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02-05-2013, 05:51 PM   #181
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Interesting commentary on the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG Bossa, the optical characteristics of the newer Sigma fast primes have never really impressed me much*. I have a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 in EF mount - but I haven't used it much, the background blur looks like a smeared oil painting. I prefer the Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 on my canon cameras, manually focusing that lens is a real pleasure.

*The physical construction of them never impressed me much either as I recently got a sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 lens, and the construction quality of the sigma lens compared to my DA15mm f/4 ASPH Limited is very average. I know which lens would survive a 6 foot drop onto solid concrete.

02-05-2013, 06:05 PM   #182
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QuoteOriginally posted by Digitalis Quote
Interesting commentary on the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG Bossa, the optical characteristics of the newer Sigma fast primes have never really impressed me much*. I have a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 in EF mount - but I haven't used it much, the background blur looks like a smeared oil painting. I prefer the Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 on my canon cameras, manually focusing that lens is a real pleasure.

*The physical construction of them never impressed me much either as I recently got a sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 lens, and the construction quality of the sigma lens compared to my DA15mm f/4 ASPH Limited is very average. I know which lens would survive a 6 foot drop onto solid concrete.
I can't speak to the Voigtlander but I was very disappointed in the Sigma 35 mainly due to the issues mentioned and that I was looking forward to recouping some cash from the sale of my 35G. I also have the Sigma 50/1.4 and I really like that 'oil painting' quality as I am a painter. I did have an Sigma 8-16 but I sold that along with most of my Pentax related gear some months ago. I thought that lens was quite well made for the price but didn't like the sparkle finish.

On another note; I re-purchased a DA*55 and have found that it back-focuses badly and needs a +10 or more adjustment. I really am sick of these issues with Pentax and I'll probably send off the camera and lens for service tomorrow. The last DA*55 I owned spent 3 months in Japan getting 'new gears'.. a large slab out of a 1 year warranty for sure.
02-05-2013, 06:26 PM   #183
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QuoteOriginally posted by bossa Quote
I did have an Sigma 8-16 but I sold that along with most of my Pentax related gear some months ago. I thought that lens was quite well made for the price but didn't like the sparkle finish.
well considering that the price differential between the DA15mm f/4 ASPH Limited and the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 ASPH is about $100 I was expecting the build quality to be a bit better (at least the Lens hood is made of metal). Though I wouldn't call the finish on my 8-16mm sparkly- the finish is quite different from my Sigma 100-300mm f/4 APO EX DG and 180mm f/3.5 APO EX macro lenses.

Putting the 8-16mm and DA15mm side by side looks rather funny, with the lens hood retracted the DA15mm f/4 is slightly less than half the size of the sigma lens:
02-05-2013, 11:09 PM   #184
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QuoteOriginally posted by Digitalis Quote
well considering that the price differential between the DA15mm f/4 ASPH Limited and the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 ASPH is about $100 I was expecting the build quality to be a bit better (at least the Lens hood is made of metal). Though I wouldn't call the finish on my 8-16mm sparkly- the finish is quite different from my Sigma 100-300mm f/4 APO EX DG and 180mm f/3.5 APO EX macro lenses.

Putting the 8-16mm and DA15mm side by side looks rather funny, with the lens hood retracted the DA15mm f/4 is slightly less than half the size of the sigma lens:
The copy I owned had a different finish. It was matt black with a fine sparkle.

PS: I don't know how good your copy is but the one I had was a very nice lens optically. The DA15mm is quite sharp in the center but very soft toward the edges. Is it the compactness of the Pentax system that still attracts you to it?

02-05-2013, 11:55 PM   #185
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QuoteOriginally posted by bossa Quote
PS: I don't know how good your copy is but the one I had was a very nice lens optically. The DA15mm is quite sharp in the center but very soft toward the edges.

yes, the DA15mm f/4 has high central sharpness, but the corners leave a lot to be desired. Similar to the Sigma 30mm f/1.4.

I have had the DA15mm f/4 Limited for some time now, I wanted the Sigma 8-16mm because it is optically better suited for landscape and architecture applications.
02-06-2013, 02:13 AM   #186
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QuoteOriginally posted by bossa Quote
Specular highlights toward the edges (2/3 out) were rendered as ellipses and rings when slightly OOF. These shapes never improved when stopped down.
Oh, I hate that when it gets too visible. I have a really bad old Makinon zoom which is really terrible in this regard - makes me dizzy:


Thanks for your report. I was never overwhelmed by the sample photos I saw from this lens and couldn't quite understand all the excitement.
02-06-2013, 02:36 AM   #187
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Looking at the pictures in flickr, the Sigma 35 f1.4 looks like a winner to me!

I was just thinking of buying this lens and a secondhand D700 to go with it.

check this out:

Flickr: The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Pool

02-09-2013, 07:32 PM   #188
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SLRgear.com review

SLRgear has a review of the 35/1.4

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM "A"

and

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
02-09-2013, 10:44 PM   #189
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QuoteOriginally posted by bossa Quote
On another note; I re-purchased a DA*55 and have found that it back-focuses badly and needs a +10 or more adjustment. I really am sick of these issues with Pentax and I'll probably send off the camera and lens for service tomorrow. The last DA*55 I owned spent 3 months in Japan getting 'new gears'.. a large slab out of a 1 year warranty for sure.
I tried 2 DA*55mm lenses before getting the Sigma 50mm F/1.4. Neither would focus consistently on my K-7. I have not tried one since I got the K-5. I really want a WR lens in the 50mm +/- focal length. I keep hoping Pentax will get it QC up to at least average standards. I will probably get the D-FA* 100mm macro as its not SDM. I still don't own an SDM lens and I currently don't see me buying one given the problems.

Maybe Pentax will release a D-FA* 50mm F/1.2 with SDM2 with the new full-frame.

I find my Sigma 50mm and 85mm to have really good bokeh.
02-09-2013, 11:14 PM   #190
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QuoteOriginally posted by Winder Quote
I tried 2 DA*55mm lenses before getting the Sigma 50mm F/1.4. Neither would focus consistently on my K-7. I have not tried one since I got the K-5. I really want a WR lens in the 50mm +/- focal length. I keep hoping Pentax will get it QC up to at least average standards. I will probably get the D-FA* 100mm macro as its not SDM. I still don't own an SDM lens and I currently don't see me buying one given the problems.

Maybe Pentax will release a D-FA* 50mm F/1.2 with SDM2 with the new full-frame.

I find my Sigma 50mm and 85mm to have really good bokeh.
I've got a Sigma 50 on my D800E and I also love the Bokeh of those lenses. I was wanting a small, WR lens for a casual walk around on the K-5. I find myself using my K-5 again more and more these days.
02-10-2013, 12:58 AM   #191
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I really, really hope someone steps up with WR lenses for Pentax. Anyhow, this is the lens I'm looking at. DigitalRev just did a blind test and the viewers all picked the 35 1.4 as the best between the Nikon and Canon equivalents.

While it's not small, the 1.4 makes up for it, and certainly that sharpness from wide open.
02-10-2013, 01:13 AM   #192
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QuoteOriginally posted by bossa Quote
I find myself using my K-5 again more and more these days.
Ever since I got my K5IIs I have been using my pentax gear more often as well, I see the K5IIs as a smaller cousin of the D800E. Switching between my Leica M9 rangefinder and my D800E SLR is hard to get your head around because of the fundamentally different ways they operate*, the K5IIs has solved this conundrum.

*not to mention the drastic contrast in ergonomics.
02-10-2013, 01:28 AM   #193
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So how do you find the AF on the IIs comparedto the 800E?

is the low light performance what they say? I'm admittedly considering a IIs body, provided I don't step out of Pentax altogether within the next year, now that much of my work is paid for in some way. A pittance, but income, nonetheless.
02-10-2013, 01:33 AM   #194
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QuoteOriginally posted by snake Quote
o how do you find the AF on the IIs comparedto the 800E?
It is difficult to make a direct comparison, because I don't own any SDM lenses. But the thing that struck me first about the AF on the K5IIs is that suddenly all my pentax lenses started focusing with uncanny accuracy right off the bat, even the FA*85mm f/1.4 which on my K7 needed +6 correction focused perfectly.
02-10-2013, 02:39 AM   #195
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Hum, this last observation might convince me to change my old K-5 bodys...
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