If I'm going to be forced to look down the barrel of anyone's weapon, I guess hers is the one I would choose!



Digitalis has noted the Sigma's inconsistent bokeh quality; I have too. This is one instance where it didn't let me down.

[oculus]

Out of curiosity, how is it possible that a single copy of a lens would have variable "bokeh" quality?

[MadMathMind]

Out of curiosity, how is it possible that a single copy of a lens would have variable "bokeh" quality?

By virtue of being a ultra-fast zoom, I imagine. There's never really been anything like this lens before, so it's a bit of a mystery to everyone.

A zoom makes the bokeh depend on the usual variables of distance to the subject, distance from the background, and aperture but adds another variable: focal length. The mere fact that there are many elements moving back and forth seems to make bokeh a little bit unpredictable at times. Remember that the Sigma is one of the most complex lenses on the market: 17 elements in 12 groups. The FA31, by comparison, has 9 in 7 and the FA77 has even fewer.

70-200 f/2.8 lenses have about as many groups/elements but cannot focus as closely. Plus, many of those elements are dedicated solely to getting the claimed reach, with no need for corrective elements to make the wide-angle reach the sensor.