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Today's Featured Head-Fi Blog: A Japanese headfier's monologue (Sasaki)
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My 30mm f/1.4 Sigma's mostly metal body feels a lot more expensive than the mostly plastic bodies of most of their prime lenses, including the 50mm f/1.4, 35mm f/2, and even the newer AF-S 50mm f/1.4 which was a huge disappointment for me.
I love my Sigma 30mm f/1.4 so much (which I originally picked up when I was using Canon) that I almost immediately picked up the Nikon-mount version when I made the big switch. (I'll be posting my Canon-mount Sigma 30mm f/1.4 in the Gear FS/T forums here later today.)
In short, at least for the 30mm f/1.4 (which is the only Sigma lens I've personally ever tried or used), I liked it so much I bought it twice.
Headphoneus Supremus: Videographus Supremus: Makes audio cables using super-advanced materials, like "some clear tape" and "some not so clear tape."
I'm now considering the Nikon 35mm f/2.0D for a few reasons
- I like the colors and bokeh of people's sample images
- It's cheaper than the other options Sigma 30/1.4, Nikon 35-70 2.8
- It's compact and light
- It works on full frame
I'm going to probably use it at this years NYC Halloween Parade. I like 35mm on crop cameras for people/events.
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lan's Head-Fi International Meet 2008 "CanJam" High Definition Videos! are here
lan's Head-Fi Meet 2007.Nov.10 High Definition Videos! are here
lan's Head-Fi International Meet 2006 High Definition Videos! are here
My advice to you:
- Use your own ears as everybody's hearing and preferences are different.
- Try to audition as much equipment as possible to find your sound.
- Buy used to save money.
I love my Sigma 30mm f/1.4 so much (which I originally picked up when I was using Canon) that I almost immediately picked up the Nikon-mount version when I made the big switch. (I'll be posting my Canon-mount Sigma 30mm f/1.4 in the Gear FS/T forums here later today.)
In short, at least for the 30mm f/1.4 (which is the only Sigma lens I've personally ever tried or used), I liked it so much I bought it twice.
lan, I LOVE my 35/2. It is easily the best Nikon lens I use. At least, for me. It is wide, fast, sharp, small, and light. Apparently the 28/2.8 is even sharper...and I don't know how that is possible.
care to elaborate on what's lacking with the newer af-s 1.4?
Hard to say since it isn't out yet and no one has had a chance to shoot with it yet, but on paper, the Sigma has much better (and much bigger) optics. The Sigma has no vignetting problems and uses aspherical elements for better sharpness from corner to corner. The new Nikon appears to be very similar to the 30 year old design, just with AF-S focusing.
Hard to say since it isn't out yet and no one has had a chance to shoot with it yet, but on paper, the Sigma has much better (and much bigger) optics. The Sigma has no vignetting problems and uses aspherical elements for better sharpness from corner to corner. The new Nikon appears to be very similar to the 30 year old design, just with AF-S focusing.
See ya
Steve
But it has that magical Nikkor label on it. Of course it'll be better.
It's sharp enough, but certainly not as sharp as when it's stopped down a little.
The key (for me anyway, and I'm still an admitted newb) when shooting f/1.4 is to either use continuous focus, or to use single-shot focus with a quick shutter firing (immediately after focus acquisition) to prevent me or the subject from moving out of the sliver-thin DOF at f/1.4.
Even when spot-on, it's not as contrasty or sharp wide open as when stopped down. Compared to its sharpest, stopped-down settings, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 can seem a little hazy and softer, especially if you're the pixel-peeping type. Nevertheless, it's sharp enough to get good flashless shots that would otherwise be generally not doable without the big aperture.
Here are a few shots taken with it recently. I know the white balance isn't optimized on them, but if you look at the larger versions, hopefully it'll help you understand (at least in my very novice hands) what kind of sharpness I'm getting with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 on my D300. (By the way, I think I'm in love with my D300. )
Thanks for the samples and impressions Jude! I'm sure the USM helped, but that's probably still sharper than my Nikon 50/1.4D wide open. I have to say the (Sigma's) bokeh is not that great - polygonal highlights.
Anyhow, I'm looking for something wider than my 50/f1.4D and the Sigma 30/f1.4 seems to fit the bill. I have shot with my dad's 35/f2D and it's great, but I want that extra stop of light. I've read that the 28mm AI-S f/2, f/2.8 and the AF-D f/1.4 are also very good, ie better than the current 28/2.8D. Sadly, the f/2.8 is too slow and the f/2, f/1.4 too expensive.
The 50mm 1.4 Sigma is even sharper wide open than the 30mm is. In fact, it's almost as good at 1.4 as it is at 3.5. It's big and heavy, but it's designed to shoot wide open. If you're looking for a good portrait lens for DX, it's perfect.
Thanks for the samples and impressions Jude! I'm sure the USM helped, but that's probably still sharper than my Nikon 50/1.4D wide open. I have to say the (Sigma's) bokeh is not that great - polygonal highlights.
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