For Micro Four Thirds shooters, there are plenty of awesome lenses to choose from, but many come at a surprising price premium. Despite the MFT system's popular reputation as a smaller, cheaper alternative to bulky DSLRs, you can easily spend as much as you would for a full-frame kit if you want a set of nice wide-aperture primes.
But you're a more budget-minded consumer, spare some thought for Sigma. For years, the company has been undercutting its competition in notable ways, making great glass for much less money, and now it's making some special MFT lenses as well.
Branded as an Art lens, the Sigma 60mm F2.8 DN (MSRP $239) is one of the least expensive portrait primes for MFT cameras. Boasting excellent sharpness, a relatively wide aperture, and a very accessible price, this lens is much more capable than you'd expect.
Samples
Below are some samples shot with an Olympus E-PM2 and the Sigma Art 60mm F2.8 DN lens. Shooting locations were varied in an attempt to really stress the shortcomings of this lens/camera combo, and there are definitely a couple issues worth mentioning. The only edits made to these samples were minor levels adjustments.
No $200 lens is going to be perfect, but in the right hands this lens is a monster value.
Location: Boston, MA
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The minimum focus distance is 50 centimeters, but you'll get a very narrow depth of field if you use this setting.
Location: Purgatory Falls, Lyndeborough, NH
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Location: Chicago, IL
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Location: Boston, MA
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Use a fast-enough shutter speed, and you can freeze water in time.
Location: Purgatory Falls, Lyndeborough, NH
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Location: Ponemah Bog, Amherst, NH
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Location: Purgatory Falls, Lyndeborough, NH
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Location: Castle Island, South Boston, MA
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The sun is hiding behind that cloud, so you can see glare over the whole image—and some chromatic aberration on the edge of the airplane. Considering this is what I had to do to make an image unusable, that's not too bad.
Location: Castle Island, South Boston, MA
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