Brand vs Third Party Lenses
Throughout my numerous years of experience within the world of photography I have slowly built up a collection of lenses, both branded and third party. Each option comes with pros and cons, however they each provide an alternative option to one another.
In this blog I’ll be sharing my thoughts and opinions on both sides of the scale, exploring the details and limitations the various lenses bring.
Lens Lineup
As mentioned, naturally my lens lineup has grown over the years, and at this moment in time I have 4 lenses in my kitbag. My Sony to Third Party ratio is 1:3, with a sole Sony G Master and 3 Sigma lenses in my collection. Each range and vary in cost, and they all showcase and provide unique perspectives through their glass. I’ve previously reviewed all 4 of these lenses here.
Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM II
Sigma 24-70mm f2.8
Sigma 35mm f1.4
Sigma 85mm f1.4
Usage
The amount of usage each lens gets depends on where I am and the situation required. For example, my genre of photography is mainly street photography and therefore the three Sigma lenses provide me with the greatest amount of output, especially in areas of the world such as Asia where everything is compact with lots going on around you and with movement at close quarters.
On the other hand, in more landscape dominant parts of the world such as New Zealand where I’m currently based, the Sony 70-200mm is a great choice. You can see how lens choice can vary. I mainly shoot in the day, and only occasionally use the camera at night, once again depending on location.
Below are examples of images from each of the four lenses:
Third Party Positives
The first feature you will notice regarding third party lenses is the price, with them often being roughly half the price than the branded and in my case Sony equivalents. This is a great aspect of lenses made by Sigma for example, as effectively you can get two lens for the price of one branded lens. Furthermore, the image quality provided out of the third party lenses in my experience produces identical image quality and overall results. Of course if photography is your profession, then by being picky you may notice slight differences, but even then does that really justify the price tag of the brand equipment?
One thing Sigma does really well is producing a quality piece of glass with no questions asked. I’ve never had any issues with all three of mine and they are extremely reliable and well equipped, with the added bonus of weather sealing to allow you to shoot in all weather and situations. Overall, they very much get the job done.
Third Party Negatives
However of course, there will also be a number of negatives when it comes to third party lenses, although they are slowly catching up to the brand alternatives. The build quality especially on a Sigma lens is where it’s lacking, with a plastic type exterior stopping them just short of being the total package. Furthermore, one of the biggest issues I feel with a Sigma lens is the weight and size, they are noticeably bulkier normally and can weight you down, especially if you’re out all day shooting.
Alongside this, of course naturally camera integration plays a role when using the third party lens on the branded camera. Compared for example if I were to use the Sony lens and my Sony camera body, the Sigma lenses have slight delays communicating with the camera body and vice versa, costing you valuable time in the process. Every small setting or feature you change will lag the system, only slightly but enough to be noticeable in certain fast paced situations.
Brand vs Third Party
Overall, third party lenses especially from Sigma are great alternatives to the equivalents from brands such as Sony, however are they better than them? I feel for the time being at least, the answer to that question is no. The gap is getting closer and closer year by year with every update and a new release of lenses, however the branded lens option matching the brand of your camera will always be the superior option overall.
Naturally, this is because you are paring up products made from the same brand, and therefore they perform in unison and connect perfectly to one another without any time delays or troubles. For example, my Sony lens works much better in low light at f2.8 than my Sigma 24-70mm zoom at the same aperture, a feature I’ve put down to this exact equation, a free flowing connection. If you have the spare cash at your disposal, and/or are at a advanced stage of your photography journey, and conduct photography as a profession rather than a hobby, then the brand lens even at a higher price point in the long term is justified and more than worthwhile purchasing.
However with all being said, I'm also extremely happy with the three third party Sigma lenses I have at my disposal, therefore I guess upgrading or purchasing a brand lens could be seen as is it a want or a need, the answer of which will be different to every individual.