Product Description

This large aperture 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM lens is designed to match the APS-C size image sensors of digital SLR cameras. Two SLD glass elements are especially effective in the compensation of magnification chromatic aberration. Glass mold aspherical lens at rear group of lens reduces color aberration and provides high-quality image results. From 40cm (15.7») minimum focusing distance to infinity, this lens creates very sharp images with high contrast. The HSM models provide quiet high-speed auto-focus shooting, as well as full-time manual focus. Large Maximum Aperture of F1.4 can perform superbly in a great range of applications, including snapshots, portraiture, indoor shooting and landscape photography.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28601 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sigma
• Model: B0007U0H06
• Released on: 2007-06-03
• Dimensions: 4.90" h x 5.40" w x 5.60" l, .95 pounds

Outdoor Photography - November 2005
'There is certainly no doubting the biting sharpness and balanced contrast of this lens across the full aperture range.'

Outdoor Photography - November 2005
'There is certainly no doubting the biting sharpness and balanced contrast of this lens across the full aperture range.'

Manufacturer's Description
This large aperture 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM lens is designed to match the APS-C size image sensors of digital SLR cameras. Two SLD glass elements are especially effective in the compensation of magnification chromatic aberration.Glass mold aspherical lens at rear group of lens reduces color aberration and provides high-quality image results. From 40cm (15.7") minimum focusing distance to infinity, this lens creates very sharp images with high contrast.The HSM models provide quiet high-speed auto-focus shooting, as well as full-time manual focus. Large Maximum Aperture of F1.4 can perform superbly in a great range of applications, including snapshots, portraiture, indoor shooting and landscape photography.

Customer Reviews

Peerless
I have a Nikon d40 and for this camera there is nothing even vaguely similar for anywhere near the price. On a DX mount = 45mm equiv. with f1.4. However to get best results for sharpness and contrast I would stick to f2-2.8 range and use the max aperture only in low light or for EXTREME depth of field effects. You have to be real careful at f1.4, sometimes you focus on the nose and the eyes are out of focus! You can feel the weight of all that glass - about double that of the kit zoom. Still pretty compact though and suits the small dimensions of the d40. Focusing is quick and quiet, the huge aperture brightens up the viewfinder image. Supplied case is well padded but disproportionately big. Can't wait to use this for parties and evening street shots.

Can't recommend this enough
I have a family and do lots of low light indoor shooting and spent many months trying to track down a suitable f2.0 level lens. There's no zoom on the market that's really right, I considered the nikon 17-55 f2.8 but at £900 its expensive and F2.8 is less than a full stop better than my kit 18-135 wide open. So not much gain there really.

So I bought this, never had a non zoom before so was very hessitant, but I shouldn't have worried. 30mm is a really good compromise focal length, and I can frame shots exactly how I want (okay, I sometimes step back/forward for it, but who cares).

The benefits are enourmous. I can shoot my nikon D80 on auto iso at max 800 and with a really nice narrow DOF, I get just fantastic shots. Shooting at 1600 for me degrates the image quality far too much, 800 is way way superior.

Images are ever so slightly softer at 1.4 than 2.0, so I do find myself shooting on ap priority at F2.0, images are sharper and I still get great shutter speed. if Light is really how, I cut down to 1.4, but really, F2.0 is just great.

Images are sharp, good contrast and colour is very good too.
At 250 odd quid its very very cheap.

>>> Update to this review...
When I first wrote this review I stated that at 1.4 its softer than 2.0. Subsequently, I realised this isn't exactly true, its just that at f1.4, you get such a narrow depth of field, the camera does struggle to focus. Its not the cameras fault, if you set your camera to central zone focussing, even this small area can be over a wide depth of field, so no wonder the camer has a problem.

What I've found is, I do need to take a few shots to get eyes exactly in focus, so its not too much of a problem.

I don't use my 18-135 anymore - even in bright sunny days (when it's not raining ;-) I still get much better shots on this lens.

Great indoor low light portrait lens for Digital SLRs
I have a Canon 400D (and before that a Canon 300D) and use this lens as my primary low light indoor portrait lens for snaps of the family / events etc. The 30mm x 1.6 = 48mm (due to small sensor on digital SLR cameras) makes this an ideal standard lens. The optics are amazing with sharpness, colour tone and auto-focus speed are all highly impressive. Highly recommended.