Just bought this lens, the newer DG version (not DG DN).
- The ultra smooth background bokeh is just amazing, maybe second only to the Sony 100mm STF.
- Sharpness at infinity is suprisingly good, even at f2.8
- Between 1.5 and 2.5 meters the amazing bokeh really kicks in. If you feel it is too much, just go to f3.5 or f4 and the glow disappears and the lens is sharp at these distances as well.
- The magnetic cap is really nice.
Suprisingly I had much less focusing issues with AFC, than I anticipated (after several other posts in this thread claiming a problem). Possibly there have been some tweaks when this lens was reissued as DG (non DN). Since I do not have both lenses (DG and DG DN), I cannot make a definitive statement, but at least with the lens I have, it is not a major problem. Possibly using this lens on one of the latest bodies (Sony A1) mitigates the issue.
The lens has definitely become my favorite „normal“ lens.
Such great built quality and it is so small and light, a gem.
Knut. wrote:
Just bought this lens, the newer DG version (not DG DN).
- The ultra smooth background bokeh is just amazing, maybe second only to the Sony 100mm STF.
- Sharpness at infinity is suprisingly good, even at f2.8
- Between 1.5 and 2.5 meters the amazing bokeh really kicks in. If you feel it is too much, just go to f3.5 or f4 and the glow disappears and the lens is sharp at these distances as well.
- The magnetic cap is really nice.
Suprisingly I had much less focusing issues with AFC, than I anticipated (after several other posts in this thread claiming a problem). Possibly there have been some tweaks when this lens was reissued as DG (non DN). Since I do not have both lenses (DG and DG DN), I cannot make a definitive statement, but at least with the lens I have, it is not a major problem. Possibly using this lens on one of the latest bodies (Sony A1) mitigates the issue.
The lens has definitely become my favorite „normal“ lens.
Such great built quality and it is so small and light, a gem....Show more →
It is a wonderful lens, my most used from among a wide selelction. My experience is that it has excellent AF-C when used with any camera generation from the A7RIII and the A9 on. I think many of the complaints may have to do with older cameras.
chiron wrote:
It is a wonderful lens, my most used from among a wide selelction. My experience is that it has excellent AF-C when used with any camera generation from the A7RIII and the A9 on. I think many of the complaints may have to do with older cameras.
I wish I could say the same. Out of all my lenses in various mounts, this is the one I feel a bit of guilt over.
I simply don't use it much. I almost always end up going with a CV or Loxia over it.
But getting rid of it is unthinkable. Such a unique and special lens.
Knut. wrote:
- The ultra smooth background bokeh is just amazing, maybe second only to the Sony 100mm STF.
High praise, although I have to give the edge to the STF (I own both). However, the the DG DN has troubled focus ability, to the point that I now prefer the Viltrox 50 Air that is smaller, faster, and never misses focus. Sometimes one has to actually get the shot.
rico wrote:
High praise, although I have to give the edge to the STF (I own both). However, the the DG DN has troubled focus ability, to the point that I now prefer the Viltrox 50 Air that is smaller, faster, and never misses focus. Sometimes one has to actually get the shot.
Have you tried to update the lens firmware? On my A7IV I have no issue with AF-S mode.
Should have been yes. That would be amazing. But the lens would have been bigger and the compact form factor was the main Sigma's concern when creating this lens ; the rendering is what it is because they wanted to keep it small.
chiron wrote:
It is a wonderful lens, my most used from among a wide selelction. My experience is that it has excellent AF-C when used with any camera generation from the A7RIII and the A9 on. I think many of the complaints may have to do with older cameras.
May have been the copy I had but I found that on the A9, as on my current A7Cii, it would consistently backfocus near mfd. The behaviour wasn't significantly different with AF-S but admittedly even if it had I would probably not have remembered to use AF-S for one lens. I liked its IQ but found that the Sigma 28-70/2,8 was close enough, and I've not had an AF issue with it (or any other mirrorless lens that I can remember, including the Batis 40)
rico wrote:
High praise, although I have to give the edge to the STF (I own both). However, the the DG DN has troubled focus ability, to the point that I now prefer the Viltrox 50 Air that is smaller, faster, and never misses focus. Sometimes one has to actually get the shot.
Combined with the A1 the issue is not serious with the DG (non DN) lens I bought recently. I did not stumble accross it, despite being picky with focus precision. If true, that the optical calculation has not changed, it might be some tweaking of the firmware, who knows…
BTW: I mostly use the center focus field or move the selective focus field around. Maybe this mitigates the problem to the point that it is a non-issue.
I agree that the bokeh of the STF is unsurpassed. To me, as I said, the 45mm comes second.
- 21/f1.4 Voigtländer
- 45/2.8 Sigma
- 100/2.8 STF Sony
I never got the impression that 45i completely missed (well, 45/2.8 is pretty forgiving, unless you're shooting at MFD), but I still think if you examine your shots at 100%, you will see the focus is a bit flaky in AF-C...
I totally approve! The C/V looks like the UWA monster of this era. I rarely shoot that wide, so am staying with the CZ Distagon 21/2.8 C/Y which was once the world-leading UWA but its design is aging in various ways.
I bought the 45 Sigma when I got the a7rv because I didn't have any full field auto focus primes. I now find I never use it. I always default to the Voigtlander 40/1.2.
Knut. wrote:
Combined with the A1 the issue is not serious with the DG (non DN) lens I bought recently. I did not stumble accross it, despite being picky with focus precision.
I upgraded yesterday from my venerable A7ii to the A1, and focus reliability may possibly be improved. According to the camera, the lens firmware is Ver.1 so that needs attention, too.
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