EarthQuake

Its a micromotor in Canon mount (as all EF mount lenses need an in-lens motor), screw drive in Sony and Nikon mount, perhaps pentax too?

Not worth it. A good working copy of an A350 doesn't cost much more.

A smaller format camera, like M43 or Nikon 1, makes no sense, because those cameras hit the diffraction limit sooner. You get wider DOF at the aperture, but diffraction is generally starting to...

All of these lenses will be diffraction limited at F22-32, which means that any optical differences will be moot between them. Lens diffraction

2.8-4 you mean?

Sigma 50mm 1.4 is your only option. Its a bit sharper than the Sony/Minolta 50mm 1.4(the Sony is a re-branded Minolta design) in the 1.4-2.8 range, and has quiet HSM focusing, though the focusing...

Sigma 30mm 1.4 maybe? Its a little over your budget but down to $300 now at most retailers.

Also, the Sigma V CZ comparison is done at a distance of 200', which is pretty silly considering these are portrait lenses, where you'll be shooting at 2-30' the vast majority of the time. It would...

I've used both the Sigma 85 and Minolta 85(original). The Sigma is just a hair sharper than the Minolta. The CZ is said to be sharper than the Minolta as well, though I haven't used it. Honestly I...

Sigma 50mm 1.4, Sony CZ 85mm 1.4, Minolta 85mm 1.4, or Sigma 85mm 1.4 would be the sharpest 1.4 primes in A mount. All of the 85's are pretty much crazy sharp when you nail the focus. Sony/Minolta...

I used the "contact us" bit on their website: Sigma - Contact Us This was the response I got on 03/21/13: "Good morning, As of now, we are expecting this lens to come out towards the end of April. ...

Yes, likely significantly worse AF performance. Though I will be very happy if they can do on-sensor PDAF that keeps up with traditional PDAF.

Haha, yeah sorry, it was! Poor morning reading comprehension. Well, this is really getting a bit disappointing isn't it? I might look into a Minolta 35/2 or 35/1.4 at this point, hmmmm. Still I...

You can say this about any and every camera ever released. A year later the new/better/cheaper/whatever model is released and it really hurts the resale value of the old one. With the exception of...

I was worried when I read the thread title, however the May 30th date has been up on B&H for a while now, months maybe? We'll see tomorrow if they actually start shipping. I have contacted Sigma...

Both lenses have pretty good image quality, I've owned both but never compared them directly(and I don't have both now to compare). the Minolta 28-135mm, like the 28-70G has a very long min. focus...

The Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 HSM is very close in quality to the CZ at half the price. The Tamron 28-75mm or Minolta 28-75mm (same lens) are even cheaper ($300-400 used). I'm not a fan of the Minolta...

No, the 70-200mm HSM II OS comes with OS in Sony mount, as well as a few other random Sigma lenses. As for the EVF/IS discussion: My OMD offers stabilization in EVF with on sensor IS, so clearly...

There are very many sample images of the 35-70/4 if you click "Forum Sample Images" in the link above. The 35-70/4 is one of the best/only choices for a compact, constant F4 standard zoom for your...

Probably as much as the lens is worth (or more), you could try and do it yourself by hacking apart an M42 adapter and attaching it to your lens, but you will probably have to shave a bit off of the...