28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

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lsutigerfan
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p.1 #1 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

I have a D800, and coming from Canon about 6 months ago, I miss the 35L. I can't justify the Nikon 35/1.4G....I just can't do it. I have the 50/1.8g, 16-35VR, 24-120VR....so the FL is definitely covered. But I do want faster, sharper glass around that FL.

I know the 28/1.8G can be had on the cheap used. Hell, it goes for less than $600 used. Whereas the Siggy is so new that it will be a WHILE before they turn up 2nd hand. And price will still be in the $800 range I feel. Anyone chime in to this topic? Thanks guys

Jan 08, 2013 at 03:08 AM

lxdesign
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p.1 #2 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

I've got the 28 1.8G and there is a thread here with images. Its a great walk around WA lens...perfect for street photography, and nice lightweight solution to some of the heavier WA and UWA options.

Jan 08, 2013 at 03:17 AM

BenV
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p.1 #3 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

If you miss the 35...why bother even asking which one to get? The Sigma is the best 35 available. The 28 is unique, but it wasn't for me.

Jan 08, 2013 at 03:24 AM

Gregg Heckler
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p.1 #4 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

"The Sigma is the best 35 available."

Whether it's Nikon, Canon, or whoever, I always see posts like this. I'm curious if you own the Sigma or is your opinion based on what people are saying about it here? Have you also owned the Nikon 35 1.4 to compare it too? Thank you.

Jan 08, 2013 at 03:37 AM

okafoja
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p.1 #5 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

lsutigerfan wrote:
I have a D800, and coming from Canon about 6 months ago, I miss the 35L. I can't justify the Nikon 35/1.4G....I just can't do it. I have the 50/1.8g, 16-35VR, 24-120VR....so the FL is definitely covered. But I do want faster, sharper glass around that FL.

I know the 28/1.8G can be had on the cheap used. Hell, it goes for less than $600 used. Whereas the Siggy is so new that it will be a WHILE before they turn up 2nd hand. And price will still be in the $800 range I feel. Anyone chime in to this topic? Thanks guys

I am exactly on the same boat as you. I am so confused between those two lenses. 35L, 50L and 135L were my most used lenses with Canon. I still have my 35L and 135L.

Nikon 35/1.4G is definitely out of the question for me. I think it is over priced. I came very close buying the 28/1.8G then the Sigma 35 hit the market and changed everything for me. I will watch this thread very closely.

Jan 08, 2013 at 03:39 AM

okafoja
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p.1 #6 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

Jan 08, 2013 at 03:46 AM

ADCOLE
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p.1 #7 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

I've owned both and I sold the 28mm f/1.8g to get the Sigma 35. The Nikkor is not a bad lens by no means but I prefer the Sigma due to having less distortion. The Sigma worked well for about 2 weeks and during that time it was back focusing like crazy. I sent it back to Allen's Camera and they are sending a replacement. I would do it again if I had to because the Sigma is that good especially wide open. The replacement that should be here tomorrow. Great lens coupled with excellent customer service. Side note: Allen's Camera mentioned that they received a batch this morning so if you are looking for a copy of the Sigma, I would give them a call or keep a weathering eye on their website.

Jan 08, 2013 at 04:11 AM

Danner
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p.1 #8 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

okafoja wrote:
Gregg Heckler wrote:
"The Sigma is the best 35 available."

Whether it's Nikon, Canon, or whoever, I always see posts like this. I'm curious if you own the Sigma or is your opinion based on what people are saying about it here? Have you also owned the Nikon 35 1.4 to compare it too? Thank you.

That's the problem. We hear this each time Sigma has a new lens on the market. I remembered when they came out with their 85mm and a lot people declared it the best 85mm. Same as their 50mm. I tried both their 85mm and 50mm and they never worked for me. Jury is still out for me.

+1 to that.

I got swept up in the Sigma 50-150 and 17-50 (or whatever it was) pro lenses. Both looked great on paper, and both got rave reviews on the photo boards, and both turned out to be real dogs.

Jan 08, 2013 at 04:43 AM

pbraymond
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p.1 #9 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

Both the FL's are different enough for me that I would choose based on which FL I wanted/needed more. If you dearly miss your 35L then I suggest getting a 35mm prime. Nikon or Sigma f1.4's, don't have either one, can't help there.

Jan 08, 2013 at 04:48 AM

Gregg Heckler
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p.1 #10 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

"The Sigma worked well for about 2 weeks and during that time it was back focusing like crazy. Great lens coupled with excellent customer service."

Hmmm, that doesn't sound too great to me for $900. Hopefully the second will work for you though. But I guess you get what you pay for.

I can understand when you either can't afford or just won't spend the money for Nikon or Canon but you'll get what you pay for, a 5 year warranty, and excellent resell value.

Jan 08, 2013 at 05:09 AM

s14brent
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p.1 #11 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

Jan 08, 2013 at 05:35 AM

BenV
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p.1 #12 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

I've been a fan of Sigma ever since the 50 1.4, although with that lens I had my share of problems. In have owned the Nikon 35 as well as the nikon 85. In my opinion, the Sigma versions are superior in in every aspect, minus weather sealing.

Jan 08, 2013 at 05:36 AM

ulrikft2
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p.1 #13 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

okafoja wrote:
Gregg Heckler wrote:
"The Sigma is the best 35 available."

Whether it's Nikon, Canon, or whoever, I always see posts like this. I'm curious if you own the Sigma or is your opinion based on what people are saying about it here? Have you also owned the Nikon 35 1.4 to compare it too? Thank you.

That's the problem. We hear this each time Sigma has a new lens on the market. I remembered when they came out with their 85mm and a lot people declared it the best 85mm. Same as their 50mm. I tried both their 85mm and 50mm and they never worked for me. Jury is still out for me.

Curious, what was wrong with the 50? In my opinion, the Sigma 50 is one of the all time greatest 50mm lenses around (comparing it to the canon 50/1.2 and 1.4, the minolta rokkor 58/1.2, nikkor ai-s 50/1.2, nikon 50/1.4 G etc).

Jan 08, 2013 at 07:03 AM

BenV
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p.1 #14 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

ulrikft2 wrote:
okafoja wrote:
Gregg Heckler wrote:
"The Sigma is the best 35 available."

Whether it's Nikon, Canon, or whoever, I always see posts like this. I'm curious if you own the Sigma or is your opinion based on what people are saying about it here? Have you also owned the Nikon 35 1.4 to compare it too? Thank you.

That's the problem. We hear this each time Sigma has a new lens on the market. I remembered when they came out with their 85mm and a lot people declared it the best 85mm. Same as their 50mm. I tried both their 85mm and 50mm and they never worked for me. Jury is still out for me.

Curious, what was wrong with the 50? In my opinion, the Sigma 50 is one of the all time greatest 50mm lenses around (comparing it to the canon 50/1.2 and 1.4, the minolta rokkor 58/1.2, nikkor ai-s 50/1.2, nikon 50/1.4 G etc).

when I originally bought it, Sigma had horrible focus issues. It was a huge problem that plagued the 50's. I have to heard about any problems lately though.

Jan 08, 2013 at 07:36 AM

lsutigerfan
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p.1 #15 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

(OP here)

What he meant to say was this: the Sigma is newest 35mm on the market, and due to favorable reviews -- it's also the most hyped. I have used the Nikon 35/1.4 and it's an excellent lens. Very sharp IMHO even wide open and nicely built. I have a lot of $$ invested in other glass (16-35; 24-120; 80-400; 85/1.8D; 50/1.8G; several DX lenses). Therefore, it's not "the lens" I've been waiting for. The 16-35Vr was that lens, coming from the very average 17-40L.

I'm sure the Sigma is nicely made and IQ looks excellent from reviews. No one knows how long it will function without some issues. But, and this is a big one, I do like how Sigmas are manufactured in Japan (and not, say, China or Thailand as SOME Nikon glass is). If there was a $300 difference, I'd always go with Nikon. unfortunately there will be closer to a $500 difference given the USED market. And then the 28/1.8G vs. the 35/1.4G is much more than $300 difference. i know, i know -- they are different FLs. Do you realize how close 7mm really is?? This is not a 24mm vs. 50mm.

Thanks for all responses....even those not very informative. Your time is your time -- and you gave me some of it. : )

Jan 08, 2013 at 08:38 AM

Jun Zhou
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p.1 #16 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

ADCOLE wrote:
I've owned both and I sold the 28mm f/1.8g to get the Sigma 35. The Nikkor is not a bad lens by no means but I prefer the Sigma due to having less distortion. The Sigma worked well for about 2 weeks and during that time it was back focusing like crazy. I sent it back to Allen's Camera and they are sending a replacement. I would do it again if I had to because the Sigma is that good especially wide open. The replacement that should be here tomorrow. Great lens coupled with excellent customer service. Side note: Allen's Camera mentioned that they received a batch this morning so if you are looking for a copy of the Sigma, I would give them a call or keep a weathering eye on their website.

thanks for sharing and I will try to call them tomorrow. It looks like I am at the bottom of BH waiting list since last week.

Jan 08, 2013 at 08:42 AM

ct8282
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p.1 #17 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

Gregg Heckler wrote:
"The Sigma is the best 35 available."

Whether it's Nikon, Canon, or whoever, I always see posts like this. I'm curious if you own the Sigma or is your opinion based on what people are saying about it here? Have you also owned the Nikon 35 1.4 to compare it too? Thank you.

Well, I agree that you have to take reviews and comments online with a pinch of salt, but with all due respect every review site says its the best 35mm f1.4 lens around, every professional photog who has reviewed it (and most make it very clear in their reviews that they have no loyalty to Sigma) say its the best 35mm going, and most reviews I've seen on here say its the best 35mm too.

So far I'm yet to see any negative reviews of this lens at all.

However, mine is arriving today so I'll be able to give my opinion on the lens later on. I have never owned a Sigma lens and have only ever felt comfortable spending my cash on the OEM lenses, but this new 35mm seems to so good that I've gone for it, and saved myself £500 on the Nikon equivalent. I did spend 20mins playing with the Sigma in the store and in that short time I was blown away so fingers crossed that wasn't a fluke, but based on the overwhelming reviews online I'm guessing not.

To the OP, in my opinion the Siggy is a no brainer in your situation. I'll try and jump back on this thread later once my lens arrives.

Jan 08, 2013 at 08:50 AM

michaelwatkins
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p.1 #18 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

Gregg Heckler wrote:
Hmmm, that doesn't sound too great to me for $900. Hopefully the second will work for you though. But I guess you get what you pay for.

Price doesn't guarantee trouble free ownership. I recently had to return two Nikkor 50/1.4G, both defective out of the box. These are the first lenses I've ever had to return since I bought my first lens in the 1970's. Has my luck run out?

I can understand when you either can't afford or just won't spend the money for Nikon or Canon but you'll get what you pay for, a 5 year warranty, and excellent resell value.

Price isn't everything. While I wish the Sigma was weather sealed, based on images I've seen shot on both, I would be considering this Sigma lens alongside the Nikkor 35/1.4G even if it were priced identically to the Nikkor 35/1.4G. As it is I am considering both. If I could pick up the Sigma tomorrow, I'd do it in a heartbeat to check it out. One can always do the "catch and release" approach if the lens doesn't meet expectations. At this time it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to sell a used Sigma 35/1.4.

Jan 08, 2013 at 09:14 AM

trenchmonkey
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p.1 #19 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

Re: 28/1.8G or Sigma 35/1.4??

I shoot with both lenses and they're great on the D800. Get the FL you need.

The 35's better on DX if you plan on using either with that flavor of backup body.

Jan 08, 2013 at 10:42 AM

ct8282
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p.1 #20 · 28/1.8G or Sima 35/1.4??

So, I'm no scientist so take these results as you will. The lens arrived 30 mins ago and I've just strapped it to the D4, and fired off a few shots using left, centre and right AF points and I am blown away!! Light is pretty poor in the room so shooting at ISO500 which has added grain and affected the crispness slightly but still, DAMN....

DSC_2673 by ct8282, on Flickr

100% crop

DSC_2673_01 by ct8282, on Flickr

100% crop...

DSC_2677 by ct8282, on Flickr

DSC_2681 by ct8282, on Flickr

And 100% crop...

DSC_2681_01 by ct8282, on Flickr

I have done nothing to these images apart from exposure compensation. You can see how the grain of the higher iso has affected the sharpness/crispness slightly. To make this point very clear, I have applied 0 sharpening to all of these images. These are SOOC apart from exposure compensation. I think these are all at f1.4, wide open baby!!!

Quick summary of the lens build quality. OUTSTANDING! Easily one of the best and most solid lenses I now own and I have the 70-200f2.8 vr2 and 200f2 vr2, both of which are built like tanks. The Sigma is beautifully engineered and constructed and feels absolutely delightful in your hands. It looks like it may need about -2 MFA but nothing more, and most of my Nikon lenses have need more MFA than this.

To be honest, I am smiling like a cheshire cat here. The lens is incredible and I have £500 spare in my pocket for not having bought the Nikon version! Sigma have flipping delivered, BIG TIME!!

WIN WIN WIN.

Jan 08, 2013 at 11:49 AM

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