Fast(ish) and Cheap(ish) Glass(ish?)

[Cafeen]

Ok, I know I once asked Macro or Fast for renting at my next WDW trip. I did decide to go with fast. But that got me thinking...

Why rent?

So, now I'm looking to buy one of two lenses for my trip in late September/early October. I'm shooting on a Canon T1i (So, it's a crop)

Option #1 - My original want
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 - This goes for just under $500 at Amazon (Amazon and I have a "thing" going on, so that will be where I purchase these from). Several reviews complain of front/back focusing issues on this lens (which, I'm guessing is when it's focusing either slightly too far ahead (back) or too far behind (front) the focus point during autofocus (I've switched the front and back there, not sure which goes with which...)?) I can ship it and my body in for calibration, but that'd leave me without a camera for a week or two. Note: my eyesight is pretty bad (I picked a great hobby for that eh?), so I do rely fairly heavily on AF.

Option #2 - Thanks PIO for throwing me different options!
Canon 28mm f/1.8 - Roughly the same price as the Sigma above, but without any reported front/back focusing issues. However, it does have reports of issues with softness at f/1.8 overall, and then even some considerable softness around the edges through f/4 or so. Also, the loss of a bit of width on the aperture may not be desirable.

Really, I'm thinking 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other and am leaning toward the Sigma, but I just want some other opinions before I drop the bucks on it. Also, if there are other options in a similar vein that have even better IQ without much more of a price tag (I'd be willing to go to about $600 tops), go ahead and drop those in.

(Also, the Canon is a 58mm filter width, so my current filters would fit it...but, I also don't use the current filters I have (though, I probably should at least throw my CPL on a bit more...), more importantly, I can avoid a step-up ring when I pick up a ND and use it for all my current lenses.

Lastly, I already have the 50mm f/1.8 and did use that last year, but it was a bit tight on my crop sensor.

My other lenses include: 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Kit lens, 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 "Kit" lens, Sigma 8-16mm f/4.0-5.6 UWA, and the aforementioned 50mm f/1.8

 

[mom2rtk]

The Sigma really is a very nice lens. Great IQ, and having that 1.4 is really nice. Look around on Flickr and see some of the great work that has been done with this lens.

I think Sigma in general is known for having some front focusing problems. I had a distinct issue with my Sigma 50-150 f/2.8 and sent it in for calibration. I will say that they got it turned around and back to me pretty quickly.

I really have not noticed that issue with my 30mm f/1.4. If you do have issues, they tend to be most pronounced wide open.

If you buy it on Amazon, is it not returnable? Maybe you could check for the front focusing concerns when it arrives and return it if you feel you got a bad copy.

I also thought my 50mm f/1.8 was too tight for what I wanted with my crop camera. So it goes mostly unused any more.

 

[photo_chick]

I'd go with the Sigma 30 f/1.4 over the Canon 28 f/1.8. The IQ is going to be better. The Canon has CA issues that will affect sharpness. It's not as good IQ wise as the 50mm f/1.8. The softness on the corners... Most of the softness is out of the frame on a crop so I tend not to worry about those issues too much on a crop like I would on a full frame but with the other issues to me the Sigma is a better choice.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Option #2 - Thanks PIO for throwing me different options!

What would life be if you didn't have a few options to consider?












(For one....There wouldn't be any locked threads on the Community BORED!)

 

[Cafeen]

Ok, that wasn't too difficult, you all convinced me already and I pulled the trigger (so to speak). Thanks

Sigma will be arriving on Friday (yay for $4 one-day shipping).

The lens will be returnable through Amazon, but it's a "hassle" and I'm super lazy (hassle is relative, it means that I'll have to, like, CALL them and get an RMA and then send it back out through work ><). I'll run a couple tests on it on Friday though and see how it turns out. Those CA and soft focus issues were really pushing me away from the Canon, with the Sigma, even if it has a front/back focus issue, it should be only show up under AF...which is a consideration, but at least I can work around it until it gets all fixed up. I'll just need new glasses eventually (heck, I need them now, but the viewfinder is close enough so they still work)

I also ordered a new camera bag for the trip, the Lowepro Flipside 200. I'm curring using a Fastback 200 and, while nice, I need the tripod holder if I'm going to be toting it around as much as I want to this year. (Which will be for most of my solo days, as well as one or two of the non-solo days)

 

[PrincessInOz]

Congratulations Allan. I'll be looking forward to seeing your shots either on your PTR or your TR.

 

[Hunnypaw]

Congrats on the lens!

 

[SrisonS]

Congrats on the new lens!!!! I really enjoy using my Sigma 30mm. I do have focusing issues from time to time. And I should send it for cal one day. But I can live with it for now. It sucks that I mainly only notice the problems after the pics are on my computer. So even though that is frustrating, when it hits focus, it's a thing of beauty!!!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

Congrats on the new lens! You'll have a ball with that lens on the dark rides!

 

[Cafeen]

Congratulations Allan. I'll be looking forward to seeing your shots either on your PTR or your TR.

Or both! More than likely both in fact. Although, the PTR ones will likely not be Disney related....unless they're of the decorations and toys I have in my office.

Congrats on the lens!

Thanks!

Congrats on the new lens!!!! I really enjoy using my Sigma 30mm. I do have focusing issues from time to time. And I should send it for cal one day. But I can live with it for now. It sucks that I mainly only notice the problems after the pics are on my computer. So even though that is frustrating, when it hits focus, it's a thing of beauty!!!!!

Thanks! I'll have to keep an eye on those focusing issues. With my eyesight, it's always a gamble when I use shallow DoF with manual focus, so that's why I do prefer AF, but we'll just have to see. If I miss my focus, I guess that means another ride! (I turn everything external off during dark rides, as I'm sure we all do, so I have to review them after the ride when I turn it all back on). I'll just have to get used to that zoom feature on the review in camera

Congrats on the new lens! You'll have a ball with that lens on the dark rides!

Thanks I'm sure I will. I did alright last year, but I learned a ton since then, and with a wider field of view I'll be able to do more.