Sigma 30mm 1.4f Questions

[cosine4]

Currently I have a Nikon 35mm 1.8f and am wondering how much of an improvement the Sigma 30mm 1.4f is. Has anyone tried both and can comment? Does it allow a lot more light in to be worth the extra price tag? My main use for this lens would be Disney rides and stage shows (or other things similar).

So I am thinking of either buying the Sigma 30mm 1.4f and selling my Nikon 35mm 1.8f OR buying the Sigma 50mm 1.4f and keeping my Nikon 35mm 1.8f. I am curious though if the 50mm is wide enough to be effective on rides, anyone have experience?

Any advice on these two lenses in comparison to my existing lens would be greatly appreciated! Main interests are improved clarity and light capabilities.

Thanks!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I have not used a/the 35mm. I own both the Sigma 30 and a 50mm 1.4. I found the 50 on a crop sensor camera to be a little tight on the dark rides. IMHO I did well with the 30 on the dark rides but not as well using it for the dark parades. I believe it was user error and no fault of the lens. Although I will say the depth of field at 1.4 is razor thin. Since I had recently purchased a new camera body which allowed the use of higher ISO's, I tried to stay away from wide open and used my higher ISO capabilities. Most of the shots on the dark rides were between 1.4 and 3.2. I hope that is some help.

 

[LordAthens]

Going from 1.8 to 1.4 will allow you to halve your shutter speed (so if you're shooting at 1/60, you can go to 1/125), so that's a pretty big increase.

I keep looking at the 30 1.4 as well, but the reviews on that glass are just so hit or miss. It seems to all revolve around poor focusing. Some copies are fantastic and some will hunt and hunt or simply not focus at all.

 

[photo_chick]

f/1.4 to f/1.8 is only 2/3 of a stop. f/1.8 to f/1.2 would be a whole stop and double the light.

OP since you have the 35mm f/1.8 to me it's not going to be a huge gain to get the 30mm f/1.4. But that's a really subjective call.

I use a crop camera and my 50mm f/1.8 on dark rides and am pretty happy with it most of the time. But I'm really a more casual on ride photographer. I shoot some on them but I don't get really into it. I'm usually too busy with my kids LOL. I am, however, an avid low light photographer in general and I use my 50mm f/1.8 all the time for that. I do a lot of hand held event work with it and it's served me very, very well. So take that for whatever it's worth.

 

[mom2rtk]

A lot of focal length is personal preference. Many here love their 50mm lens. I always feel like it's too long to be a short lens, too short to be a long lens. Or however that needs to be put. But to me it just sort of seems lost in no man's land.

I love the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, but not just for the 1.4 aperture (although there's much to love about that). In general it's a very sharp lens that produces great shots.

 

[WDWFigment]

The Sigma 30 is light years ahead of the Nikon 35. Not primarily because of aperture or focal length, but because it produces a higher quality image. Buttery smooth bokeh, great contrast, and it's tack sharp.

There are some QC issues, though, so make sure you buy from an authorized US seller.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

I'm with you on this question but I have the 50mm 1.8. I use the D90 and had purchase the Nikon 50m 1.8 before our last trip. My camera broke on on day 2 of my 11 day stay so I didn't get to use my 50mm at all. Now I'm heading back and debating if I should rent the 30mm 1.4 or will my 50mm 1.8 be good enough for dark rides? If I can get much better photos I may rent rather than purchase just for this trip....

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Having used both a 50 and the 30 (in the Pentax mount), I found both can do the job. However, in my experience, the 30 gave me more options for creative cropping during post processing. The ride is moving so I wasn't always exactly precise in my framing. At the distances you shoot on the dark rides, I found the 30 focal length to be better for me. Now saying that, for me there was a little bit of a learning curve with the 30. It wasn't a lens that I was able to just slap on and use. It took a little practice, but that could just be me. Just be aware of that possibility.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm with you on this question but I have the 50mm 1.8. I use the D90 and had purchase the Nikon 50m 1.8 before our last trip. My camera broke on on day 2 of my 11 day stay so I didn't get to use my 50mm at all. Now I'm heading back and debating if I should rent the 30mm 1.4 or will my 50mm 1.8 be good enough for dark rides? If I can get much better photos I may rent rather than purchase just for this trip....

Hey neighbor..........just wanted to say....... congrats on the new trip!

 

[My2Girls66]

I have the Nikon 35mm and the 50mm. I prefer the 35mm focal length on dark Disney rides. As far as trading to the 30mm 1.4, I am a casual shooter, not out to get the 'best' dark ride photos, just having fun and I find the 35mm 1.8to suit me fine. I, personally, wouldn't spend the extra $300 to get Sigma.

 

[HPS3]

I shoot with the 35 and love it. When it falls apart I will move to the Siggy. I dont know about you guys but my 35 is tack sharp at f1.8.

 

[cosine4]

Thanks for all of the input. I have some time before I actually make a decision, but right now I am leaning toward the 50mm and then keeping my Nikon 35mm.

I was in a local camera shop and talked with a salesman that tried to tell me that the Nikon was the better glass and that the only reason online test reports made the Sigma look better is that they purposly changed the camera settings to make it look better. Since I had already read some of your opinions and have seen plenty of your work to trust your opinions, I just said OK and left it at that lol

 

[njtree]

sorry to hijack the thread but how would this compare to the Sony 35mm f1.8 vs Sigma 30mm f1.4? I wouldn't mind trying a other lense out if I could sell my 35mm. Sony was cheap at 180.00

-Dan