I just found this fantastic deal on Sigma lenses for both Micro 4/3 and Sony NEX. You get two lenses for $199. I have not personally used these lenses but from what I’ve heard, they are very good. And given the price, they are hard to beat, especially if you want to try shooting with primes. The two lens kit includes a 19mm and 30mm. Keep in mind that you need to select a lens mount. The micro 4/3 version will not work on a Sony and a NEX version will not work on Micro 4/3.

On the Micro 4/3 platform which includes the Olympus and Panasonic cameras, the 19mm and 30mm are equivalent to 38mm and 60mm. The micro 4/3 sensor is a 2x crop factor so you multiply the focal length by 2. On the Sony NEX, the lenses have a 28.5mm and 45mm equivalent, a 1.5x crop factor.

Are there downsides to these lenses? Well the low price counteracts most negatives, but here are a few things to consider. Both lenses have a maximum aperture of f2.8, which is a bit slow. Many primes have apertures of f2 and below which makes them even better for low-light shooting. Even though the mounts are different, I’m assuming they both share the same basic design. Therefore, a lens that is sized decently for a Sony NEX, might feel a bit large for Micro 4/3. Since the Micro 4/3 has a smaller sensor, the lenses are also smaller. By sharing the design, you don’t get the benefit of a lens that is optimized for the Micro 4/3 platform. Finally, while I haven’t used these lenses, I have held them in my hand. Expect decent build quality made of hard plastic (they do have a metal mount). There are solid but certainly lack any kind of premium feel.

So, am I buying them? For Micro 4/3, no. I already own 4 primes lenses which nicely fills my needs. For the Sony, it’s a bit more tempting. The thing is, as you may have noticed, I’m not shooting my NEX-5 too often these days. These Sigma primes, on my Sony, will work nicely in conjunction with my 18-55mm kit lens and the 16mm prime. Hard decision, it’s a great deal but I’m still on the fence about it.

For anyone that has an Olympus, Panasonic or Sony camera and just has a basic kit lens, this is a golden opportunity to pickup a set of inexpensive but good primes. This deal makes it a 50% discount from the regular, already discounted price. And if you decide to buy them, please consider using the links below so that I can receive a small commission. You pay the same price and B&H Photo, which is a fantastic professional camera store, gives me a small commission which help support his site.