opinions on a lens choice

[ronfin]

The majority of your low light images are way way to high in noise IMO. Fro is awesome and I know what he says about grain but your images show noise not grain. The 25k shots are not useable for anything other then web viewing. I edit on my calibrated for print monitor and view at 100%to see if the noise is to high or not. This could be your editing making the noise greater, only you can answer that. If you are happy with your images that's all that matters but since you asked my opinion I responded.

Also Tom bricked is the Disney authority and that is not an opinion. Ask anyone around here and they will tell you the same.

You're gonna get noise, and the grainy look in any low light shot using a high ISO while moving and trying to compensate. The shots you're looking at have been run through Lightroom, compressed, and filtered. The RAW images aren't nearly as noisy, but to pull out more color, clarity, and exposure I used a few filters that added the grainy look and a ton of noise, non of which is bad.

 

[ronfin]

Based on your response to me, and your responses to other forum members....I think you are the one that doesn't "get it".

You point the OP to an eight month old thread, and then provide information regarding one photographer who had some issues with this lens. You have come to the conclusion this lens has issues in low light even though you have no first hand experience with this lens. Your knowledge of this lens is based on the hearsay of other photographers. That's fine...it's your opinion, and you are entitled to it.

Conversely others are entitled to their opinion. You haven't touched a nerve based on citing some negative features of this lens. My enjoyment of any piece of photography equipment is not based on what you or anyone else thinks. If I like a lens that others universally pan...so be it. I shoot for myself and no one else. I was simply pointing out to the OP there are other folks who actually own this lens who have not reported this issue with low light. Just because other forum members have an opinion that differs from yours does not make those opinions any less valuable.

I gave the OP and educated opinion based on not just an 8 month old thread, what I've been reading about how it performs in low light for a lot of people, my own personal experience with the 7D, and the other options available that I've personally used. Don't like it? Move on. I'm tired of bickering with people over who knows better, or backhanded shots at the quality of my own images in an attempt to discredit my original advice. Trust me, I get "it", and I'm down helping on [here]. It's more aggravation dealing with the holier-than-thou mentality, and the forced opinions than I care to deal with.

OP, go buy the 35mm. Forget everything I said. Enjoy.

 

[jimim]

I don`t know if the 35 is. But the new Sigma 30 1.4 DC has the ability to hook up to your laptop through a USB adapter to set focus points.

Kevin

The 35 has the dock option. I'm not even going there though! Lol

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[jimim]

No offense intended....I am not trying to flame you....but let's not forget that's one thread. Yes it's Dpreview...but it's still only one thread. There is 18 responses in that thread, and the guy who had the issue posted his comments 8 months ago. The were a number of people in that same thread who claimed they did not have the same issues as the OP. To be honest, I have the Sigma and have not noticed any of these issues on my d800 or D4 when taking low light shots. I should also mention that Sigma has a USB dock which allows the user to easily update the firmware of the lens.

There is a thread on Photography on the Net (Canon Digital Photography) where there is a 279 page thread where folks are simply raving about this lens. When doing my due diligence I wanted to know what Canon shooters as well as Nikon shooters thought of this lens.

Are there a few complaints about this lens....sure there are. But let's be honest, if you hunt long enough you can find complaints about every lens. But when I see Canon users who routinely purchase Canon's top of the line "L" series glass raving about this third party lens...I take notice. Particularly when those same folks sell their Canon 35mm L glass to finance the Sigma. Additionally I know some folks who sold their Nikon 35mm f/1.4G lenses in order to purchase the Sigma.

Ah an owner. Exactly what I was hoping for. U like it? I found that thread with canon users raving too. I think I'm set on it after reading for an hour or so. I have shot with it also and deff think its worth the money. E en though **** plastic it's very solid and I felt it was fast with focusing.

What r ur feelings?

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[traylorc]

Ah an owner. Exactly what I was hoping for. U like it? I found that thread with canon users raving too. I think I'm set on it after reading for an hour or so. I have shot with it also and deff think its worth the money. E en though **** plastic it's very solid and I felt it was fast with focusing.

What r ur feelings?

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First of all....let me apologize for contributing to drama on this thread. I hope when you read back through my responses you understand my intent was to encourage you to complete a through due diligence of this lens to determine if the "low light" issue identified by Ronfin was valid. Additionally I think feedback from people who actually own the lens provide can provide some valuable insight. Ownership of the lens doesn't mean other forum member's opinions are not valuable...unfortunately Ronfin doesn't seem to understand that.

To be perfectly honest I think Sigma has done a great job with this lens. It's tack sharp and the build quality feels higher quality than what we have seen from Sigma in the past. The lens is not built of metal, but it's a high quality plastic that does not give the impression of being the typical consumer lens. I have shot this lens on two different bodies in daylight and low light conditions. I have not experienced the issue described by Ronfin. That doesn't mean those issues do not exist, I simply have not seen them. Additionally, I have not heard friends of mine complain about any low light issues. In fact, I have not seen a single published review, professional or otherwise, mention this issue. Again I can only discuss the information I have seen on this lens. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the low light issue may have been something that was addressed with a firmware update to the lens. By the way, I love the having the ability to update the firmware.

Overall I really like this lens, it has given my a better appreciation of the 35mm focal length. And while the Sigma is not currently my favorite lens at the moment (that honor goes to Nikon's new 80-400mm f/4.5 - 5.6) I believe this is a very viable alternative to Nikon's and Canon's 35mm offerings.

 

[bob100]

Ah an owner. Exactly what I was hoping for. U like it? I found that thread with canon users raving too. I think I'm set on it after reading for an hour or so. I have shot with it also and deff think its worth the money. E en though **** plastic it's very solid and I felt it was fast with focusing.

What r ur feelings?

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My Sigma lens experience has been very positive. The old 30mm 1.4 is a great bargain at around $250 used. The new 30mm and 35mm lens are better but cost more.



Canon 60D with older 30mm 1.4 'non-art'

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

I have the Sigma 30mm 1.4DX lens for K-Mount. Yes it front focuses, but luckily the kind people at Pentax have given me the ability to compensate for that in camera with the AF Fine tune function. I like the lens a lot!

I have GAS bad, not as bad as it used to be but if I want to try something I buy it without reading others opinions any more. I form my own, if I don like it I resell it, all it does is cost me shipping and Paypal fees. Works out to be much cheaper than renting. My complaints with it,

Focusing ( but corrected in camera)
On Kmount it doesn't use HSM or SDM, but the screwdrive AF (not a problem for you)
Focusing distance, With its focal range, getting closer to the subject would of been better to maximize its DOF and decent bokeh.

I think you are looking at the FF not DX version, but those are my findings, it is TACK sharp for any Fronation people who enjoy his terminology (im one of them)

 

[nbaresejr]

If we made purchasing decisions based on negative comments about a lens or any other piece of photography equipment, then nobody would ever buy anything.

This quote is beyond true. Before I purchase anything i research the heck out of things. Whats important to remember is that the vast majority of the time people dont post positives about things but they make sure they post negative experiences. Sigma in general gets a bad rap in the forums, sure some of it is true but also some of it is user error or just seeing things because they read 10 other people complain about it.

I mentioned Tom Brickers review a few times in this thread but for some strange reason this page will not let me post the link. Google search Tom Bricker Sigma 35 review. Great daylight and low light examples in it

Best of luck with your purchase!

 

[jimim]

Holy debate. Just read through all this.


Ok so what I know.

We got a real user here saying no problems. I have read a ton of positive reviews. And some was with low light. I got a link from 8 mths ago with complaints on low light usage. I also found a link from a few months ago talking about the same bit it was due to a loose screw in shipping. It was fixed. Problem solved. Also it seems like the low light issue was a Nikon thing wen the flash was used. Read stuff saying if the flash wasn't used no problem.

Sooooo lots of stuff going on. I think what I'm going to do is buy it before my trip and insure it of course. If I do t like it ill send it back.

My other option is look at the canon bit is it that much better? Anyone out there have the l version?

Also the USB dock for u guys that have it. Pretty easy to use for firmware updates? I d t think I could handle much else with it. Or is it pretty easy to use?

Oh and I'm buying the new version from the art series. Not looking at the others. So right now I got this and maybe the canon l in my sites.
Thanks,

Jimi

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[traylorc]

Holy debate. Just read through all this.


Ok so what I know.

We got a real user here saying no problems. I have read a ton of positive reviews. And some was with low light. I got a link from 8 mths ago with complaints on low light usage. I also found a link from a few months ago talking about the same bit it was due to a loose screw in shipping. It was fixed. Problem solved. Also it seems like the low light issue was a Nikon thing wen the flash was used. Read stuff saying if the flash wasn't used no problem.

Sooooo lots of stuff going on. I think what I'm going to do is buy it before my trip and insure it of course. If I do t like it ill send it back.

My other option is look at the canon bit is it that much better? Anyone out there have the l version?

Also the USB dock for u guys that have it. Pretty easy to use for firmware updates? I d t think I could handle much else with it. Or is it pretty easy to use?

Oh and I'm buying the new version from the art series. Not looking at the others. So right now I got this and maybe the canon l in my sites.
Thanks,

Jimi

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The USB dock is very easy to use, and reasonably priced around $59. The dock fits on your lens much like a lens cap.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Does the dock correct the focusing on the lens? or do you still have to make adjustments in camera?

 

[jimim]

Does the dock correct the focusing on the lens? or do you still have to make adjustments in camera?

u use the dock for firmware and microadjustments of the lens with the dock.