Sigma 30mm f/1.4 thoughts and examples

ihasa · 11-04-2011, 10:00 AM

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I think the 'quality' of the bokeh increases as the distance to the subject decreases, and it's something I see with a number of the shots on here. It's when you have points of light in the distance that are slightly OOF but not totally blurred out.

The reason for shooting both lenses at their max. apertures was to judge the difference between them in 'subject separation' when the subject is in the middle distance. Clearly the Sigma is more successful at this.

Edgar_in_Indy · 11-04-2011, 01:56 PM

Well, I hope you guys are happy. I was planning on buying either the Sigma 85mm 1.4 or the Sigma 8-16mm, but then I stumbled across this thread and all the great sample pictures, and suddenly I found the idea of a wide-ish f/1.4 lens intriguing. I just bought this lightly-used Sigma 30mm on eBay a few minutes ago and can't wait for it to arrive.

RickyFromVegas · 11-04-2011, 08:20 PM

Wow. You got it at a good price. That doesn't even look like it's been used at all!
I bought a brand new one for about $490 just a couple of weeks ago.
I'm a happy customer.
Very happy.

Edgar_in_Indy · 11-04-2011, 08:48 PM

That's why I couldn't pass it up. I figured that if for some reason I don't take to it, I should be able to get most or all of my money back out of it.

TOUGEFC · 11-04-2011, 08:52 PM

You wont want to sell it

philbaum · 11-05-2011, 12:07 PM

I was almost over LBA and now you throw these photos in my face - its not fair

More to the point, I saw a used one for sale at $450 in a nearby town. i could go see it and pick it up. But at that price, i don't mind paying a little more to get a new one and having an option to return it plus 3 years of warranty, i believe. What would a fair price be?? (new in the US is $490 i think)

Mr. B · 11-05-2011, 12:36 PM

I think these go around $400 here on the marketplace. Maybe a bit less.

Edgar_in_Indy · 11-05-2011, 01:34 PM

I definitely wouldn't pay more than $400 for a used copy. In fact, I would offer the seller $370 or $380, and that's assuming the the lens is in perfect condition and has the box and accessories, etc. He might take it, or counter for $390 or $400. But above $400, I would just get a new one.

A few weeks ago Abe's of Maine was offering 10% off all their Sigma lenses, so that would have had the 30mm at ~$450. If you're patient, you could wait for the next sale or setup a saved search on eBay. I've had a saved search for a while, and this lens comes up used on a semi-regular basis on eBay.

jezza323 · 11-06-2011, 04:03 PM

went for a little wander with mine yesterday

TOUGEFC · 11-06-2011, 10:11 PM

Nice shots mate!

RickyFromVegas · 11-06-2011, 11:19 PM

Las Vegas, NV.

JHD · 11-07-2011, 10:13 AM

Originally posted by jezza323

went for a little wander with mine yesterday

Very sharp & 3 dimensional - what aperture?

jezza323 · 11-07-2011, 10:17 AM

Originally posted by JHD

Very sharp & 3 dimensional - what aperture?

f1.6 on that one. just tried to match his pace and snapped the shutter as i walked along behind

JHD · 11-07-2011, 11:33 AM

Nice - of all the lenses I've ever parted with, the Sigma 30/1.6 is the only lens I regret selling.

jezza323 · 11-07-2011, 11:49 AM

I will never sell mine, unless I switch systems (unlikely) in which case I'll sell it and try to pick up one for the new system!

Hoping to get an upgrade to K-5 low light sometime, combined with f1.4 would be fun at night on the streets

11-05-2011, 01:34 PM	#188
Edgar_in_Indy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Indiana, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,685	I definitely wouldn't pay more than $400 for a used copy. In fact, I would offer the seller $370 or $380, and that's assuming the the lens is in perfect condition and has the box and accessories, etc. He might take it, or counter for $390 or $400. But above $400, I would just get a new one. A few weeks ago Abe's of Maine was offering 10% off all their Sigma lenses, so that would have had the 30mm at ~$450. If you're patient, you could wait for the next sale or setup a saved search on eBay. I've had a saved search for a while, and this lens comes up used on a semi-regular basis on eBay. Last edited by Edgar_in_Indy; 11-05-2011 at 01:56 PM.

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11-04-2011, 10:00 AM	#181
ihasa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: West Midlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,066	Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. I think the 'quality' of the bokeh increases as the distance to the subject decreases, and it's something I see with a number of the shots on here. It's when you have points of light in the distance that are slightly OOF but not totally blurred out. The reason for shooting both lenses at their max. apertures was to judge the difference between them in 'subject separation' when the subject is in the middle distance. Clearly the Sigma is more successful at this.

11-04-2011, 01:56 PM	#182
Edgar_in_Indy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Indiana, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,685	Well, I hope you guys are happy. I was planning on buying either the Sigma 85mm 1.4 or the Sigma 8-16mm, but then I stumbled across this thread and all the great sample pictures, and suddenly I found the idea of a wide-ish f/1.4 lens intriguing. I just bought this lightly-used Sigma 30mm on eBay a few minutes ago and can't wait for it to arrive.

11-04-2011, 08:20 PM	#183
RickyFromVegas Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Las Vegas Photos: Gallery Posts: 366	Wow. You got it at a good price. That doesn't even look like it's been used at all! I bought a brand new one for about $490 just a couple of weeks ago. I'm a happy customer. Very happy.

11-04-2011, 08:48 PM	#184
Edgar_in_Indy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Indiana, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,685	That's why I couldn't pass it up. I figured that if for some reason I don't take to it, I should be able to get most or all of my money back out of it.

11-04-2011, 08:52 PM	#185
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561 Original Poster	You wont want to sell it

11-05-2011, 12:07 PM	#186
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	I was almost over LBA and now you throw these photos in my face - its not fair More to the point, I saw a used one for sale at $450 in a nearby town. i could go see it and pick it up. But at that price, i don't mind paying a little more to get a new one and having an option to return it plus 3 years of warranty, i believe. What would a fair price be?? (new in the US is $490 i think)

11-05-2011, 12:36 PM	#187
Mr. B Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Varaždin, Croatia, Europe Photos: Gallery Posts: 295	I think these go around $400 here on the marketplace. Maybe a bit less.

11-06-2011, 04:03 PM	#189
jezza323 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,421	went for a little wander with mine yesterday

11-06-2011, 10:11 PM	#190
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561 Original Poster	Nice shots mate!

11-06-2011, 11:19 PM	#191
RickyFromVegas Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Las Vegas Photos: Gallery Posts: 366	Las Vegas, NV.

11-07-2011, 10:13 AM	#192
JHD Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,406	Originally posted by jezza323 went for a little wander with mine yesterday Very sharp & 3 dimensional - what aperture?

11-07-2011, 10:17 AM	#193
jezza323 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,421	Originally posted by JHD Very sharp & 3 dimensional - what aperture? f1.6 on that one. just tried to match his pace and snapped the shutter as i walked along behind

11-07-2011, 11:33 AM	#194
JHD Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,406	Nice - of all the lenses I've ever parted with, the Sigma 30/1.6 is the only lens I regret selling.

11-07-2011, 11:49 AM	#195
jezza323 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,421	I will never sell mine, unless I switch systems (unlikely) in which case I'll sell it and try to pick up one for the new system! Hoping to get an upgrade to K-5 low light sometime, combined with f1.4 would be fun at night on the streets