Canon 28 1.8 vs. Sigma 30 1.4 - Need a "standard" length lens!!

I am trying to decide between the Canon 28mm f/1.8 USM and the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 HSM. The pricing is about even on the two once you add a hood to the Canon. After searching the forum over and over, I keep finding people constantly complaining about focusing issues on both of them.

Can somebody give me some advice please? I will be shooting (close to) wide open in low light situations. This FL is what I need and I am leaning toward the Sigma, but it seems to have focus issues as well.

I do not want to be sending lenses back and forth to B&H or Sigma or whatever!

Any suggestions????

I can attest for the sigma 30. Some will vote the canon, but I feel from the pictures I've seen the 30EX blows the canon out of the water. Again, can't give specifics or facts. Just IMO.

jklewer wrote in post #3111576
Any suggestions????

Flip a coin...?

I'd go for the Sigma personally.
I have a Sigma 28mm f1.8 as a cropped nifty fifty personally.
Here is a review of it against the Sigma 30mm f1.4
http://tomyi.smugmug.c​om/gallery/2000895#114​325968

It's big and hunts in low light but it's MFD and 1:2.9 magnification ratio really opens things up composition wise. Plus it's only about $250

For me it was simple. You can't use the sigma with film or on FF.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #3111692
For me it was simple. You can't use the sigma with film or on FF.

???

august23 wrote in post #3111693
???

Yeah, I know. It's very confusing.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #3111696
Yeah, I know. It's very confusing.

Like rocket science
Or what was that, cell molec bio?

I went through the same decision about a year ago. Couldn't decide and I finally went for the Sigma. It was a great choice. The lens is very very good. Although the Sigma won't work on film cameras or FF, I haven't shot a roll of film in almost 2 years.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #3111692
For me it was simple. You can't use the sigma with film or on FF.

It won't make pancakes either. The fact that the sigma won't do FF is only important to the OP if has/wants FF or film.

timbop wrote in post #3112600
It won't make pancakes either. The fact that the sigma won't do FF is only important to the OP if has/wants FF or film.

I think Doc realizes that.......notice the first part of the quote

Whether a lens is compatiable with FF is a valid point to consider when deciding on a lens. Who knows what camera you'll be shooting with down the road.

So what do you all make of the rampant "focus issues" around the board? Is it user-error? Is it the old "only make a fuss when something goes wrong, rather than when it goes fine?" (People only seem to grab their megaphone when there is a problem with their lens, and the ones that get great copies keep their mouths shut, making the complaints of the few much loader than the praises of the many.)

No FF prospects for me in the future. Heck, if I do decide, there will be plenty of schmucks waiting around for scraps on the buy-sell forum!

jklewer wrote in post #3113251
So what do you all make of the rampant "focus issues" around the board? Is it user-error? Is it the old "only make a fuss when something goes wrong, rather than when it goes fine?" (People only seem to grab their megaphone when there is a problem with their lens, and the ones that get great copies keep their mouths shut, making the complaints of the few much loader than the praises of the many.)

No FF prospects for me in the future. Heck, if I do decide, there will be plenty of schmucks waiting around for scraps on the buy-sell forum!

No. They're true. The sigma simply CANNOT focus properly anywhere past 2-3 feet. I've tried just about everything when I had my last one. Hope my new one proves me wrong.

You may want to look into the Canon EF 24mm f2.8 prime - it may be not the brightest lens in the world, but it's excellent optically (including wide-open), small, light and relatively cheap. I chose the 24mm over the 28mm f1.8 and the Sigma 30mm f1.4 - I simply fell in love with the angle of view and the perspective this lens gave me.

I shoot a lot in low light and the 24mm f2.8 prime quickly became my favorite low-light lens. Being that small and light it allows me to shoot at very low shutter speeds handheld - I can easily go down to 1/20 or 1/15. I can go even slower if I have something to lean on, like in this shot -

august23 wrote in post #3113385
No. They're true. The sigma simply CANNOT focus properly anywhere past 2-3 feet. I've tried just about everything when I had my last one. Hope my new one proves me wrong.

See, thats crap dude. No thank you, I say. I don't know what I will do, but I won't do the gear exchange circus with my stuff.