The Galleria, Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Sigma Super-Wide 24mm 1:2.8

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The Galleria, Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Sigma Super-Wide 24mm 1:2.8

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

The Galleria, Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Sigma Super-Wide 24mm 1:2.8

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

The Galleria, Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Sigma Super-Wide 24mm 1:2.8

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Olympus Pen E-P5, Sigma Super-Wide 24mm f/2.8

Cameras and Lenses: Images with a vintage legacy Sigma Super-Wide 24mm f/2.8, a vintage prime lens known for its compact metal build, close-focusing macro capabilities, and high historical test ratings, a standard normal 48mm full-frame equivalent on the Olympue Pen E-P5.

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I have had this low-cost, early version FD-mount Sigma Super-Wide 24mm f/2.8 for quite a while now, but was unable to get a close-fit Micro Four Thirds adapter until only recently. A couple of earlier attempts were disasters, as the mounts were never a proper fit, shaking and wobbling when fitted to the adapter.

The Sigma Super-Wide 24mm 1:2.8 is a legacy lens acclaimed for its balance of affordability, optical performance, and versatility. Designed for the era of 35mm full-frame film cameras, this lens is now compatible with mirrorless camera systems through lens adapters.

Fitted to the 16MP CMOS Olympus Pen E-P5, the lens is equivalent to a 48mm prime on a 35mm full-frame camera, the focal length of a standard normal lens.

Lenses with a full-frame equivalent focal length of around 40 to 60mm have the angle of view and perspective similar to what the eye sees, and coupled with a fast 1:2.8 aperture, make the lens ideal for a wide range of photography genres, including landscapes, street photography, and architectural shots, or just as a general-purpose lens.

The Sigma Super-Wide 24mm 1:2.8, which enjoys a rating of Sharpness (7.5), Aberrations (8.0), Bokeh (8.0), Handling (8.0), and Value (9.5) on PentaxForums, is said to have been introduced in 1981, with the follow-up Super-Wide II, with a plastic aperture ring, in 1986. The two are optically similar (if not identical) and share similar specifications, though reviews indicate that the II is slightly better in image contrast quality.

The 6-bladed lens, which features a polycarbonate barrel with a metal mount, has an aperture range from f2.8 to f22 with half-click stops, a focus throw of 180 degrees, takes 52mm filters, and weighs around 195 grams with variations according to the mount fitted. A standout feature of the lens is its 1:4 magnification ratio when set to its minimum focusing distance of 0.18 meters.

Though the review unit is well past its 40th birthday, built without weather sealing and susceptible to dust and moisture ingress, it still has the optical clarity, albeit with minor exterior wear, of a mint. As a testament to its built quality, the focus ring is well-damped and very smooth, and aperture stops are clickety new. The lens should do equally well for APS-C digital SLR users looking for a cost-effective equivalent to a standard normal prime.

Olympus Pen E-P5, Sigma Super-Wide 24mm 1:2.8

The Olympus Pen E-P5, a 2013 issue, is the fourth iteration of the E-P model series, which continues with the updates with a 16MP MOS sensor (the same as seen on the  E-M5), an advanced '5-axis' in-body image stabilization with automatic panning detection, 9 fps continuous shooting, tilting rear touch screen, a top shutter speed of 1/8000 second, and a feature much sought after (of late) by vintage enthusiasts with legacy lenses - a 'peaking' display to assist manual focus.