Low light lens upgrade

[DDuck4Life]

I’m torn and could use some help. I’m looking to upgrade to a new lens for our upcoming trip and can’t decide between 2 options. I’ll get right to the options, I’m looking at the

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 - $339 (Retired Version)
Or the new
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 - $799

I’m not sure if the extra versatility of the 18-35mm is worth the extra price premium over the 30mm, being more than twice the price.
Currently I have the Canon XSi with the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and the 50mm f1/8.

The new lens would most likely be used for the same purpose, low light indoor, dark rides, night time parades and the like. I recently sold some things to make some money on the side that would pay for the 30mm outright or I could put it towards the 18-35mm and pay the difference out of pocket. The 18-35mm has the potential to replace my current walk around lens, though I’m not sure how it compares to the 17-50mm for everyday use. If it did become my new walk around lens I could sell my current 17-50mm to cover the difference in price. I keep going back in forth on this tough decision and am looking for some input, what would you do here?

 

[photo_chick]

I'm not sure which way I'd go because I haven't had a chance to see many real world images from the 18-35 and have not had my hands on it. It's hard to make an informed decision without that.

 

[DDuck4Life]

I know what you mean. I've only seen a few reviews for people that received the lens early. I guess I'm counting more on the potential of the lens than any real word tests. Not the best reason to consider a purchase. I'm not in a huge rush to make a decision but I can't wait too long since once the 30mm sells out there gone and I would have to pay more to get the current version. Hopefully more people are able to get their hands on this lens soon and offer up some reviews.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I currently own the 30mm, however the new 18-35 fits into my lens lineup. My walkaround is a 28-70 f2.8. I use my kit 18-55 as a wider option. The 18-35 would replace the 18-55 and the 30. I'm not a big prime lens shooter and prefer zooms so my primary lens lineup would look like this:

18-35 f1.8
28-70 f2.8
70-200 f2.8
100-300 f4

My 18-55 WR will be passed down to my DGD for her first DSLR that I have promised her. I have four options for the 30: 1)sell it, 2)pass it to the DW for her kit, 3)pass it to DD for her kit 4)pass it to DGD.

I guess what I'm saying or asking is how the lens fits into your lineup?

 

[SplashMo]

Early reports show the 18-35 as excellent. But heavy. I could run with just this lens and possibly a 50mm or 85mm. Perhaps an inexpensive tele zoom as well.

 

[bob100]

Im torn and could use some help. Im looking to upgrade to a new lens for our upcoming trip and cant decide between 2 options. Ill get right to the options, Im looking at the

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 - $339 (Retired Version)
Or the new
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 - $799

Im not sure if the extra versatility of the 18-35mm is worth the extra price premium over the 30mm, being more than twice the price.
Currently I have the Canon XSi with the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and the 50mm f1/8.

The new lens would most likely be used for the same purpose, low light indoor, dark rides, night time parades and the like. I recently sold some things to make some money on the side that would pay for the 30mm outright or I could put it towards the 18-35mm and pay the difference out of pocket. The 18-35mm has the potential to replace my current walk around lens, though Im not sure how it compares to the 17-50mm for everyday use. If it did become my new walk around lens I could sell my current 17-50mm to cover the difference in price. I keep going back in forth on this tough decision and am looking for some input, what would you do here?

I'm not in a huge rush to make a decision but I can't wait too long since once the 30mm sells out there gone and I would have to pay more to get the current version. Hopefully more people are able to get their hands on this lens soon and offer up some reviews.

The versatility of the new Sigma 18-35 could be worth it but the old Sigma 30mm is still good, has a larger aperture and only around $250 (used). I wouldn't worry about the old version disappearing any time soon


not Disney but a pic with the old Sigma 30mm 1.4 -

Canon 60D
ISO 4000 - f2.2

 

[Pixel Dust]

This is a tough choice. The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is a really great lens and has a nice price. And the reviews for the 18-35mm are glowing. Some saying that it's the best APS lens on the market. http://www.slrlounge.com/new-sigma-18-35mm-f1-8-aces-dxomark-tests-beating-out-brand-zooms-and-zeiss-primes

I think I would lean towards the 18-35mm. It would be like having a set of f/1.8 lenses. In that regard, it's a bargain. The 30mm is 2/3 stop faster, and for some that may be more significant than zoom range.

Hard decision, neither are bad choices.

 

[havoc315]

I'm really curious to hear more feedback on the Sigma 18-35. Early reports are excellent, but I'm torn about the zoom range.

On the one hand, you can essentially use it as 2 primes -- A wide angle 18/1.8 and a mid-range 35/1.8. When you look at it as essentially 2 primes, and everything in between, the price really starts to look reasonable. And it looks rather useful, especially for shooting Disney dark rides. Probably the only crop zoom that's truly useful on dark rides.

On the other hand, 2x zoom... 18-35, is very little zoom. For my upgraded kit lens, I use a 16-50 2.8.... And I often wish I had slightly more reach even with that lens. And if the 18-35 wasn't going to become my walk-around, then maybe it is better just to get a cheaper, smaller, fixed zoom. I wouldn't want to carry around the big hefty 18-35 just as a secondary dark ride lens. (Though I don't mind carrying my tiny 35 1.8).

So if it was me, I'd ask myself -- Is 18-35 enough of a range for a walk around lens.
For me, comparing it to my current walk around lens, is the gain of about 1 f-stop worth the loss of the 35-50 zoom range.

I guess for myself, I'd lean against the Sigma and stick with the primes I already own. But I'd consider renting or borrowing the Sigma just for Disney dark rides, lol.

 

[NLD]

Is the 18-35 available to rent yet? You could do that and test it out.

 

[HPS3]

I, like Gianna'sPapa, am a Pentax shooter. I've bought the Sigma 30 twice but just haven't had luck with its focusing. Its just too inconsistent for me. Sometimes it gives wonderful images and other times it just doesn't focus on the first try. I would definitely by it new so that you can send it to sigma for calibration if needed. The warranty covers this. If size doesn't matter, get the 18-35. The 2/3 stop wont make much difference.

 

[DDuck4Life]

Thanks everyone for all the help and input, it's exactly what I was looking for. I did some quick photo math on my shooting style to get a better idea of the focal lengths I normally use. I went back the past few years to see what I shot the majority of the time in the 17-50mm range.

18-35mm - 69%
36-50mm - 31%

Looking at the percentages 31% is a lot to give up if I went with the 18-35mm for the majority of the time. Digging a little deeper into that 31% I use the 50mm 18% of the time. Now I could use the 18-35 and my 50 to cover 87% of my shots while only giving up 13% of my normal range use. But it also comes with the hassle of swapping lenses more often and possibly missing a shot.

While I feel like the 30mm would be a more specialty lens and not on my camera all the time like the 18-35 would be.

I think carrying the 18-35 and my current 17-50 would be too much bulk and I'm not sure I want to give up the reach I have with my 17-50. Right now I'm leaning more towards to 30mm and I might just rent the lens for an upcoming trip to try it out while I'm there but looking at it I don't think it would work well for me to buy. Since it's not really replacing anything in my current kit the heft and bulk it adds might not outweigh the benefits for me.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't think that $339 retired copy deal is going to be around long. I'd probably buy it for that price, then sell it if I decided to go the other direction.

 

[JimbobJimbo]

The Sigma 18-35 looks solid. If I hadn't just made the move to full frame, I would consider picking one up myself. Here are some samples from it: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1315965&highlight=sigma+1.8&page=4

 

[photo_chick]

The Sigma 18-35 looks solid. If I hadn't just made the move to full frame, I would consider picking one up myself. Here are some samples from it: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1315965&highlight=sigma+1.8&page=4

I just came across that thread earlier today. I have got to get my hands on this lens to play. The vignetting isn't bad at all on full frame bodies from what I'm seeing.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

makes me think that to make a FF version it wouldn't be that much larger... I'll grab a k-mount version next year for sure!

 

[cewait]

If it were me, I would stick with the 30mm since you already have the range covered with the Tamaron.

 

[cobright]

Take this with a huge grain of salt ... like if a deranged and confused Mary Poppins grabbed the wrong jar while trying to make the medicine go down...

I'm making a transition from longtime film camera guy to DSLR. Admitedly I used my old film camera for a long time then put it on a shelf for a long time. Thank gods that format is dying right?

Anyway... I try to stay as minimalist as I can but I found this old F-mount 30mm 1.4 tucked away and I started using it on my new body (new to me).

I lose just about every advanced feature Nikon saw fit to invent for me when I put that lens on but it's still coming with me.

note: Thanks to PhotoChick's favorite book recommendation I'm not worried at all about going manual. I won't spoil it for you, I'm just surprised I haven't seen it in this thread yet.

 

[DDuck4Life]

Just wanted to thank everyone for your help that commented and left their opinion on the 2 lenses I was looking at.

For those that were interested/curious I ended up going with the 18-35!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Just wanted to thank everyone for your help that commented and left their opinion on the 2 lenses I was looking at.

For those that were interested/curious I ended up going with the 18-35!

I would really like to hear some real world reviews about this lens. It looks to be very useful, especially for WDW.

 

[MAJPLO]

I would really like to hear some real world reviews about this lens. It looks to be very useful, especially for WDW.

Me too