Sigma 'Fast Prime' Fan Club

[WDWFigment]

Wow...lots of fun with the Sigma 30 on its first Disney trip! Great lens, and really opens up lots of possibilities...not to mention expanding on what I could do with the 50mm F1.7, as it is not only wider but also a bit more sensitive. And the Sigma really delivers great bokeh and color. Here's a sampling of some of the various ranges of photos I took with the Sigma last week (All shots below taken in jpg fine, not raw. Minimal to no processing, all with Sony A300 DSLR):

First, it took lovely long exposure shots - in this case, no tripod, but steadied on a rail:

[images omitted]

I'm really going to enjoy this lens on future Disney trips!!

Excellent shots. I wish I would've understood more about photography on our last trip. I bought the 30 1.4 basically as a "dark ride lens" and I don't think I used it for more than 10 or so shots outside of dark rides. Your shots really showcase the many great uses for the lens. Not to mention it's sharper than most of my other glass! Lesson learned. I will definitely be using it a lot more on our summer trip.

 

[handicap18]

Excellent shots Justin! Well done!

 

[zackiedawg]

Thank you all...much appreciated. Credit to those here whose shots were part of the inspiration for me to pick up this lens in the first place!

 

[WDWFigment]

Here are a couple of the cat from around the house.

 

[Dcanoli]

Love those cat shots....so true to character for a kitty!

 

[deletedpenguin]

Hehe, I just picked up this lens, and love it.

 

[zackiedawg]

Very nice Stefan..the dog portrait is lovely, and really shows off how sharp this lens can be, and how nice the bokeh!

 

[KarenAylwood]

I just wanted to say I'm in love with these shots!! I'm so excited- I just won this lens off ebay last night, and it's being sent out today!!! I can't wait. (although I guess "won" is a relative term when you're paying $300+ for something )

zackiedawg- love the pics, you're definitely making me want to bring this lens to Disney with me even though I'm usually a one lens girl on vacation!!

 

[KarenAylwood]

Here are a few stopped down to f11- long exposures with a tripod.

I know this is super old but I'm sure Gdad is still checking his fav thread...

Did you use a star filter on these?? I've seen a few that look like they have a star filter on them.

 

[zackiedawg]

Did you use a star filter on these?? I've seen a few that look like they have a star filter on them.

I can answer that one...

No star filters needed. When this lens is stopped down for long shutter exposures, it naturally creates that star effect due to the blade design of the aperture.

Look at the 2nd shot of the ones I posted above...same effect. That was a longer shutter, stopped down!

 

[Gdad]

I know this is super old but I'm sure Gdad is still checking his fav thread...

Did you use a star filter on these?? I've seen a few that look like they have a star filter on them.

I can answer that one...

No star filters needed. When this lens is stopped down for long shutter exposures, it naturally creates that star effect due to the blade design of the aperture.

Look at the 2nd shot of the ones I posted above...same effect. That was a longer shutter, stopped down!

Exactly- I tried a star filter once but found the effect kind of over the top. I prefer the natural flare that comes from stopping most lenses down a bit. The more blades on the aperture ring the more points on the flare.

 

[Code]

The more blades on the aperture ring the more points on the flare.

An even number of aperture blades produces the same number of points on the flare star, but an odd number of blades is blades * 2 points.

6 blades = 6 points
7 = 14
8 = 8
9 = 18

 

[scoot241]

I just wanted to say I'm in love with these shots!! I'm so excited- I just won this lens off ebay last night, and it's being sent out today!!! I can't wait. (although I guess "won" is a relative term when you're paying $300+ for something )

zackiedawg- love the pics, you're definitely making me want to bring this lens to Disney with me even though I'm usually a one lens girl on vacation!!

$300 is a good price for this lens. Congrats!

 

[Gdad]

An even number of aperture blades produces the same number of points on the flare star, but an odd number of blades is blades * 2 points.

6 blades = 6 points
7 = 14
8 = 8
9 = 18

I never realized that- thanks for the info Code.

 

[Gdad]

Soooo- Anyone mind if I change the Topic from "Sigma 30mm f1.4 Fan Club" to "Sigma 30mm/50mm f1.4 Fan Club" because I just got one and- wow- I think I'm keeping it. Just some quick snaps fooling around but the AF is snappy and deliberate- colors look good- I really like it.

My nephew who is visiting-

Jedi Training pose he strikes every time he sees a camera-

I was too tired last night to go find anything interesting to shoot-

 

[WDWFigment]

Those look really good. I might have to look into the 50mm f1.4. Just when I thought I had my lens lust under control...

 

[Code]

Nice, looks like the same buttery smooth bokeh as the 30!

 

[annnewjerz]

Love the shot of the Rubik's Cube, Jeff. Glad to see you may have found a suitable replacement for one of your favorite DX lenses.

 

[Gdad]

Here are a couple fun Flickr Groups for these lenses...

http://www.flickr.com/groups/Sigma 30mm

http://www.flickr.com/groups/Sigma 50mm

 

[Gdad]

A few from yesterday- nothing special just getting acquainted with the new lens. Dragged it to work to try to find a few things I thought might have troubled my other 50mm that gets kind of wacky bokeh if there are too many highlights in the background. I think it did pretty well.

f1.4

f2

f2

f1.4

f2

f4 (into the sun)