Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 172
 Fantastic August 15, 2010
Crews7 (Chicago)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Many people talk about the back focusing issues, I own the 85 1.2 and have had 2 of the 85's with front focusing issues. It seems to be able to happen to the best of them.
As far as the 30 1.4 goes it is a great lens. Mine has no focusing problems. It is super sharp, mine seems to be only slightly less sharp than the 85. I would not worry about the potential focusing issues because at this price it is incredible. If need be send it back and get one without the issue. For this price it is worth it. Obviously this is for a camera with a cropped lens, something to keep in mind.
 Good lens, slightly overhyped? July 26, 2010
Ana_y_lat (Houston, TX)
I was looking to buy a lens in this focal range, and eventually it came down to the choice between this lens, Canon 28mm 1.8 and Canon 35mm (not the L one, obviously). I decided against 35mm due to its bokeh and the lack of USM, and ordered Canon 28 and Sigma 30 to test. I got both lens "used as new", Sigma - from Amazon. I don't know if it was sheer lack, or the fact that my lens was used (and therefore calibrated by previous owner), but I did not experience any front or back focus issues with Sigma that a lot of other users report.
However, I've heard so many people say that Sigma 30 is SO SUPERIOR to Canon 28, that I was expected to notice a huge difference. Yes, I would say that Sigma 30 is slightly better than Canon - the bokeh is slightly smoother, and the focus seemed slightly sharper. But the lenses are very very comparable, and both became easily overcome by the bright light (got more washed out skies with both of these than with my Canon 85mm).
In the end, I decided to keep Canon. Sigma's advantage was so minimal, that I just could not justify keeping it, given that it's for crop-cameras only. Not that I plan to get a FF camera any time very soon, but I love my primes, and when I do get a FF, I will likely not have the budget for L-grade primes for a very very long time, so I like to invest in lenses that will last me a while, and not until I upgrade (especially when they are the same price, almost to the dollar).
FANTASTIC.. if you can get a good "copy". July 21, 2010
MiRSD
I've had this lens for a few months now and LOVE IT. I've always stuck with the Canon-branded lenses and have a little over half a dozen (the 70-200L, 28-135, 18-55 (IS and Non-IS), 50mm 1.8, 85mm 1.8) and have been a bit disappointed with all but the higher-end ones (like the 70-200L). I've also heard very mixed reviews about the 3rd-party lenses like Sigma and Tamron, but decided to give it a chance (the Canons around this range - the 28mm and 35mm - don't rate so high, whereas this one did)
Right off the bat - it's not entirely cheap, especially considering its a 3rd-party lens and for digital-only (EF-S cameras, meaning no full frame of 1.3x crop cameras).
One nice change compared to Canon though, is that it includes a hood and carrying case (something Canon only includes with their L series lenses).
I bought this as a wide(r)-angle lens compared to the 50mm and 85mm - sometimes they're just too much of a reach on a crop-sensor camera sometimes.
The 30mm works very nice on compatible cameras - it's very sharp and has that wonderful 1.4 aperture for those low-light or short depth of field shots, and that's where the lens really shines. For sharp shots you'll probably find yourself using 2.2 or higher (although 1.4 is definitely usable and I find myself using it all the time to get that cool look it produces). I've been a photographer for years and some of my best shots have been from this lens - it gives me a look that just isn't possible on any of my other lenses (either because they're too much (50mm), or the aperture is too slow (18-55 / 28-135). For that, it made the lens totally worth it. If you can find a good copy.
Now, the problem with Sigma and Tamron is that the lenses can be very hit or miss.. not just in whether a particular lens is good, but if the one you end up with is a good match with your camera. You can buy 5 of these lenses and each one might be different - one might focus perfectly, one might focus behind the subject, some might focus in front of it. At f/8 it's not much of an issue, but at f/1.4, if it focuses half an inch in front of your subject you're out of luck (as at that depth of field, your subject is out of focus). It's not only a matter of getting a "good one", as you might have different results on different cameras. If you can get a good one, you'll love this lens.
My only gripe (besides the big one above of "hoping it works"), are that it's "Digital Only" (EF-S), so it won't work on a camera like a 5D II. Image Stabilizer would have been awesome as well, but you're already getting an f/1.4 lens (and the IS would drive up the price).
Build quality is solid. It doesn't feel like a cheap plastic lens. Image quality is fantastic (I haven't noticed any distortions either). I love the lens and can highly recommend it.
My Go to Lens July 21, 2010
Aron Chaudiere
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have had this lens for a while and decided to finally make a review. I have to say the build quality of it is amazing. As soon as you take it out of the box you feel that it has a sort of flat black fuzz on the plastic that keeps it from ever looking greasy from hand oils. Also unlike Canon lenses Sigmas come with a glare guard and a small canvas zipper case. I don't use the case granted but if you ever sell the lens it is nice to have. Anyway have a lens with this wide of an aperture is indispensable. Once you get anything below a 3.5 you don't go back. I had this lens, my kit 18-55mm f3.5 and the canon 75-300mm f4-5.6. I can say that I used this lens almost 80% of the time that I shot. Also you fall in love with prime lenses because of the sharpness you can get for the money. Long story short if your like me and you were considering the Canon "nifty fifty" or 50mm 1.8 but have extra cash to spend on a lens, get this one instead you will be very happy you did. I swear by Sigma and have had no problems with this lens.
good lens July 9, 2010
Jonnel Constantino (New York, New York United States)
the edges are indeed soft (even if focus is on the edges prior to recomposing). however, as an amateur photographer, I am happy with the quality of this lens, especially in indoor pictures when I photograph children. I think this lens will stay on my pentax kx as the default lens
Showing reviews 1-5 of 172
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