Sigma 30mm f/1.4 thoughts and examples

goddo31 · 06-28-2011, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by haassaasin

Started reading this thread and almost decided to buy it, then read that it has focusing issues which I wont be able to fix on my k-x :s

I guess its a good thing I do not want to buy it any more because I already have the 35 f/2.4

I think it would be wrong to assume that all copies of one particular lens have focusing issues. I think the reality is that some copies of this lens don't focus perfectly on some bodies.
AF calibration issues or not, don't forget that there's a such thing as manual focus

You might want to manually focus with such a fast lens anyway. Depth of field is pretty shallow with wider apertures at closer distances, I don't imagine an AF system would get it perfect every time anyway.

Nice examples in this thread. This lens has been on my radar for a while along with some other options. The obvious alternative being the FA31, but that requires some financial sacrifices

TOUGEFC · 06-28-2011, 10:42 PM

Originally posted by haassaasin

Started reading this thread and almost decided to buy it, then read that it has focusing issues which I wont be able to fix on my k-x :s

I guess its a good thing I do not want to buy it any more because I already have the 35 f/2.4

Dont dis-regard it due to the fact that some copys do have bf/ff issues,(hence why you try before you buy), you will find that most fast lenses will probably need micro adjustment. Infact my 3 Pentax Limiteds needed more micro adjust than this sigma

And if you find that your copy needs adjustment, Sigma will adjust it free of charge to match your body.

CWyatt · 06-28-2011, 11:26 PM

'Tis a nice lens this one.

Wrote some similar things: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/121684-thought...m-f-1-4-a.html

GeneV · 06-29-2011, 05:05 AM

Originally posted by Digitalis

As for the whole edge sharpness thing I wouldn't worry about it too much, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is a DX lens - the FA31 is a full frame lens and of course the FA31 is going to deliver better edge-to-edge performance on a DX sensor, it's imaging circle is practically twice the size. But the fact that the FA31 is able to be used on a full frame camera(and if performs very well on T-Max 100), has an aperture ring and superlative construction are some of the primary reasons why I was so interested in it, and the optical qualities are what convinced me to buy it.

Unfortunately, the lack of usefulness on film has made the Sigma less interesting to me than the FA31 as well. However, at half the price, one could afford to buy another lens for film.

jstevewhite · 06-29-2011, 07:33 AM

Originally posted by GeneV

Unfortunately, the lack of usefulness on film has made the Sigma less interesting to me than the FA31 as well. However, at half the price, one could afford to buy another lens for film.

Has anyone tried it on film? I'm curious; many "APS-C" lenses still cover the full 24x36mm; some with vignetting that's easily corrected in post. I mean, I don't shoot film anymore, but I'd be interested in the result.

paperbag846 · 06-29-2011, 09:34 AM

Would be interested too.

The DA 35 2.4 also works, if the sigma does not.

GeneV · 06-29-2011, 11:22 AM

Originally posted by jstevewhite

Has anyone tried it on film? I'm curious; many "APS-C" lenses still cover the full 24x36mm; some with vignetting that's easily corrected in post. I mean, I don't shoot film anymore, but I'd be interested in the result.

It has no aperture ring, so that eliminates my favorite film bodies (LX, MX), right there. However, it would be interesting to mount it on the Superprogram or ZX-L and see what happens. I wouldn't want to pay for it first, since the tests showed pretty marginal border and corner resolution even on APS-C, so my expectations are not high.

GeneV · 06-29-2011, 11:24 AM

Originally posted by paperbag846

Would be interested too.

The DA 35 2.4 also works, if the sigma does not.

I have the FA35/2 for that.

jstevewhite · 06-29-2011, 11:35 AM

Originally posted by GeneV

I have the FA35/2 for that.

Me, too. Now I need a Pentax film body

GeneV · 06-29-2011, 11:37 AM

Originally posted by jstevewhite

Me, too. Now I need a Pentax film body

They are not hard to find. The FA has an aperture ring and works with everything.

jstevewhite · 06-29-2011, 12:00 PM

Originally posted by GeneV

They are not hard to find. The FA has an aperture ring and works with everything.

See, I went looking, and I keep getting sidetracked by the cheap 645s and 6x7s

I always loved that 645.

jstevewhite · 06-29-2011, 01:19 PM

Where IS that UPS guy? I swear he knows I'm waiting for a lens and moved us to the bottom of his list; we're usually 11:00 am!

Ubuntu_user · 06-29-2011, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by jstevewhite

Where IS that UPS guy? I swear he knows I'm waiting for a lens and moved us to the bottom of his list; we're usually 11:00 am!

Ha, ha! Isn't that the way it goes...

Let us know what you think when you get it! When I had that lens, I enjoyed it.

Ubuntu_user · 06-29-2011, 02:38 PM

TOUGEFC: Did you sharpen any of those images in post? I just don't recall my copy of this lens being that sharp wide open.

jstevewhite · 06-29-2011, 10:51 PM

Hrm. Got mine today. K-5 identifies it as another different lens I have and applies the fine focus adjust to it.

I zero out the fine focus. Shoot pix of cat. Cat is out of focus, but floor is in, so I dial in focus. Get it right. Shoot some more tests outside. back focus again. Dial it up to +10; still back focuses just a tad. I walk around shooting off-the-cuff test shots, look 'em over. Erratic focus.

Turns out that I have to stop down to f2 to get accurate focus. At 1.4, it front focuses sometimes, back focuses others. *sigh*. Trying to decide whether I want to mess with it or not - it works very well with live view focus, of course. I certainly don't want to send the camera and lens off to get 'em calibrated. I've got thirty days to return it to Amazon.

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06-28-2011, 08:50 PM	#31
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	Originally posted by haassaasin Started reading this thread and almost decided to buy it, then read that it has focusing issues which I wont be able to fix on my k-x :s I guess its a good thing I do not want to buy it any more because I already have the 35 f/2.4 I think it would be wrong to assume that all copies of one particular lens have focusing issues. I think the reality is that some copies of this lens don't focus perfectly on some bodies. AF calibration issues or not, don't forget that there's a such thing as manual focus You might want to manually focus with such a fast lens anyway. Depth of field is pretty shallow with wider apertures at closer distances, I don't imagine an AF system would get it perfect every time anyway. Nice examples in this thread. This lens has been on my radar for a while along with some other options. The obvious alternative being the FA31, but that requires some financial sacrifices

06-28-2011, 10:42 PM	#32
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561 Original Poster	Originally posted by haassaasin Started reading this thread and almost decided to buy it, then read that it has focusing issues which I wont be able to fix on my k-x :s I guess its a good thing I do not want to buy it any more because I already have the 35 f/2.4 Dont dis-regard it due to the fact that some copys do have bf/ff issues,(hence why you try before you buy), you will find that most fast lenses will probably need micro adjustment. Infact my 3 Pentax Limiteds needed more micro adjust than this sigma And if you find that your copy needs adjustment, Sigma will adjust it free of charge to match your body.

06-28-2011, 11:26 PM	#33
CWyatt Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,291	'Tis a nice lens this one. Wrote some similar things: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/121684-thought...m-f-1-4-a.html

06-29-2011, 05:05 AM	#34
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by Digitalis As for the whole edge sharpness thing I wouldn't worry about it too much, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is a DX lens - the FA31 is a full frame lens and of course the FA31 is going to deliver better edge-to-edge performance on a DX sensor, it's imaging circle is practically twice the size. But the fact that the FA31 is able to be used on a full frame camera(and if performs very well on T-Max 100), has an aperture ring and superlative construction are some of the primary reasons why I was so interested in it, and the optical qualities are what convinced me to buy it. Unfortunately, the lack of usefulness on film has made the Sigma less interesting to me than the FA31 as well. However, at half the price, one could afford to buy another lens for film.

06-29-2011, 07:33 AM	#35
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Originally posted by GeneV Unfortunately, the lack of usefulness on film has made the Sigma less interesting to me than the FA31 as well. However, at half the price, one could afford to buy another lens for film. Has anyone tried it on film? I'm curious; many "APS-C" lenses still cover the full 24x36mm; some with vignetting that's easily corrected in post. I mean, I don't shoot film anymore, but I'd be interested in the result.

06-29-2011, 09:34 AM	#36
paperbag846 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,395	Would be interested too. The DA 35 2.4 also works, if the sigma does not.

06-29-2011, 11:22 AM	#37
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by jstevewhite Has anyone tried it on film? I'm curious; many "APS-C" lenses still cover the full 24x36mm; some with vignetting that's easily corrected in post. I mean, I don't shoot film anymore, but I'd be interested in the result. It has no aperture ring, so that eliminates my favorite film bodies (LX, MX), right there. However, it would be interesting to mount it on the Superprogram or ZX-L and see what happens. I wouldn't want to pay for it first, since the tests showed pretty marginal border and corner resolution even on APS-C, so my expectations are not high.

06-29-2011, 11:24 AM	#38
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by paperbag846 Would be interested too. The DA 35 2.4 also works, if the sigma does not. I have the FA35/2 for that.

06-29-2011, 11:35 AM	#39
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Originally posted by GeneV I have the FA35/2 for that. Me, too. Now I need a Pentax film body

06-29-2011, 11:37 AM	#40
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by jstevewhite Me, too. Now I need a Pentax film body They are not hard to find. The FA has an aperture ring and works with everything.

06-29-2011, 12:00 PM	#41
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Originally posted by GeneV They are not hard to find. The FA has an aperture ring and works with everything. See, I went looking, and I keep getting sidetracked by the cheap 645s and 6x7s I always loved that 645.

06-29-2011, 01:19 PM	#42
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Where IS that UPS guy? I swear he knows I'm waiting for a lens and moved us to the bottom of his list; we're usually 11:00 am!

06-29-2011, 02:37 PM	#43
Ubuntu_user Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,545	Originally posted by jstevewhite Where IS that UPS guy? I swear he knows I'm waiting for a lens and moved us to the bottom of his list; we're usually 11:00 am! Ha, ha! Isn't that the way it goes... Let us know what you think when you get it! When I had that lens, I enjoyed it.

06-29-2011, 02:38 PM	#44
Ubuntu_user Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,545	TOUGEFC: Did you sharpen any of those images in post? I just don't recall my copy of this lens being that sharp wide open.

06-29-2011, 10:51 PM	#45
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Hrm. Got mine today. K-5 identifies it as another different lens I have and applies the fine focus adjust to it. I zero out the fine focus. Shoot pix of cat. Cat is out of focus, but floor is in, so I dial in focus. Get it right. Shoot some more tests outside. back focus again. Dial it up to +10; still back focuses just a tad. I walk around shooting off-the-cuff test shots, look 'em over. Erratic focus. Turns out that I have to stop down to f2 to get accurate focus. At 1.4, it front focuses sometimes, back focuses others. sigh. Trying to decide whether I want to mess with it or not - it works very well with live view focus, of course. I certainly don't want to send the camera and lens off to get 'em calibrated. I've got thirty days to return it to Amazon.