Sigma 30mm f1.4 Opinion

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Steven Wandy - 28 Feb 2006 00:07 GMT

I have an Oly DSLR (currently the E300 model) and I have read that Sigma is
going to be releasing the 30mm F1.4 in a 4/3 mount and am seriously
considering getting it. (Reminds me of my first SLR with a 50mm 1.4 lens.)
Since the lens is already out for Canon, Nikon and Sigma digital cameras,
what is the general opinion of people that have it with regard to build and
the resulting images.
Thanks, Steve

Reply to this Message

george - 28 Feb 2006 11:33 GMT

You do realize that with the E300 your FOV multiplier is 2 (not 1.5-1.6), so
this still won't be a normal lens for you. You'll need something like
23-25mm if that is your intent. (I'm guessing due to your reference to a
50mm f/1.4.) I'm not too sure what niche it'd fill for your camera...a bit
short for portraits and a bit long for a "normal" lens.

>I have an Oly DSLR (currently the E300 model) and I have read that Sigma is
>going to be releasing the 30mm F1.4 in a 4/3 mount and am seriously
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> and the resulting images.
> Thanks, Steve

Reply to this Message

Skip M - 28 Feb 2006 14:12 GMT

> You do realize that with the E300 your FOV multiplier is 2 (not 1.5-1.6),
> so this still won't be a normal lens for you. You'll need something like
> 23-25mm if that is your intent. (I'm guessing due to your reference to a
> 50mm f/1.4.) I'm not too sure what niche it'd fill for your camera...a
> bit short for portraits and a bit long for a "normal" lens.

Originally, anything between 40mm and 60mm was considered "normal," so the
Sigma would still be in that range on the Oly.

Signature

Skip Middleton
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com

Reply to this Message

george - 28 Feb 2006 16:46 GMT

>> You do realize that with the E300 your FOV multiplier is 2 (not 1.5-1.6),
>> so this still won't be a normal lens for you. You'll need something like
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Originally, anything between 40mm and 60mm was considered "normal," so the
> Sigma would still be in that range on the Oly.

Not originally (it somewhat evolved into that). "Normal" (the diagonal of
the image) for 35mm is 43mm and around that focal length was considered
normal when the format first appeared. A 35mm lens is actually closer to
the diagonal of a 24mm x 36mm image than a 60mm lens is (and a lot of
people, then and now, use a 35mm lens as "normal").

Kinda funny how "normal" for a 6 x 6 is 85mm (the diagonal of the image),
for a 6 x 7 is 90mm (the diagonal is 92mm), for a 6 x 4.5 is 75mm (the
diagonal of the image), and for a 6 x 9 is 110mm (the diagonal is 108) yet
it has shifted more on the 35mm format.

Oh well, my original point was just to make the OP aware (s)he was getting a
slight telephoto effect...

Reply to this Message

Skip M - 01 Mar 2006 04:16 GMT

>>> You do realize that with the E300 your FOV multiplier is 2 (not
>>> 1.5-1.6), so this still won't be a normal lens for you. You'll need
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> the diagonal of a 24mm x 36mm image than a 60mm lens is (and a lot of
> people, then and now, use a 35mm lens as "normal").

As far as I can remember, Pentax was the only one producing a lens that was
actually close to the diagonal, at 42mm. I misspoke, or actually miswrote,
it was more like 55mm that was considered "normal," so 60 would be a little
long, but not bad.

> Kinda funny how "normal" for a 6 x 6 is 85mm (the diagonal of the image),
> for a 6 x 7 is 90mm (the diagonal is 92mm), for a 6 x 4.5 is 75mm (the
> diagonal of the image), and for a 6 x 9 is 110mm (the diagonal is 108) yet
> it has shifted more on the 35mm format.

I think it may because of the dearth of lenses available for 35mm in
"normal" lengths. Most mfrs. produced a 50 or 55mm lens, and had done with
it.

> Oh well, my original point was just to make the OP aware (s)he was getting
> a slight telephoto effect...

Can't argue with that...

Signature

Skip Middleton
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com

Reply to this Message

george - 01 Mar 2006 15:29 GMT

>>>> You do realize that with the E300 your FOV multiplier is 2 (not
>>>> 1.5-1.6), so this still won't be a normal lens for you. You'll need
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> miswrote, it was more like 55mm that was considered "normal," so 60 would
> be a little long, but not bad.

I don't know when Nikon first produced it, but for the F-Series they did
make a 45mm GN lens (that was pre-AI and pre auto flash, then, much later
the 45mm pancake with CPU in it).

Reply to this Message

Robert Schroeder - 28 Feb 2006 17:21 GMT

> You do realize that with the E300 your FOV multiplier is 2 (not 1.5-1.6), so
> this still won't be a normal lens for you. [...]

Of course you're right, but there used to be 60mm lenses in the "normal"
range for analog SLRs too... and since the Sigma 30mm is the first fast
prime in that range for FourThirds, it will positively be an interesting
lens there.

As for Steven's question, it is probably more interesting that the
larger FOV multiplier will probably not permit exact implications to be
drawn from the performanced of the Canon/Nikon/Sigma mount variants. The
edges will probably come out better with FourThirds, vignetting and
distortion will be less pronounced, while the demands on resolution on
the whole will be somewhat higher.

Cheers,
Robert

Reply to this Message

Paul Furman - 28 Feb 2006 20:00 GMT

> I have an Oly DSLR (currently the E300 model) and I have read that Sigma is
> going to be releasing the 30mm F1.4 in a 4/3 mount and am seriously
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> the resulting images.
> Thanks, Steve

I checked out pbase sample images & they all looked really soft (even at
web size!) but that's probably mostly user error with the shallow DOF &
people pushing it into service at very slow shutter speeds.

Reply to this Message