Sigma 30mm f1.4 EX DC HSM

120 odd people is a small sample, don't forget that we are all more inclined to make noise when something doesn't work rather than when all is fine. 6 lenses on the trot is either very unlucky or something else is amiss! A lot or people also test this lens in low light, which is fine as that is a use it is going to be applied to. However the AF performance of the body is also going to start coming into play when light levels are low. I wasn't sure about mine when I first got it, but after just using it rather than testing, it's now my favourite lens and I'm quite impressed with its abilities.

This lens could end up costing me a lot of money, as it's pushing me in the direction of full frame and 35L goodness!

eleven11 wrote in post #11953521
I think testing any lens or anything for that matter looking for problems and suspecting problems, you'll eventually have no problem finding problems.

Right on the money. I have been saying this for a while regarding the 30mm.

jj_glos wrote in post #11953569
we are all more inclined to make noise when something doesn't work rather than when all is fine.

More wisdom! And people really tend to focus on the negative issues more than the positive. Sad.

6 copies and not 1 good one and I'd be looking at problems with my body.

f2

That really makes me miss Mexico! One day we'll go back for a holiday

Hardcore wrote in post #11954022
6 copies and not 1 good one and I'd be looking at problems with my body.

f2

I would begin to think it could be the body as well.

Hardcore wrote in post #11954022
6 copies and not 1 good one and I'd be looking at problems with my body.

f2

nice post for friday

My second one arrived today.

Had to be micro-adjusted to +12 on my 7d, but that is at f1.4.

I think I can be relatively happy with that...

itsmejson wrote in post #11952563
hey cokeman, sorry to hear your not happy with your sigma. I had to return my first one due to focusing issues but i can say i'm pretty happy with the 2nd one - It took me a couple days to test the lens out. I know you said you just got it today why not give it a couple more days just to be sure.

I'm actually thinking about picking up the 85 1.8 - how did you like it on a cropped body?

The 85 1.8 is fantastic - I think that's why I have such high expectations for the Sigma

Everyone else, I'm not trying to force-find a problem with the lens - I took some pictures of my kids in a room lit by a few fluorescent bulbs, and they turned out really crappy, and since they weren't exactly cooperating anyway, I figured I'd do some test shots of stationary objects in a brighter room. The wider shots seemed a bit fuzzy, so I decided to do a closer up shot, and that's when I noticed that the text didn't seem to be spot on. So I bumped up to f/2 and added a tripod to the mix... the fuzziness went away, but it wasn't focused where I thought it should have been.

It could very well be my body having issues as well, but my other lenses are fine, so I'm guessing I'm OK there. Like I mentioned, I'll try the lens out again in daylight to see if it was just user error. But even if it works fine in daylight, I'll definitely be doing some more low-light testing - I bought f/1.4 for a reason - why buy a fast lens if it won't work for me in low light?

One thing that seemed consistent for me was - if I use the viewfinder, with center focus, it came out fuzzier than if if I used live-view, zoomed 10x and auto-focused on the same spot. Both hand-held or on a tripod. Any suggestions about this observation?

Hardcore wrote in post #11954022
6 copies and not 1 good one and I'd be looking at problems with my body.

f2

Nice!

One other thing I forgot to ask about - how does your Sigma 30mm feel when you mount it on the camera? All my Canons mount "fine" (i.e., smooth metal on metal feel when twist-locking), but the Sigma feels a bit rumbly (for lack of a better word) - it has a little grinding feeling to it. Is that normal?

Cokeman wrote in post #11955532
One other thing I forgot to ask about - how does your Sigma 30mm feel when you mount it on the camera? All my Canons mount "fine" (i.e., smooth metal on metal feel when twist-locking), but the Sigma feels a bit rumbly (for lack of a better word) - it has a little grinding feeling to it. Is that normal?

My Siggy also feels rough when putting on or removing the lens. Other than that, there seem to be no negative effects...

Mine feels rough as well. I found a few plasticy shavings in on my mirror before but Im not positive if they came from there or not. If put the lens on and off lots of times since then and have seen nothing else like that.

It may work for people with the ability to micro adjust but mine doesn't and I intend to keep the body... (and the ability to MA doesn't negate the focusing issue).

My friend's sigma 30 is spot on and I've tried it on my body with no focus issues.

None of my Canon lenses including 35 1.4, 50 1.2 85 1.8, show front focusing issues whatsoever.

Too many soft photos when the view finder is used. Maybe I'll try my luck with te sigmalux, maybe I'll replace the 50 instead of the 35...

I know it's a superb lens, I just lucked out.

Velorium wrote in post #11946523
Nice post processing.

Thank you.

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