EPL-1 and Sigma 19mm f2.8

[FredS]

I thought I would gamble on a Sigma 19mm f2.8 for my EPL-1
$ 200.00 is no big loss
I got it last night and have done only indoor shots so far
Its windy and - 16° C outside and I am a whimp.
Outdoor testing will have to wait for a nicer day

The reviews say it Fast and Sharp.
I can speak for the AF. This things AF is VERRRRY fast
All f4.0 ISO 200 and flash
Right out of the EPL-1 except for re sizeing and cropping last shot

[Steven R]

Looks like you have a little gem of a bargain there, Fred.

[drew881]

You mean 150.00 no?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=&O=&A=details

[FredS]

Hey Steven. Yes, So far so Good.

Originally Posted by drew881

You mean 150.00 no?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=&O=&A=details

No $ 200.00 in Canada
I could have ordered from the US, but after shipping costs + duty
for a few bucks more I had it right away.

[drew881]

Yeah, didn't look at location.

[ramcewan]

FredS - looks good and sharp so far - would be interested to see something wide open and w/o flash to see how it does for bokeh

can't wait to see more from it!

[FredS]

Originally Posted by ramcewan

FredS - looks good and sharp so far - would be interested to see something wide open and w/o flash to see how it does for bokeh

can't wait to see more from it!

Here are some indoor shots at f2.8 ISO 800 shutter 1/30 to 1/60 No Flash
I will try some wide open out door this weekend. It 5:00 pm and already dark out side
As you can see the bokeh sucks

[ramcewan]

Fred,

I wouldn't say the bokeh sucks... it's just not very strong in it's ability to blur the background as a faster lens would be.

Looking forward to seeing more from it, I think the dog shot is pretty good.

[Greg Chappell]

Same comments here as ramcewan. f2.8 just isn't going to produce much in terms of out of focus blur at a 38mm equivalent field of view. You'd need f2 or faster.

As non-pancake primes with modest (bordering on slow for short primes like these) f2.8 apertures, the 19 and 30mm Sigma's are solid lenses optically. Better than kit zooms but they don't have that little extra a faster prime would provide. Of course, they also don't cost what faster primes would cost either, which is their biggest selling point.

[ramcewan]

Originally Posted by Greg Chappell

Same comments here as ramcewan. f2.8 just isn't going to produce much in terms of out of focus blur at a 38mm equivalent field of view. You'd need f2 or faster.

As non-pancake primes with modest (bordering on slow for short primes like these) f2.8 apertures, the 19 and 30mm Sigma's are solid lenses optically. Better than kit zooms but they don't have that little extra a faster prime would provide. Of course, they also don't cost what faster primes would cost either, which is their biggest selling point.

Greg I think you hit a valid point, for a short focal length f2.8 simply isn't fast enough to produce a great deal of blur aka bokeh outside the focal plain.

Makes me wonder about the new Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 zoom. I am reading about more and more professional event photographers who are opting for an OM-D or two along with the Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 and the Panasonic 35-100mm f2.8. I think it is great that these lenses now exist as they do allow professionals an option for a relatively fast zoom in the most useful focal length (24-70mm and 70-200mm equivalents). I am guessing bokeh isn't much of a concern for them in the lower range and when you get to the 35-100mm range f2.8 is fast enough when combined with telephoto effects to produce useful blur for portrait type shots.

I keep thinking long term I'd like to upgrade to an OM-D and the 12-35mm in place of a bunch of primes, but discussions like this make me think I might not find f2.8 fast enough.