Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC A-mount lens review by lattiboy

lattiboy#4233 date: Oct-13-2008
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.9	tested on: film camera: APS-C: 6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP; 16MP; 20MP; 24MP full frame: 12MP; 24MP; 36MP; 42MP; 61MP
ownership:	I own this lens
compared to:	Minolta 50mm f/1.7 Minolta 28mm f/2.8 Minolta 135mm f/2.8
price paid:	415 USD (new)
positive:	1) Amazing f/1.4 @ 30mm! 2) Excellent CENTER sharpness at all apertures 3) Excellent build quality 4) Bokeh 5) Cost
negative:	1) Corners VERY soft @ f/2 and below 2) Not for FF cameras
comment:	FINALLY a reasonably priced replacement for the "standard" 50mm f/1.7 on cropped sensor!!! CENTER sharpness is excellent throughout the range, but corner softness is excessive. However, stopping down to f/2.2 or so sharpens up the corners nicely. This is really not an issue because the whole point of this lens is subject isolation. The softness actually works quite well with the amazing, completely blurred bokeh that is produced by this lens. All in all, probably the best prime for a shooter not looking to drop $3k on a FF camera anytime soon.