Sigma 30mm f1.4 EX DC HSM

S'more of baby Emi with the Siggy (again, these are also posted in the "pets" section).

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Nice doggie shots! It almost looks like a toy dog in the last one.

I am going to assume the vignette was added with software and not the lens? It sure doesn't do that on Canon cameras.

tkbslc wrote in post #10357326
Nice doggie shots! It almost looks like a toy dog in the last one.

I am going to assume the vignette was added with software and not the lens? It sure doesn't do that on Canon cameras.

Thank you very much! Especially when I'm holding her, people say she looks like a toy.

You are correct, I added the vignette in post. Looking back, I think I went a little overboard, ha. My images are vignette-free on my Nikon also.

Ok my initial thoughts...(i know...everyone would love to know this!)

The HSM doesnt like "extreme(night time)" low light at all... It hunts alot.
It focuses tack sharp from 2-3 feet on...From the MFD - 2-3 feet it front focuses.(kinda sucky...but i worked with it and got some fine shots.)
The bokeh is nice smooth and buttery.
Compared to my 16-35

The Canon has more slightly contast.
Focuses faster in any lighting, also better in "exteme" low light.

Over all the Sigma beats it in the following cats..
Less flaring, less distortion, ALOT less CA, better bokeh at 2.8...Has F1.4-F2.5
I perfer the Sigmas colors.

Compared to the 50 1.8

Sigma is sharper, both have around the same focus speed, Sigma has ALOT better build(But the Canon also only cost $100)
Sigma has alot less veiling wide open compared to the Canon wide open. Sigmas Bokeh is alot better as well.
I prefer the Sigmas colors once again(Im pretty sure I prefer them to Canon colors period, The Sigmas reminds me of the punchy colors(but not Canon Vivid) of my old Minoltas).

So the Sigma 50mm 1.4 will be my next lens.

If I dont need the wide angle of the 16-35 or the Focus speed, i'll grab the Sigma.
I really dont think you can do better then this unless you get the 35L. The Canon 28mm 1.8 Might focus faster in low light.

I will post samples when I get home!

Combatmedic870 wrote in post #10359703
Ok my initial thoughts...(i know...everyone would love to know this!)

The HSM doesnt like "extreme(night time)" low light at all... It hunts alot.
It focuses tack sharp from 2-3 feet on...From the MFD - 2-3 feet it front focuses.(kinda sucky...but i worked with it and got some fine shots.)
The bokeh is nice smooth and buttery.
Compared to my 16-35

The Canon has more slightly contast.
Focuses faster in any lighting, also better in "exteme" low light.

Over all the Sigma beats it in the following cats..
Less flaring, less distortion, ALOT less CA, better bokeh at 2.8...Has F1.4-F2.5
I perfer the Sigmas colors.

Compared to the 50 1.8

Sigma is sharper, both have around the same focus speed, Sigma has ALOT better build(But the Canon also only cost $100)
Sigma has alot less veiling wide open compared to the Canon wide open. Sigmas Bokeh is alot better as well.
I prefer the Sigmas colors once again(Im pretty sure I prefer them to Canon colors period, The Sigmas reminds me of the punchy colors(but not Canon Vivid) of my old Minoltas).

So the Sigma 50mm 1.4 will be my next lens.

If I dont need the wide angle of the 16-35 or the Focus speed, i'll grab the Sigma.
I really dont think you can do better then this unless you get the 35L. The Canon 28mm 1.8 Might focus faster in low light.

I will post samples when I get home!

I found this out last night trying to take shots in a dim backyard of my brother in law playing basketball with his friends. I tried to get shots of them doing layups but couldn't get it to focus fast enough.

I took some shots of my friends in a play, and mine performed flawlessly: fast and accurate (at 1.4) on 400d! Used center point.

Hmm, the focus issues of this lens is the main point I haven't bought one. Really want a fast +/- 30mm lens, but there isn't a good one to choose that I can afford. The sigma 30mm has often focussing issues. The canon 28mm 1.8 image quality isn't that good. I thinks these two are the only fast 30mm lenses that are below 500 euro.

bram1234 wrote in post #10360539
Hmm, the focus issues of this lens is the main point I haven't bought one. Really want a fast +/- 30mm lens, but there isn't a good one to choose that I can afford. The sigma 30mm has often focussing issues. The canon 28mm 1.8 image quality isn't that good. I thinks these two are the only fast 30mm lenses that are below 500 euro.

I think the softness issues of the 28mm f1.8 are as overblown as the focusing issues of the Sigma 30mm. Both are pretty good lenses with many happy owners.

Grandpuppy visit, this is Lucy - f2.5 - 1/125s - ISO 400 - flash bounced off ceiling

IMAGE LINK: http://ragon.smugmug.c​om …wFnc#901406190_​zPNH6-A-LB

AHWagner wrote in post #10361322

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Now thats a big phone!


Im going to try it out with a flash tonight to see if it focuses any better in low light with the assist beam.

Also i must say that i love on CS5 how they have a profile for this lens! It gets ride of the distortion and CA and dark vingetting instantly!

One more of Lucy, we went outside to play. f1.8 - 1/640s - ISO 400
Still learning this lens but it's a lot of fun.

IMAGE LINK: http://ragon.smugmug.c​om …wFnc#901408057_​t4848-A-LB

Took a few shots of my niece yesterday, and worked on them a little in LR for the effect, but the colors are so vivid with this lens. I just bumped the vibrance a little, then some effect in the last one.

Combatmedic870 wrote in post #10359703
Ok my initial thoughts...(i know...everyone would love to know this!)

The HSM doesnt like "extreme(night time)" low light at all... It hunts alot.
It focuses tack sharp from 2-3 feet on...From the MFD - 2-3 feet it front focuses.(kinda sucky...but i worked with it and got some fine shots.)
The bokeh is nice smooth and buttery.

I haven't had any problems - this shot was taken with available light from a small children's nightlight

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/jbrinksphoto/4​702006380/