Sigma 30mm f1.4, Good or is there better?

AndyWest

AndyWest

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Is everyone still happy with their Sigma 30mm f1.4 lens? There seems to be very few for sale used and they reach prices used that I can get new from work. I know they have focus issues and i can try the ones at work on my camera so that's not too much of an issue. I want a fast sharp prime less than 50mm and the Siggy 30mm looks really good for the money. Alternatives would/could be the Siggy 24mm f1.8, Canon 28mm f1.8. I'm looking at getting a f2.8 kit zoom replacement so want f1.4 or f1.8.

Any other suggestions?
 
I had a rant about my sigma 30mm/1.4 only yesterday - basically the Quality Control is for toffee, so don't buy one on import (as Sigma UK won't want to know).

Its also soft around the edges, so don't shoot brick walls with it. Odd as that may sound, I have actually shot brick walls with mine on some site visits for work, so this isn't just a pixel-peeping comment :lol:

Personally, I've never found a Sigma lenses I like the "feel" of, either - tried various ones when I was looking for a macro lens, and rejected them immediatly as just being to nasty and plasticy.

I have no idea how they compare to the cheaper Canon lenses you mention though.
 
i'm quite happy with mine,although I may end up selling it as it wont work on a 5D.
This is a test shot taken at f1.4 at just over MFD tripod mounted,cable release using AF centre point on the middle battery and cropped around 50%, it seems OK to me and this was an import,perhaps I was lucky.

p309361014-4.jpg


Chris
 
Yeah its a good lens much better than the canons similar focal length primes (unless you want L glasss). As with any large aperture (2.8 or less) prime it is always a good idea to get it calibrated with the body due to the small depth of field.
 
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I have no real complaints. It has HSM, full time manual focus override, comes with a hood and a case and mine is sharp. The only thing that I can even begin to grumble about is that when manually focusing the ring feels a bit gritty and not really nice to use. I've tried another and it was the same so I don't think it's a fault as such, just the way it is and to be honest it's not unique in this respect as lots of modern lenses aren't exactly lovely to manually focus, IMVHO.

As to the often reported focus and other issues, I've made my views clear before. I personally believe that the vast majority are either user error or third / fourth hand internet Chinese whispers. There are bound to be duffers and that's what warranties are for but it's important to eliminate other causes first. I've seen an idiot with poor technique blame a f1.4 lens.

Just thought of another gripe, it's small sensor only so you can't use it on full frame.
 
Most of the complaints about this lens come from people that don't know how to use it and fail to appreciate that wide open the dof is razor thin.

With any Sigma lens I would, as Richard suggests, always buy from a UK seller or if it had to come from HK make sure that any VAT or duty was paid when it came into the UK as without proof of that Sigma UK won't undertake warranty work on it.
 
Mine is spot on. The first one I got was soft, focusing issues. And no, it wasn't down to me failing to compensate for the razor thin DoF (I tested with tripods, remote shutters, the lot) I had to send it back for a replacement. Second was spot on. No issues now, one of my favorite lenses.
 
Harlequin said:
Yeah its a good lens much better than the canons similar focal length primes (unless you want L glasss). As with any large aperture (2.8 or less) prime it is always a good idea to get it calibrated with the body due to the small depth of field.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by calibrate with the body?
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Most of the complaints about this lens come from people that don't know how to use it and fail to appreciate that wide open the dof is razor thin.
Click to expand...

I think you are dead right there! I'll see what stock we have at work and have a play.

So would you say the 30mm is better IQ than the 28mm f1.8 Canon all things being (reasonably) equal?

Thanks peeps
 
Both lenses and cameras are built to tolerances, if they are at the far end of the opposing tolerance range the picture may seem soft (on one or both sides) and the autofocus may be off (this is just due to the nature of building the equipment, every lens has them including canon and nikon). You can send lenses back to sigma with your camera body and they will calibrate the lens to adjust for the tolerance in the body (and get a better picture).
 
I had one in NAF fit for about 18 months. Mine was soft at f2 and very soft at f1.4. It was ok from f2.8 onwards which pretty much negated the benefit of having a fast prime. It didn't get much use because of this so I sold it earlier this year. I haven't missed it.

On the plus side it's a useful focal length on an APS-C camera. If you need a very fast prime, at this focal length and don't want to spend a fortune there aren't many other options.
 
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