Sigma 30mm f1.4 revue

[LJG]

After I had purchased my Sigma 150-500 I swore I would never buy another 3rd party lens. That was until I tried the Sigma 30mm f1.4 :dance:

Even though I am more than happy with my Canon 50mm f1.4, I felt I needed something wider for indoors and just general purpose shooting. The 50mm is not that good in close quarters with the family. Size wise, the 30mm is only just slightly larger than my 50mm, the 50 has a 58mm filter size, the 30 has a 62mm filter size. It has an 8 blade aputure (same as the Canon 50).

I looked at the Canon 28mm f1.8, but was surprisingly more impressed with the Sigma 30mm f1.4. The only catch it is APC-S sensor only, not FF. Yes, I know I have everything covered with various zoom lenses, but I am finding prime lenses more fun. They make you work just that little bit harder to get the right shot and it somehow feels more rewarding when you do get it.

The Sigma 30mm f1.4 is tack sharp. I have have to be carefull applying any sharpening in DPP! The colour is good, images just require a bit extra contrast, that's about it. It equals my Canon 10-22 for lack of PP needed and is slightly better than my Canon 15-85. There are no focus issues at all, it did not even need micro adjusting! I think I struck gold and got lucky with my copy.

The focal length is fantastic. In fact I am worried about how much I will use the 50mm now, I seem to be reaching for the 30mm and bypassing it :o

Here are a few sample shots with it, I played around with various F stops on these to see how it performed - sorry for so many but I wanted you to get a good idea of its capabilities.

On the Brisbane River - full sunshine and plenty of smoke haze from the bushfires around the place. 1/250, F9.5, ISO100

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6159/6159753149_da6f949dc1_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6159753149/)
Boat and train (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6159753149/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

Another of the Brisbane River, boats moored. They are slowly coming back after the floods. The haze is really noticeable in this one 1/250, F9.5, ISO100

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/6159756009_3a703ce032_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6159756009/)
Peace on the Brisbane River with smoke haze (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6159756009/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

Southbank & the Brisbane Wheel, 1/750, F6.7, ISO100

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6159757645_ea31020645_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6159757645/)
Southbank (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6159757645/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

Boardwalk chain and posts, 1/8000, F1.4, ISO100 - it does not like F1.4 in bright sunshine :help:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6156/6160295874_1b5ee1b7ca_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6160295874/)
Brisbane River BoardwalkChain (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6160295874/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

Looking through the trees from the Botanicaal Garden down to the river, 1/250, F6.7 ISO100

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6175/6160400136_af42891978_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6160400136/)
Looking through the trees (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6160400136/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

My wife and her older sister, yes, I know, my wife refuses to look at the camera haha 1/90. F4.5 ISO100

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6205/6160297240_6eb543ab4b_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6160297240/)
Sisters (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6160297240/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

Wires on the Kurilpa bridge, 1/1000, F6.7, ISO100

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6160298898_8c51e6641f_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6160298898/)
Wires (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6160298898/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

Shockabsorber bump stops on the City Cat stops, 1/20, F5.6, ISO100

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6186/6159755223_127356c26e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6159755223/)
City Cat terminal Bump stop (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/6159755223/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

I'm more than happy with this lens and would recommend it to anybody, it is a good fun lens that has no downsides that I have found so far. I have a feeling it is going to get plenty of use! I brought local stock so it comes with the full CR Kennedy 2 year warranty.

[K1W1]

It seems to have a bad case of black banding at the top and bottom of each image. :D

Thanks for the review it's a lens I have looked at a couple of times as well.

[Scottymc]

Great review and i love that chain shot mate. that is fantastic!.

[Lost]

good to see another one is learning just how good and versatile the 50 mm [ff] really is. Photos could do with a bit of PP LG but the compositions are really good through out. Now do yourself a favour; lock up all other lenses and use just the 50 mm (well 30mm) for a month or so. Yes, you will miss a few photos but we do that anyway.


You are a lot like Jacko; no idea how such ugly buggas can have beautiful looking wives!! That should score me a feed at your place sometime! :bounce:

[ross and cher]

Good review and nice set Lloyd, and agree with Scotty - the chain shot is a ripper

[Lost]

Good review and nice set Lloyd, and agree with Scotty - the chain shot is a ripper

interesting; I didn't give that one a second look :confused:

[Tatts]

Nice review Lloyd. I bought one of these a month or two ago and my 50mm has been sitting in the cupboard since. haven't encountered any problems with mine either. Definitely a lens to consider and if you are anywhere near a DCW they have them at $425 (http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/prod4436.htm).

[Jcas]

It is my favourite lens too, it feels great on the camera.
I would love a FF, but not being able to use this lens would be one of the drawbacks for me ... :)

[Scottymc]

Good stuff mate.
But a 100mm Macro for the medium stuff and the Nikon 300 F4 prime. cheaper than the zooms and you get more fun for bucks.

[LJG]

It seems to have a bad case of black banding at the top and bottom of each image. :D

Thanks for the review it's a lens I have looked at a couple of times as well.

haha, yes Kiwi, every so often I get this urge to use a border - don't ask me why, just an occasional brain fizz! I'll say to you don't look, buy. It was a real surprise packet. I am kicking myself for being stubborn now and not buying one sooner. I will still use my 50, but not as much. Maybe an 85 next, then ditch some zooms ;)


Great review and i love that chain shot mate. that is fantastic!.

Thanks Scott, that was a tough one to do in bright sunshine at f1.4 - I told the missus I need a Lee ND filter stacking setup hahahaha - it went over like a lead balloon, although she did say I could get a couple of Hoya ND filters for Christmas - she read the email that DCW sends me every month and saw them - good on DCW :D


good to see another one is learning just how good and versatile the 50 mm [ff] really is. Photos could do with a bit of PP LG but the compositions are really good through out. Now do yourself a favour; lock up all other lenses and use just the 50 mm (well 30mm) for a month or so. Yes, you will miss a few photos but we do that anyway.


You are a lot like Jacko; no idea how such ugly buggas can have beautiful looking wives!! That should score me a feed at your place sometime! :bounce:

LOL thanks Ian. I tracked her down and wore her out over a period of time - she eventualy relented and went out with me. That was about 35 years ago and she has never been able to get rid of me. Now she reckons it would cost her too much so she's stuck with me ;) I have a funny feeling I will be using the 30 most of the time anyway, it is just such a handy focal length :spin:


Good review and nice set Lloyd, and agree with Scotty - the chain shot is a ripper

Thanks R&C, glad you liked it.


Nice review Lloyd. I bought one of these a month or two ago and my 50mm has been sitting in the cupboard since. haven't encountered any problems with mine either. Definitely a lens to consider and if you are anywhere near a DCW they have them at $425 (http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/prod4436.htm).

Thanks Tatts, that is where I got it from. I buy quite a bit of stuff through them, I can go to their Annerly store and see it, try it, and best of all it has local warranty.


It is my favourite lens too, it feels great on the camera.
I would love a FF, but not being able to use this lens would be one of the drawbacks for me ... :)

I have seriously thought about FF Julie, but have decided if I do upgrade it'll probably be to a 7D anyway, I do virtually no portait type stuff that FF's are best for. That's why I went with the EF-S lens rather than the EF.


Good stuff mate.
But a 100mm Macro for the medium stuff and the Nikon 300 F4 prime. cheaper than the zooms and you get more fun for bucks.

Whats a Nikon mate :unsure: - I have seen that name on straps hanging around peoples necks sometimes LOL

[Lost]

this maybe a good option if I get the pentax K5. Would equal around 55 mm in real photography terms. I'm finding lenses are the stumbling bloke atm