Sigma 30mm f/1.4 thoughts and examples

bossa · 12-12-2011, 09:19 PM

Originally posted by Edgar_in_Indy

Back-focus issues notwithstanding, I'm continuing to shoot with this lens and I'm starting to warm up to it. I took it along today when we took our daughters to lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse after ballet and then to get their haircuts. Below are some of the keepers from today. I'm still experimenting with f/1.4, so all of the pictures were shot at f/1.4 even if some of the pictures may have benefited from more depth of field.

And here's some shots I got while at work the other day. The lens arrived in the mail just before I was leaving for work, and I knew it was going to be a long shift thinking about the lens all day, so I grabbed it before I left and played with it at work. In the two pictures of my car with its emergency lights on, you can see the difference the aperture size has on the way bright light sources are rendered.

Great shots Edgar every one of them.. I can't believe I am thinking about this lens when I already had a FA31 LTD. This place is evil.. pure evil..... ;-)

Last edited by bossa; 12-13-2011 at 12:01 AM.

bossa · 12-12-2011, 09:28 PM

Yes, I noticed that some small but OOF flowers tend to look like they're vibrating. Not sure if that's astigmatism or what...

This was a reply to EFV a few posts ago.

TOUGEFC · 12-12-2011, 10:48 PM

Originally posted by bossa

Would be at an earlier exchange rate where the OZ$ was less than the greenback? B&H only charge GST and import duty based on the actual item price so today's exchange rate would incur no taxes. Do you buy all of your lenses from B&H?

Australia customs charge the tax on import not B&H,
I have bought many items from B&H/adorama and but I also buy local too if its cheaper, (Sigma lenses are cheaper here)

Originally posted by RickyFromVegas

This is an amazing lens and my favorite AF lens to this date, but it's not without a weakness.
In my opinion, the edgy and triangular bokeh is a weakness. It feels a bit harsh and sometimes distracting, but then again, I love the sharpness and the subject isolation it gives me.

Yes the way this lens renders its subjects in isolation is incredible

bossa · 12-12-2011, 11:52 PM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

Australia customs charge the tax on import not B&H,
I have bought many items from B&H/adorama and but I also buy local too if its cheaper, (Sigma lenses are cheaper here)

Yes the way this lens renders its subjects in isolation is incredible

I was told in an email that B&H charge the GST and pass it on. Are you saying that a sub AU$1,000 lens cost you GST & duty?

EDIT: Sorry I read my email and it said that the GST is paid here and that the shipping is not included. That seemed to go against what has happened to me in the past as I remember it. Customs include shipping costs and they charge for the entire shipment and not on an item-by-item basis, if I remember rightly.

Last edited by bossa; 12-12-2011 at 11:58 PM.

TOUGEFC · 12-13-2011, 12:15 AM

customs charge tax on items over $1000. Ive been charged in the past

bossa · 12-13-2011, 12:17 AM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

customs charge tax on items over $1000. Ive been charged in the past

What I'm getting at is: Do they include shipping costs as well as item price in that $1000?

trickletreat · 12-13-2011, 01:11 AM

Originally posted by bossa

What I'm getting at is: Do they include shipping costs as well as item price in that $1000?

In the UK they charge on the shipping and insurance, so it is not just the cost of the item. Then if you receive it from some of the big delivery companies, you get handling charges and are always invoiced for the custom duty, and taxed for the pleasure. This usually adds between 24 and 30% to the cost.
Nigel

bossa · 12-13-2011, 01:19 AM

Originally posted by trickletreat

In the UK they charge on the shipping and insurance, so it is not just the cost of the item. Then if you receive it from some of the big delivery companies, you get handling charges and are always invoiced for the custom duty, and taxed for the pleasure. This usually adds between 24 and 30% to the cost.
Nigel

I bought a Yamaha AW4416 from a guy in the US a few years ago at a, then, bargain price. He thought he'd do me a favour and add $700 to the quoted price for insurance and I was charged $100 more than I would have been when the FedEx guy dropped it off. In Australia they charge 10% GST (VAT) and 4% Import Duty on anything over $1000. But I seem to remember they added the shipping costs on as well. This was about 8 years ago and I was completely taken by surprise.

TOUGEFC · 12-13-2011, 01:41 AM

yeah they caught me out about six years ago when i bought a carbon-fibre sunroof.
They ring you up and say your item has arived but its going to cost an arm and a leg
before you can have it.

bossa · 12-13-2011, 03:03 AM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

yeah they caught me out about six years ago when i bought a carbon-fibre sunroof.
They ring you up and say your item has arived but its going to cost an arm and a leg
before you can have it.

Yeah, they aren't exactly friendly either. The FedEx guy was though.

Frogfish · 12-13-2011, 05:03 AM

Originally posted by Sekul

i must say, this is a great lens, but i have expended a lot of time fine tunning the autofocus. actually if i remember well, on my k-5 fw 1.01 the focus was just fine, but after the upgrade not so good

Superb 3D there. Very nice catch ... it's not easy to get those shots.

**Rondec** · 12-13-2011, 08:27 AM

Originally posted by bossa

Is that 2nd shot of your son the Sigma or the DA? The octagonal COC are a let down don't you think? Otherwise a very lovely shot.

It was done with the Sigma at f2.5. The DA 55 would have rendered everything in a circular fashion, even stopped down. Overall, I have been very pleased with this lens. It has nice center sharpness, even wide open and edges aren't too bad. Who would shoot landscapes at f1.4 anyway?

Sekul · 12-13-2011, 11:43 AM

Originally posted by Frogfish

Superb 3D there. Very nice catch ... it's not easy to get those shots.

Thank you very much.The 3D is strong in this one.
Some time ago i recieved as a gift the fabulous fa31, it is sharper, but the sigma isolate the subject better and even more, it gather more light at the same aperture

joakimfors · 12-18-2011, 12:08 PM - **1 Like**

Really like this lens for indoor use. Just have to remember to shoot wide open if there are distracting point lights in the background. I also feel that the AF is not as precise as the DA* 55 or DA 35 Macro Limited that I own… could be user error though.

Edgar_in_Indy · 12-18-2011, 11:07 PM

Originally posted by joakimfors

Really like this lens for indoor use. Just have to remember to shoot wide open if there are distracting point lights in the background. I also feel that the AF is not as precise as the DA* 55 or DA 35 Macro Limited that I own… could be user error though.

Joakimfors,

Great picture! That's a perfect example of what this lens can do in certain situations. With a lot of other lenses, that image would not have been anything extraordinarily special. But that picture shows that the 30mm 1.4, when used right, is magical.

12-13-2011, 12:17 AM	#246
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	Originally posted by TOUGEFC customs charge tax on items over $1000. Ive been charged in the past What I'm getting at is: Do they include shipping costs as well as item price in that $1000? Last edited by bossa; 12-13-2011 at 12:34 AM.

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12-12-2011, 09:19 PM	#241
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	Originally posted by Edgar_in_Indy Back-focus issues notwithstanding, I'm continuing to shoot with this lens and I'm starting to warm up to it. I took it along today when we took our daughters to lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse after ballet and then to get their haircuts. Below are some of the keepers from today. I'm still experimenting with f/1.4, so all of the pictures were shot at f/1.4 even if some of the pictures may have benefited from more depth of field. And here's some shots I got while at work the other day. The lens arrived in the mail just before I was leaving for work, and I knew it was going to be a long shift thinking about the lens all day, so I grabbed it before I left and played with it at work. In the two pictures of my car with its emergency lights on, you can see the difference the aperture size has on the way bright light sources are rendered. Great shots Edgar every one of them.. I can't believe I am thinking about this lens when I already had a FA31 LTD. This place is evil.. pure evil..... ;-) Last edited by bossa; 12-13-2011 at 12:01 AM.

12-12-2011, 09:28 PM	#242
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	Yes, I noticed that some small but OOF flowers tend to look like they're vibrating. Not sure if that's astigmatism or what... This was a reply to EFV a few posts ago.

12-12-2011, 10:48 PM	#243
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561 Original Poster	Originally posted by bossa Would be at an earlier exchange rate where the OZ$ was less than the greenback? B&H only charge GST and import duty based on the actual item price so today's exchange rate would incur no taxes. Do you buy all of your lenses from B&H? Australia customs charge the tax on import not B&H, I have bought many items from B&H/adorama and but I also buy local too if its cheaper, (Sigma lenses are cheaper here) Originally posted by RickyFromVegas This is an amazing lens and my favorite AF lens to this date, but it's not without a weakness. In my opinion, the edgy and triangular bokeh is a weakness. It feels a bit harsh and sometimes distracting, but then again, I love the sharpness and the subject isolation it gives me. Yes the way this lens renders its subjects in isolation is incredible

12-12-2011, 11:52 PM	#244
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	Originally posted by TOUGEFC Australia customs charge the tax on import not B&H, I have bought many items from B&H/adorama and but I also buy local too if its cheaper, (Sigma lenses are cheaper here) Yes the way this lens renders its subjects in isolation is incredible I was told in an email that B&H charge the GST and pass it on. Are you saying that a sub AU$1,000 lens cost you GST & duty? EDIT: Sorry I read my email and it said that the GST is paid here and that the shipping is not included. That seemed to go against what has happened to me in the past as I remember it. Customs include shipping costs and they charge for the entire shipment and not on an item-by-item basis, if I remember rightly. Last edited by bossa; 12-12-2011 at 11:58 PM.

12-13-2011, 12:15 AM	#245
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561 Original Poster	customs charge tax on items over $1000. Ive been charged in the past

12-13-2011, 01:11 AM	#247
trickletreat Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: West Mids Posts: 90	Originally posted by bossa What I'm getting at is: Do they include shipping costs as well as item price in that $1000? In the UK they charge on the shipping and insurance, so it is not just the cost of the item. Then if you receive it from some of the big delivery companies, you get handling charges and are always invoiced for the custom duty, and taxed for the pleasure. This usually adds between 24 and 30% to the cost. Nigel

12-13-2011, 01:19 AM	#248
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	Originally posted by trickletreat In the UK they charge on the shipping and insurance, so it is not just the cost of the item. Then if you receive it from some of the big delivery companies, you get handling charges and are always invoiced for the custom duty, and taxed for the pleasure. This usually adds between 24 and 30% to the cost. Nigel I bought a Yamaha AW4416 from a guy in the US a few years ago at a, then, bargain price. He thought he'd do me a favour and add $700 to the quoted price for insurance and I was charged $100 more than I would have been when the FedEx guy dropped it off. In Australia they charge 10% GST (VAT) and 4% Import Duty on anything over $1000. But I seem to remember they added the shipping costs on as well. This was about 8 years ago and I was completely taken by surprise.

12-13-2011, 01:41 AM	#249
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561 Original Poster	yeah they caught me out about six years ago when i bought a carbon-fibre sunroof. They ring you up and say your item has arived but its going to cost an arm and a leg before you can have it.

12-13-2011, 03:03 AM	#250
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	Originally posted by TOUGEFC yeah they caught me out about six years ago when i bought a carbon-fibre sunroof. They ring you up and say your item has arived but its going to cost an arm and a leg before you can have it. Yeah, they aren't exactly friendly either. The FedEx guy was though.

12-13-2011, 05:03 AM	#251
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by Sekul i must say, this is a great lens, but i have expended a lot of time fine tunning the autofocus. actually if i remember well, on my k-5 fw 1.01 the focus was just fine, but after the upgrade not so good Superb 3D there. Very nice catch ... it's not easy to get those shots.

12-13-2011, 08:27 AM	#252
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,662	Originally posted by bossa Is that 2nd shot of your son the Sigma or the DA? The octagonal COC are a let down don't you think? Otherwise a very lovely shot. It was done with the Sigma at f2.5. The DA 55 would have rendered everything in a circular fashion, even stopped down. Overall, I have been very pleased with this lens. It has nice center sharpness, even wide open and edges aren't too bad. Who would shoot landscapes at f1.4 anyway?

12-13-2011, 11:43 AM	#253
Sekul Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 102	Originally posted by Frogfish Superb 3D there. Very nice catch ... it's not easy to get those shots. Thank you very much.The 3D is strong in this one. Some time ago i recieved as a gift the fabulous fa31, it is sharper, but the sigma isolate the subject better and even more, it gather more light at the same aperture

12-18-2011, 12:08 PM - 1 Like	#254
joakimfors Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 237	Really like this lens for indoor use. Just have to remember to shoot wide open if there are distracting point lights in the background. I also feel that the AF is not as precise as the DA* 55 or DA 35 Macro Limited that I own… could be user error though.

12-18-2011, 11:07 PM	#255
Edgar_in_Indy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Indiana, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,685	Originally posted by joakimfors Really like this lens for indoor use. Just have to remember to shoot wide open if there are distracting point lights in the background. I also feel that the AF is not as precise as the DA* 55 or DA 35 Macro Limited that I own… could be user error though. Joakimfors, Great picture! That's a perfect example of what this lens can do in certain situations. With a lot of other lenses, that image would not have been anything extraordinarily special. But that picture shows that the 30mm 1.4, when used right, is magical.