Re: Sigma F/1.4 lens?


"Alan Browne" <alan.browne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:f65uob$bt5$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Robert Coe wrote:
Has anyone here used the Sigma 30mm F/1.4 lens? B&H lists it for an
arguably
affordable price, accompanied by a few fawning reviews. Is it really that
good? I find myself using my 400D a lot in low light, and I miss the 50mm
F/1.4 on my old Nikon F2.

If the fawning reviews come from buyers of the lens then you can instantly
derate the reviews by 25 - 50% in most cases.

Having said that, even Sigma should get a FFL lens at least correct. The
one Sigma FFL that a friend of mine owns, the 180 macro, produces
outstandingly sharp/contrasty images. Well, he's also quite the
photographer, so that helps.

Remaining issues would be build quality and long term compatibilty with
Canon bodies. ... Canon reputedly have a habit of making future bodies
incompatible with Sigma lenses. Sigma (reputedly) will reprogram your
lens once for free ... after that I suppose they will charge for the
service.

f/1.4 does sound very tempting.

Cheers,
Alan

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Interesting!
I wonder how much one should instantly derate the reviews of those who have
never owned nor used the lens, but still feel duty bound to "report" their
"findings"?
I own the lens and can report it solves the problem it was purchased for
(low light, hand held) in an admirable fashion. It is sharp and, in my
usage, free from other abnormalities save some minimal expected distortions
appropriate to its focal length and subject choice.
I shoot Nikon and its focus speed (with HSM on the D2 series bodies) is not
bad although not up to the Pro AF-S Nikkors I also use.
Build quality I would rate on a par with the recent Nikkor consumer lenses.
Compatibility with future Nikon bodies, who knows, similarly the long term
trouble free usage.
Bob



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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Sigma F/1.4 lens?
    ... If the fawning reviews come from buyers of the lens then you can instantly derate the reviews by 25 - 50% in most cases. ... The one Sigma FFL that a friend of mine owns, the 180 macro, produces outstandingly sharp/contrasty images. ... Canon reputedly have a habit of making future bodies incompatible with Sigma lenses. ...
    (rec.photo.digital.slr-systems)
  • Re: Sigma F/1.4 lens?
    ... Robert Coe wrote: ... accompanied by a few fawning reviews. ... The Sigma is a hit or miss lens. ...
    (rec.photo.digital.slr-systems)
  • Re: Sigma F/1.4 lens?
    ... accompanied by a few fawning reviews. ... The Sigma is a hit or miss lens. ... My 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor would be ...
    (rec.photo.digital.slr-systems)
  • Re: Sigma F/1.4 lens?
    ... affordable price, accompanied by a few fawning reviews. ... I find myself using my 400D a lot in low light, ... I have looked at this lens in the Pentax mount and there is really not much ...
    (rec.photo.digital.slr-systems)