Sony SAL50M28 - macro lens - 50 mm F/2.8

Advantages: Crips, sharp, contrast full images; silent focusing; f/2.8 apature
Disadvantages: no image stabiliser

...a very second best and offered an additional 50mm without loosing any light gathering ability. The fact that I could get a 150mm f/2.8 macro lens that was only rated very narrowly behind the market leader for the same price and an additional 50mm at the same cost had me convinced - so I purchased the lens I have been very very impressed with this lens; it feels solid and built well in my hands; the focussing is bearly audible and very quick; the tri-pod collar is solidly built and works well and the images produced are very sharp and show great contrast. Because of the fast f/2.8 apature and telephoto capability of this lens I have also used to shoot portraits and animals with really great results The lens also comes supplied with a leather pouch and a foam carrying case that fits over your shoulder (handy to hold a single lens in so you... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Aperture, lens quality
Disadvantages: None

...I love this lens, truly. It is one of the Olympus pro range which means that is is weather sealed and has a focus distance scale. It's a sturdy bit of kit that gives you a reassuring feel. I wouldn't want to drop it, but it feels like it will survive. Now I'm not a big macro person, so I can only say that it seems pretty good at the macro stuff. As you'd expect, there is a long focus travel between normal shooting ranges and macro, but the AF works fine, locking on swiftly and accurately. Where this lens comes into its own is for portraits. On 4/3 cameras this is the equivalent of a 100mm lens. Shooting wide open at f2, the quality of this lens is superlative. It's a bit of a claim, but I don't think it's bettered by any other lens. Bokeh are (is?) to die for, too. It is compact (as you would expect from an actual 50mm lens) and well... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Solid build, smooth operation and quality results
Disadvantages: Less adapted for action photography

...The Sigma 50-150mm ƒ/2.8 II is a solid, well constructed lens built with a metal lens mount and wide zoom and focusing rings. It is an update to Sigma's previous 50-150mm ƒ/2.8 although there's very little difference between the two lenses. Features The specifications of the two lenses appear almost identical although the update is a few millimetres shorter. Not sure if there's any real advantage to be had there. The new lens however, will mount on Pentax and Sony lens bodies and will now support auto focus as long as the cameras are not limited to mechanical (screw-driven) style focusing. Newer Pentax and Sony bodies will support the HSM standard. This digital lens has an imaging circle that only covers the APS-C sensor. As such it will provide a field of view equivalent to 75-225mm on a Nikon, Pentax or Sony body, and 80-240mm... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful