Zuiko ED 50mm Vs. Sigma 105mm

[Jerolin]

Hey everyone!

First off, sorry if I posted this in the wrong area, please feel free to move it and scold me haha

I'm looking for a good solid macro lens for my Olympus e-450. I'm sort of torn between the Zuiko ED 50mm: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_se...p?product=1327

or

The Sigma 105mm:
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/len...53&navigator=5

If anyone has any advice or thoughts or experience with either or both, it would be much appreciated!

Thanks!
James

[Hards80]

Well it kind of depends. The 50mm (100mm equivalent on 4/3) is probably more versatile if you plan to use it for other purposes (general use fast prime, portraits, etc). and works nicely as a macro for objects that are inanimate.

The sigma 105mm will give you alot more working distance for bugs/butterflies/etc that could get spooked by a camera up in their face. the 210 equiv focal length will be pretty tight to use as a portrait or general prime and the macro lens would not really focus fast enough to use an action medium tele.

[Jerolin]

Ah, ok thanks for the input, that all makes good sense to me. I think the 50mm would be better suited for my needs. It would be nice to get both eventually though.

Thanks!

[Hards80]

Originally Posted by Jerolin

Ah, ok thanks for the input, that all makes good sense to me. I think the 50mm would be better suited for my needs. It would be nice to get both eventually though.

Thanks!

yea, that 50mm zuiko is a great lens. very very good optics. it lacks a high speed motor, but, for a general prime /portrait/ still macro, that won't matter.

enjoy.

[tkurkowski]

Zuiko aficionados regard the 50mm as the sharpest lens in the Oly digital catalog. But some users note, and my experience when I used it confirms, that it focuses very slowly and its focusing can be exasperating. Since I find zooms more practical for my work, I sold it to get the Oly SHG f/2 zooms.

Nevertheless, as Hards80 says, it depends on what you want to do. I'm only posting this because the aficionados tend not to note its focusing shortcomings. Sharp, yes. Easily useable? Depends...

Ted

[Jerolin]

While I love my Evolt, it seems as though the two Zuiko Lenses I have already are both pretty slow to focus.

It makes me wonder if it's a problem that Zuikos these days have.

[fldspringer]

An outstanding lens optically. It stands up well to the EC-14 teleconverter, a Canon 250D closeup lens, and stopping down to some pretty high levels.

I find it hard, personally, to get wound up about Sigma. I've just never been disappointed in Zuikos.

All with E-3/EC-14/Canon 250D close up lens.

at f20


at f16 a full height square crop.



another at f20








Greg

[Hards80]

those are impressive fld.

[Jerolin]

Extremely impressive shots, further cementing my decision. I'm probably going to pick one up next Friday.

In time it would be nice to get some of the add-ons that fld mentioned as well. Very, very nice results.