sigma 30mm f1.4... anyone used?

[papa-razzi]

I rented this lens from lens rental.com because I really wanted to buy it, but has heard of the focus issues. Lens rentals tests all their equipment so I was confident I would get a good copy of the lens to try.

The lens is crazy sharp. Very impressive. However the auto focus was hit and miss. About 1 in 5 shots were in focus on my 7D.  When it hit, it was super sharp, beautiful pics. I so much wanted this lens to work for me, but I couldn't live with the random AF.  I bought the canon 35 f/2. It doesn't have the something special the sigma 30 had, but it has accurate AF and is a sharp lens - much less expensive too.

I also have the Canon 50 f/1.4, and it always feels soft to me. I did some tests using a tripod and mirror lock up with both manual and AF at different F-stops with the 50f/1.4, the 35 f/2, and my EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 (which is very sharp). All the lenses were fairly sharp with no real stand-out from the others.

I concluded that I rely on the IS of the 17-55 and most of my shots with the 50 f/1.4 are wide open, hand held, and a shutter speed that is pushing being too slow. So I had developed a bad impression of the lens, but it was really me, not the lens.

Maybe the Sigma 30 is good on other bodies, but no luck for me with my 7D

[locke42]

Concerning the Canon 50/1.4, I was planning on getting this but without full time manual focus I was holding back.

Wait, what? Since when does the Canon 50mm f/1.4 have no FTM? I have this lens and it most definitely has FTM.

[boateggs]

Concerning the Canon 50/1.4, I was planning on getting this but without full time manual focus I was holding back.

Wait, what? Since when does the Canon 50mm f/1.4 have no FTM? I have this lens and it most definitely has FTM.

I dont have it but looked it up again and was wrong, my bad.  My only question is why are there so many problems with the auto focus breaking on it? (not trying to be sarcastic, just curious)

[trygved]

I purchased one last year; just sold it.
It never focused properly. Even stopped down to 2.8 it would be way off.
That wasn't a deal breaker considering at f1.4 I wouldn't trust AF anyhow.
For me, the IQ was often lackluster and the focus ring felt gritty and cheap, which was super unfortunate considering the focal length and speed of the lens is a welcome addition to the set.
I'm strongly considering the Rokinon 35mm 1.4
I own a copy of their 85 1.4 which I absolutely adore.
Hopefully their 35mm will deliver in the same regard.

[onkel_wart]

as far as I understood all wide open lenses are prone to focus shifts - more or less - if you stop down.

modern slrs focus and meter at the widest possible aperture and only close down when opening the shutter. this will always causes shifts in focus. the tricky part of the lens design is to counterbalance this (expensive) and to know how the AF of the camera works. that's where the difference comes in between lens designs and whether they do support aperture control by thebody or not

so, I only use this lens open (max. 2.2) and I like it this way...

[onkel_wart]

one more thing to add: comparing it to a fully manual lens, including aperture selection like the Rokinon, doesnot really work. two types of lenses with different problems...

[crunchy]

This lens lives on my 600D. The only issues I have with it is it's not compatible with full frame. It is my walkaround lens of choice, but then the only non-prime I have any time for is my 70-200mm L

The 30mm f/1.4 is xtremely sharp, superb build quality and it survived a fall from 1.5 metres onto a gravel path with just a few scuff marks (though I wouldn't recommend testing its dropability for obvious reasons) and did i mention how well f/14 performs in low light conditions?

Having heard all the stories about focus issues for x% of copies, I brought one of those focus testing things you can print off with me when I bought it, and asked to see the exact copy I was purchasing on my camera at point of sale at Yodobashi Camera in Akiba.

No problems.

[onkel_wart]

In case you want to have a look: the good (the bad and the ugly) with this lens on my flickr stream

www.flickr.com/photos/onkel_wart/tags/sigma30mmf14exdchsm

[Ryan708]

Thanks for all the advice guys! I want a FAST lens, and I want something wider than my 50, And I want autofocus, and I am poor. haha. I think I will be giving the siggy a go sometime soon.  Sounds like I should get a new one so I can make sure I get a good copy. Nowhere local stocks this lens near me, so I cannot give one a try in the store. Thanks for all the help guys!