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

gillbod#6310 date: Nov-2-2009
sharpness: 5 color: 4 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.6	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:	km 50/1.7 tammy 90/2.8 km85/1.4
price paid:	379 EUR (new)
positive:	sharp beautiful out-of-focus rendering
negative:	no hsm auto-focus hit and miss wide open in poor light
comment:	i think the sharpness is great on this lens. i looked at the photozone review, and perhaps the far corners are soft wide open. but towards the edge is fine, and centre is completely sharp. sharpness really isn't an issue. the bokeh of the the lens is fantastic. a bit of optical vingetting wide open gives it a bit of shape towards the edge of the frame, but the spherical abberation is almost perfectly corrected, which leads to perfect disks, and a great sharpness in the plane of focus. i am very happy with this lens. i'd rather use this 30/1.4 on a crop sensor than a 50/1.7 on full-frame. the 50/1.7 on full frame would have resolution going for it, but this 30/1.4 has the out of focus characteristics nailed, and that's what affects the overall feel of the image more, in my opinion. my copy focuses very accurately. it's a great walkaround.