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 p.21 #11 · Sigma 45mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary Review | |
darrellc wrote:
Hi Michael! Miss you on the Sony Forum, so I do follow your work from time to time on the other forums.
If you’ve time, what’s your summary characterization of differences between the Sigma 45 and 58G (other than the obvious like construction and max aperture)... I’m more interested in your take on qualitative differences between them.
I’m in search of some 58G magic in native Sony mount... love the images from that lens and not keen on picking up a Z6/7 on the cheap used just for this lens.
Hi, Darrellc, Thank you for thinking of me  As you can see I really like this little sigma and can clearly see sigma's design effort. The limitation of this lens obviously is f2.8. However, the bokeh is really not just quantity but quality. At close range, this lens give a special glowing around focus plain, and background is very smooth without any stress on corner or double edge. The highlight of this little lens is CA control, maybe it is due to f2.8, it is surprisingly good. It is build at very high quality with aperture ring,(Though, TBH, I never use aperture ring on auto lens) with hood on, it is a serious good looking glass.
If there is any drawback, It is a sharp lens but seems don't have the same bite at small aperture as my other best 50mm lenses, but really, with help from sharpening, there is negligible difference.
As for 58G, it is really qualify as a bokeh king, I can't think of any lens can be rated in front of it in term of bokeh even classic ones. (maybe old medium format ones) At close distance, sigma 45mm's rendering instantly remind me of 58G. My relationship with 58G is growing, like this sigma, focus with PDAF is tricky with this lens, so even with D850, its AF results is not consistent. NO PDAF can deal with this kind of lenses, their SA screw phase detection up. (That is why I have doubt either Sony or Sigma can fix this 45mm AFC issue unless Sony offer hybrid focus in AFC like Z does, though for me personally, I will be happy using it just AFS only. S1's AFC never good anyway.) On Z, it is a lot more consistent in term of focus.
For 58G, at close distance, it glow like 80lux used under same way, if you prefer more sharpness, use it at f1.6~f2.2, you still get best rendering you can hope in this focal, no f2 glass can compete. At mid to long distance, sharpness is really becoming fine even WO and you get the isolation asked for from f1.4 glass. Its biggest problem is CA, IMO. it has two ASPH elements, but no ED glass. It really should include some ED glass at this price to solve CA issue. LoCA will cause bokeh issue. For example, if you have multiple person in frame and one at back of your subject, LoCA will create a blue/green halo around your background person, this is disturbing and hard to correct.
However, at 350g, it is small for what it achieves. The rendering looks like medium format to my eyes if you know what I mean
There were a lots of talk about this lens from Nikon engineers and it won the grand prix award in lens design in Japan at that year it introduced. Even I never own one, I think 105E inherent some its characters and I personally think again it is the best 100mm~135mm bokeh ever been, however, at that focal, it just less interesting to my eyes given everything is out of focus anyway.
here is an interest read if you are looking for 58G information. I can't find Nikon engineer interview at this time.
If you like 58G, I don't think there is one for Sony unless you want try manual focus or use AF adapter.(I have serious doubt it will work well given its SA). If you are willing to stretch focal length a little bit, I think Sony 85GM is one of best Sony glasses in term of Bokeh. I always like that lens. but 58G definitely has stronger character.
And, there is one more option but again not cheap. 50mm Summilux ASPH M, up to now, this is still my favorite 50mm glass, call it perfect balance within performance, rendering and size. I like its rendering as much as 58G though I have to give nod to 58G for ultra smoothness and isolation
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This is a really special surprise for me. Only other modern offer similar to this one is 58G, with two stop fast but poorer CA performance. 
