My SIGMA 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM

[Vicky]

Yes! That's my newest acquisition:)

I had read numerous tales of front / back focus issues with these large aperture Sigma lenses ( 30mm 1.4, 50mm 1.4) So, i immediately put her to the focus test!

The test subject were three AA batteries placed diagonally 10mm across and 10mm behind. The Camera was placed on a tripod 600mm from the center battery which was the point of focus.

I focused with the 'center focus point' in the 'One Shot' AF mode.

Here's a setup diagram for the focus test shots..

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/setup.jpg

Here's the test results. All 100% crops:


http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/IMG_5311.jpg


http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/IMG_5311_USM.jpg

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/IMG_5312.jpg

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/IMG_5312_usm.jpg

So, what do you guys think?

And now for some 'proper' low light shots from this lens...

Dad
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4305997301_eefbf0f9ab_o.jpg
50D, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 @ 1.4, 1/200, ISO 1600.
Shot in sRaw1. No NR applied.

Son
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2749/4290364132_65583d6d10_o.jpg
50D, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 @ 1.4, 1/160, ISO 3200.
Shot in sRaw1. No NR applied.

Why the 30mm 1.4 and not he 50mm 1.4?
Because I'm using this on the 50d which is a crop sensor camera, and on this body, the 50mm works out to an effective 80mm fov. I found this too long for indoor shooting. Whereas the 30mm works up to an effective 48mm fov and is closest to the 'Normal' fov:)

Why I got this and not the Canon 35mm f/1.4 L?
Though the Canon version is a tad sharper and produces more contrasty images, it's almost three times the value of the Sigma:eek:

From where and for how much?
From the BH Photo Video, US @ $ 439 + shipping with 4yrs US warranty.

Am I liking it?
So far, I'm loving it! However, this is still the honeymoon period;)

Hope someone finds this useful...

Vicky

[KrishnenduKes]

Brilliant reporting there. Thanks for the details. I find it a bit expensive though.

Approved

[powerslave]

I think it performs excellent in the battery test. Did you try the focus chart test too? Congrats on this acquisition!

EDIT: Just something I noticed, how are you having it shipped from the US to India? Do they ship directly? If so what is the ; cost?, probability of it reaching you safely?, time period required?

Thanks.

[hitanshu]

Lovely lens - was a pleasure to see it in action in Delhi!!

Of course, i later realized where that ISO 3200 ultra sharp image of your son had come from :D (esp given the perspective!)

[Aryan]

Vicky, congratulations on acquiring yet another lens! :D Brilliant! When we talked on the phone and you told me that you had got the 30mm Sigma, I was excited to talk at length about it, but could not.

Fortunately, this thread has provided almost all the answers to my queries, especially why a third party lens and not Canon. ;)

Congratulations, once again. And I really loved the 'Dad' portrait shot! Super work.

P.S: Now, update your signature...again! :D

[Vicky]

I think it performs excellent in the battery test. Did you try the focus chart test too? Congrats on this acquisition!

EDIT: Just something I noticed, how are you having it shipped from the US to India? Do they ship directly? If so what is the ; cost?, probability of it reaching you safely?, time period required?

Thanks.

Thanks Manas!

Did not attempt the focus chart test as I don't really find it too useful with wide focal length lenses.

Yes. I'm getting these shipped directly to India and BH Photo has lots of different shipping options to India.

The two i mostly use are :

1. UPS Worldwide Saver (3-5 Business Days Delivery) $63.00
Shipped through UPS private courier.The applicable
customs duty will be paid by the courier guys and
collected from you at the time of delivery.

2. International Express Mail (5-7 Days Delivery) $64.75
Shipped through United States Postal Service.The
parcel gets handed over to Indian Post upon arrival
in India. From there, the domestic delivery is handled
by Speed Post. For a small parcel, the possibility of
customs duty being levied is really slim.

I got this one with the #2 option and did not have to pay any customs duty on this. This option is a little slower than the UPS option but you can save on the Customs Duty. I had the materials in hand in about 10days.

Hope this helps.

Now, update your signature...again! :D

Done.

[powerslave]

Thanks for the breakdown! I ask because I've thought of shipping stuff from here to India before but always got told by many that as soon as the parcel changes hands to the Indian Speed Post, the packages get tampered and stolen most of the time. Seems like it's not as bad.

[hitanshu]

well FWIW my $4 canon remote via DX has been missing in action 2+ months

[powerslave]

Tau where'd you order that from? DX bole toh?

[hitanshu]

dealextreme (hong kong)

[Vicky]

Thanks for the breakdown! I ask because I've thought of shipping stuff from here to India before but always got told by many that as soon as the parcel changes hands to the Indian Speed Post, the packages get tampered and stolen most of the time. Seems like it's not as bad.

well FWIW my $4 canon remote via DX has been missing in action 2+ months

Well, I've had numerous stuff shipped to me from different countries like US, Hong Kong, Germany, etc... via different international couriers like USPS, HK Post, UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc ... but, I've yet to loose anything in transit:)

Touch wood:p

[powerslave]

Tau: Sometimes these vendors from Hong Kong jsut need a pat on the back. I've ordered a lot of stuff here from Hong Kong and it takes a long time, but it gets here.

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

speaking of couriers my raynox 202 arrived thru first class international mail which is below priority.it took time around 15 days but came properly sealed with list.

the FPO states that spend some money if by USPS and get it thru priority.they have a tracking no which our speed post FPOs can track within INDIA.

the problem of customs start when u overvalue/undervalue your item.

Anvancy

[powerslave]

But how do they know if you're over/under valuing your product?

[hitanshu]

sir,

the damn unit costs $4 I dont see why I should spend on any sort of priority mail or do random shit. In which case, I can take its indian equivalent in like 15 USD :-)

[Vicky]

Low Light Portraits... this is what I bought the Sigma 30mm 1.4 for..

http://www.thephotographer.in/darkroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=1908&stc=1&d=1286459438

50D + 30mm f/1.4 @ f/2.2, 1/50, ISO 1600, Hand Held... no Noise removal, no sharpening.. only developed from RAW, cropped and resized:)

[hitanshu]

Ouch. Repeating the post. Love the perfectly placed bokeh and the facial blemishes - the lens is TOO perfect!

[KrishnenduKes]

I am surprised at the sharpness. How does the AF perform?

[Vicky]

Love the perfectly placed bokeh and the facial blemishes - the lens is TOO perfect!

I am surprised at the sharpness. How does the AF perform?

The more I use this lens the more I like it!

Its actually quite tough to shoot with...I mean, its very capable, but it really amplifies every user error... but whenever I get my act together, then the results are just fabulous!

I've hardly ever stopped this down lower than f/2.2 at which point its exceptionally sharp... combined with excellent subject isolation!

Last time I went for a weeks holiday with the family and I ONLY took this one lens with me:)

As for the AF, it has ring USM motor for silent and fast AF with full time manual overide. Its decently fast for its intended use. I was back focusing a tad... but after the micro AF adjustment, this is really sharp now:)

[KrishnenduKes]

The more I use this lens the more I like it!

Its actually quite tough to shoot with...I mean, its very capable, but it really amplifies every user error... but whenever I get my act together, then the results are just fabulous!

As for the AF, it has ring USM motor for silent and fast AF with full time manual overide. Its decently fast for its intended use. I was back focusing a tad... but after the micro AF adjustment, this is really sharp now:)

Wow! You sound better than a salesperson. :)

[Vicky]

Wow! You sound better than a salesperson. :)

LOL... first I was sounding like a canon add... now like a sigma sales person!! Being in the sales/trading business, I guess I'm in the correct profession;)