BEST TRAVEL LENS! I LOVE the Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN!

[@TonyAndChelsea]

UPDATE: The Samyang is sharper in the corners than the Sigma; I said the wrong name. Sorry! Sigma 50mm f/2.0 DG DN ($639) for Sony E-mount & L-mount: SDP.io/S50f2 Samyang 45mm f/1.8 ($329): SDPio/S45f18 Sony 55mm f/1.8 ZA ($1,000): SDP.io/S55f18

[@RedRage2697]

Samyang link is missing a period in the middle

[@ChadWilson]

Proof that we listen to every word you say! I love the work and effort, thank you.

[@jaimeduncan6167]

Are you going to update the lightroom training book? what version covers? I really hate Adobe Colors but I had to accept that I have no option. Thanks.

[@feederbrian9457]

I appreciate you two sticking to your values and dropping Amazon affiliate links. The camera community should voice its displeasure with the demise of DPReview, and the only thing Amazon listens to is its bottom line.

[@danielknight6580]

I agree. Amazon is horrible.

[@yajt6651]

Might you have misspoken at 5:45? The Samyang seems much sharper than the Sony, especially with the text.

[@rphandler]

Zeiss Batis 40mm f2 CF, my favorite in this range. It serves as a general lens, a close up near macro, and is sharp corner to corner wide open, and is very well weather sealed. I bought it when first released and will have it forever. But it does not create aperture stars. For that I have the Voigtlander 50mm f2 Apo-Lanthar. Cleaver aperture blades produce bokeh at f/2 & f/2.8, and stars from f/4 on! Optically fantastic. Add an apochromatic magnifying filter and you have a usable macro lens. Pleasure to manually focus, compact and no sweat to add to a travel bag. Downside: no weather sealing.

[@terjed1964]

Makes sense. Build quality and "feel" matters 🙂

[@bunmeng007]

Man, if only Sigma released an apsc lens with the apertture ring

[@pk6221]

What for? all that controls are on the body. This is crazy unnecessary stuff on AF lenses.

[@schoolbus6028]

@@pk6221 the experience lol

[@pk6221]

​@@schoolbus6028 just buy fully manual lens and stop pretending ; ) I have lot of (80% of all) manual lenses and love them, but when I pick AF glass I just want it to be damn quick. Manual (on glass) aperture adjustment slow it down. That is my experience : )

[@schoolbus6028]

@@pk6221 Fair enough

[@carlosmcse]

How many times did he say BOCCA

[@thisistimmy]

I had the 65mm f/2 and the build quality is second to none for autofocus lenses. Made me happy to just go out and shoot

[@petercraven7930]

When you stack the deck like this, all you have is a Sigma infomercial. How does it compare to the nifty fifty, the 2.5 G, the 1.4 GM, and the 1.2 GM?

[@photomorti]

Got this for my Leica SL 601. Absolutely love it. Small and very sharp.

[@videosuperhighway7655]

The whole line up of that Sigma I series is amazing. They offer excellent consistency across the different focal lengths. I am using them for my L mount cameras. They render images in a say spec sheets cant seem to measure but the output is just incredible.

[@tekguyphoto]

I think the older crowd appreciates this lens more. Loved those small metal 50mm lenses like the fujinon Cant wait for the cosina 50mm Apo for the RF mount.

[@chumleyk]

Source?

[@JoshFost]

Really wish these guys would review the Sigma 40mm 1.4 Art. Seems like everyone avoids it, but it smokes all the other Sigma primes before it. I think it pretty much is on par with their newer 35 1.2.

[@ChadWilson]

At 5:47, the Samyang appears significantly crisper and precise compared to the Sigma. What am I missing?

[@fernandorangel4679]

I was confused about that too

[@sukhrajsohal1397]

Yeah Samyang looked a lot better in the corners. Maybe he just misspoke.

[@GallaghersGrub]

Not too big. Not too heavy. Very sharp. Beautiful build. It was between this and the Sony 2.5 for me. I went w Sigma, but probably would have been happy with the Sony as well.

[@mohdfirdaus9050]

Love the real talk and that’s why there’s so many controversies about your videos. That’s what made us like watching it 👍🏼

[@henryharle89]

Really liked your comment on just enjoying photgraphy for its own sake without the obsession on blurred backgrounds or razor sharp foregrounds which seems to be all the rage right now. I have a totally manual tt artisan 35mm lens that Is just a blast to play around with.

[@jamesbell8730]

Maybe I’m looking at something different but the Samyang edge pick was a lot sharper, than the Sigma?? Not saying the Sigma is bad, seems like a good travel choice.

[@HappyHubris]

I have the Sigma 65mm F2, and this series is a blast. Ridiculously sharp and pleasantly tactile.

[@FrancisJacquerye]

Love your reviews Tony & Chelsea! Any idea how it compares on L-Mount with the Sigma 45mm f/2.8 DG DN contemporary and the LUMIX s 50mm f/1.8?

[@paulasimson4939]

Great review and appreciated your love of photography. And huge respect for cutting ties with Amazon.

[@lorenzgrau1203]

I got the 90mm f2.8 out of the range and I love how the lens feels when I'm not using vintage lenses I pretty much always keep this lens on my camera. I thought about getting more lenses from this series and was very happy to get your inside on the performance of the 50mm f2.

[@Chris-ey7zy]

Beautiful rendering

[@odin1983]

Nice review, nice lens. I have Samyang 45 1.8 and very like it but have a fast moving, young childrens and sometimes AF is to slowly. Is a big difference in AF speed/accuracy for Sigma 50 f2 and Samyang 45 f1.8?

[@AndrewOzete-ui5fs]

I understand your concentration here was the experience of using the lens, but you still also did talk about things like sharpness and separation. It would’ve been interesting to hear your thoughts about it’s experience when compared to the albeit more expensive and faster 50 mm lenses you just reviewed. Where does the trade-off between experience and image quality come into play for you? I’m assuming that one of the reasons you do the lab tests is for repeatable results. I know you said you didn’t have the other 50 mm on hand, but wouldn’t the data and images from that recent test be equally applicable here? Perhaps the Yongou that you compared is familiar to many, but I’ve never heard of it. It’s almost like you compare the signature to a straw that you knew it was going to beat.

[@johnfretz1938]

Another great entry point for those Sigma Contemporary lenses is the 45mm option in that series. If someone wanted to test the waters, they really couldn't go wrong with it as used versions are going for $250 or so, and a new one is alllllmost 100 bucks less than the 50mm. IMHO it would be the perfect gateway drug into Sigma lenses if budgets are tight, especially their Contemporary line. It made me a believer in their products and I've since added a couple others to my kit.

[@AVerkhovsky]

Samyang 50mm 1.4 AFII costs about the same (actually even less in Europe right now) and is heavier by only 70g, but it's 1.4!! Sharpness is good in the center wide open. I'll take f1.4 lens with comparable IQ over f2 lens any day. Besides, I like the minimalistic and clean look and feel of Samyang more than that of Sigma, but that's personal.

[@amisgohome]

I have the Sony 55 1,8 and its fantastic, they cost new around 200 Euro more than the Sigma. Would be interesting to see a review of the 2 lenses

[@amisgohome]

actually there is a test and I can confirm the results, I think the Zeiss is a little better but also more expensive ( the weight of the Zeiss is also quite a bit lower )

[@btpaulen]

How would the FE 2.5/50G compare to this?

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Thank you for the video. Big fan of GM lenses but also love my Sigma I Series lenses in my travel kit. Have the 35/2 and 65/2 and will be very interested to compare this. Of course you can now get a 55/1.8 ZA used for about $425 which I did. Was my first Sony FE lens on my A7R. Will pre-order this to try out. When will it be shipped?

[@christofferkloster2342]

I prefer the L-series for looks, feel and portability - but I do a lot of low-light shooting (e.g. weddings). How is the performance of f2 in low light? I am completely torn between the 50mm f1.4 and this new 50mm f2...

[@villageblunder4787]

Can't wait for the RF version!

[@TonyAndChelsea]

😥

[@martyd5819]

@@TonyAndChelsea Love the $220 RF 50mm 1.8 from Adorama.

[@careylymanjones]

Unless Canon changes its policy on third-party lenses, you'll be waiting quite a while.

[@MauriceSchurink]

Looks great, tough call between this Sigma lens and the Sony 50mm 2.5 G.

[@victorchu964]

I feel like the Sony is sharper, but as someone said, he might have had a soft copy. Curious to know why he liked the sigma better.

[@Daniel_Zalman]

Tony, so it's the clicking that makes this lens worth the extra 400 bucks?

[@PhotoTrekr]

Somehow I've just discovered the i series of lenses. I've never been a big Sigma fan, preferring to stay with Sony GM primes. But, these lenses look like what I want in a lens at this time. I recently picked up the Sony 50mm 2.5 and the 24mm 2.8 which I use on my a6600. The combination makes me want to go out and shoot just to use the camera and lenses.

[@marcel9568]

Great for not being sponsored by amazon anymore! Gave you 2 thumbs up, no, 3, for that!

[@katource1]

thank Tony picking one up this week.

[@sigmaphoto]

We appreciate the love of our I Series lenses!

[@patrickniebergall]

I have the 20mm f2 from the i-series and i love it. It's just a pleasure to hold the lens in my hands. I never use the aperture ring but sometimes i turn the ring just for fun ;-) By the way, the results are great too.

[@odin1983]

Would be nice to compare AF (speed and accuracy) of these lenses and bokeh character. I have Sammyang 45 and don't know I is worth to update to Sigma (I like images from Sammy very much but intersted about AF speed and accuracy in comparison with Sigma).

[@q5rwi1]

"Loving how a lens feels in your hand" This is why I like using my Nikon Z 40mm f2. Sometimes it just feels perfect. 😊

[@JDon8110]

the takeaway is your stance on Amazon. Fully agree. Good on you both

[@alrozanski8352]

Tony excellent review, question I have the Canon Rf Eos R7 camera, What is your opinion with the converter and with the Sigma attached 0:06 ? Not familiar with the converter part just interested if any there It would be any functionality I may not have. Thanks. Any opinion in canons 50 mm ?Really enjoy your channel.

[@AnthonyGarmont]

I do a lot of concert photography and I'm torn between this lens and the new Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Lens - low light situations are obviously common at concerts and 2 or 3 extra stops of aperture I think might be worth the extra price curious what others think. I'm using a Tamron 28mm-75mm f2.8 now and I really think I need more aperture for the types of shows I'm shooting. I switched to that from the Sony "nifty 50" because the AF on that lens is not nearly fast enough in low light and was infuriating to use in most cases.

[@chumleyk]

Sigma really is finding their niche after their alliance with Leica and Panasonic. i hope they keep pushing in this direction while also staying eccentric which is also another strong point of theirs.

[@eprohoda]

how are things?. Super,breathtaking video-work! Tony,🤝

[@ken9576]

I’m very much looking forward to the Sigma Nikon Z mount lenses. End of April I heard 😊

[@calsimeth1588]

Really nice looking lens. I hope they apply the same materials and methods to other lenses in their lineup.

[@adamaj74]

Hello Tony and Chelsea. Have a great day!

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Hi. You too!

[@j.d.ensminger1710]

Loved this review. As allways

[@jonstewart9315]

I love the look of nikon 2nd generation manual lenses. I love the manual focus grip and the different colors of the numbers.

[@wakeywarrior]

The Sony F2.8 is really nice and smaller than the Sigma. I have the 27mm and that lens is lovely.

[@jean-philippeperetti8463]

Tony, I don't know if it has ever been done before but I would be curious to know what third party lens manufacturers can and can't do when they get licensed to produce lenses for cameras. What are the limits? Would you do a video on this topic?

[@retropixer]

I’m sorry if my eyes are deceiving me but at 5:48 edge sharpness test, to me Sigma is not holding up better. Am I missing something?

[@FedThePoopy]

on the sharpness tests i think you guys switched saying sigma and samyang, sigma and sony, etc!

[@PuthethuKollam]

I watch all your videos. In this video at 6’25” you showed lens flaring by marking. Since I’m not a professional I doubt whether it is called ghosting? I read somewhere that flaring is which surrounds a bright light source? Just clearing my doubt.

[@angelamaloney4871]

Now now. My Sony 50mm f1.2 is a royal pleasure. :-)

[@snibbelgaurd]

lots of respect to you guys for stopping your support for Amazon and it's monopolistic behaviour. Hopefully the closure of DPReview will get people to think about who they are giving their money.

[@keithasche]

Hey Tony, what about Sony's FE 50mm F1.8?

[@pannonianfit1582]

is there any advantages or disadvantages of making prime lens of the same focal length smaller or bigger?

[@careylymanjones]

You can get a "faster" aperature (smaller f number) if you are willing to accept a larger lens. Sigma's recently released 50mm f/1.4 DG DN lens is significantly larger and heaver (and more expensive), but is a full stop faster, giving better bokeh and low-light performance. Conversely, if you're willing to go with a smaller maximum aperture, you can have a lens that is smaller, lighter, and more congenial as a travel lens.

[@amazingbollweevil]

Keep that man away from charcoal and sketchbooks! The process is even more satisfying.

[@dwanelkemprai4983]

Can i set the infinite focus or its a focus by wire

[@DavidGBlair]

The Sony f/2.5 is much smaller, somewhat sharper, has better weather sealing. The Samyang is sharper, cheaper, lighter--but lacks an aperture ring. I've never had a problem changing aperture or focus mode in camera

[@SD_Alias]

Sigma, you have a nice set of lenses for L-Mount. Just an ergonomic camera is missing. Not the FPs. A real camera with bigger battery tilting display and better grip. Foveon sensor would be nice… ;)

[@simonfuller76]

I recently sold my Sigma Art 35 & 50 DG sony mount and got the 35 f1.2 and the 35 f2 DG DN, both used, and would decide if I would keep both for different uses or sell one. I have kept both. For work the f1.2 is a beast in IQ but also in weight and bag space. I also love my 105 f1.4 but am hesitating before grabbing it. While the 65mm f2 goes with me everywhere. These S series f2 lenses are great and though not faultless, give us a great experience in shooting with them. Often f1.4 would have too little DOF for portraits especially if more than one person. For events it can be too shallow unless when you need that shutter speed for a dance show. F2 is great for size, weight, and pure fun. Thanks Sigma for all the great options for 35mm and for super 35/apsc. The AF improvements make the experience so great too, speed and accuracy is important.

[@ericlamont4130]

The price on these contemporary “I” series lenses seems a bit high, considering you can get the 50mm and 35mm F/1.4 versions for just a couple hundred dollars more. I get there’s trade-offs, but it feels like these lenses should be $100 or so less than they are.

[@void_presence]

Doesn't seem to be available for Nikon mounts, oh well

[@youknowwho9247]

Photography is very subjective. The only lens out of this bunch that I'd buy is the Yongnuo, because it's cheap and the flare is interesting. For a compact travel lens I'll stay with the Sony 50 2.5. If I need something faster, I've got my 50 1.2 to do the job. A relatively large and heavy f/2 - why?

[@cameraprepper7938]

I prefer the Sony Zeiss Sonnar 55mm 1.8 ZA, I do not like the 50mm focal length, any Lens shorter or longer, so it must be the 55mm.

[@cinegenies4651]

I have watched a lot of other tests and they all show great results in Sharpness. The lens they tested seems to be significally sharper than yours. It does change a bit my conclusions about its value...

[@martin9410]

Similar to my Sigma 65mm f2 I lens that I love.

[@justgimmeaminute]

The Sony ZV-E1 could have helped you with the product showcasing at 01:03 - but it would have overheated before this video ended

[@jameshart3879]

That sigma/ samyang comp - yes some fringing on the samyang, but it was sharper by a mile...

[@shearcreatif]

Just samyang name is a huge turn off.

[@glennn.3464]

Very good review and you are mostly in perfect agreement with Dustin Abbott on the quality of this lens. One thing I didn’t agree with was when you said the Sigma is sharper in the corners wide open compared to the Samyang 45mm f/1.8. The closeup you showed looks to be noticeably sharper on the Samyang. There may have been very slightly more purple-ish fringing but it otherwise looked to be the sharper of the two. Stopping down the Samyang to f/2 might have shown additional improvement. And thanks for distancing yourself with Amazon. I buy as little from there as possible and for the last several years almost always buy anything electronic or camera related elsewhere. It seems all too often people report getting knockoffs of those types of items instead of the real deal you get from B&H, Adorama and others.

[@greenhat7618]

This is clearly a luxury esque product, not Leica luxury, but it is for people that want a well-built and nice feeling lens. Nice gear can bring you tactile enjoyment just from using it and make you love the process even more, and for some people that is worth the higher price.

[@vamooooos]

The Sigma and Samyang blows away the crappy Sony 50 f1.8 fe any day 😂

[@leonardomotta4613]

I don't think the images in the sharpness test are comparable. Given that the lenses have different angles of view, one cannot compare sharpness by looking at a picture of an object. One would have to measure the distance from all the objects in the picture to the front glass element and rearrange the camera so as to make the objects equally distant to the front element. The effect of which is sharper by the naked eye can be (and most likely is) the result of the different angles of view and magnifications of the lenses, i.e. if all the objects were all brought to the same relative distance to normal line of the first glass, the result might look dramatically different. This is why the adequate way to compare the sharpness of these lenses would be to measure the MTF graph of them with the same sensor.

[@dejavuking]

I have the L mount 50mm 1.8 lumix lens so there is literally no reason for me to buy this and even if I didn’t have the lumix lens id still buy it over this. Why because it’s £429 not £650 and it’s a 1.8 not 2.0. So for L mount this lens is dead on arrival, it’s redundant pointless immediately. Literally nobody on L mount should buy this like no one, don’t do it. Just save over £200 and buy the Lumix L mount 50mm 1.8!.

[@benjaminchoo3220]

A more comparable test would’ve been this lens with the Sony 50 2.5.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah but I don't own it

[@AliRastafa]

@@TonyAndChelsea working with this sponsorship companies selling used lenses and a issue to borrow it from them?

[@spritual_enlightenment]

(5:45) Samyang holds better, doesn't it? Ah, you mentioned it in the comment section! U didn't get sponship from camera/lens manufacturers. I didn't know that yet, and wondered often when you didn't have a video about a model that was just released when the other youtube reviewers had.

[@MiklosRabi]

Looks great, but for me the 40/2.5G remains on the top of the small / light / cool lenses.

[@freelancephotography35]

Fuji 50f2 ?

[@MUSEMENT]

I liked Sigma lenses they are a good value at a great price.

[@MrChip1217]

You’ve grown into a Soultographer

[@TheLinesEnd]

I’m a fan of the 85mm DGDN

[@chcomes]

was gonna get it but got the lumix instead- cheaper. (L-mount)

[@donaldbate3017]

Sigma's magnetic lens cap has not been thoughtfully designed and tested. It should have a centre grip so it can be attached or removed with the lens hood in place.

[@awwwtomotive]

5:47 you mean Samyang, right?

[@GregPain-pq8yh]

A lot of dust and grit can be iron based, therefore, take care where you put your magnetic lens cap down!

[@oliverlison]

5:47 is there something wrong? THe edges of the frame of the Sigma is better? Yes and No. The Samyang appears sharper too me but has more CA. The Simga is less sharp and a smidge of CA. Edit: going further with that comparision and it feels biased to me. The Sigma is good but it defintely does not beat all of the lenses in all their features.

[@classic.cameras]

I used to be about the BOKEH and then I switched to Sony where I could have smaller lenses. Now I care about the character and love smaller lenses even if its not as "fast". But with todays ISO quality who cares about F1.2 to f1.8? They are all fast and all have great bokeh. I want character and a lens that doesn't make my neck hurt.

[@Benjamin_Jehne]

Thats even more than a Samyang 50mm F1.4 II o.O

[@Benderlaiv]

but... the experience??? :P

[@tqlla]

Oof that is pricey, considering Sigma's recently released 50mm F1.4 is $850.

[@kuroexmachina]

man why cant the DC DN line be as sexy as the DG line

[@glennn.3464]

Oh, my bad. Didn’t see that Tony already made the correction.

[@happy030]

Well, LENS HOOD seems to look different. What you mean is A LENS CAP!!! Anyway, I would understand what you want to say...

[@johnnewson2023]

Thank you

[@paigecfrancis]

Lol I’m trying to wrap my head around this. They made a 50 1.4 for 800 and then released a 50 2.0 for 200 less. All things considered I’d rather a lightweight lens but I’d have to just burn the extra $200 and get the 1.4. That’s just me.

[@thekonvos]

That’s my dilemma, totally feel you on this. The artsiness of this is the pull but other than that I’d throw the $200 in for the 1.4

[@matt_j_dunn]

Horses for courses. Isn’t the 1.4 like almost twice the size of the 2.0?

[@paigecfrancis]

@@matt_j_dunn yup. But I’d take it for the extra $200.

[@matt_j_dunn]

@@paigecfrancis Like I said, horses for courses. Not necessarily sure I would pay the extra if I were after a standard lens for street or travel. In these scenarios, size trumps aperture for me, as I’ll be at f4.0+ a lot of the time anyway.

[@mostlysondheim1930]

Your comments on the Sony 50mm 1.8 are NOT what I expected. I hated that lens and thought it was loud and focused horribly. Now that I look back, however, I realize that I was using a first generation a7, so maybe some of that autofocus was the camera's fault.

[@nicokremers7150]

No. I also had the 50mm Sony and hated it. I thought it was a camera problem (Sony A7(s) mark1) until I tried the Sigma 45mm F2.8. The Sigma lens works great. The Sony was a waste of money.

[@LiamFyfe]

This exact lens for nikon z please sigma🙌

[@RogerZoul]

I'm about the results....

[@nedkelly2035]

Guys, I like your videos, but there seems to be a preoccupation with shooting fast lenses fairly wide to render limited depth of field. Here is my agenda: in 35mm equivalent (so that we don't get values, DOF, etc. distorted), I rarely shoot wider than f/8. Sometimes 5.6 if the lens is sharper at 5.6 and I am focused at or near infinity. With longer lenses I may go to f/11 or even 16, wherever I can get maximum DOF before giving up sharpness to diffraction. On most of what I shoot and with my compositions, I want everything from foreground to background sharp. So I rarely care about bokeh. I shoot with a tripod or other braced position a lot, and if I have to shoot handheld in a situation which will not allow a high enough shutter speed at 5.6 or 8.0, then my decision will most likely be to raise the ISO instead of opening up the aperture. When I was shooting film it was Linhof 4x5 Super Technika usually with a Grandagon on a tripod at f/16 or f/22 , Hasselblad 500c on a tripod with a Zeiss Planar or Sonnar at around f/11. On my Nikons and Leicas, I often went with the slower lenses because I was going to be shooting at f/8 anyway. Occasionally I would buy the faster lens if it was just plain sharper even at middle apertures, but never because it was faster. When I had my M3, the fastest lens I had for it was a 50 Summicron f/2 and the other 2 lenses I had for it were a 3.5 and 4.0 widest aperture. What I am trying to do right now is to get the best 50MP camera I can find at KEH (looking like a Canon), then probably just buy one lens for it. BTW- if I could afford the 100MP Hasselblad, that would be ideal, then I would shoot with the 40 and crop. ALSO- and this is not criticism of your channel alone, but I do not do video at all, and probably never will. Only reason I might would be to lift still frames out of the video. And finally, I care nothing about features that take 10 minutes to access, nor about super fast focus (don't shoot sports). I know I sound like an old codger here, but my whole deal is "f/8 and be there", and we did nearly everything in still photography 40-50 years ago that is being done now, although it was less convenient. So that you don't think I am too much of a dinosaur, I DO like manipulation in post. The ease of correcting things in seconds instead of hours is great. Also the modern situation of being able to shoot practically free vs buying film and paper is amazing. Anyway, I do like your videos, but I would like to see more of "this lens is deadly sharp at f/8" and less of "this lens has great bokeh, and focuses really fast with this body". Try reviewing something like the Voigtlander 58mm/1.4 at f/8 sometime. Or their 40mm f/2 Ultron, which might demonstrate that lenses don't have to be huge.