 

G.A.S Attack

The Sigma twin lens deal has been going on for a couple of weeks now. Two Sigma lenses, the 19mm f2.8 and 30mm f2.8 lenses for $199 at B&H. The stock went out pretty quick and it was back ordered until the 28th of January. I was not going to buy them, but fellow blogger lucindale emailed me about it. As I said, I am weak when it comes to lenses. The email just pushed me over the edge. The lenses arrived yesterday.

I was excited. There are a lot of good things being said about these Sigma lenses. On my way home from picking up the lenses, I put on the 19mm f2.8, and shot a few frames. The very first frame is what you see here. I am happy I bought them. It's optically excellent, albeit a bit slow with an f2.8 maximum aperture.

One thing almost gave me a heart attack was the noise from these lenses. I didn't notice it when I put on the 19mm, but when I got home, as soon as I took the 30mm f2.8 out of the box, I heard something moving inside. Not just a small sound, but it feels and sounds like a large part is loose inside the lens. I was swearing inside, thinking the lens had to be returned. Quickly I put on the 30mm and tried it on the NEX-6. Not a problem at all. Focused fine, picture is razor sharp at f2.8. Then I lightly shook the 19mm and sure enough, it makes the same noise as the other lens. The noise is very disconcerting. A quick search indicates that the noise comes from the linear motor; when no power is applied, some of the lens elements float. Phew!

Curiously, the 19mm f2.8 comes with a lens hood, but not the 30mm f2.8. This is very unusual. The normal Sigma way of doing business is that every lens, regardless of how cheap, comes with caps, hood, and a nicely patted lens case. This puts certain lens maker to shame; unless you pay a premium for lenses that have a red ring, no hood and lens case for you!

Jimmy Simpson Park - NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8 wide open.