Sigma 30mm Lens F2.8 for Micro Four Thirds first Native Sigma Lens for Micro Four Thirds Compact System Cameras

A recent addition in the Micro Four Third world in terms of lenses for compact system cameras happens to be the Sigma 30mm lens F2.8 for Micro Four Thirds which is a pretty light weight and good-performing lens. This lens, like some Panasonic lenses, rattles a bit but that seems to be quite normal and does not have any effect in the overall performance. The lens comes with a metal mount while the rest of the structure is made from high quality plastic. The front lens element does not move since the focus is entirely internal. Like several other lenses in the market, the front lens element is quite small while the rear exit pupil is quite large in comparison. Small front lens element is a common occurrence in most of the recent Sigma lenses. Another important physical feature is the plastic focus ring which rotates quite smoothly.

Sigma 30mm Lens F2.8 for Micro Four Thirds Sharp Even Wide Open

The Sigma 30mm lens F2.8 for Micro Four Thirds delivers a pretty sharp image quality, even at F2.8 which is quite impressive. The lens does not come with a protective hood which means that it can be vulnerable to accidental blows and stray light, for which you can use manual protection. Besides, users might also need a 28mm front lens cap which is available quite cheap. The hood might add some weight to the lens but it would be quite effective in protecting the lens.

The Sigma 30mm F2.8 lens can’t be considered the best in the market for Micro Four Thirds (though it is claimed to be for Sony NEX system) but for its price it certainly delivers a very decent performance. The lens is not very fast at F2.8, and unlike the pancake lenses is quite large.

Sigma 30mm Lens F2.8 for Micro Four Thirds not the Smallest Lens but Reasonably Priced

There are other smaller and faster lenses such as the Panasonic Lumix G 14 mm and the Panasonic Lumix G 20mm pancake lenses. Besides, this lens also misses the OIS unit or anything else that can particularly distinguish it from others. But the good thing is that this lens is available at a very reasonable price and affords pretty reasonable optical quality and can be a perfect choice for those users who are considering an upgrade from kit zoom lenses. Besides, if you have earlier experience only with compact cameras and would like to switch to a mirrorless camera with a good introductory lens, this is the one for you.

Since the Sigma 30mm lens F2.8 for Micro Four Thirds has been designed for APS-C sensor size, the focal length choice should not seem to be odd. Among the lenses from the Micro Four Thirds category, it can be placed between a normal lens and a portrait lens. To use this lens for portrait photography, users should make sure that the distance between the camera and the subject is at least of 0.7 meters. Shorter distance would tend to cause undesirable distortions of facial features. But other than portrait photography, this lens can also be used for street photography and other purposes. Bottom line is that while there are some downsides to this lens, overall it delivers a pretty good quality and is available at a very reasonable price.

Please find below some photo samples taken with this lens from Sigma