Sigma 19mm f/2.8 review posted

Photozone has posted their review for the Sigma AF 19mm f/2.8 Ex DN Sony E mount lens.

http://www.photozone.de/sony_nex/786-sigma19f28nex

Ed

• "The Sigma AF 19mm f/2.8 EX DN has certainly an edge over its obvious competitor - the Sony E 16mm f/2.8 - so if you are feeling an itch for compact primes it may be a reason to go for it. Price/performance-wise it is just an average offering though."

What are the prices for this lens in Germany? For a $100 (discounted) lens here, the p/p is superb!

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Cheers,
Henry

I wonder if CA factors into his MTF ratings. While the 19 certainly isn't fantastic on the borders (particularly with field curvature) I think it's quite a bit better than those charts suggest. But the CA is pretty strong, and I can see that affecting the final results.

Results look somewhat disappointing, but there are no comparable tests (i.e. same lab, sensor, etc.) for alternatives, such as legacy lenses. I've tried several legacy SLR FF 24mm lenses, and all had the same problem as this Sigma: decent central sharpness and significant falloff at the edges.

The Sigma performed better than the 18-55 kit lens could at 18mm. Far better.

We don't get such great discounted prices in Europe. Here in the UK, the cheapest one I've found is £100. I wish I could buy it for $100!

I'm probably splitting hairs here, but the kit lens is marginally better at 19 mm than 18 mm!

I have noticed that CA can be bad at the edges on my Sigma 19 mm f2.8 EX DN, however I am happy with it most of the time.

This review could be confusing as it has tested the EX DN that has been out for about 18 months and it discusses the yet to be released 'A' series lens, placing photos of the new lens above the spec table.  It is not clear which lens this table refers to.
". They seem to be assuming the performance of a lens without testing it.the optical design remains unchanged so our findings will also be valid for the mk "II"...They state "... 

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TonyC

From what I hear on this forum, it does appear in general you do have to pay more for your gear in Germany and the UK.  I paid $199 for my Sigma 30mm, and $150 for the 19mm. I didn't get them for the bargain price of $199 for the pair, but after using them, I feel they were still a bargain for the $350 I paid. The 30mm is on my Nex-7 most of the time. Not counting the exchange rate between the Dollar, Pound, and Euro, I don't understand the sometime big difference in what we are charged in the US compared to Europe. As an amateur astronomer, I also see a big difference in the European prices of telescope equipment. But as I said, if I had paid $199 for the Sigma 19mm, I would still be happy with it.

Ed

Yes, this price difference applies to everything really ( electronics, cars, clothes etc ) and we don't earn here more than you. It sucks! 

It is also worth pointing out that even though the corners look bad on the 19mm, they are still fairly high resolution, and I think some of this could have to do with the NEX 7 sensor as well.

Edit: To me it looks like the NEX 7 sensor belongs in an SLR, and the NEX 5n sensor in the NEX series cameras.  Looking on PZ the adapted 16-50mm f/2.8 zoom is pretty good on the corners on the 7.

I think the lens is very good overall for this class of lens. It is definitely better than most old manual focus 20mm f/2.8 lenses; by a long shot in the corners, at least below f/8 or so.

Eric

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Still, a very nice lens. Had mine for a year, now. There have been no reported failures that I have seen, unlike the Sigma 30.

Now they have confirmed that the more-expensive replacement, the ART lens will have the identical optics. But it may not have any manual focus capability.

I have the same problem with my NEX7 and Sigma 19, decent center but poor edge, I think that's more of a NEX7 sensor problem than the lens problem, the NEX7 is just not very "wide angle friendly", I have also tried mounting some known good WA SLR lenses such as my Samyang14, TSE 17, Zeiss 21 Distagon..... on it and experienced the similar issue. However, I totally agree with the review, it's still way better than the Sony E 16mm, but then that's not a fair comparison as one only goes to 19 and one goes to 16mm. Despite all that it still a very good value lens consider the price.

I've seen this hint that manual focus may not be on the new lenses, but I think it fear-mongering.  Sigma's own text is specific: "They [the new DN e-mount lenses] also boast metal exteriors and a simply shaped focus ring, with varying textures to distinguish each part of the lens."  I cannot imagine the purpose of a 'focus ring', shaped or otherwise, except to manually focus ...
Cheers,
GB

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*EDIT* I take all that back... like dude said, this performs way better than the stock lens. Damn near double the MTF-50 across the frame, not much worse falloff, distortion or CA. Functionally prob better than a really good old MF though I really do wish they could make these faster. Maybe I will save my pennies for the CZ 24 F/2

no comparable tests?   dphotojournal.com

http://www.dphotojournal.com/sigma-19mm-f2-8-ex-dn-reviews-sample-images/

Note: tests on m43 examples are often better than with APSC .

Sigma 19mm F2.8 EX DN Reviews

Photographyblog reviews the Sigma 19mm F2.8 EX DN and writes;
“For this test, the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN lens was attached to a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 body, which in turn was mounted on a sturdy tripod. Exposure delay mode was activated. Tonal and colour variances across the crops are due to changes in natural light during the session. Centre sharpness remains high through from f4 to f/11, with f/16 and f/22 being adversely affected by diffraction. The edges aren’t nearly as sharp as the centre, with f11 producing the sharpest results.”
Rating:

Ephotozine reviews the Sigma 19mm F2.8 EX DN and writes;
“This compact lens should make an ideal addition to any Micro Four Thirds or Sony NEX camera kit. Its light weight, compact size and excellent optical performance are complimented by fast auto focus speeds and good build quality. With the price sitting at around £170, this lens represents excellent value for money also.”
Rating:

SLRLensReview reviews the Sigma 19mm F2.8 EX DN and writes;
“As a new entrant into the NEX market segment, Sigma is certainly doing quite well. Sigma 19/2.8 EX DN is the company’s second solid offering (the first one was 30/2.8 EX DN) for this system… Sigma 19/2.8 does a lot of things right – price, resolution, color are all things that, while not absolutely remarkable, are done right in this lens.”
rating: N/A

Lenstip reviews the Sigma 19mm F2.8 EX DN and writes;
“..On the other hand you get a wide-angle EX series lens at a quite affordable price which can provide sharp images across the aperture range and for most of the frame. What’s more, this lens is optically better and cheaper than such instruments as the Olympus 2.8/17 or the Sony 2.8/16 – from such a perspective it would be difficult to complain.”
rating: N/A

SLRGear reviews the Sigma 19mm F2.8 EX DN and writes;
“Mounted on the Panasonic GX-1 m4/3 camera, the lens produces excellently sharp images even wide open at ƒ/2.8. There’s just a hint of corner softness at ƒ/2.8, but even this is all but eliminated by just stopping down to ƒ/4. Stopping down to ƒ/5.6 technically provides more sharpness, but you’d only notice it looking very closely at a test chart.”
Rating:

Really? I briefly tried a Samyang 14 on my NEX-7 and the results were pretty much the same sharpness-wise as samples I've seen on other APS-C cameras. And the Zeiss surprises me too, as not only is it a legendary lens, but it's an SLR lens as well and shouldn't really pose a problem. Unless you're talking about the M version? I wonder if the 24 megapixels have as much to do with this particular issue as the lack of microlenses...

I did try an OM 24/2.8 on my NEX-7 for a while and found border performance to be pretty dismal...but I mounted it on a Canon 5D2 and got identical results. Awful field curvature on that lens, or at least my copy.

Yes, but the 18-55mm is quite good at 24mm, where I like to use it. I would consider the 19mm i I thought it was significantly better than affordable alternatives in the 18-28mm FL range (I don't consider the Zeiss 24 E-mount affordable). Incidentally, it's odd that Photozone hasn't tested the Zeiss; I'd like to see how it compares with the Sigmas.

No, I meant comparable tests of competing lenses, not of the Sigma 19mm. I.e. I would like to see tests of the Zeiss 24 or some legacy ultrawides (or modern MF ones), done under the same test conditions as the Sigma.

That's something that confuses me. I can't see any "varying" textures. It looks as if the outside of the lens barrel consists of two identically smooth metal rings.

If the optics are unchanged, as claimed by Photozone, I see no reason to buy the new lenses when the old ones are available at bargain prices. I have no objection to good quality plastic.

Actually, if you look at the released photos of the lenses it does appear that the 'forward' ring -- presumably the focus ring -- has a different texture than the rear ring.  Not ribbed, but maybe not as slick as the rear ring. 
As for whether the value proposition is as compelling, you may well be right -- but if the manual focus binding issue is entirely resolved, many will be more interested I'd imagine.
Cheers,
GB

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