My new Sigma 30mm f/1.4

guillermovilas · 04-23-2007, 01:01 AM

Originally posted by pleo

I know a pro who is using the Canon 28-300.... saying that the quality is 'good enough' but if he's lacking a shot because he's just switching body/lens....
In the old film-slr days a saw a pro making wedding shots simply with a Canon 35-70-lens.

As for your question:
The Pentax FA* 2.8/80-200 is told to be such a lens.

Never had this giant but had the 1.4/85 and still ahve the 2.8/200 and I'm wondering myself....

Very funny......

When i was asking about a zoom lens that performs impeccably compare to a good prime lens i was thinking of something a lot more portable then this , a walkaround zoom lens.....

Last edited by guillermovilas; 04-24-2007 at 04:59 PM.

pleo · 04-25-2007, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by guillermovilas

Very funny......

When i was asking about a zoom lens that performs impeccably compare to a good prime lens i was thinking of something a lot more portable then this , a walkaround zoom lens.....

well I referred not to the cheapo 28-300 USM But the L-version with IS....

WMBP · 04-25-2007, 04:00 PM

Originally posted by scg

While this may be true as a generalization it is not in fact true in real life. High quality zooms with modest (1:2, 1:3) zoom ranges are quite capable of matching even high end primes.

I started to respond to Stephen but it grew into a post that seemed a bit long for the forum - and perhaps not really pertinent to this thread - so I tossed it up on my blog. If anyone is interested, the subject is primes vs zooms. Executive summary: I agree with Stephen.

Will

guillermovilas · 04-26-2007, 11:49 PM

Originally posted by roy

i'm also waiting for some results, especially in low light and wide open.

Here is one taken indoors in low light.

ISO 800 / f/1.7 / 1/250s

Last edited by guillermovilas; 08-03-2007 at 01:12 PM.

kyrios · 05-02-2007, 09:54 AM

@guillermovilas: Please do not submit more photo. Your photos are wondefull, and is bothering my wallet.

Till now, i'm still seeking one single reason NOT to buy this lens.
Could you help me find the reason, guillermovilas?

BR,
kyrios

Jonas B · 05-02-2007, 02:56 PM

Thank you guillermovilas! I see you have posted a couple at f/1.7. How do you find it at f/1.4?

Jonas B · 05-02-2007, 02:59 PM

Soft edges?
But I say, who cares? This is a lens for low light situations and when seeking the shallow DOF and other weird stuff. Then you can stop down to f/8 when you need a picture that is sharp all over.

I am still waiting for mine. Now I got a preliminary shipping date but I don't believe anything until I have it in my hand...

Last edited by Jonas B; 05-02-2007 at 03:01 PM. Reason: spelling...

kyrios · 05-02-2007, 11:12 PM

The reason which stop me (temporarily) to purchase this lens is the difference price between gray and official one.
The gray product price for this lens is ~ USD 352 while official one is USD 407. For big difference price between them (USD 55), i definitely go with gray produt.
The only problem is there's no Pentax mount available for gray product.
If it was available, i would definitely have this lens 1 month ago.

BTW, someone has compared this lens (in Canon mount) with some difference lenses. And this lens always won.

Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 28 f1.8 USM
Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 35 f2
Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 35 f1.4 L USM
Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 50 f1.4 USM

Here's the test
http://www.pbase.com/lightrules/lenstests

So i could expect the same performance in Pentax mount from this lens.

BR,
kyrios

Jonas B · 05-03-2007, 12:18 AM

Well, here in EU the Sigma is about USD 500-550. I wouldn't hesitate getting it for USD 352....

I had seen lightrule's comparision between the EF35/1.4L and the Sigma 30/1.4 earlier but I didn't notice he also tested it against the little EF35/2. Thank you for the link. Now I can only wait for my 550 dollar toy to arrive. It's ahefty price but one can't expect anyone to have it in stock for that price...

regards,

guillermovilas · 05-03-2007, 12:23 AM

Originally posted by kyrios

The reason which stop me (temporarily) to purchase this lens is the difference price between gray and official one.
The gray product price for this lens is ~ USD 352 while official one is USD 407. For big difference price between them (USD 55), i definitely go with gray produt.
The only problem is there's no Pentax mount available for gray product.
If it was available, i would definitely have this lens 1 month ago.

BTW, someone has compared this lens (in Canon mount) with some difference lenses. And this lens always won.

Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 28 f1.8 USM
Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 35 f2
Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 35 f1.4 L USM
Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 50 f1.4 USM

Here's the test
Lens Tests by LightRules Photo Gallery by lightrules at pbase.com

So i could expect the same performance in Pentax mount from this lens.

BR,
kyrios

The only thing is that in Pentax mount it isn`t HSM , so the autofocus is noisier, doesn`t bother me.

Some will say that it`s a bit big compared to other standard lenses but again this doesn`t bother me either.

I`m trying to use it as an allround lens and so far it`s worked fine.
Ok you just have to walk around a bit to frame your subject but thats cool.

I don`t quite understand what you mean with the gray version ?

guillermovilas · 05-03-2007, 12:27 AM

Originally posted by Jonas B

Well, here in EU the Sigma is about USD 500-550. I wouldn't hesitate getting it for USD 352....

I had seen lightrule's comparision between the EF35/1.4L and the Sigma 30/1.4 earlier but I didn't notice he also tested it against the little EF35/2. Thank you for the link. Now I can only wait for my 550 dollar toy to arrive. It's ahefty price but one can't expect anyone to have it in stock for that price...

regards,

I payed 475 euro for mine (in Belgium) and it was 360 euro in Holland and in Germany but i just had to have it immediately,couldn`t stand waiting a week or 2 for delivery.

You`ll love it , it`s cool

kyrios · 05-03-2007, 01:53 AM

Gray product: does not distributed by Pentax Indonesia. The retailer import it by themself from Japan. Of course they give us 1 year warranty. It's retailer's warranty. If the unit broken or flaw, wil be sent back to Japan. USD 352.

Official product: Distributed by Pentax Indonesia. 1 year warranty as well. USD 407.

The difference between them is the resale value. A used Gray lens's price will drop far when for sale.

BR,
kyrios

pleo · 05-04-2007, 11:27 AM

Very interesting because in german fotomagazin the 1.4/30 didn't get a good test result.
The 1.8/28 Sigma and Canon were tested better there.
Quite amazing to see this - but it may be that the test wasn't made correctly or the quality variation with (this) Sigma lens(es) is that big....

In the test mentioned above they were saying that even the Tamron 2.8/17-50 performed better than those 1.8/28-lenses....

???? Paul

guillermovilas · 05-04-2007, 11:33 PM

Originally posted by pleo

Very interesting because in german fotomagazin the 1.4/30 didn't get a good test result.
The 1.8/28 Sigma and Canon were tested better there.
Quite amazing to see this - but it may be that the test wasn't made correctly or the quality variation with (this) Sigma lens(es) is that big....

In the test mentioned above they were saying that even the Tamron 2.8/17-50 performed better than those 1.8/28-lenses....

???? Paul

That`s the thing with reviews , some are good and some bad.
You just have to compare them and see what makes sense, i usually go see at PBase.com and look at the results , they don`t cheat , what you see is what the lens really is capable of.

Reading what owners have to say about there lens is also a better alternative.

I wanted to buy a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 but it doesn`t exist in Pentax mount , by what i read it`s a very impressive lens.

Another good lens is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 but it`s not wide enough for my use.

kyrios · 05-05-2007, 01:23 AM

In pbase, lightrules said his copy was had focusing issue before test.
After been calibrated by Sigma USA, the lens has no focusing issue anymore.

So it could be the lens which is being used for testing by Germany photozine, it also has focusing issue. It's just my thought, can be (totally) wrong.

BR,
kyrios

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04-23-2007, 01:01 AM	#31
guillermovilas Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hasselt , Belgium Posts: 224 Original Poster	Originally posted by pleo I know a pro who is using the Canon 28-300.... saying that the quality is 'good enough' but if he's lacking a shot because he's just switching body/lens.... In the old film-slr days a saw a pro making wedding shots simply with a Canon 35-70-lens. As for your question: The Pentax FA* 2.8/80-200 is told to be such a lens. Never had this giant but had the 1.4/85 and still ahve the 2.8/200 and I'm wondering myself.... Very funny...... When i was asking about a zoom lens that performs impeccably compare to a good prime lens i was thinking of something a lot more portable then this , a walkaround zoom lens..... Last edited by guillermovilas; 04-24-2007 at 04:59 PM.

04-25-2007, 11:48 AM	#32
pleo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamburg Posts: 116	Originally posted by guillermovilas Very funny...... When i was asking about a zoom lens that performs impeccably compare to a good prime lens i was thinking of something a lot more portable then this , a walkaround zoom lens..... well I referred not to the cheapo 28-300 USM But the L-version with IS....

04-25-2007, 04:00 PM	#33
WMBP Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,482	Originally posted by scg While this may be true as a generalization it is not in fact true in real life. High quality zooms with modest (1:2, 1:3) zoom ranges are quite capable of matching even high end primes. I started to respond to Stephen but it grew into a post that seemed a bit long for the forum - and perhaps not really pertinent to this thread - so I tossed it up on my blog. If anyone is interested, the subject is primes vs zooms. Executive summary: I agree with Stephen. Will

04-26-2007, 11:49 PM	#34
guillermovilas Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hasselt , Belgium Posts: 224 Original Poster	Originally posted by roy i'm also waiting for some results, especially in low light and wide open. Here is one taken indoors in low light. ISO 800 / f/1.7 / 1/250s Last edited by guillermovilas; 08-03-2007 at 01:12 PM.

05-02-2007, 09:54 AM	#35
kyrios Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Indonesia Posts: 123	@guillermovilas: Please do not submit more photo. Your photos are wondefull, and is bothering my wallet. Till now, i'm still seeking one single reason NOT to buy this lens. Could you help me find the reason, guillermovilas? BR, kyrios

05-02-2007, 02:56 PM	#36
Jonas B Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Posts: 810	Thank you guillermovilas! I see you have posted a couple at f/1.7. How do you find it at f/1.4?

05-02-2007, 02:59 PM	#37
Jonas B Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Posts: 810	Soft edges? But I say, who cares? This is a lens for low light situations and when seeking the shallow DOF and other weird stuff. Then you can stop down to f/8 when you need a picture that is sharp all over. I am still waiting for mine. Now I got a preliminary shipping date but I don't believe anything until I have it in my hand... Last edited by Jonas B; 05-02-2007 at 03:01 PM. Reason: spelling...

05-02-2007, 11:12 PM	#38
kyrios Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Indonesia Posts: 123	The reason which stop me (temporarily) to purchase this lens is the difference price between gray and official one. The gray product price for this lens is ~ USD 352 while official one is USD 407. For big difference price between them (USD 55), i definitely go with gray produt. The only problem is there's no Pentax mount available for gray product. If it was available, i would definitely have this lens 1 month ago. BTW, someone has compared this lens (in Canon mount) with some difference lenses. And this lens always won. Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 28 f1.8 USM Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 35 f2 Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 35 f1.4 L USM Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 50 f1.4 USM Here's the test http://www.pbase.com/lightrules/lenstests So i could expect the same performance in Pentax mount from this lens. BR, kyrios

05-03-2007, 12:18 AM	#39
Jonas B Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Posts: 810	Well, here in EU the Sigma is about USD 500-550. I wouldn't hesitate getting it for USD 352.... I had seen lightrule's comparision between the EF35/1.4L and the Sigma 30/1.4 earlier but I didn't notice he also tested it against the little EF35/2. Thank you for the link. Now I can only wait for my 550 dollar toy to arrive. It's ahefty price but one can't expect anyone to have it in stock for that price... regards,

05-03-2007, 12:23 AM	#40
guillermovilas Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hasselt , Belgium Posts: 224 Original Poster	Originally posted by kyrios The reason which stop me (temporarily) to purchase this lens is the difference price between gray and official one. The gray product price for this lens is ~ USD 352 while official one is USD 407. For big difference price between them (USD 55), i definitely go with gray produt. The only problem is there's no Pentax mount available for gray product. If it was available, i would definitely have this lens 1 month ago. BTW, someone has compared this lens (in Canon mount) with some difference lenses. And this lens always won. Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 28 f1.8 USM Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 35 f2 Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 35 f1.4 L USM Sigma 30 f1.4 EX DC HSM vs Canon 50 f1.4 USM Here's the test Lens Tests by LightRules Photo Gallery by lightrules at pbase.com So i could expect the same performance in Pentax mount from this lens. BR, kyrios The only thing is that in Pentax mount it isn`t HSM , so the autofocus is noisier, doesn`t bother me. Some will say that it`s a bit big compared to other standard lenses but again this doesn`t bother me either. I`m trying to use it as an allround lens and so far it`s worked fine. Ok you just have to walk around a bit to frame your subject but thats cool. I don`t quite understand what you mean with the gray version ?

05-03-2007, 12:27 AM	#41
guillermovilas Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hasselt , Belgium Posts: 224 Original Poster	Originally posted by Jonas B Well, here in EU the Sigma is about USD 500-550. I wouldn't hesitate getting it for USD 352.... I had seen lightrule's comparision between the EF35/1.4L and the Sigma 30/1.4 earlier but I didn't notice he also tested it against the little EF35/2. Thank you for the link. Now I can only wait for my 550 dollar toy to arrive. It's ahefty price but one can't expect anyone to have it in stock for that price... regards, I payed 475 euro for mine (in Belgium) and it was 360 euro in Holland and in Germany but i just had to have it immediately,couldn`t stand waiting a week or 2 for delivery. You`ll love it , it`s cool

05-03-2007, 01:53 AM	#42
kyrios Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Indonesia Posts: 123	Gray product: does not distributed by Pentax Indonesia. The retailer import it by themself from Japan. Of course they give us 1 year warranty. It's retailer's warranty. If the unit broken or flaw, wil be sent back to Japan. USD 352. Official product: Distributed by Pentax Indonesia. 1 year warranty as well. USD 407. The difference between them is the resale value. A used Gray lens's price will drop far when for sale. BR, kyrios

05-04-2007, 11:27 AM	#43
pleo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamburg Posts: 116	Very interesting because in german fotomagazin the 1.4/30 didn't get a good test result. The 1.8/28 Sigma and Canon were tested better there. Quite amazing to see this - but it may be that the test wasn't made correctly or the quality variation with (this) Sigma lens(es) is that big.... In the test mentioned above they were saying that even the Tamron 2.8/17-50 performed better than those 1.8/28-lenses.... ???? Paul

05-04-2007, 11:33 PM	#44
guillermovilas Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hasselt , Belgium Posts: 224 Original Poster	Originally posted by pleo Very interesting because in german fotomagazin the 1.4/30 didn't get a good test result. The 1.8/28 Sigma and Canon were tested better there. Quite amazing to see this - but it may be that the test wasn't made correctly or the quality variation with (this) Sigma lens(es) is that big.... In the test mentioned above they were saying that even the Tamron 2.8/17-50 performed better than those 1.8/28-lenses.... ???? Paul That`s the thing with reviews , some are good and some bad. You just have to compare them and see what makes sense, i usually go see at PBase.com and look at the results , they don`t cheat , what you see is what the lens really is capable of. Reading what owners have to say about there lens is also a better alternative. I wanted to buy a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 but it doesn`t exist in Pentax mount , by what i read it`s a very impressive lens. Another good lens is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 but it`s not wide enough for my use.

05-05-2007, 01:23 AM	#45
kyrios Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Indonesia Posts: 123	In pbase, lightrules said his copy was had focusing issue before test. After been calibrated by Sigma USA, the lens has no focusing issue anymore. So it could be the lens which is being used for testing by Germany photozine, it also has focusing issue. It's just my thought, can be (totally) wrong. BR, kyrios