sigma 30mm vs. pentax 30mm

jay legere · 02-01-2008, 11:28 AM

Hi,

I am looking to enhance my lens collection.

I am wondering if any of you out there use the Sigma Normal 30mm f/1.4 EX DC Autofocus Lens. I am also wondering about those who use the pentax SMC 50mm f/2.0.

BHPHOTO sells both and the price difference is $130.00. The Sigma being more expensive.

Is the quality in the sigma lens, aside from the obvious f/stop gains, worth the price difference?

LBA!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks

Jay

Last edited by jay legere; 02-01-2008 at 01:20 PM.

Gooshin · 02-01-2008, 11:34 AM

two completely different lenses

do you want the field of view of a 30mm, or a 50mm?

do you need razor thin DOF of the 30mm?

do you care that the 30mm is very sharp in the center and noticably soft in the corners?

jay legere · 02-01-2008, 11:39 AM

Thanks gooshin,

I should say, I meant to inquire about the 35mm f/2.0 pentax lens, not 50.

What I want is good low light, bokeh and great color reproduction.

I just want an opinion on why one likes the idea of one lens over the other.

Gooshin · 02-01-2008, 12:11 PM

i own the 35 2.0, and i like it very much

1.4 would be fun to play around with, but the 35 cost me alot less than the sigma, and from all the reviews i read, the sigma is a center focus lens, with super sharpness in the center and soft focus on the sides

i already have a fish eye for that effect, so i chose the 35

jay legere · 02-01-2008, 12:18 PM

Thanks Gooshin,

That's 1 for the pentax.
And that is where I will start to lean if they keep coming that way.

Please keep the opinions coming!

Jay

roentarre · 02-01-2008, 03:48 PM

Sigma 30mm f1.4 is not that bad. It has neutral bokeh as people have suggested previously and it is cheap for what is capable of - 1.4

There are some sample variations where corner sharpness varies. There is backfocusing issue at times in low light situation. Otherwise, it is not a bad lens to use given its price.

Fa 35 f2 is a lovely prime where there is not much technical weakness besides an aperture of f2; Some people dislike it for its lack of "overall wow factor" in the images it produces. Now that is really up to a personal taste in the end. The funny thing is that a comparison between fa 31 ltd vs 35 f2 reveals little difference in sharpness, contrast and colour etc. However, the difference is there. It is just difficult to pin it down with an objective data.

You pay for what you get (in general)

deejjjaaaa · 02-01-2008, 04:15 PM

Originally posted by jay legere

Thanks gooshin,

I should say, I meant to inquire about the 35mm f/2.0 pentax lens, not 50.

What I want is good low light, bokeh and great color reproduction.

I just want an opinion on why one likes the idea of one lens over the other.

35/2 has 6 aperture blades... typically, in general, bokeh will gain from more blades... also 35/2
has some issues with light sources near the borders during night time shooting (coma) - not
critical for me for example.

02-01-2008, 11:28 AM	#1
jay legere New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: !qaluit, Canada Posts: 19	sigma 30mm vs. pentax 35mm Hi, I am looking to enhance my lens collection. I am wondering if any of you out there use the Sigma Normal 30mm f/1.4 EX DC Autofocus Lens. I am also wondering about those who use the pentax SMC 50mm f/2.0. BHPHOTO sells both and the price difference is $130.00. The Sigma being more expensive. Is the quality in the sigma lens, aside from the obvious f/stop gains, worth the price difference? LBA!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Jay Last edited by jay legere; 02-01-2008 at 01:20 PM.

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02-01-2008, 11:34 AM	#2
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	two completely different lenses do you want the field of view of a 30mm, or a 50mm? do you need razor thin DOF of the 30mm? do you care that the 30mm is very sharp in the center and noticably soft in the corners?

02-01-2008, 11:39 AM	#3
jay legere New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: !qaluit, Canada Posts: 19 Original Poster	Thanks gooshin, I should say, I meant to inquire about the 35mm f/2.0 pentax lens, not 50. What I want is good low light, bokeh and great color reproduction. I just want an opinion on why one likes the idea of one lens over the other.

02-01-2008, 12:11 PM	#4
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	i own the 35 2.0, and i like it very much 1.4 would be fun to play around with, but the 35 cost me alot less than the sigma, and from all the reviews i read, the sigma is a center focus lens, with super sharpness in the center and soft focus on the sides i already have a fish eye for that effect, so i chose the 35

02-01-2008, 12:18 PM	#5
jay legere New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: !qaluit, Canada Posts: 19 Original Poster	Thanks Gooshin, That's 1 for the pentax. And that is where I will start to lean if they keep coming that way. Please keep the opinions coming! Jay

02-01-2008, 03:48 PM	#6
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Sigma 30mm f1.4 is not that bad. It has neutral bokeh as people have suggested previously and it is cheap for what is capable of - 1.4 There are some sample variations where corner sharpness varies. There is backfocusing issue at times in low light situation. Otherwise, it is not a bad lens to use given its price. Fa 35 f2 is a lovely prime where there is not much technical weakness besides an aperture of f2; Some people dislike it for its lack of "overall wow factor" in the images it produces. Now that is really up to a personal taste in the end. The funny thing is that a comparison between fa 31 ltd vs 35 f2 reveals little difference in sharpness, contrast and colour etc. However, the difference is there. It is just difficult to pin it down with an objective data. You pay for what you get (in general)

02-01-2008, 04:15 PM	#7
deejjjaaaa Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: steel city / rust belt Posts: 2,043	Originally posted by jay legere Thanks gooshin, I should say, I meant to inquire about the 35mm f/2.0 pentax lens, not 50. What I want is good low light, bokeh and great color reproduction. I just want an opinion on why one likes the idea of one lens over the other. 35/2 has 6 aperture blades... typically, in general, bokeh will gain from more blades... also 35/2 has some issues with light sources near the borders during night time shooting (coma) - not critical for me for example.