Sigma 30mm F1.4 vs Sigma 30mm F2.8. Which is the better value?

Hi all,

I'm new to the site, am fairly new to photography, and in the summer am planning on picking up the Panasonic GX85.

I would like to buy a prime lens, and, until recently, was thinking that I would pick up the Sigma 30mm F2.8.  While I know it isn't the perfect lens, it looks like it will add some bokeh to my shots.

Then, in my Internet travels, I came across the Sigma 30mm F1.4, which costs about twice the price.

In your experienced and valued opinions, which is the better lens to get?  Is it worthwhile to spend the extra money for the newer lens?  The only other lens I will (likely) have for the GX85 will be the 12-32mm kit lens.  I don't think that one will give me the depth of field that the other, prime lenses, would, right?

Thank you in advance for your help!

I really like the 1.4. I think it's worth what they ask for it for sure.

However, I wouldn't make it my first lens. Get  one of the  small 20/25mm 1.8/1.7 lenses first, and get the relatively large 30/1.4 once you're sure you'll want it/use it.

X2😎

If you are going to consider the 30/1.4 look at the Pana-Leica 25/1.4. I think they are comparable price wise and then the Pan-Leica is the better lens.

But the real question is whether you need the extra speed. Starting out the 30/2.8 would probably be good first prime lens. See this video review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIkJklEiH8E

traveler_101 wrote:

If you are going to consider the 30/1.4 look at the Pana-Leica 25/1.4. I think they are comparable price wise and then the Pan-Leica is the better lens.

But the real question is whether you need the extra speed. Starting out the 30/2.8 would probably be good first prime lens. See this video review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIkJklEiH8E

The PL may be better, haven't tried it. I'll take your word on that. It certainly has a great reputation. I can't agree that they're comparable price-wise, though. At $339 for the Sigma and $599 for the PL, the price is almost double in the US. Does this change elsewhere in the world?

PL 25mm: EUR 450; Sigma 30mm: EUR 350

Peter

ebay.com is your friend.  I've seen prices as low as $399 (new) with 14 days return policy.

Martian Flatcat wrote:

traveler_101 wrote:

If you are going to consider the 30/1.4 look at the Pana-Leica 25/1.4. I think they are comparable price wise and then the Pan-Leica is the better lens.

But the real question is whether you need the extra speed. Starting out the 30/2.8 would probably be good first prime lens. See this video review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIkJklEiH8E

The PL may be better, haven't tried it. I'll take your word on that. It certainly has a great reputation. I can't agree that they're comparable price-wise, though. At $339 for the Sigma and $599 for the PL, the price is almost double in the US. Does this change elsewhere in the world?

Well I stand corrected then. In my own defence, prices fluctuate a bit. My understanding is that the price for the 25/1.4 has generally held up because it is an outstanding lens. I don't have it and really like the Olympus offerings at f/1.8 - 17, 25 and 45 (I have two of them). So I agree with your first post about looking further afield. If the OP is really primarily interested in subject isolation than he should probably look at a longer lens like the 45/1.8 or the Panasonic equivalent.

But I also think the OP's initial thought isn't a bad solution. At a mere $169 the 30/2.8 will give him very good image quality, an interesting narrowish normal FOV in a small package. Not fast but fast enough to be a big improvement over the kit lens. When he gets some experience he can move on to faster and more expensive lenses.

bradandmary wrote:

Hi all,

I'm new to the site, am fairly new to photography, and in the summer am planning on picking up the Panasonic GX85.

I would like to buy a prime lens, and, until recently, was thinking that I would pick up the Sigma 30mm F2.8. While I know it isn't the perfect lens, it looks like it will add some bokeh to my shots.

Then, in my Internet travels, I came across the Sigma 30mm F1.4, which costs about twice the price.

In your experienced and valued opinions, which is the better lens to get? Is it worthwhile to spend the extra money for the newer lens? The only other lens I will (likely) have for the GX85 will be the 12-32mm kit lens. I don't think that one will give me the depth of field that the other, prime lenses, would, right?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Have you used this 30mm FL (60mm FL for Full Frame) before?

If not, I suggest you try your GX85 for a week using the kit lens set at 30mm FL and see how you like it before spending any money.

I haven't seen any reviews for the 30mm F1.4 yet, but the F2.8 lens is an absolute gem of a lens at $169 IF you like the 30mm FL...

bradandmary wrote:

Hi all,

I'm new to the site, am fairly new to photography, and in the summer am planning on picking up the Panasonic GX85.

I would like to buy a prime lens, and, until recently, was thinking that I would pick up the Sigma 30mm F2.8. While I know it isn't the perfect lens, it looks like it will add some bokeh to my shots.

Then, in my Internet travels, I came across the Sigma 30mm F1.4, which costs about twice the price.

In your experienced and valued opinions, which is the better lens to get? Is it worthwhile to spend the extra money for the newer lens? The only other lens I will (likely) have for the GX85 will be the 12-32mm kit lens. I don't think that one will give me the depth of field that the other, prime lenses, would, right?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Value can be measured in several ways...size and weight included...take a look at this comparison

http://camerasize.com/compact/#673.548,673.373,673.352,673.411,673.415,673.397,ha,t

Michael M Fliegel wrote:

X2😎

X3, good advice.

I might also consider the Sigma 60mm f/2.8 which will give you the isolation capabilities of the 30mm f/1.4 and a different focal length, at a price in between.

Andrew

If you are in Europe there is the €75 cashback to condider. That places the 25mm f/1.8 and 45mm f/1.8 in (almost) the same pricerange.

You should also look at the Panasonic 42.5/1.7. It is not quite as fast, but longer, and has OIS.

The Panasonic 25mm 1.4, the 30mm 2.8, the 20mm 1.7 (both versions), Sigma 30mm 1.4 are all equally spot on in sharpness per Dxo ...13-14 each one dead equal to the other...

The Sigma 30mm 2.8 is a 10 and significantly (-30%) less sharp

For the "money" I'd buy the Panasonic 30mm 2.8 macro and for the best value in a lens that range.....HOWEVER a used Panasonic 15mm 1.7 is a super bargain if you can snag one right....

A great lens to hold on to is the kit lens, and why not it's the only possible way you'll ever get value from it.....and sometimes you can nail one or two shots here and there  making it worth the price of admission....no cheaper 12mm exist

If someone convinces you value means "cheap" they are one dimensional

bradandmary wrote:

Hi all,

I'm new to the site, am fairly new to photography, and in the summer am planning on picking up the Panasonic GX85.

I would like to buy a prime lens, and, until recently, was thinking that I would pick up the Sigma 30mm F2.8. While I know it isn't the perfect lens, it looks like it will add some bokeh to my shots.

Then, in my Internet travels, I came across the Sigma 30mm F1.4, which costs about twice the price.

In your experienced and valued opinions, which is the better lens to get? Is it worthwhile to spend the extra money for the newer lens? The only other lens I will (likely) have for the GX85 will be the 12-32mm kit lens. I don't think that one will give me the depth of field that the other, prime lenses, would, right?

Thank you in advance for your help!

I had the 30mm f2.8 and it was a nice lens, if the focal length is good for you. Remember, it is about 60mm equivalent, a bit longer than the 25mm (50mm) one. You could also look at the Olympus 25mm f1.8, which is about the same price as the Sigma 2.8, but is a really sweet and sharp lens. Can't go wrong with that lens.

I've been considering the 30mm f1.4 Sigma and found that it is considered one of the finest lenses currently available for m4/3.  I'm in the Philippines, and the list price of $339 USD seems to be FIXED and priced by Sigma at a "discounted" price.