Will I be disappointed with the Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5? (indoors)

I need a wider angle lens to accommodate my EF 28-135 on my 40D. I want to do some winter wonderland shooting when the weather gets, well, sucky. I browsed the lens photo archive section here and one lens that really stuck out for me was the Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5. I just like the pictures coming out of it.

However...

I find myself using the camera indoors without flash occasionally. I have a 580 EX but I have quite a few snapshots that were not worth mounting the flash or where I figured it isn't sanctioned. I wonder whether the f/3.5-4.5 is a problem here? Is this a usable indoor lens? Should I rather aim for a 30mm f/1.4?

You will struggle indoors with a f/3.5-4.5 lens.

The Sigma 30mm is more useable, but is not wide so I'm not sure why you're considering it for a "wide" lens.

Your best bet is the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. If f/2.8 is too slow, you need to open up your wallet and buy a full-frame body and something like the Canon 24mm f/1.4 (or a less expensive Sigma 20-24mm prime)

Indoors covers a lot of ground, but I doubt you could make acceptable photos in the average home 3.5, let alone 4.5 without flash.

Hmmmm.

Maybe I should hold off on lens madness for now. I was thinking about the Canon loyalty program and pounce on a 5DII. That would help a lot with the low-light noise I get from the 40D and of course it's FF with more light and it would turn my 28-135 into an actual 28mm.

uOpt wrote in post #11133355
Hmmmm.

Maybe I should hold off on lens madness for now. I was thinking about the Canon loyalty program and pounce on a 5DII. That would help a lot with the low-light noise I get from the 40D and of course it's FF with more light and it would turn my 28-135 into an actual 28mm.

Sure you gain some lattitude with higher ISO's, but you are still stuck with a turkey of a lens for indoors. Even with my 5D, I couldnt get away with 3.5 inside. If you want to shoot inside without flash you are going to need both a high iso capable camera and fast glass. But honestly getting a flash and learning how to use it so that your photos dont look flashed is a better alternative.

gonzogolf wrote in post #11133420
Sure you gain some lattitude with higher ISO's, but you are still stuck with a turkey of a lens for indoors. Even with my 5D, I couldnt get away with 3.5 inside. If you want to shoot inside without flash you are going to need both a high iso capable camera and fast glass. But honestly getting a flash and learning how to use it so that your photos dont look flashed is a better alternative.

As I said, I have a 580 EX and use it. I started the thread because sometimes I can't or won't use use it. Given that I did not buy a lens yet it makes sense to double-check and possibly adjust plans before buying.

It's also a discontinued lens and may need rechipping to work on a current camera body, assuming that Sigma still does so.