Sigma 30mm F1.4 DN is Horribly HUGE :(

Henry Richardson wrote:

Henry Richardson wrote:

Henry Richardson wrote:

Yep, I posted about the lens and its size a few days ago:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57490460

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57480227

The lens is rather large, but not huge, IMO. About the size of the Panasonic 14-140mm II. For someone who wants 30mm and who also wants f1.4 then there is no other choice. For someone who wants 30mm, but is willing to have f2.8 then there is also the smaller Sigma 30mm f2.8.

I looked them up:

• Sigma 30mm f1.4 73.3mm x 64.8mm, 265g
• Panasonic 14-140mm II 75mm x 67mm, 265g

Or the Panny 12-35mm f2.8 or their new 12-60mm without lens hoods fitted.

If you need a 30mm FL and want faster than f2.8 for indoor or low light, you'll accept the new Sigma being larger than most MFT primes.

I like having lots of choices which is why I got into MFT in the first place.

This new Sigma 30/1.4 will probably be a very fine and welcome addition to the M43 roster. If it turns out be an exceptional quality-value as I expect, then we should wait until some real-life tests are performed with it. Why prejudice buyers against it at this early stage, over a silly issue such as size?

mrc4nl wrote:

on Panasonic G7 body

1. Stop exaggerating, its not huge. Just a little bigger than the others.

No, it's not a little bigger; it's a little less small (even with its sunshade).

just wow at this thread.

$339 bucks for a 30mm f1.4 (60mm equiv) and people are complaining it's a little on the bigger size compared to other m4/3 lenses...just wow

Rusk wrote:

If you get 1/3 stop brightness difference to Olympus 25mm f/1.8, you don't benefit so much for low light operations. If you get 2/3 stop brightness difference, then it would still be little difficult to say it is worth as +5mm focal length and 2/3 f-stops is for better subject separation in portraiture!

Subject at 100cm distance

• 30mm f1/4 gives 4.58cm DOF
• 25mm f/1.8 gives 8.34cm DOF

Subject at 200cm distance

• 30mm f/1.4 gives 18.6cm DOF
• 25mm f/1.8 gives 34cm DOF

That DOF is for 25cm viewing distance of 8x10" 300DPI print. Change image size or PPI/DPI or viewing distance and DOF is different.

If I would want to have great portrait lens, that 30mm f/1.4 would be it, far better than even a Leica 42.5mm f/1.2 because price, weight and size. And likely this Sigma will be ART sharp.

(@200cm 7.92cm DOF and @100cm 1.94cm DOF for comparison)

That means the Sigma is very optimal for portraits as you get shoot wide open and you get eyes likely in focus. Olympus is best if wanted to get face/head in focus (100-200cm distance) and Leica is best if distance is over 250-400cm.

For price Sigma is hard to beat but it is 2x bigger than Olympus, 1/3 stop brightness difference and costs about 1/3-1/4 more than Olympus.

Except the Olympus 25 1.8 is not cheaper, it is more expensive at $399, approx 20% more

Roll on some actual reviews of the lens. I like the 25mm f/1.4 just fine, but it's not a perfect lens - AF isn't lightning fast and there's a lot of room for IQ improvement wide open. Unless I really need the shutter speed I tend to stop down to f/2 for better centre sharpness, and edge sharpness isn't brilliant even stopped down to f/2.8.

If the sigma 30mm f/1.4 blows it away I think I could live with the extra size...

mrc4nl wrote:

JoostL wrote:

mrc4nl wrote:

007peter wrote:

"Horribly Huge" is an exaggeration, but after being spoiled by M43 tiny prime (switch from canon), I have lost my appetite for "Normal Size" lens.

Here is a comparison of Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 vs Olympus 25mm f/1.8, vs Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DN

http://camerasize.com/compact/#621.411,621.352,621.548,ha,t

on Panasonic G7 body

1. Stop exaggerating, its not huge. Just a little bigger than the others.

2.Choice is great, if u don't want to buy the 30 f1.4 but something smaller, than don't complain.

3. The better the the lens the bigger they get, m43 has lots of compromise design lenses. That compromise iq or f stop . But there are few that are "no compromise" designs. I am glad sigma made this lens.

I don't own the PL25mm, but from all the reviews and user opnions I never got the impression it is a compromise design. Do you expect the Sigma to be that much better to justify it being "just a little bigger"?

The 25 f1.4 is a good performer, but its also one of the few 1.4 lenses, faster than most. I expect the 30 1.4 to be very sharp, even wide open. It should be. Otherwise it's a failure. Sigma also has a 30 1.4 for slrs but it's not great.

My point: m43 is nice and compact. I don't need the smallest lenses. I want great iq and am willing to invest in some bigger lenses to accomplish that. I have a Nikon 105 macro lens, it's not small but the output it solid. Like I said, I am not bothered by extra size and weight of the sigma. But it has to deliver, if it's not better then the leica than yeah, I don't understand why it's bigger.

Not that great? I've owned the Sigma 30 1.4 Art, and it was great.

Rusk wrote:

289€ vs 369€

Makes Olympus cheaper by 27%

Why the attitude? In the US the Sigma is less by approx 20%. Obviously there are different prices between wherever you are (Europe somewhere) and I used US prices. At almost  30% higher cost than the Oly I would likely to the Oly...at US prices the Sigma is a deal.

Tom Caldwell wrote:

MeganV wrote:

JoostL wrote:

Martin.au wrote:

JoostL wrote:

MeganV wrote:

So you're showing us that a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DN DC with its hood is bigger than a Pana-Leica without one. ?

Looks like you missed one of my earlier posts in this thread. Is it bigger, or is it bigger??

Why'd you cut the bayonet off? There's another 5-10mm or so on the end of the 30mm that you've cut off.

This was just a Q&D cropping for those who are obsessed with the fact that only one of the 3 lenses has a hood attached, so they could see that even without the hood the Sigma is bigger than the PL. Sure, you're right, it doesn't show the bayonet now, which means it's even bigger bigger.

And you all know what that means: you'll be 2mm more likely to be unhappy with your new lens purchase.

So let me reiterate my offer, above: I would be so glad to handle disposal of that monstrous beast for you. Just ship it to me, clap your hands clean, and consider your disappointment handled! You need never be bothered by inexpensive, sharp, fast glass again. I'll even send you a box, confetti, and pre-paid UPS label. Just drop that nasty new Sigma in, slap the label on, and drop it off at Brown. Your good pal Megan will handle the rest!

And, of course, if you find any of the other lenses in this comparison disappointing for any other reason, I would be glad to accept them, as well. Again: life is too short to be troubled by a sharp, fast prime that only cost you a few hundred bucks. We all aspire to pay more for less quality, and by god, don't let Sigma or anyone else stand in the way of your dreams.

Really, no need to thank me; it's the least I can do for the m4/3 community.

Go for it Megan (grin) another clap from me. BTW if you are inundated with Mega-Sigma reject lenses and can't find a place to store them I can help out ....

I guess the mega-sigmoid reject syndrome is the opposite of GAS.