Truly affordable macro lenses, especially for hobbyists who are just starting out, are tough to find. The Pergear 60mm Macro lens promises magnification beyond the standard 1x reproduction ratio, but at just $200, can it really deliver usable results? In this hands-on review, I’ll test out this lens and take a detailed look at its performance.

The Specs

The Pergear 60mm Macro isn’t an insignificant lens in any sense, except price. With all-metal construction, it’s chunky and weighs around 600 g. The size is similar to 105mm macro lenses I’ve used in the past. While the lens isn’t unwieldy, I’ve definitely seen more compact macro lenses in the past, even accounting for the 2x magnification capability.

This lens supposedly covers a full frame image circle, with one important asterisk: vignetting at infinity on full frame, with the issue getting worse at around f/8 and smaller apertures. I feel this note from Pergear undersells things: vignetting is significant beyond about 5 feet, with the edges of the frame being unusable at infinity. APS-C cameras, with the smaller image circle required, won’t see this issue, but advertising this as a full frame lens feels disingenuous.

The front filter ring is 62mm, with the front element taking up most of the space. There is an unusual rectangular cutout behind the glass that is reminiscent of an anamorphic lens (this is a regular, spherical lens, however). Shooting distant subjects with lights in or near the edge of the frame reveals this odd addition via prominent flares.

The optical system is relatively simple, with 10 elements in 7 groups. Pergear claims the inclusion of 3 high refractive index elements to help control aberrations. The max aperture of f/2.8 is controlled via a 10-blade diaphragm. It can stop down to f/22.

The aperture ring is clickless, and it has a very dampened rotation. Both the aperture and focus rings are quite grippy, with serrations in the metal, but they are quite heavy to turn. The first few uses, the lens seemed to have a bit of a detent at the focus transition from 1:2 to the wider range, but this has gone away with use.

Notably absent are any controls, rear seals, barrel markings for alignment, or mount communication interfaces. This lens is entirely manual and communicates nothing to the camera. On some bodies, you’ll need to specify focal length for best VR/IS performance and disable any release lock that requires a lens to be mounted.

Performance

Between the heft, need for manual settings, and slower focus process, this is really going to be best suited to capturing static subjects. Chasing bugs and juggling flashes will be a bit of a challenge with this lens. Furthermore, full frame users will want to treat this as a dedicated macro lens, with shots beyond a few feet revealing significant flaring and vignetting issues.

Fortunately, at macro distances, this lens delivers good results. It really does reach 2:1 magnification, allowing you to reproduce a subject on the sensor twice as big as it is in real life. This is a significant jump in magnification compared to 1:1 lenses. You can get incredibly close and detailed shots of very small subjects.

At the 60mm focal length, you aren’t left with a ton of distance at 1:1 or greater, so lighting needs to be a deliberate choice. Additionally, with the heavy focus ring, I often had better luck nudging the camera back and forth for minute adjustments, rather than trying to tweak focus via the ring.

If shooting at normal distances, focus remains tricky as the non-macro portion of the focus ring is quite bunched up. Only a small turn pulls you from infinity down to a foot or two away, making a portrait at f/2.8 a difficult proposition.

Focus issues can also come from the significant amount of focus breathing. Focus breathing means changing the focus distance changes the magnification or field of view, and on this lens, shifting focus visibly changes your composition. That will complicate focus stacking, as well as pulling focus for video.

The center of the frame is good, even from f/2.8. Some color fringing is visible, and the focus challenges can make nailing focus at f/2.8 difficult, but overall the contrast and sharpness are good. At 2:1, a bit of softness is visible at f/2.8, but this clears by f/4. It returns at around f/8 thanks to the impacts of diffraction.

Corners are just OK on the APS-C frame at f/2.8, with significant improvement stopping down to f/4 or f/5.6. Vignetting on an APS-C frame is never really an issue, while even full frame use at f/2.8 is fine, assuming you’re focused at macro distances.

There is a noticeable degree of pincushion distortion, but this can be cleared up with manual correction.

Bokeh, or the quality of the out-of-focus areas, is quite pleasant at f/2.8, thanks to that 10-bladed aperture. As a macro lens, this is important, as many close-up subjects will often have shallow depth of field.

Chromatic aberration is surprisingly well controlled for an inexpensive lens, with basically no false color visible in test shots.

Overall, the Pergear 60mm 2x Macro lens delivers a ton of macro performance for such a low price. It’s certainly not without issues, with the “full frame” claim needing much more explanation for buyers. Additionally, there’s a few things missing that make it clear this lens is targeting a value price point: no lens alignment marker on the body, printed rather than engraved markings, and no lens hood being among the most apparent. Still, if you want to get into macro photography, particularly with still subjects, this is an excellent value option. Additionally, if you need to get 2x magnification natively in your lens, this will be an easy and cheap way to try it out. The Pergear 60mm for Sony E Mount is available for $199.

What I Liked

• Good image quality at macro distances, even on full frame
• Solid construction for an inexpensive lens
• Excellent price to performance for macro applications

What Could Be Improved

• Calling this a full frame lens needs a much bigger disclaimer
• Distance use is challenging due to vignetting and manual focus
• A lens alignment marker on the body would help locating, as the body has few landmarks
• Flare, distortion, internal reflections, and more make this unsuitable for copy-stand use

The PGYTech Photography gloves (Master) are designed to keep your hands and fingers warm when shooting in extremely cold environments, and much like all the best photography gloves, they also enable you to use your camera. Those who have experience shooting in cold locations, whether in winter landscapes, astrophotography in the dead of night, or the arctic tundra, will know gloves are a key part of the kit bag. 

PGYTech is a company that specializes in well-designed camera peripherals such as bags, straps, and card readers. It is renowned for exceptional build quality and design, and these gloves are a testament to that. 

The PGYTech Photography Gloves come in three different levels, each with varying levels of protection and therefore price point – the Fingerless, Professional, and Master. In this review, I test out the Master, the top end of the lineup, and analyze the comfort, warmth, and usability, before providing my final thoughts.  

PGYTech Photography gloves (Master) : Specifications

PGYTech Photography gloves (Master) : Price & Availability

The Master version of the photography gloves is the top in PGYTech’s lineup, and the price reflects that accordingly. They are available for $130 / £120 / AU$162.

As is the case with all safety equipment, you get what you pay for and the Master gloves provide a lot of warmth and security for the money. There aren’t many manufacturers making photography gloves that are both warm and functional, especially ones as heavy-duty as these. 

PGYTech Photography gloves (Master) : Design & Handling

The first thing that is noticeable about the gloves is the high level of quality in the build and design. They feel premium which provides confidence that they will do their job when called upon. 

These gloves have more features than I even knew were possible in a pair of mitts, but each one is added with the user in mind, whether for ease of use or warmth and safety. 

Designed to be warm, windproof, and breathable the Master gloves are constructed of multiple layers of material to insulate. Working from outside in, there is a splash-resistant layer, a windproof and breathable layer, a Hipora liner, a 3M Thinsulate cotton layer, a graphene heating layer, and a velvet lining for the cherry on top.

What separates the Master version from the Professional is the upgraded heating system which comes from the battery-powered graphene heating technology. The technology enables the use of a battery to evenly heat the gloves quickly and efficiently with 3 different settings. The graphene heating film is more than 90% more efficient than traditional wires.

In my experience, the heating technology worked tremendously and heated the gloves in no time at all. The power comes from a battery that is connected via USB-C in each glove, which in addition to heating the gloves can also act as an emergency power bank for charging devices. I did find that the battery did drain quite quickly, however, this may just have been my well-used review copy. 

Although this is one of the main features of the gloves and it did exactly what it said it would warming both hands, I did however feel the battery was a little too big and restricted my wrist movement when in its designated pouch. As I was not testing these gloves in a sub-zero climate it is easy to find this an issue, however, I am sure that I would quickly exchange warmth for limited wrist movement if I was in the Arctic! 

Another great quality of the construction is the material used on the palms. Made from genuine leather and an SBR cushioning layer, my camera felt safe and comfortable in the grip. 

PGYTech is great at designing products with top draw ease of use features and these gloves are no different. Hidden zip storage on the back of the glove, anti-loss wrist straps, adjustable cuffs, rubber textured tightening strap, and an anti-loss buckle complete these feature-packed gloves. 

PGYTech Photography gloves (Master) : Performance

We have looked at how these gloves perform as gloves, but what makes these photography gloves, is how they enable you to use your equipment whilst using them. 

The thumb, index finger, and middle finger of each glove have conductive microfibre tips, enabling the use of touchscreens for use with smartphones or cameras without exposing your skin to the elements.  

If more accessibility and durability are needed these same tips are also finger flaps, enabling the user to easily slide out the fingers and thumb for quick and easy settings changes. These finger flaps are easily fastened out of the way by magnets, which in theory sound great, but unfortunately in practice weren’t strong enough to keep the flaps secured whilst using the camera. This was also the case for the ‘fold-back finger cap’. 

The finger cap adds another level of warmth and comfort and houses the graphene film that transmits the battery-powered heat. Changing the gloves to mittens is a quick and easy step, however again, the flap ends up flapping around due to weak magnets. 

PGYTech Photography gloves (Master): Verdict

The PGYTech Photography Gloves Master are a brilliantly designed piece of kit that will be a lifesaver when working in cold environments. They are extremely comfortable and kept my hands warm throughout testing, although it must be noted that they were tested in the South of Wales in Spring, not the coldest of locations. 

The ability to quickly take my fingers out of the flaps was very helpful when it came time to adjust settings, without the need to take the entire glove off, however, the magnets needed to be just a touch stranger to stop the flaps from becoming a nuisance. 

I highly recommend these gloves for a cold climate excursion as they are said to withstand -35 to 0°C, however, based in the UK, I feel my needs are better suited to the Professional version which offers -10°C. 

Spicknall photographed 6062-6064 South State Street prior to its demolition in April of 2023. Photo courtesy of Soren Spicknall

The Mission Bay girls lacrosse team closed out a remarkable season on May 10 that saw them finish on top of the league standings (9-1). After winning the regular-season opener versus Del Lago Academy on Feb. 21, the Bucs dropped the next three matches to Point Loma, El Capitan, and University City before turning things around by going on a six-game win streak.

“We saw how much growing we needed to do pretty early in the season with a ton of new players,” said head coach Hayley Burke. “I was proud of the team this year.”

With only three returning seniors, Mission Bay went from finishing with only a couple of wins in 2023 to an 11-5 overall record this season while only having three seniors on the squad before falling to Castle Park in the playoff quarterfinals.

Among the team’s standout performers was goalie Sydney Kidd, who, despite being injured the majority of the season, stayed involved and returned in time for the final matches. Midfielder Iris Brogan and teammate Richie Lynn Nguyen stepped up big when they were called upon to impact offense and defense.

“The girls ultimately bought in and impacted how the season ended,” Burke added. “I feel like having a tough season last year, our learned lesson was setting small goals and just taking it day by day. I’m sad to lose the seniors, but I’m pretty excited to have a ton of returners next year to pick up where we left off.”

Mission Bay outscored its opponents 164 to 116 during the regular season, which included back-to-back shutouts over Lincoln on March 18 and Hilltop on March 23 by a combined scoreline of 35-0 along with a forfeit victory over Preuss UCSD on April 29.

“Once we learned we had a chance of making the playoffs, we set a bigger goal of going for league champion and making it as far as we could,” said Burke.

PHOTO BY STEVE SIDELL