Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM
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Review Date: Jun 24, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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contrast, flare resistance, sharpness at all apertures, color, HSM
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Cons:
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uneven sharpness obvious when shooting objects with pattern detail
barrel distortion unavoidable on surfaces parallel to the frame
my copy squeaks when focuses off the horizontal
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I got this lens within a week of its release in June 2005. At first I had been using the Canon EF 35/2, but I wanted the extra (f1.4) stop for even more lowlight possiblity with my Canon 20D. As it turned out, image quality was so good on the Sigma 30/1.4 that it soon became my default "normal" lens, and is only passed over when I need to do portraiture or the outdoor flexiblity of a zoom. About half a year after I got my lens the reports of "bad focus" started snowballing, and now this lens has a tainted reputation. However, had I not spent time on camera forums, I would never have been the wiser. It is such a critical element of my photography that I would have a hard time managing my quality level if I had to settle for something else. All of this for the equivalent of US $400 - the best value of any of my lenses.
(Owing to this experience I preordered and got one of the first Sigma 50/1.4s in Japan. Again, the focus motor works fine, but I await the first reports of "bad focus" in the coming months 
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