| Author: | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2016 Location: London Posts: 1,079 | | Review Date: January 12, 2024 | Recommended | Price: $35.67
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Compact, works very well, excellent depth even at full magnification | | Cons: | Slight hunting in poor light, but much better than extension tubes. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Nikon D7000
New Or Used: Used
Autofocus: 9
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I've just bought the slightly earlier D version of this lens (designed primarily for full-frame 35mm but seems to be identical in optical construction, differing only in slight changes to the lens coatings) for Nikon, having found it very cheaply in a charity's web shop after missing out on a much more expensive Micro-Nikkor. It uses the motor-in-camera type of autofocus rather than Nikon's later AF-s motor in lens system. I think that most of my experience will also apply to the DG version and Pentax. I didn't get the hood with it.
First the pros - it's a nice lens to handle and works well for everything I've tried. It works well with the camera's own flash down to 0.5x or so, after that the front of the lens casts a shadow over the subject. Fortunately I've run into this with other lenses when using extension tubes and have a ring light. I'm not too worried about distance from the subject since I'll mainly be using it for things like small models, pictures of cameras, etc. rather than wildlife. Unlike the later DG version for Nikon mine still has aperture control on the lens, which means it's backwards compatible with cameras prior to the introduction of lens electronics and easy to adapt to mirrorless cameras etc., which will be useful.
Depth of field seems to be very good in the trial photos I've taken so far, and is extremely good below maximum magnification, which is probably where I'll make the most use of it.
Cons - as others have mentioned, Sigma's hood is extremely silly - it looks like it adds considerably to the shadow problem. Since I knew I wasn't going to get a hood I had to order one, and went with a vented design which should help to ensure that some light gets to the subject when I'm not using the ring light. I ran into a couple of examples of the lens hunting when I originally tried it in not especially bright room lighting, then realised the camera was in aperture priority mode rather than full auto. Once I switched to full auto I didn't have any problems.
So far I've only taken a couple of test pictures, since London weather is currently horrible. I'll probably update this when I've tried it more thoroughly. A couple of pictures of this variant and a couple of test pictures below.
£1 coin full magnification - coin diameter is 23mm - ring lighting
KIev rangefinder camera details, approx 0.5x, camera flash
For full size images and eventually more pictures with this lens see
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150868539@N02/albums/72177720314017673/ | | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: March, 2020 Posts: 70
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 20, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $140.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, light and compact, 1:1 macro with (mostly) reliable AF, hand-held macros are no biggie with a bit of practice, smooth and pleasing bokeh, can serve double duty as a general-purpose 50mm | | Cons: | Very short working distance, hood can get in the way and also uses a different diameter (72 vs. 55mm), fringing noticeable on occasion, OOC contrast falls off substantially in certain situations | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 7
Camera Used: APS-C, FF
New Or Used: Used
Autofocus: 8
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I was attracted to the Sigma because it seemed like a perfect compromise for my needs: a moderately fast 50mm for FF, while still allowing for all those lovely macro opportunities I may come across on my photo walks. To this end, it has delivered.
With F2.8 as the fastest aperture, it’s obviously a little slow for a standard 50mm lens in particular but not necessarily a problem on modern digital bodies. There was quite a bit of vignetting at F2.8 on FF. Probably (or at least I suspect as much) also optimized for close-up IQ as opposed to at infinity because even stopping down to F4 yielded a substantial improvement. However, I’d say it was perfectly usable wide open. We’re not talking about certain film-era 50mm F1.4 lenses or such.
Performance against backlight and direct sunlight appeared to be at least decent, certainly much superior to many of my vintage gear. Pays to have modern coatings! There’s also plenty of resolution to handle high-MP count sensors.
Didn’t find much to complain for macro photography I almost exclusively do hand-held. Very sharp, lightweight, compact, short focal length, 1:1 magnification with relatively reliable AF… after some practice, the rate of keepers is typically quite high. But one has to keep in mind that with a working distance this short, there really is no way to get close enough to insects without spooking them. At maximum extension of the tube assembly, the front element’s almost touching the subject as a matter of fact! It’s also quite easy to cast a shadow especially with the hood on. Sigma made it a quick and painless affair to take it off, but why make it a different filter diameter? 55mm for the lens, 72mm for the hood. And as far as I know, there was only one lens cap provided in the box.
While I’ve grown quite fond of this Sigma and by extension its beautifully smooth bokeh, no lens is perfect and this one isn’t either. Green fringing in the focus and out-of-focus areas was noticeable enough for me to take note, and there were sudden and frankly severe losses in OOC contrast in some situations. Haven’t entirely nailed down the root cause, but it was mostly outdoors taking close-up shots with the hood attached while keeping the sun away from anywhere near the frame. Could just be my copy, who knows? No haze or anything amiss, though.
Conclusion time then. As stated before, the Sigma 50mm F2.8 Macro can be a great choice in case your needs align with mine, but in my opinion it can only be a compromise solution. Doesn’t replace a truly fast 50, nor does it have the reach or versatility of a 100mm Macro or the like.Otherwise, I can’t really fault its performance or value-for-money proposition.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2018 Posts: 6 | | Review Date: August 22, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $110.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | inexpensive, tack sharp, 1:1 magnification, good bokeh | | Cons: | build quality against classic old glass, manual focus grindy and missed resistance | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 10
Camera Used: A7
New Or Used: Used
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This is a real gem for the price: about 150 € new and can be found for less than 100 € (especially the first version with is rarer and same optically if you don't need autofocus).
The lens is as sharp as 55mm f/2,8 micro Nikkor which is probably my sharpest lens. Bokeh is good, and it goes to real 1:1 magnification. It is not build like a tank and feels worse than most old classic lenses but it is very light.
Only real dowside is that the lens is difficult to use in manual mode because of the focusing ring which is too smooth and imprecise. Makes a bit of grindy noise too.
Overall, if you need a cheap macro lens, just buy it !
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: August, 2016 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 100
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 18, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $175.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp, build quality, handling, focus limiter switch, 1:1 macro | | Cons: | typical Sigma 'EX' finish, screw-in lens hood | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-3
New Or Used: 10
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This lens is a steal if you can get it below $200 USD. It's sharp and light and the focal length is perfect - at least it is for me and my subject matter.
I do shoot the occasional insect, but realistically, I was looking for a short-tele macro and this lens fit the bill just right. I'm planning on keeping a 2-lens kit, and most of my shots will be with this lens (yes, it's that good).
AF is quick and similarly, MF is easily controlled. I had no issues with front or back-focus with my copy. My fear with Sigma lenses (based on past experience) didn't materialize in this case.
The lens balances nicely with the K-3 and the focus limiter switch is in an easily-accessible position.
Pictures are very sharp and contrasty - the output from the K-3 and this lens post-process quite nicely.
Sure - to get to 1:1, you'll need to be pretty close and the hood will need to come off, but that's not a problem for me at all.
Some samples:
 | | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: June, 2012 Posts: 65
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 7, 2016 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Pretty sharp. Great value for a macro lens | | Cons: | Matte body is rugged but doesn't match K5 | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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For 200 bucks this is a steal for a macro lens. Here are some test shots:
 | | | | | Closed Account Registered: February, 2014 Location: Sumner, WA Posts: 965
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 13, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, rendering, ease of handling | | Cons: | shorter focal length means it's a little better suited for 1:2 | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-3, K-50
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I'm stunned to see this lens with such a low overall rating -- because my copy has been nothing short of fantastic. Picked mine up used off of eBay about a year ago, and it quickly became my number one lens for shooting flowers (supplanting my Tamron 90mm). Sharp -- especially for fine detail in flower stamen and petals. Favorite attribute is the bokeh. Not going to throw all of the cliches around, but suffice to say that I have more beautiful "bokeh shots" with the Sigma, than I do with any other macro lens mentioned in this review. Very easy to handle, with a good balance between weight and lens length. I feel the Sigma's 50mm FL is a little better for nice 1:2 flower macro than what I can do with my HD 35mm Limited. The front element is deeply set, so hood use isn't mandatory, but is of course helpful when shooting in sunny conditions. MF ring is a little thin for my taste, but still plenty effective, and the focus limiter is helpful when using it as a standard shooter. AF is fast for a macro lens, and the limiter makes it all the better. I've owned plenty of macro lenses, and while my Pentax 100 WR is my primary shooter, there's just something about the Sigma macro rendering that is really eye-catching (previously owned the Sigma 105mm EX). I've never used any of the Pentax 50mm macro lenses, but I think the Sigma is hard to beat at that FL. Great lens that can usually be had for around $200 = a must have for the macro shooter looking for great results, for small dollars.
Words are fine, but pictures tell the real story. Here's a Flickr link to my Sigma 50mm folder: Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG | | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2013 Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 23, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $270.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Well made | | Cons: | Somewhat large | |
I made a mistake buying this lens; I should have put up the bucks for a 100mm macro. No fault of this lens - it simply has too short 1:1 image production distances for me. So, I have not used it much at all. It is well made, sharp, has good autofocus performance and is reasonably priced. I should sell it, but I keep telling myself it will make a good portrait lens. Trouble is, I rarely take portrait photos.
Buy what you need, not what you think you can afford.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2012 Posts: 6
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 17, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Very good resolution, minimal CA, fairly smooth bokeh | | Cons: | Pathetic flare resistance | |
Resolution is very good at 2.8, becoming excellent by about f3.5. There are almost no CAs, however the lens is pretty useless at shooting into the sun, losing all contrast and colour. The bokeh is on the whole pleasing and smooth. Autofocus was initially irritating until I realised on my K-r this lens has a back focussing issue- after that was sorted, the lens focussed very accurately and fairly quickly if the focus limiter was on. It's quite a large lens, but is pretty well balanced on my K-r.
Overall, a very good lens for the cost.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2009 Posts: 25
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 15, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $380.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, well built, low light performance | | Cons: | the cap and the hood issue | |
I bought this lens for specific macro needs, jewelry photos. I was wondering how it would behave as a normal 50mm lens. I am completely satisfied for what I paid (€ 300). The f/2.8 is absolutely usable in portraits and low light/night shots. Sharp? Oh yes! Untouched RAW in 2.8 and iso 500 is absolutely beautiful, the K-x SR helps for handheld photos with even 1/15s! I really enjoy this lens and use more and more the M setting on my K-x, zooming with my legs, economizing on the clicks, brings back memories of my OM-1 and the 50mm1.8 Zuiko. Pure joy!
The lens has the new SIGMA finish, satin black.
Negatives: I guess, only, not being able to use the cap with the hood on.
Some of my first testing images:
~https://plus.google.com/photos/117422772362411637378/albums/5787730162133075601
And final images here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/117422772362411637378/albums/5789204218691108913 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: May, 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Posts: 3,897
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 28, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | compact macro, sharp, bokeh | | Cons: | occasional AF miss (could be me), silly hood | |
I switched to this macro from the Tamron 90 for several reasons that make sense to me - FL range was better in my kit, smaller/lighter, and easier AF/MF change. Tests show both to be excellent with quirks, but I suspect my K-5 played a part. The Tamron hunted more and this lens missed focus - but I was using the AF center point, which turns out to be at the edge of the confirmation square in the VF. This could account for Tamron hunting and Sigma missing - more tests needed. The Tamron recently sold though, so comparison tests are over 
This lens does excellent work for my type of shooting. Going 1:1 with bugs will not be frequent, so the extreme closeness required is not a problem. Most of my closeups are nearer 1:2 for framing, so again this lens is ideal for what I do. Color fringing is absent in most shots but does appear on rare occasions on torture-test shots, so it is not a factor to me. Bokeh is very nice, no problems there. The limiter speeds up focusing in everyday shots, and it's a very nice 50mm lens for non-macro work. I really like having a macro option with less bulk than the 90-105mm versions (though I'd dearly like to test-drive the Pentax 100!) 
Closeup of Duncan -
Point-blank image of a rhododendron bloom, wide open (bokeh demo) -
Edit: the screw-on hood with this lens makes the lens cap unusable, a strange and inconvenient result. I have heard that a larger pinch cap will fit over the tip of the hood, but that should not be necessary! (I bought a 55-58 step ring and a short metal hood that can be used on this lens and my DA55-300, which is a much better arrangement as I see it. The hood takes a 62mm cap nicely.)
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: April, 2011 Location: near Berlin Posts: 9
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 24, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Extremely sharp, nice bokeh, price, weight, size, AF-limiter | | Cons: | AF very slow, wobbling tube, CAs, build quality | |
This is just a nice macro-lens. It's damn sharp with a nice bokeh. Also weight, size and price is fine. If there weren't some issues with the slow AF, CAs and the build quality, it would be perfect.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: May, 2009 Location: Lithuania Posts: 344
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 15, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Focus limiter, build quality | | Cons: | A bit too noisy and unsure af, Not really sharp at 2.8 (for macro lens), CA | |
Lets start with pros:
-build quality is good, the lens hood is metal.
-Has aperture ring
-quite small and light
-bokeh is mostly ok
-quite sharp at f/4 and higher
-focus limiter prevents from hunting
..and finish with cons:
-Not what you call 'tack sharp' at 2.8. IQ is a lagging behind expectations (unless you use f/4 and preferably more)
-CA is not what you really expect from dedicated macro lens, there are too much of them
-AF is not bad (better than Pentax 50mm macro lens) however too noisy and little unsure even when subject is at infinity.
Overall: the lens is quite good however you never call it stellar or even great. It is good for starters who want to try 1:1 macro but are on limited budget.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: January, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,064
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 3, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $276.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | superb IQ and Bokeh | | Cons: | A bit heavy compared to my 40mm ltd. | |
This is my favorite lens. I had bought a 40mm 2.8 ltd which took great pictures (I sometimes use it at family parties because it is so sharp) but doesn't have the
really good macro ability of the Sigma 50mm 2.8 EX.
I like the Sigma for portraits and my many flower shots. I also find it to be
a great walk-around lens for outdoors. Image quality, sharpness and bokeh are better than any lens I ever had although the 40mm ltd is plenty sharp, and takes great pictures..
I don't use zoom lenses because I prefer the sharpness and low light ability
of the primes. By the way, this Sigma is sharp at a broad range of f settings, which adds to its versatility.
I just love it and highly recommend it. It is one of the very best lenses out there. Freddy
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2008 Location: The Untied States Posts: 1,881
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 10, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Great build; 1:1 macro in smallish body; very good IQ; focus limiter | | Cons: | Not super-ultra-sharp; noisy; moderate longitudinal CA at close focus; unpleasing bokeh at times | |
This is a very good macro lens for someone just starting in the field. Usually available around $250 or less, it won't break the bank either.
It has excellent image quality overall, but with some faults. First, the lens isn't "painfully sharp" until f/3.5, and dips down again past f/5.6. From 3.5-5.6 it is this sharp, but macro lenses should really be macro-sharp at all apertures. Second, there is moderate longitudinal CA (green halos in highlights behind the focal point, purple in front), but only when shooting things that give CA and only when shooting very closely (I guess around 1:2 or closer). In all other situations, it's almost or not at all visible. Third and last, it has what some might consider unpleasing bokeh. Very geometrical and obvious, not smooth. All of these minor faults can easily be overcome by changing your shooting style slightly for a given subject.
It's built extremely well with a very dense body. I generally like the EX designs. It feels like I could drop it on the cement and it would still keep chugging along. The barrel that extends during macro focusing is just one... uh... telescoping part. Like, it doesn't go into 2 or 3 nested focusing barrels like some other macro lenses. This is great because it's less gears to move, less things to break, and less places for dust to get into. The focus limiter switch is also great, and it works in both directions. You can engage it while in macro and only focus things that are really close, or engage it while in 'normal' shooting distances and it won't go to the closer range. It also has a nice manual focusing ring. The throw is pretty short for the range covered, but it feels nice to use. The only downfall to the lens' construction is the noise it generates. It's quite loud when focusing, and I would always employ MF for skittish subjects.
Overall an easy 8/10. Just stop it down a tiny bit when you can, and be mindful of high-contrast macro subjects, and you'll have an excellent normal macro for your kit!
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 13, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp at f2,8, very sharp from f4 to f8 | | Cons: | Slow auto focus | |
Probably one of the best fixed focus lenses you can buy for the Pentax. Similar in performance to the Zeiss Planar f1.7 50mm, which I almost always used to stop down to f2, f2.8, or f4. So if you're going to stop down a large aperture lens to f2.8, then why not buy a lens which is good at f2.8 ? Certainly the macro capabilities of this lens are brilliant, but be prepared to adjust the white balance finely in low light.
For examples of the macro capability, see my website:
http://wippapics.shutterpoint.com
In addition, indoor portraits and family shots will delight you with their clarity.
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