FA31ltd twice as good as Sigma 30/1.4?

Graham67 · 03-24-2009, 05:35 PM

I'm decided on getting an FA77ltd, and a DA*55, but am unsure on the FA31ltd.

Does it justfy being twice the price of the Sig 30/1.4?

TIA.

EricT · 03-24-2009, 05:41 PM

Well, the relationship between quality and price isn't linear. At a certain point, you will get diminishing returns, i.e. you have to pay more and more for smaller and smaller improvements. If this is worth it or not is up to you.
Humans have a tendency to think linearly, while in fact a lot of the phenomena in the world around us is non-linear.
And with that meta-physical comment, I sign off, I do not own any of the lenses in question

k100d · 03-24-2009, 06:26 PM

check tests, compare samples. it's a relative proposition.

RonMexico · 03-24-2009, 06:44 PM

All I can say is that I recently got the FA 31mm and......Sweet Jesus!!

....and I'm not even religious.

nulla · 03-24-2009, 07:17 PM

Originally posted by RonMexico

All I can say is that I recently got the FA 31mm and......Sweet Jesus!!

....and I'm not even religious.

hahahaha Well I think I need to become a born again.. going to Nepal in September and its on my list as a must get

nostatic · 03-24-2009, 07:26 PM

I tried the 31ltd three different times. The first two times I wasn't sold. The third time...well, I have a tough time wanting to take it off the body. Yes, it is that good...

lithos · 03-24-2009, 07:28 PM

Don't own either of these lenses, never even used them, but keep in mind that one's a Sigma and one's not a Sigma, then base you decision on not getting a Sigma.

HansenTsang · 03-24-2009, 09:41 PM

When you get a good copy of either one it will be very good. However if you take 100 samples of each one the Pentax 31 will give you a lot more better copies. That said I have both but not with the same mount. My Sigma 30 is with a Nikon mount and the Pentax is Pentax mount. My Sigma is mediocre and the Pentax 31 is definitely high end.

dantekgeek · 03-24-2009, 10:11 PM

What it came down to for me was not only the price difference, but the speed. The extra almost half stop on the Sigma makes a big-big difference in extreme low light photography and prevents me from having to up the ISO as often as I otherwise would.

The Limited is going to give you a beautiful lens, a work of art, that is a pleasure to use and gives stunning results.

The Sigma is going to give you the edge in speed, with a cheaper (but not shoddy) feeling body, much lower QA, and serious IQ issues at the edges and corners (though center sharpness is about the most mind-blowing thing I've ever seen– simply off the charts).

If you have the cash and don't absolutely need the speed, go for the Limited– you won't regret it.

soccerjoe5 · 03-24-2009, 10:40 PM

Hmm to be more practical about it > do you print large? Or do you mostly put your photos on the web and view them on a screen? Because if you do then I don't think you'll notice much difference between the two UNLESS you really really go critical and view at 100%

axl · 03-25-2009, 12:56 AM

Originally posted by RonMexico

All I can say is that I recently got the FA 31mm and......Sweet Jesus!!

....and I'm not even religious.

this is literaly (even the religious part) my experience with 31ltd
thanks for putting it down in words so nicely Ron

BR

Steelski · 03-25-2009, 02:08 AM

Originally posted by nostatic

I tried the 31ltd three different times. The first two times I wasn't sold. The third time...well, I have a tough time wanting to take it off the body. Yes, it is that good...

EEEEEEUUUUUUEEEEEEYYYYYYYYWWWWWWWWWWW

put that 31mm down from your body. that is simply not what it was intended for. Man and machine are not for combination.

melander · 03-25-2009, 02:36 AM

The 30/1.4 is very soft at the edges. Its designed that way. Only sharp in the middle.
So if your after a short portrait lens, 30/1.4 is the way to go. Else take the 31/1.8

Miserere · 03-25-2009, 02:45 AM

Well...the 31 Ltd does cover twice as much image area as the Sigma 30mm, so maybe it is worth twice the price

Reportage · 03-25-2009, 03:23 AM

Originally posted by Graham67

I'm decided on getting an FA77ltd, and a DA*55, but am unsure on the FA31ltd.

Does it justfy being twice the price of the Sig 30/1.4?

TIA.

have you compared with the Tamron 17-50 F2.8?

03-24-2009, 05:35 PM	#1
Graham67 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Leicester, England Photos: Gallery Posts: 89	FA31ltd twice as good as Sigma 30/1.4? I'm decided on getting an FA77ltd, and a DA*55, but am unsure on the FA31ltd. Does it justfy being twice the price of the Sig 30/1.4? TIA.

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03-24-2009, 05:41 PM	#2
EricT Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 484	Well, the relationship between quality and price isn't linear. At a certain point, you will get diminishing returns, i.e. you have to pay more and more for smaller and smaller improvements. If this is worth it or not is up to you. Humans have a tendency to think linearly, while in fact a lot of the phenomena in the world around us is non-linear. And with that meta-physical comment, I sign off, I do not own any of the lenses in question

03-24-2009, 06:26 PM	#3
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	check tests, compare samples. it's a relative proposition.

03-24-2009, 06:44 PM	#4
RonMexico Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 215	All I can say is that I recently got the FA 31mm and......Sweet Jesus!! ....and I'm not even religious.

03-24-2009, 07:17 PM	#5
nulla Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 1,560	Originally posted by RonMexico All I can say is that I recently got the FA 31mm and......Sweet Jesus!! ....and I'm not even religious. hahahaha Well I think I need to become a born again.. going to Nepal in September and its on my list as a must get

03-24-2009, 07:26 PM	#6
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575	I tried the 31ltd three different times. The first two times I wasn't sold. The third time...well, I have a tough time wanting to take it off the body. Yes, it is that good...

03-24-2009, 07:28 PM	#7
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	Don't own either of these lenses, never even used them, but keep in mind that one's a Sigma and one's not a Sigma, then base you decision on not getting a Sigma.

03-24-2009, 09:41 PM	#8
HansenTsang Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hilo, Hawaii Posts: 42	When you get a good copy of either one it will be very good. However if you take 100 samples of each one the Pentax 31 will give you a lot more better copies. That said I have both but not with the same mount. My Sigma 30 is with a Nikon mount and the Pentax is Pentax mount. My Sigma is mediocre and the Pentax 31 is definitely high end.

03-24-2009, 10:11 PM	#9
dantekgeek Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 100	What it came down to for me was not only the price difference, but the speed. The extra almost half stop on the Sigma makes a big-big difference in extreme low light photography and prevents me from having to up the ISO as often as I otherwise would. The Limited is going to give you a beautiful lens, a work of art, that is a pleasure to use and gives stunning results. The Sigma is going to give you the edge in speed, with a cheaper (but not shoddy) feeling body, much lower QA, and serious IQ issues at the edges and corners (though center sharpness is about the most mind-blowing thing I've ever seen– simply off the charts). If you have the cash and don't absolutely need the speed, go for the Limited– you won't regret it.

03-24-2009, 10:40 PM	#10
soccerjoe5 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,343	Hmm to be more practical about it > do you print large? Or do you mostly put your photos on the web and view them on a screen? Because if you do then I don't think you'll notice much difference between the two UNLESS you really really go critical and view at 100%

03-25-2009, 12:56 AM	#11
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Originally posted by RonMexico All I can say is that I recently got the FA 31mm and......Sweet Jesus!! ....and I'm not even religious. this is literaly (even the religious part) my experience with 31ltd thanks for putting it down in words so nicely Ron BR

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03-25-2009, 02:08 AM	#12
Steelski Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Varna Posts: 470	Originally posted by nostatic I tried the 31ltd three different times. The first two times I wasn't sold. The third time...well, I have a tough time wanting to take it off the body. Yes, it is that good... EEEEEEUUUUUUEEEEEEYYYYYYYYWWWWWWWWWWW put that 31mm down from your body. that is simply not what it was intended for. Man and machine are not for combination.

03-25-2009, 02:36 AM	#13
melander Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sweden, Umea Posts: 876	The 30/1.4 is very soft at the edges. Its designed that way. Only sharp in the middle. So if your after a short portrait lens, 30/1.4 is the way to go. Else take the 31/1.8

03-25-2009, 02:45 AM	#14
Miserere Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,993	Well...the 31 Ltd does cover twice as much image area as the Sigma 30mm, so maybe it is worth twice the price

03-25-2009, 03:23 AM	#15
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	Originally posted by Graham67 I'm decided on getting an FA77ltd, and a DA*55, but am unsure on the FA31ltd. Does it justfy being twice the price of the Sig 30/1.4? TIA. have you compared with the Tamron 17-50 F2.8?