Hey, I think I'm becoming a fan of Sigma lenses.
I was impressed when I tried and wrote about the Sigma 35mm ƒ/1.4 ART in 2016. It's a fine lens that was enjoyable to use and performed admirably. I could see it being a "happily ever after" lens for a DSLR user.
I mentioned last week that Sony has effectively kept me away from its APS-C cameras by not offering a reasonably-priced option for the kind of basic normal-wide prime I like for general shooting. The Sony Zeiss 24mm ƒ/1.8 ZA is a nice enough lens (and I have history with Zeiss, which makes it even more attractive), but it's way more expensive than it should be for its spec. Its price of $1,100 is excessive for a "crop-sensor" lens of modest maximum aperture with no aperture ring and no stabilization, and performance that's very good but not absolutely great. At half its price it would still be expensive. Were it truly a standout lens, I'd stretch for it; but as it is, I have to face the fact: I'm too much of a cheapskate to be happy spending that much for that lens. It's my problem, not anybody else's necessarily. It's just that every time I think about how nice it would be to get back into Sony APS-C, I always end up thinking naw, because then I'd have to buy one of those Zeiss 24mms.
So I found a budget lens as a price-conscious substitute: the Sigma 30mm ƒ/1.4 DC DN Contemporary, which has an angle of view similar to a 45mm on full-frame.
It's one of a "Trio" of Sigma Contemporary primes for Sony E-mount APS-C. The Trio consists of the 16mm (24mm-e) ƒ/1.4 Contemporary, the 30mm, and the 56mm (85mm-e) ƒ/1.4 Contemporary. You can also buy all three as a set with a fitted case at B&H—for the same price as the Sony 24mm alone. (The case is also available from B&H separately.)
The 30mm Contemporary by itself is decidedly inexpensive. It's listed at $289 by Sigma America, and you can check the current price at B&H Photo and Amazon. That's budget territory, as good a bargain as my once-beloved Panasonic 20mm for Micro 4/3, and even cheaper than the just-refreshed and much-lauded Fuji 27mm pancake, which is a whole two stops slower. At its price, I figured it's bound to have compromises. Especially in that it's an ƒ/1.4 lens. So the question was, would it be adequate but just not up to minimum standards, or adequate but good enough to live with for the price?
That's a big, important dividing line. After all these years, I've experienced the difference again and again. Call it the line between economy and false economy.
Ironically, the higher the price, the higher my standards. I have disliked $3,500 lenses, not because they're not better than lenses costing 1/5th as much, but because they just don't seem worth the high tariff. That makes me relatively easier to please with a very inexpensive lens like the 30mm Contemporary. Given Sigma's lately much-improved reputation as a legitimate maker of top-flight, no-excuses lenses, I figured it would stand a pretty good chance of being good enough for the money. My Sigma 60mm DN ART (discontinued) is good enough for the money; I kept that one.
Shock
To my surprise, the Sigma 30mm ƒ/1.4 Contemporary vastly exceeded my expectations last week. Not just exceeded; crushed 'em. It blew the doors off "adequate" and left "good enough" in the dust. This is an excellent lens by any standard. In fact, it's so good I'm left wondering: could this lens actually be better than the $1,100 Zeiss lens? Not just "do I like it more," but objectively better? It's in the hunt.
For the price, then, it becomes a spectacular bargain. It could certainly at least be compared to other wide/normal primes for the format regardless of price, and it's unusually affordable. That's a relatively rare combination.
I do have some questions. A week with a lens when I'm trying to review the camera isn't quite enough time; there were a few things that need to be investigated more thoroughly. But thanks to a kind reader who donated it, I have an A6000 here (thanks again, George), so I'm able to test e-mount lenses. I hadn't been planning to, but now I intend to go Full Mikey on this little gem and put it through its paces.
It's definitely worth a second look. Hey Sigma!
Mike
TOP is off on Saturdays. Have a nice mid-May weekend, and see you on Sunday.
Book of Interest this week:
The Education of a Photographer, Edited by Charles H. Traub, Steven Heller, and Adam B. Bell, Allworth Press, 2006, 256 pages. A small but rich gold mine of short essays and interviews by and about photographers. Also available from The Book Depository with free shipping worldwide.
Original contents copyright 2021 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.
(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Kenneth Tanaka: "Re 'For the price, then, it becomes a spectacular bargain. It could certainly at least be compared to other wide/normal primes for the format regardless of price, and it's unusually affordable': I hear ya. During the past pandemic year I dived into the L-mount world with a Leica SL2. With too much time on my hands I took the plunge into Sigma's full-frame 'Contemporary' DG DN 24mm ƒ/3.5, 35mm ƒ/2, 45mm ƒ/2.8, and 65mm ƒ/2 lenses. Wow. Comparing them to Leica's very costly 35mm, 50mm and 75mm APO Summicron lenses I can't discern which is which. The Sigmas' image qualities are absolutely comparable to the Leica's, the all-metal build quality is superb, the weather-resistant gaskets provide the same damp-proofing, and the Sigmas are a fraction of the bulk and weight of the Leicas. Additionally, Leica's new 24–70mm L-mount lens is embarrassingly obviously a Sigma rebrand, a lens that also is outstanding. Sigma is indeed kicking ass these days on the lens front!"
Craig Yuill: "Sigma is indeed producing some of the finest lenses these days. The Sigma 100–400mm Contemporary lens has been my most-used lens for the last two years. It’s a great lens, and is a bargain compared to similar lenses from Nikon, Canon, Sony, et al."
I keep hearing that Sigma will finally start making much of its DN line for Fuji X-Mount as well, which I would love. I suspect they'd skip the zoom, but who knows. These ones: https://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/dn-for-mirrorless?limit=all
Posted by: John Krumm | Friday, 14 May 2021 at 01:17 PM
Currently the OLD 27mm f2.8 is my go to standard lens. But I've always wanted a 30mm lens. So can you use youe influence and convince Sigma to adapt the 30mm to the Fujifilm X mount. Thanks.
Posted by: John Krill | Friday, 14 May 2021 at 01:32 PM
Mike, FYI,
Sigma also makes the 30/1.4 HSM Art lens. Its a bit more expensive ($500), but its excellent. I used it on my Sigma SD Quattro body. Its available in Sony and Canon mounts as well.
Posted by: Jamie Pillers | Friday, 14 May 2021 at 03:44 PM
I am not surprised by your reaction. The previous Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC was a bit of a cult hit. I picked one up for APS-C shooting on a Pentax DSLR. It’s sharp in the centre, not sharp where it doesn’t matter, and is fast enough to give the impression of medium format — normal field of view with less DOF when desired. Dare I say - some of the photos from that lens have the much debated “pixie dust”...
Word is the new lens is all of that and better across the frame.
Posted by: David W Scott | Friday, 14 May 2021 at 06:40 PM
Sigma’s previous generation - m4/3 and aps-c f/2.8 lenses - the 19, 30, and 60mm - were really good for the prices as well. No image stabilization, but I picked up all three for my a6500. And they’re very compact.
Sigma is good at hitting a sweet spot in terms of pice/performance.
Posted by: Paul Coen | Friday, 14 May 2021 at 06:47 PM
Mike, my 56mm for m4/3 (I use it on my G9) is amazing. Close focusing, very light and very sharp.
Posted by: MICHAEL CYTRYNOWICZ | Friday, 14 May 2021 at 10:16 PM
I shoot Pentax and Pentax primes for full frame cameras are great bargains. I recently purchased from B&H a used (slightly used) Pentax FA 43mm f1.9 Limited for $425. It is one of their most beautiful lenses - sprinkled with pixie dust! The older Pentax film camera primes (F, FA, and DFA) can have full functionality on Pentax full-frame and APS-C cameras and are amazing bargains. Mike, like you, I try to be thrifty and I dread having to change systems someday.
Posted by: Richard Skoonberg | Friday, 14 May 2021 at 10:54 PM
Some years ago, when I decided to go from a Sony A99 to apsc there was really only one option - Fuji. Sony had a dismal range of lenses for its apsc cameras. Few in number and generally poor in performance. A bit better now but I still cannot understand why they have left it to Sigma to really fill the gap. Sigma have certainly stepped up. Before their reinvention their lenses had a reputation for bad quality control.
Posted by: Bob Johnston | Saturday, 15 May 2021 at 02:07 AM
Hi Mike, your favourable review of the Sigma lens didn't surprise me at all. I think they are a top-notch lens maker along with Fuji and I'm certainly a fan of both. I have a set of fixed lens Sigma Quattro cameras - for architectural stuff mainly - and quality is exquisite. I once owned a Hasselblad X-Pan with three superb lenses. Blad in name only of course, camera and lenses being made by Fuji
Posted by: Jim Poyner | Saturday, 15 May 2021 at 04:14 AM
I have the same feeling with the Nikkor AF-S 1.4/58mm as you have with 1.4/24mm Zeiss.
I even bought a very nice used Nikkor AF-S 1.4/58mm a few month back for €1000 from Calumet, but returned it a few days later. Its very good, but simply not that good.
While I had no problem to shell out more money for a used Nikkor AF 1.4/28mm D (before the AF-S 1.4/28mm and AF-S 1.8/28mm where available), or a new AF-S 1.4/85mm, the AF-S 1.4/58mm is just way too expensive for what it is and the comparatively cheap Nikkor AF-S 1.4/50 is 'good enough'.
[I felt the same way about that one! I liked it, just not quite enough for the price of entry. --Mike]
Posted by: Marc | Saturday, 15 May 2021 at 05:01 PM
Wow. That is one fugly lens. I've seen better looking security cameras.
Posted by: David Smith | Sunday, 16 May 2021 at 11:17 AM
As mentioned, sigma 19 and 30 2.8 primes were $99 new! Why on earth lenses have now shot through the stratosphere chasing perfection is beyond me. These were great lenses for sony APs-c. Such a shame there aren't more $99 AF lenses that just work. The last thing I want is a perfectly corrected lens.
Posted by: Artistwithlight | Sunday, 16 May 2021 at 01:40 PM