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yusuf · 11-30-2011, 09:49 PM

I have FA35/2 and it's a stellar lens, just wishing it was f1.4. I am now thinking to get one with f1.4 and there are two options in this focal length, Sigma 30/1.4 and Samyang 35mm/1.4, later being a manual focus and large lens. Samyang 35mm has been highly praised for it's optical quality by all reviewers, however Sigma 30mm has AF and it's smaller.

What's your opinion? I am not worried about focal length duplication as I might sell FA35 after acquiring one of these.

Thanks

twitch · 11-30-2011, 09:53 PM

Unless you really need full frame capability (which you have already in your FA35), Sigma is a much better choice.

hcc · 11-30-2011, 09:54 PM

A 30mm versus your 35mm is not a big difference in terms of focal legnth, and will cause some overlap. I would discourage it. If you are happy with your FA35mm f2, why don't you keep it and consider a fast 50mm to complement your 35/2?

There are some great fast fifties for K-mount, including the FA50mm f1.4 (AF), the Sigma 50mm f1.4 (AF), the Zeiss 50m f1.4 (MF), Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 (MF).

The FA50m f1.4 is well-liked by many Pentaxians and would be nice option to complement your FA35mm f2 if you prefer AF.

Hope that the comments wil help.

joe.penn · 11-30-2011, 10:27 PM

Originally posted by yusuf

Please advice: Sigma 30mm vs Samyang 35mm f1.4

For me it's tough, I have the sigma on my list as one of the next ones to get, but I have been reading more and more great things about the 35 Samyang (I currently own the 8, 14, 85 Samyangs) - for me I prefer MF lenses although AF is kind of good to have.

Really Good Info -> Samyang 35mm f/1.4 (a. k.a. Rokinon, ProOptic or Bower)

Check out these snaps in this thread:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/134655-samyang...ml#post1658360

Judging by the OOF rendering of those pics, the bokeh for the 35mm is near the same as the 85mm which in short makes it some of the best there is. Again, would be a very tough choice for me...

adpo · 11-30-2011, 10:32 PM

it really depends on what you shoot. If you need AF and dont mind soft corners, go for the sigma. I find it works great for shooting people. if you want image quality, go for the samyang. The samyang is one of those lenses which simply blow you away with sheer image quality.

DogLover · 11-30-2011, 10:46 PM

Originally posted by adpo

it really depends on what you shoot. If you need AF and dont mind soft corners, go for the sigma. I find it works great for shooting people. if you want image quality, go for the samyang. The samyang is one of those lenses which simply blow you away with sheer image quality.

Seems pretty accurate. +1

Frogfish · 12-01-2011, 02:13 AM

+1 for the Sigma (super sharp, fast AF, creativity, great IQ) however the Samyang has some excellent reviews but is a bit of a beast too (almost twice the weight of the Sigma).

IMO it pretty much comes down to whether you need/prefer AF over MF.

yusuf · 12-01-2011, 12:00 PM

yes, even I am inclined towards Sigma due to the focal length (will prefer 30mm over 35mm) & size though a bit worried about focusing issues face by people on Sigma due to inconsistent QC. Any thoughts?

adpo · 12-01-2011, 12:06 PM

my copy front focuses. luckily, the k-5 comes with focus compensation

yusuf · 12-01-2011, 12:08 PM

Originally posted by adpo

my copy front focuses. luckily, the k-5 comes with focus compensation

This is exactly I am worried. Also, I am on k-x so no individual focus adjustment for me.

twitch · 12-01-2011, 03:20 PM

Originally posted by yusuf

This is exactly I am worried. Also, I am on k-x so no individual focus adjustment for me.

I would never grey import a Sigma lens for this very reason, if you buy local (at least in Australia) Sigma are very happy to calibrate the AF of their lens to your body.

TOUGEFC · 12-01-2011, 03:43 PM

Locally the Sigma 30mm was cheaper than importing.
FWIW The sigma lens needed less fine AF adjustment than any of my pentax lenses

DogLover · 12-01-2011, 04:00 PM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

FWIW The sigma lens needed less fine AF adjustment than any of my pentax lenses

That's been my experience, too. My 100-300 requires no adjustment, but my 10mm FE and the 30 I used to have required very little.

MegaPower · 12-01-2011, 06:44 PM

the sigma has a MFD of 40cm which is not very useful compare to FA35 to me.

yusuf · 12-02-2011, 10:05 AM

Originally posted by twitch

I would never grey import a Sigma lens for this very reason, if you buy local (at least in Australia) Sigma are very happy to calibrate the AF of their lens to your body.

I wish I had that luxury, we do not have any sources for Pentax lenses so have to procure from outside only (Indian market is dominated by Canon/Nikon)

May be I will wait for someone to sell their tested copy here

11-30-2011, 09:49 PM	#1
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	Please advice: Sigma 30mm vs Samyang 35mm f1.4 I have FA35/2 and it's a stellar lens, just wishing it was f1.4. I am now thinking to get one with f1.4 and there are two options in this focal length, Sigma 30/1.4 and Samyang 35mm/1.4, later being a manual focus and large lens. Samyang 35mm has been highly praised for it's optical quality by all reviewers, however Sigma 30mm has AF and it's smaller. What's your opinion? I am not worried about focal length duplication as I might sell FA35 after acquiring one of these. Thanks

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11-30-2011, 09:53 PM	#2
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Unless you really need full frame capability (which you have already in your FA35), Sigma is a much better choice.

11-30-2011, 09:54 PM	#3
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,005	A 30mm versus your 35mm is not a big difference in terms of focal legnth, and will cause some overlap. I would discourage it. If you are happy with your FA35mm f2, why don't you keep it and consider a fast 50mm to complement your 35/2? There are some great fast fifties for K-mount, including the FA50mm f1.4 (AF), the Sigma 50mm f1.4 (AF), the Zeiss 50m f1.4 (MF), Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 (MF). The FA50m f1.4 is well-liked by many Pentaxians and would be nice option to complement your FA35mm f2 if you prefer AF. Hope that the comments wil help.

11-30-2011, 10:27 PM	#4
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by yusuf Please advice: Sigma 30mm vs Samyang 35mm f1.4 For me it's tough, I have the sigma on my list as one of the next ones to get, but I have been reading more and more great things about the 35 Samyang (I currently own the 8, 14, 85 Samyangs) - for me I prefer MF lenses although AF is kind of good to have. Really Good Info -> Samyang 35mm f/1.4 (a. k.a. Rokinon, ProOptic or Bower) Check out these snaps in this thread: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/134655-samyang...ml#post1658360 Judging by the OOF rendering of those pics, the bokeh for the 35mm is near the same as the 85mm which in short makes it some of the best there is. Again, would be a very tough choice for me...

11-30-2011, 10:32 PM	#5
adpo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 888	it really depends on what you shoot. If you need AF and dont mind soft corners, go for the sigma. I find it works great for shooting people. if you want image quality, go for the samyang. The samyang is one of those lenses which simply blow you away with sheer image quality.

11-30-2011, 10:46 PM	#6
DogLover Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2,054	Originally posted by adpo it really depends on what you shoot. If you need AF and dont mind soft corners, go for the sigma. I find it works great for shooting people. if you want image quality, go for the samyang. The samyang is one of those lenses which simply blow you away with sheer image quality. Seems pretty accurate. +1

12-01-2011, 02:13 AM	#7
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	+1 for the Sigma (super sharp, fast AF, creativity, great IQ) however the Samyang has some excellent reviews but is a bit of a beast too (almost twice the weight of the Sigma). IMO it pretty much comes down to whether you need/prefer AF over MF.

12-01-2011, 12:00 PM	#8
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497 Original Poster	yes, even I am inclined towards Sigma due to the focal length (will prefer 30mm over 35mm) & size though a bit worried about focusing issues face by people on Sigma due to inconsistent QC. Any thoughts?

12-01-2011, 12:06 PM	#9
adpo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 888	my copy front focuses. luckily, the k-5 comes with focus compensation

12-01-2011, 12:08 PM	#10
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497 Original Poster	Originally posted by adpo my copy front focuses. luckily, the k-5 comes with focus compensation This is exactly I am worried. Also, I am on k-x so no individual focus adjustment for me.

12-01-2011, 03:20 PM	#11
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Originally posted by yusuf This is exactly I am worried. Also, I am on k-x so no individual focus adjustment for me. I would never grey import a Sigma lens for this very reason, if you buy local (at least in Australia) Sigma are very happy to calibrate the AF of their lens to your body.

12-01-2011, 03:43 PM	#12
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	Locally the Sigma 30mm was cheaper than importing. FWIW The sigma lens needed less fine AF adjustment than any of my pentax lenses

12-01-2011, 04:00 PM	#13
DogLover Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2,054	Originally posted by TOUGEFC FWIW The sigma lens needed less fine AF adjustment than any of my pentax lenses That's been my experience, too. My 100-300 requires no adjustment, but my 10mm FE and the 30 I used to have required very little.

12-01-2011, 06:44 PM	#14
MegaPower Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hong Kong / Irvine, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 636	the sigma has a MFD of 40cm which is not very useful compare to FA35 to me.

12-02-2011, 10:05 AM	#15
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497 Original Poster	Originally posted by twitch I would never grey import a Sigma lens for this very reason, if you buy local (at least in Australia) Sigma are very happy to calibrate the AF of their lens to your body. I wish I had that luxury, we do not have any sources for Pentax lenses so have to procure from outside only (Indian market is dominated by Canon/Nikon) May be I will wait for someone to sell their tested copy here