Sigma 30mm/1,4
A lens that have quite a mixed rep, regarding QC. Surely these kind of reps. are always somewhat blown out of proportion by various internet forums (not stating any names lol) Also variables like user error and misscalibrated bodies add to it aswell.
Anyway, iv been thinking about the sigma ever since i got my first F/1,4 lens (the legendary nikkor 85mm/1,4 D) Since the discontinued nikkor 28mm/1,4 have been sold on ebay for outrages numbers i didnt really have any high hopes of beeing able to snatch one.
So i ended up getting the Sigma (second copy since i bought a dud demo sample)
My first impression of it was that it was alot bigger then i imagined ,and that it weight alot more aswell. It felt âsturdyâ not at all like my Nikkor 50mm/1,8 D wich feels like a plastic toy in comparison. (not that it perform like one)
Only gripe i had about this lens(build wise) is the EX finish, im not a very big fan of it to say the least. But thats another story
As for the performance:
My copy seems to performing excellent even wide open, as always when you shoot with a fast lens like F/1,4 you need be steady and remeber that any movement(including the subject, wich in many cases for me is moving lol) can throw everything oof due to the shallow dof.
Even so this lens is alot of fun to shoot with and center sharpness is great. The area where this lens will fall short is corner to corner sharpness, not a total failure but there are other lenses that does this alot better. (I.e nikkor 17-35/2,8 a great lens for landscape and such, or Nikkor 35mm/F/2)
But for lowlight photography and people shots (not to close due to distortion) it's a gem in my book.
The focus is silent and pretty fast on both my D2x and d200.
+
Build (apart from the EX finish)
Centersharpness
Ability to shoot at F/1,4 and get sharp results
Silent
Focus fast
-
Corner sharpness
DG (only for digital)
Seems to be a variation in QC
So for anyone looking for a fast prime in this range, well you cant get anything better then this for the money. (not for Nikon cameras anyway)
Enough rambling, here are some sample shots, most of you have problem seen them already but for you who havent here they are. :-)
All samples wide open except the last one (F/8)
Merely my impression of the lens, should not been seen as anything else.
/Paul L.