Sigma 105mm f2.8 DG DN Macro Art First Impressions:

One area of photography that I never really gotten into is macro photography.  One big reason is because I was an M user for most of my photographic life, and while there are ways to shoot macro with an M, it’s just not that convenient.  Now that I’ve switched to the SL system, macro opportunities make more sense, and while Leica has not come out with an SL macro lens yet, Sigma now has two in L mount form.  One of these lenses is the 70mm, which is a superb lens.  I reviewed it a while back, for those who are interested in reading more about it.  The second one that was released is the 105mm f2.8 Art lens.  I’ve actually had this lens in Nov/Dec of 2020 but I was busy updating my site and migrating it to a new host.  So, I’m a little late with this but here are my first impressions of it. [continue reading…]

Sigma 85mm f1.4 vs. Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90 ASPH:

As some of you know, I reviewed the new Sigma 85mm f1.4 a while back.  It’s currently one of my favorite lenses, and if you want to read the full review, it’s here.  I’ve also owned the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm ASPH since it was released in the US (full review here), and I have to admit, it was difficult not to compare these two lenses.  They both are great portrait lenses, and they do have their similarities.  So, I thought I’d write up a quick comparison between the two but before I start, keep in mind that this will be my style of a comparison meaning don’t expect any ultra technical comparing or jargon.  I’m not doing any 100% crops or anything like that.  As you can see in my reviews, I use all the gear I test, and this comparison will be based more on real world rather than things like test charts :).  So, let’s get started. [continue reading…]

Leica Handgrip CL Review:

I am a big fan of the Leica CL, and to this day, it’s still one of my favorite APS-C cameras currently out.  It’s well built, compact, and the image quality is exceptional.  To top it off, in addition to its L mount lenses, you can use it with a variety of other optics, such as, M lenses.  But here’s the thing: the body is pretty compact, and let’s just say the ergonomics are just not cutting it for you; we all have different needs, so where do you turn?  For those feeling like they need more grip or support, Leica has introduced the Handgrip CL.  I’ve been using a borrowed CL lately to review some L mount lenses, and I also had the pleasure of giving this grip a try.  Here’s what I think of it. [continue reading…]

Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary Announced:

For those who are L mount users (and E mount), Sigma announced their 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens.  L mount users definitely have a lot of nice zooms but some of them are pretty large.  This new 28-70mm by Sigma looks pretty compact, and there’s also a fixed maximum aperture of f2.8.  For all of this, it’s priced at just $899.  For those interested in pre-ordering, you can check it out at the link below:

28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens at B&H Photo

Here’s more info on it:

• Dust and splash-proof design.
• Water- and oil-repellent front coating.
• Stepping motor AF system.
• Rounded 9-blade diaphragm.
• Three aspherical elements.
• Two FLD elements, and two SLD elements.
• Each optical surface features Super Multi-Layer, and Nano Porous coatings to improve contrast, and color rendering by suppressing lens flare, and ghosting.
•  36-105mm equivalent focal length when used on an APS-C camera.
• Brass bayonet for mounting accuracy and rigidity.
• 28mm minimum focus distance: 7.5″, 1:3.3 magnification.
• 70mm minimum focus distance: 15″, 1:4.6 magnification.