A greatly overlooked portrait lens...

I recently had a huge group portrait booked (215 people) and had decided that I would shoot it as a multi-exposure stitched panorama, and that I would do vertical shots using a 30mm focal length. My 12-40mm was off at Oly service being repaired, so I was going to use my Pany 12-35mm lens @ 30mm.

One evening I got to 'window shopping' on the KEH website and saw that they had a Sigma 30mm f/2.8 rated in 'Like New, Minus' condition with lens caps and padded lens case for $133. After quickly looking at a few reviews, I ordered the lens thinking it would be perfect for my upcoming group pano.

When the Sigma arrived it looked like it had never been out of its case. I was amazed at how small and light the lens was, and did a few test shots which really impressed me. The funny thing is that the lens is so small and 'toy' like that I decided to stick with my Pany for the group photo after all.

I broke out the Sigma yesterday and did a couple requisite portrait shots of my cat and dog. I am very impressed with the optical quality of this lens -- especially given the price it can be had for. I can see that this will be a great portrait lens for couples, small families, or even a full length individual portrait. It's like a baby Oly 45mm, only a hint slower optically.

Anyway, here are a couple of the shots I did yesterday. I think it is a much overlooked lens option.

A square crop of our little kitty, Max.

I know the background is cluttered -- I need to straighten up my studio.

daddyo wrote:

I recently had a huge group portrait booked (215 people) and had decided that I would shoot it as a multi-exposure stitched panorama, and that I would do vertical shots using a 30mm focal length. My 12-40mm was off at Oly service being repaired, so I was going to use my Pany 12-35mm lens @ 30mm.

One evening I got to 'window shopping' on the KEH website and saw that they had a Sigma 30mm f/2.8 rated in 'Like New, Minus' condition with lens caps and padded lens case for $133. After quickly looking at a few reviews, I ordered the lens thinking it would be perfect for my upcoming group pano.

When the Sigma arrived it looked like it had never been out of its case. I was amazed at how small and light the lens was, and did a few test shots which really impressed me. The funny thing is that the lens is so small and 'toy' like that I decided to stick with my Pany for the group photo after all.

I broke out the Sigma yesterday and did a couple requisite portrait shots of my cat and dog. I am very impressed with the optical quality of this lens -- especially given the price it can be had for. I can see that this will be a great portrait lens for couples, small families, or even a full length individual portrait. It's like a baby Oly 45mm, only a hint slower optically.

Anyway, here are a couple of the shots I did yesterday. I think it is a much overlooked lens option.

I've read a lot of good comments & reviews of the Sigmas. But, I can never get interested in them because they're just f2.8, and I switch from zooms to primes for light gathering more than sharpness. In fact, I'm hoping we'll see more f1.4 MFT primes. Like you, I shoot in low light at events a lot.

Still, you've demonstrated a good use for that lens, and as I'm not a shallow-DoF aficionado in my portraiture, I'll keep it in mind for those times when my 45mm is too long.

If you like the 30mm, you'll really, really like the 60mm. In my opinion, it's the best of the three by a ways - I have all three. If you buy it new, you get a four year warranty (in US), plus case and hood. I actually sold an Oly 75mm because I found myself using the Sigma more. All three Sigmas are good for video, too.

I don't mind the 2.8; in fact, on my E-M5M2 the IBIS takes care of any lighting issue. However, the Sigmas, like all of my primes, have been used on a GH3 as well. I still retain an Oly 45mm for between the 30 and 60 situations. We in the m4/3 world are lucky that we have such good, affordable lenses available.

I've just picked up one of the new "Art" versions of the 30mm as a general walk-around lens for my GM5.

Very similar size to the 15mm PL:

I tried to love the 12-32mm kit lens, but found myself either using it at 12-15mm and wishing it was faster or using it at 32mm and wishing it was slightly longer.

As I own both the 15mm f1.7 PL and the 35-100mm f4-f5.6, it made no sense to me to use the 12-32mm this way and BGAS (Budget Gear Acqusition Syndrome) got the better of me.

Am very much looking forward to using the little Sigma over the next few days.

Actually, as I mentioned, my only excuse for buying this lens was the idea that I could would use it for my large indoor group pano. But once I received it, the lens is so small and has such a small front element that it looks like something on a Fisher-Price camera. Below is a photo of me holding this little puppy in my hand for size perspective.

Much like the Oly ZD 35mm macro, I'm amazed that Sigma was able to get f/2.8 speed and optical sharpness out of such a small, lightweight lens.

I too am not a super thin shallow DOF person and find that for 99.9% of my clients they are much more interested in seeing their entire face in focus than just their eyes. In regard to low light, I don't seem to have problems with shooting at f/2.8 at a higher ISO to capture what I need to. The images I posted in this thread were both shot in very low light at ISO 1600 and noise is extremely minimal -- I have no problem shooting at ISO 6400, and I don't encounter situations where I can't use flash and the light levels are just too low -- at least for a 'must have' shot.

BTW, I used my Pany 12-35mm @ 30mm for the group pano, which came out great I'm happy to report.

I suspect you will be quite please that you gave in to your BGAS urges.:-)

Mine is the older ribbed rubber focus ring version -- but the same lens. It sure doesn't take up much camera bag real estate, nor add much weight.

Greg,

Good to know. You're one of the voices of reason & experience around here, so when you say something's good, I pay attention. Still think I'd rather have faster primes, as I turn to them as low-light alternatives to my f2.8 zooms, but the Sigmas are now on my radar. Thanks.

The lens that's at the top of my wish list right now is a 17mm f1.4 with OIS. My Panny 20 is my current go-to lens for wide-ish dimly lit audience shots, and the lack of OIS means I'm always wrestling with whether to put it or my Oly 45 on the GX7 for IBIS, which somewhat reduces the utility of my G6. A Panny 42.5/1.7 with OIS is on my horizon as a replacement for the Oly 45 for this reason.

I'd love to see more of your work. Whaddya say we petition DPR to make a forum for event photography?

I love my 30 Sigma (art) for portraits and general use...I am not so pleased however with the bokeh when doing stuff like flowers. I find it a little harsh.

Here's a simple shot with no PP

I have this lens built into the Sigma DP2-Merrill and its capability is way beyond anything Micro 4/3 can dish up - it outresolves the DP2M even which is almost Nikon D810 level resolution (a D810 with a very sharp prime on at that) ............

so that 30mm Sigma will be still suprising you long after 16Mp M43 sensors are dead and buried - there`s no way you can compare the performance of the long end of a Panny 12-35 and definitely not the Oly 12-40 all at F2.8 to it

Actually, I like the idea of an Event Photography Forum. It would be a great way to share techniques, discuss problems, lighting, gear, etc. -- as well as share some images.

Are you sure it's the same lens that's on the Merrill? I read in a couple of places, and I'm thinking one of the sources was Sigma, that it's not the same lens. Sorry that I don't remember where and can't cite any sources. Seems that the lens on the camera was better.

Note: I have the m4/3 lens as well as the DP2M camera. Enjoy both.

Hi

I love that cat photo regarless of the lens used. Very striking. Great portrait!

Are you sure it's the same lens that's on the Merrill? I read in a couple of places, and I'm thinking one of the sources was Sigma, that it's not the same lens. Sorry that I don't remember where and can't cite any sources. Seems that the lens on the camera was better.

I was lead to believe it was - and it`d make perfect sense, it was designed for an APS-C sensor which the Merrill one is so to not to use it would be logical and costly - the 19mm on the DP1M  is soft at the edges too like the 19mm prime is on APS-C

As per above, the Sigma lenses are great, they're sharp, and they do a good job. As a prime shooter I can't get interested in them either though as they're only F/2.8 lenses which is not why I shoot with primes.

I shoot with primes on micro four thirds, to recover the disadvantage from other standards such as APS-C and full frame. Anything that doesn't give me the equivalence of at least F/4 doesn't really do it for me with primes and I've got almost the full kit of slow Olympus zooms.