Image Quality
Sharpness
The Sigma 60mm f/2.8 is a budget telephoto lens, but when it comes to image quality, the lens delivers and delivers well. The lens is extremely sharp right from f/2.8, with excellent central sharpness and even very good borders wide open. Stopping down brings the 60mm f/2.8 into utterly outstanding territory. The majority of the frame is blisteringly sharp, and while the very edges aren’t quite as sharp as the center, they are still very sharp all the way into the corners. Indeed, the 60mm f/2.8 is one of the sharpest lenses available for a mirrorless camera today, in the same realm as the Fujifilm 56mm f/1.2, the Leica 42.5mm Nocticron, the Olympus 75mm f/1.8 and the Zeiss 50mm f/2.8 Touit Macro. Of course, it has a more modest maximum aperture and no macro capabilities, but for a lens this cheap to be capable of this level of resolution is extremely impressive.
Bokeh
With a short telephoto focal length providing the field of view similar to a 90mm lens on a full frame camera, one of the prime uses for such a lens will be portraiture. As such, the quality of the out of focus areas is quite important. The Sigma 60mm f/2.8 provides generally quite nice bokeh, though it falls short of exceptional. Out of focus areas are smoothly rendered and specular highlights avoid bright rings for the most part. However, the presence of aspherical elements does cause a bit of onion-ring like structure to those highlights. While the f/2.8 maximum aperture isn’t going to provide tons of subject separation, the lens provides enough blur to provide for very pleasing portraits. A very solid performance in this area.
Color, Contrast and Chromatic Aberration
The Sigma 60mm f/2.8 continues its strong optical performance with a nice rich color palette and crisp contrast throughout the aperture range. There is little change in the contrast profile even wide open, producing punchy images whatever your depth of field needs happen to be.
The lens puts in a strong performance with regards to chromatic aberration control as well. Lateral chromatic aberration is negligible and longitudinal CA is also relatively well controlled. No issues here.
Distortion, Flare and Vignetting
Again, the Sigma 60mm produces excellent characteristics when it comes to distortion, with nothing field relevant in that department. The lens also works quite well against bright light, with flare and ghosting of minimal concern. While the it isn’t impossible to make the lens flare, it does so only in very specific circumstances when the sun is in a very specific part of the frame. Otherwise, it’s nothing to worry about.
The Sigma 60mm has some mild vignetting at f/2.8 that is predominantly gone by f/4.
You may be asking yourself: Is there really nothing to complain about with this lens optically? Well, it’s f/2.8 only, but that’s really about it. Sigma has done something remarkable and created a low-cost lens that is simply spectacular optically. The Sigma 30mm f/2.8 is an outstanding lens, and the 60mm is even better.
Great to read another one of your good (I.e. well-done) reviews. Since I have one friend who doubted me when I said i thought my 60mm Sigma was sharper than my 45mm Olympus (same effective focal length on my E-M1 as the 60mm on my NEX 6) I smiled when I read how sharp you found this sigma to be… And you shot it on a 20mp camera!
Peter F.
Hello,
Did you check if there’s any update for the lens on the NEX6? I think there was an update for the 30mm version that allows PDAF to work in the center (Just 5 points).
I know that A6000 (Which I have) has the update already installed on the camera, and I can use PDAF (Again only 5 dots in the center) using my 30mm Sigma 2.8.
I have this lens together with the 30/2.8. it is really as good as you say.
Now, I wonder if IQ of A6000 + Sigma 60/2.8 match the IQ of A7 + FE 55/1.8 at base ISO for static shots with better perspective and wider depth of field.
Very nice review, I intend to buy the Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN Art and the 30mm for my A6000. I just wish they had image stabilization, since Sony’s “E” mount bodies don’t have it!
I am buying the Sony a6000 and like what I read about the sharpness of the Sigma 30mm & 60mm. In practical use is the 5-point PDAF limitation on Sigma lenses adequate for AF tracking of people in street photography? Is the lack of image stabilization on the Sigma 60mm much of a factor when hand-holding in street photography?
This blog was… how do you say it? Relevant!!
Finally I’ve found something which helped me.
Thank you!
Very close to purchasing the a6000. Would like to start with one lens. Thinking either the standard 16-50 kit, the Sigma 30/2.8, or the Sony 35/1.8. Any real world advice? Currently not into video, but that may change with the 6000 later.
Also, anyone have any thoughts on using Canon EF mounts with adapter on the 6000 or would I be better selling them off and going with lenses designed for mirrorless? I understand they will be manual focus only.
If you’re going to be using this as a main camera, the Sony 35/1.8 is the way I’d go. I have both the 35/1.8 and the Sigma 30mm, and while the Sigma 30 is brilliant (especially for the price), the extra aperture and optical stabilization is nice to have. At f/2.8 they are close to each other optically.
Don’t put away your 16-50 Kit lens, do your DDs on Flickr, on Sony A6000 group and others, you wills it is not a perfect lens but not a bad lens.
Thanks for the real-world reviews! I am considering this Sigma 60mm vs. the Sony 50mm f1.8 for my a6000. Have you given the Sony a try, and if so, what differences have you found?
I too am very interested in this comparison, any input from anyone would be greatly appreciated. cheers!
I’m torn between these two lenses as well.
I agree it is not an easy decision. Finally, i decide for the Sigma 60mm, a perfect portrait lens.
As Jordan mention it is very sharp at f/2.8.
The question is The Sony 50mm at f/ 1.8 it is as sharp as the Sigma 60mm at f 2.8?
Is the sharpness of the Sony 50mm have to reach f/ 2.8 to get the same quality as the Sigma 60mm?
Great review!
Fantastic photo of the reflected glen. I wanted to say I appreciate your reviews. the real world reference is a boon to the photographer world
Sigma 60mm vs. the Sony 50mm f1.8
Sigma 60mm Art is an APSC format Lense
whilst
Sony 50mm f1.8 is a Full frame format lense
So If U have two SONY camera such as A6300(APSC) & A7ii(Full Frame like me, U will choose to get Sony 50mm F1.8 for sure. In fact, the firmware available now do support Phase Detection Focus mechanism.
I know a few others asked the same question, but I’m curious about your opinion on the lack of image stabilization (when used on a6000 since it has no IBIS). Does this have a huge affect on shooting in low light?