30mm Prime with reliable AF in lowlight for a CROP sensor

So I am looking for a 30mm (or close to) prime for a CROP sensor. I originally had my heart set on the Sigma 30 ART but I have been hearing bad things about the AF in low light. That is also at the top of my budget. I know there are a few other 3rd party lenses out there but I have no idea what is reliable at this point. I need something similar to the Sigma 30 ART that also is reliable in low light. Any suggestion on this lens or other 3rd party lenses?
Are people just nit picking the Sigma 30 ART?


Thanks in advance!

The next closest lens would not be third party but canon. The 28mm f1.8. It's slightly more expensive then the sigma 30mm but only like $10 more.

After that you have the canon 35mm f2 but that's about $100 more and a stop slower.

There's the new canon EF-s 24mm f2.8, but it's f2.8 so two stops slower then the sigma.

Other then that the only other lenses in the 30mm range, and at a price around the sigma 30, would be the bower/rokinon/samyang 35mm f1.4. But that this af in any light sucks.....but then again it doesn't have af

I don't own the sigma 30art to know how it is in low light but the sigma 18-35 does just fine in low light. I just assume the sigma 30A would be the same.

EF 28 f/1.8 USM. Excellent in the center wide open. Cheap. Downside is the periphery NEVER sharpens up. When shooting at f/1.8, I don't care what the periphery looks like, it is going to be out of focus anyway. I use it on crop and full frame. It is a nice standard lens on crop and wide-ish on full frame.

Only prime in that range I've ever owned is the Canon 28/1.8 & again I can't knock it at all. It's a good all round performer as far as I'm concerned.

It may be a little over your budget, but I really like the Canon 35/2 IS on my crop. Can't compare to the Sigma (never had one), but the Canon seems to do well in low light for me.

I love my 30 Art. It's usually just fine in low light, have had problems with it at night. I have used it inside in dark places and it did just fine there. It's a fine lens that I couldn't let go. If you ever have issues with AF just pop the lens on MF and focus using live view. If you have doubts why not rent the lens for a few days and use it in low light?

BlakeC wrote in post #17416975
So I am looking for a 30mm (or close to) prime for a CROP sensor. I originally had my heart set on the Sigma 30 ART but I have been hearing bad things about the AF in low light. That is also at the top of my budget. I know there are a few other 3rd party lenses out there but I have no idea what is reliable at this point. I need something similar to the Sigma 30 ART that also is reliable in low light. Any suggestion on this lens or other 3rd party lenses?
Are people just nit picking the Sigma 30 ART?

Thanks in advance!

yes, they are nit picking the Sigma 30 ART

And the Sigma 30mm 1.4 non-art !!!

60D
Sigma 30 1.4 non-art
f2.2

Thanks for the input! I am still leaning towards the Sigma 30. I have even thought about the Sigma non art. Maybe I will rent one. The price point on the Canon 28mm is even better but thats an EF lens and would be closer to 44-45mm.

You're aware that even though it's an EF lens, it is still 2mm wider than the Sigma 30mm lenses?

The Sigma is actually in EF mount as well(although meant for a APS-C sensor), only canon uses EF-S mounts on their crop lenses.


as stated focal length doesn't change no matter what body you use it on, a 28mm on crop will still be 28mm on full frame. Only field of view changes.

BlakeC wrote in post #17417444
Thanks for the input! I am still leaning towards the Sigma 30. I have even thought about the Sigma non art. Maybe I will rent one. The price point on the Canon 28mm is even better but thats an EF lens and would be closer to 44-45mm.

No, it's still a 28mm lens. It's still 2mm wider then the sigma 30mm lens. Just because it's an ef lens doesn't mean it's a 44.8mm lens on a crop camera. Yes it gives a filed of view that is similar to what a 44.8mm lens would look like on a full frame camera but in that sense the sigma 30mm lens gives a "48mm field of view".

Focal length does not magically change just because a lens is designed for ff or crop.

just buy the sigma from amazon. if it has focus issues (likely won't), return or exchange it. you can't loose.

banpreso wrote in post #17417483
just buy the sigma from amazon. if it has focus issues (likely won't), return or exchange it. you can't loose.

I'm pretty sure you could buy the Canon 28 1.8, used for about $300. Then sell it in a year for $300. Try that with a Sigma.

BlakeC wrote in post #17417444
Thanks for the input! I am still leaning towards the Sigma 30. I have even thought about the Sigma non art. Maybe I will rent one. The price point on the Canon 28mm is even better but thats an EF lens and would be closer to 44-45mm.

you're confused on this one...i'm not sure what lenses you own right now, but if you have something that covers those focal lengths 28mm, and 30mm...the lenses will look exactly like that when mounted to your camera...it's really a small difference between the two

GeoKras1989 wrote in post #17417486
I'm pretty sure you could buy the Canon 28 1.8, used for about $300. Then sell it in a year for $300. Try that with a Sigma.

you could do it easily if you bought the sigma used...as long as nothing new gets introduced they hold their value just as well as canon's...once something new comes out who knows, it could easily affect the canon's value as well

Canon EF 35 f/2 IS USM - Fast and sharp
Canon EF-S 24 f/2.8 - Tiny pancake lens. Sharp and perfect focal lenght for general purpose (equqlas 38mm on FF)
Canon EF 28 f/1.8 - I heard this lens is pretty soft. Would personally never buy this lens. Looks soft in the corners @ all apertures.