Expert Opinions Needed re: Lens Purchase ...

Cdn Friends of Pooh

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Jun 8, 2006
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I am looking at upgrading to the new Canon T1i (I currently have the Xti) and currently have the following lenses:
- kit lens
- 50mm f/1.8
- 28-135mm IS
- 55-200mm

I'm also looking to purchase the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and am wondering if this would be a waste of money with already having the 50mm f/1.8. :confused3

Any help from the Dis-experts would be appreciated!!
 
I have both and while I much prefer the sigma 30 now because of the shallower dof as well as the shorter focal length, I have no plans at all to get rid of the 50mm. It's lighter, smaller and still provides a nice shallow dof---makes a great backup in case for any reason you have to send in the sigma for service.
 
The Sigma 30/1.4 is a pretty big step up in quality from the Canon 50/1.8, I don't think it would be a waste at all! I own both a 50/1.4 and the Sigma and find use for both (though the 30 more often for sure).
 
i'd be interested in hearing some with canon f35 f2 vs this sigma lens... slrgear( don't usually find them brand biased) rates it better than the sigma. iq for the sigma is only in the 7s!...and the canon is less$$. it's true it's only f2 but wondering how often i would really use it at f1.4 especially if it isn't really great till f4. wonder if this is a canon quirk since it's canon's i've seen it evaluated with (i think).the canon charts do look better in the lower f stops... i remember something (dimly) from a long time ago with sigma /canon not really going all that well together and wonder if it could be something along that line. i've seen photos from the 30 that look sharp but wonder if it's quality control or what that it isn't rated that good for canon. fredmiranda the sigma is .1 better so pretty comparable except in cost.

btw i should add the disclaimer that ken rockwell agrees with the above but that shouldn't really totally discount it since reliable sources do as well:):):)
 

i'd be interested in hearing some with canon f35 f2 vs this sigma lens... slrgear( don't usually find them brand biased) rates it better than the sigma. iq for the sigma is only in the 7s!...and the canon is less$$. it's true it's only f2 but wondering how often i would really use it at f1.4 especially if it isn't really great till f4. wonder if this is a canon quirk since it's canon's i've seen it evaluated with (i think).the canon charts do look better in the lower f stops... i remember something (dimly) from a long time ago with sigma /canon not really going all that well together and wonder if it could be something along that line. i've seen photos from the 30 that look sharp but wonder if it's quality control or what that it isn't rated that good for canon. fredmiranda the sigma is .1 better so pretty comparable except in cost.

btw i should add the disclaimer that ken rockwell agrees with the above but that shouldn't really totally discount it since reliable sources do as well:):):)

I went through much of this same debate between the Nikon version and the Sigma. I finally ended up with the Sigma since 1.4 to 2.0 is one full stop and that can make a difference between ISO 800 or 1600. My D80 got pretty noisy at ISO 1600 and I really tried to avoid that as much as possible. The ability to use ISO 800 in the same situation was my incentive and for Disney type stuff, it did make a difference. Or with shutter speed, it can make a difference between a shot that can be handheld and one that cannot. Since I have a pretty nice 2.8 lens, I only use the Sigma when I need to use it pretty close to wide open and in those situations, I want as much light as possible.
 
Its too late now, but since you already have a wide range of lenses, I would have suggested a speedlite flash as your next step (if you don't already have one).
 
I went through much of this same debate between the Nikon version and the Sigma. I finally ended up with the Sigma since 1.4 to 2.0 is one full stop and that can make a difference between ISO 800 or 1600. My D80 got pretty noisy at ISO 1600 and I really tried to avoid that as much as possible. The ability to use ISO 800 in the same situation was my incentive and for Disney type stuff, it did make a difference. Or with shutter speed, it can make a difference between a shot that can be handheld and one that cannot. Since I have a pretty nice 2.8 lens, I only use the Sigma when I need to use it pretty close to wide open and in those situations, I want as much light as possible.

i think the problems i have been hearing about with the sigma are only with canon bodies...i agree the extra stop is nice but not if the IQ is lousy:). that is why i wondered if any had first hand use/liked this lens with canon or had compared it to the one that supposedly went better with canon and if they saw flaws or not.
i figure with third party lenses and reverse engineering it could potentially differ a lot per brand of body used as far as focus etc.
 












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