In 2005, Sigma introduced the SIGMA 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM large-aperture APS-C format standard lens. Having reorganized its lenses into three product lines, Sigma created the SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC HSM large-aperture APS-C format standard digital SLR camera lens for the Art line. Like other Art lenses, it offers exceptional optical performance throughout the image. Highly versatile, it lets the photographer use distance from the subject and aperture to achieve many different styles of photographic expression. For example, the photographer can leverage the shallow depth of field that creates beautiful bokeh for snap shots, portraits, and landscapes, and many different styles of photography. The SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC HSM leverages superior optical performance to offer outstanding expressive power at a wide range of focusing distances. Optimized power distribution minimizes curvature of field, thereby preventing a loss of image quality at the edges of photographs. The use of a double aspheric lens minimizes spherical distortion, astigmatism and coma. Coma of point light sources is minimized near the edge of the image, and an attractive round bokeh effect is produced at large-aperture settings.
In 2005, Sigma introduced the SIGMA 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM large-aperture APS-C format standard lens. Having reorganized its lenses into three product lines, Sigma created the SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC HSM large-aperture APS-C format standard digital SLR camera lens for the Art line. Like other Art lenses, it offers exceptional optical performance throughout the image. Highly versatile, it lets the photographer use distance from the subject and aperture to achieve many different styles of photographic expression. For example, the photographer can leverage the shallow depth of field that creates beautiful bokeh for snap shots, portraits, and landscapes, and many different styles of photography. The SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC HSM leverages superior optical performance to offer outstanding expressive power at a wide range of focusing distances. Optimized power distribution minimizes curvature of field, thereby preventing a loss of image quality at the edges of photographs. The use of a double aspheric lens minimizes spherical distortion, astigmatism and coma. Coma of point light sources is minimized near the edge of the image, and an attractive round bokeh effect is produced at large-aperture settings.
in 53 offers
last seen 18 Oct 2026
The lowest price we last saw for Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art Lens for Canon was $227.19 at eBay.com.au, compared across 25 retailers (last seen 18 Oct 2026). Prices may have changed since.
The all-time low we recorded was $222.81 on 13 May 2026.
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art Lens for Canon
In 2005, Sigma introduced the SIGMA 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM large-aperture APS-C format standard lens. Having reorganized its lenses into three product lines, Sigma created the SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC HSM large-aperture APS-C format standard digital SLR camera lens for the Art line. Like other Art lenses, it offers exceptional optical performance throughout the image. Highly versatile, it lets the photographer use distance from the subject and aperture to achieve many different styles of photographic expression. For example, the photographer can leverage the shallow depth of field that creates beautiful bokeh for snap shots, portraits, and landscapes, and many different styles of photography. The SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC HSM leverages superior optical performance to offer outstanding expressive power at a wide range of focusing distances. Optimized power distribution minimizes curvature of field, thereby preventing a loss of image quality at the edges of photographs. The use of a double aspheric lens minimizes spherical distortion, astigmatism and coma. Coma of point light sources is minimized near the edge of the image, and an attractive round bokeh effect is produced at large-aperture settings.
In 2005, Sigma introduced the SIGMA 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM large-aperture APS-C format standard lens. Having reorganized its lenses into three product lines, Sigma created the SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC HSM large-aperture APS-C format standard digital SLR camera lens for the Art line. Like other Art lenses, it offers exceptional optical performance throughout the image. Highly versatile, it lets the photographer use distance from the subject and aperture to achieve many different styles of photographic expression. For example, the photographer can leverage the shallow depth of field that creates beautiful bokeh for snap shots, portraits, and landscapes, and many different styles of photography. The SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC HSM leverages superior optical performance to offer outstanding expressive power at a wide range of focusing distances. Optimized power distribution minimizes curvature of field, thereby preventing a loss of image quality at the edges of photographs. The use of a double aspheric lens minimizes spherical distortion, astigmatism and coma. Coma of point light sources is minimized near the edge of the image, and an attractive round bokeh effect is produced at large-aperture settings.
Prices last updated 18 Oct 2026.
Last updated at 18/10/2026 09:56:08
Sigma 4301955 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art Lens for Nikon, Black
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Sigma 30mm F/1.4 Ex Dc Hsm Canon Lens Nikon F W/ Hood Caps [near Mint]
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Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC HSM Art Lens for Pentax
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Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art Lens (Canon)
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Sigma AF 30mm F1.4 DC HSM Art - Canon| Secondhand
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Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art Lens for Nikon
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Sigma AF 30mm F1.4 DC HSM Art - Nikon | Secondhand
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Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art - Nikon Mount
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Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC HSM Lens - Nikon F
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Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC HSM Lens - Nikon F
Delivery between 21–29 Oct $10
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
If you're reading this, you already know about the sharpness and great optics. I used the lens for a few days and immediately my pictures looked better, without me doing anything differently... But, I took a lot fewer pictures in those few days. I purchased this as an upgrade from the 35/1.8 DX lens. There is no comparison between the lenses, the Sigma is superior in every area. Except weight. It is SO heavy. Really throws off the balance on a DX body (I have 7100), impossible to move around without holding the lens to your side, just ergonomically terrible. They weren't kidding when they said its an Art lens - this is not a throw on and walk around lens. I didn't really read the specs, and I thought this was going to be a bit heavier than the amazing 50mm 1.4G at a ... MoreIf you're reading this, you already know about the sharpness and great optics. I used the lens for a few days and immediately my pictures looked better, without me doing anything differently... But, I took a lot fewer pictures in those few days. I purchased this as an upgrade from the 35/1.8 DX lens. There is no comparison between the lenses, the Sigma is superior in every area. Except weight. It is SO heavy. Really throws off the balance on a DX body (I have 7100), impossible to move around without holding the lens to your side, just ergonomically terrible. They weren't kidding when they said its an Art lens - this is not a throw on and walk around lens. I didn't really read the specs, and I thought this was going to be a bit heavier than the amazing 50mm 1.4G at a much more usable angle of view for DX. Alas, this is not that... I returned it and went with 28mm 1.8G instead. Its about the same price for the 28/1.8G on the used market as this lens is new, plus the 28 is a Nikon, has the N coating, and can be used as a wide angle on a FX body. If you ever upgrade from DX to FX, this expensive prime becomes useless. Honestly, I think this lens was invented for internet forum pixel peepers. If you require this level of optics on your lens, you're probably shooting on FX cameras, or using a Zeiss.
originally posted on cameranu.nl
I wanted to make B-roll footage for my videos. And after doing some research, I found that the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lens was the way to go. Because of it's wide aperture of f/1.4. It creates some crazy depth-of-field. And what comes with great DoF? Great bokeh. This makes B-roll footage look delicious and creamy.A big pro is that this lens isn't that expensive. If you would compare this to a Canon lens, I would have spent more than €1000,-! If it performs the same (or maybe even better?) then why go for the more expensive lens, right? That's a no-brainer to me.If you're planning to buy this lens, then there are a few things that are good to know. You can choose to set the lens on manual or auto-focus. It comes with a lens cap, which I rarely detach. And it has some ... MoreI wanted to make B-roll footage for my videos. And after doing some research, I found that the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lens was the way to go. Because of it's wide aperture of f/1.4. It creates some crazy depth-of-field. And what comes with great DoF? Great bokeh. This makes B-roll footage look delicious and creamy.A big pro is that this lens isn't that expensive. If you would compare this to a Canon lens, I would have spent more than €1000,-! If it performs the same (or maybe even better?) then why go for the more expensive lens, right? That's a no-brainer to me.If you're planning to buy this lens, then there are a few things that are good to know. You can choose to set the lens on manual or auto-focus. It comes with a lens cap, which I rarely detach. And it has some weight to it: 490 grams according to my little food scale. That feels quite premium for a lens this small. Speaking of small, the lens is about 7cm wide and 11cm tall (including the lens cap). So it won't take a lot of space in your camera bag.I hope this review helped you with your research.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
First off, I will say I am an armature photograph and see photography as a hobby rather than a career. For my purposes, this lens is fantastic. To start, the build quality of this lens is amazing. I upgrade to this lens from a 40mm Canon pancake lens with a max aperture of 2.8. Compared to that lens, it's weightier and larger, however I love that about this 30mm. The 40mm felt toyish to me and was constructed of plastic; this Sigma is made mainly from metal. To me, that's not a huge deal because like many of you reading this review, we take good care of our equipment, however the Art lens feels more professional and if you were to take it out on the trail, it could withstand a bump or two. Compared to other Sigma lenses I own, this is by far the best constructed; I ... MoreFirst off, I will say I am an armature photograph and see photography as a hobby rather than a career. For my purposes, this lens is fantastic. To start, the build quality of this lens is amazing. I upgrade to this lens from a 40mm Canon pancake lens with a max aperture of 2.8. Compared to that lens, it's weightier and larger, however I love that about this 30mm. The 40mm felt toyish to me and was constructed of plastic; this Sigma is made mainly from metal. To me, that's not a huge deal because like many of you reading this review, we take good care of our equipment, however the Art lens feels more professional and if you were to take it out on the trail, it could withstand a bump or two. Compared to other Sigma lenses I own, this is by far the best constructed; I also own the 10-20mm and the 18-250mm. The 10-20 feels well built and hefty, but 18-250 is frankly cheap feeling, however you should have no concerns about this 30mm. What I love the most about this lens is the fantastic depth of field it provides. The bokeh of the lens is smooth as silk and allows the subject of the image to be captured brilliantly. It isolates the subject and forces the viewer to examine it, rather than what might be behind it. Also, if there is light behind the subject, the bokeh of it is spherical and not at all angular. The 1.4 max aperture is a great feature and the low light performance is incredible. It makes taking photos with friends and family at gatherings much more enjoyable and less frustrating. Since the lens lets in more light, you can capture your photos with a shorter shutter speed making your images less shaky and crisper when their on screen. However, there are other lenses out there that are cheaper and also shoot at f/1.4, (even the Canon f/1.4 50mm is cheaper than this), so why look at this lens? Compared to other f/1.4 lenses on the market, the 30mm obviously lets you capture more in the frame. On a crop sensor, this is huge. Almost every crop sensor Canon makes has a multiplier of 1.6, so really this 30mm lens is the equivalent of a 48mm on a full frame camera. I love this focal length. Even with aforementioned 40mm pancake lens I had, I found myself clearing a path as I constantly had to back further away from my subjects to capture the entirety of what I wanted. At times I was roughly 12 feet away from a group of four people if I wanted to fit them all in... and that was on a 40mm... I'd be even further away from subjects on a 50mm, which really led me to this lens. What if I wanted to shoot a small subject and wanted to fill the frame? The 30mm would be disadvantageous in this scenario right? Well... not really. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of only roughly a foot. If I did want to get an isolated image of a still, I could shoot it closer with this lens, filling the frame to a distance which is close to that of what a 50mm lens would achieve with a minimum focusing distance of 1.5 feet. There have been complaints about front focusing / back focusing with this lens... I have had no problems with this. Even so, Sigma does make a USB mount for Art lenses where you can adjust them on your computer. I do understand though that when you spend close to 500 dollars on a lens, you should not have to buy another accessory to perfect it; luckily I don't have this issue, but it's nice to know that 5 years from now if I am noticing discrepancies, I could correct for it. The video quality seems fine - I rarely shoot video - however the main issue that I have is that its noisy when auto focusing. The mic does pick it up and it is off putting when viewing videos. For me, not a big issue as I mainly shoot stills. As an armature photographer, I am very happy with this purchase and upgrade from my 40mm pancake. At the end of the day, this lens takes super sharp images, is extremely versatile (more so than a 50mm), adds great DOF to images, performs fantastically in low light, and is built strongly enough to serve you well into the future. There is really not much more a hobbyist could ask for.
| Fixed Focal Length | 30mm |
| Accessory Type | Lens |
| Durability | TSC reduces expansion and contraction of the internal lens barrel |
| Included Accessories | Lens hood |
| Included Highlights | With Lens Hood |
Sigma 4301955 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art Lens for Nikon, Black
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Sigma 30mm F/1.4 Ex Dc Hsm Canon Lens Nikon F W/ Hood Caps [near Mint]
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC HSM Art Lens for Pentax
Delivery $25
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art Lens (Canon)
Free delivery
Sigma AF 30mm F1.4 DC HSM Art - Canon| Secondhand
Free delivery
If you're reading this, you already know about the sharpness and great optics. I used the lens for a few days and immediately my pictures looked better, without me doing anything differently... But, I took a lot fewer pictures in those few days. I purchased this as an upgrade from the 35/1.8 DX lens. There is no comparison between the lenses, the Sigma is superior in every area. Except weight. It is SO heavy. Really throws off the balance on a DX body (I have 7100), impossible to move around without holding the lens to your side, just ergonomically terrible. They weren't kidding when they said its an Art lens - this is not a throw on and walk around lens. I didn't really read the specs, and I thought this was going to be a bit heavier than the amazing 50mm 1.4G at a ... MoreIf you're reading this, you already know about the sharpness and great optics. I used the lens for a few days and immediately my pictures looked better, without me doing anything differently... But, I took a lot fewer pictures in those few days. I purchased this as an upgrade from the 35/1.8 DX lens. There is no comparison between the lenses, the Sigma is superior in every area. Except weight. It is SO heavy. Really throws off the balance on a DX body (I have 7100), impossible to move around without holding the lens to your side, just ergonomically terrible. They weren't kidding when they said its an Art lens - this is not a throw on and walk around lens. I didn't really read the specs, and I thought this was going to be a bit heavier than the amazing 50mm 1.4G at a much more usable angle of view for DX. Alas, this is not that... I returned it and went with 28mm 1.8G instead. Its about the same price for the 28/1.8G on the used market as this lens is new, plus the 28 is a Nikon, has the N coating, and can be used as a wide angle on a FX body. If you ever upgrade from DX to FX, this expensive prime becomes useless. Honestly, I think this lens was invented for internet forum pixel peepers. If you require this level of optics on your lens, you're probably shooting on FX cameras, or using a Zeiss.
I wanted to make B-roll footage for my videos. And after doing some research, I found that the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lens was the way to go. Because of it's wide aperture of f/1.4. It creates some crazy depth-of-field. And what comes with great DoF? Great bokeh. This makes B-roll footage look delicious and creamy.A big pro is that this lens isn't that expensive. If you would compare this to a Canon lens, I would have spent more than €1000,-! If it performs the same (or maybe even better?) then why go for the more expensive lens, right? That's a no-brainer to me.If you're planning to buy this lens, then there are a few things that are good to know. You can choose to set the lens on manual or auto-focus. It comes with a lens cap, which I rarely detach. And it has some ... MoreI wanted to make B-roll footage for my videos. And after doing some research, I found that the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lens was the way to go. Because of it's wide aperture of f/1.4. It creates some crazy depth-of-field. And what comes with great DoF? Great bokeh. This makes B-roll footage look delicious and creamy.A big pro is that this lens isn't that expensive. If you would compare this to a Canon lens, I would have spent more than €1000,-! If it performs the same (or maybe even better?) then why go for the more expensive lens, right? That's a no-brainer to me.If you're planning to buy this lens, then there are a few things that are good to know. You can choose to set the lens on manual or auto-focus. It comes with a lens cap, which I rarely detach. And it has some weight to it: 490 grams according to my little food scale. That feels quite premium for a lens this small. Speaking of small, the lens is about 7cm wide and 11cm tall (including the lens cap). So it won't take a lot of space in your camera bag.I hope this review helped you with your research.
First off, I will say I am an armature photograph and see photography as a hobby rather than a career. For my purposes, this lens is fantastic. To start, the build quality of this lens is amazing. I upgrade to this lens from a 40mm Canon pancake lens with a max aperture of 2.8. Compared to that lens, it's weightier and larger, however I love that about this 30mm. The 40mm felt toyish to me and was constructed of plastic; this Sigma is made mainly from metal. To me, that's not a huge deal because like many of you reading this review, we take good care of our equipment, however the Art lens feels more professional and if you were to take it out on the trail, it could withstand a bump or two. Compared to other Sigma lenses I own, this is by far the best constructed; I ... MoreFirst off, I will say I am an armature photograph and see photography as a hobby rather than a career. For my purposes, this lens is fantastic. To start, the build quality of this lens is amazing. I upgrade to this lens from a 40mm Canon pancake lens with a max aperture of 2.8. Compared to that lens, it's weightier and larger, however I love that about this 30mm. The 40mm felt toyish to me and was constructed of plastic; this Sigma is made mainly from metal. To me, that's not a huge deal because like many of you reading this review, we take good care of our equipment, however the Art lens feels more professional and if you were to take it out on the trail, it could withstand a bump or two. Compared to other Sigma lenses I own, this is by far the best constructed; I also own the 10-20mm and the 18-250mm. The 10-20 feels well built and hefty, but 18-250 is frankly cheap feeling, however you should have no concerns about this 30mm. What I love the most about this lens is the fantastic depth of field it provides. The bokeh of the lens is smooth as silk and allows the subject of the image to be captured brilliantly. It isolates the subject and forces the viewer to examine it, rather than what might be behind it. Also, if there is light behind the subject, the bokeh of it is spherical and not at all angular. The 1.4 max aperture is a great feature and the low light performance is incredible. It makes taking photos with friends and family at gatherings much more enjoyable and less frustrating. Since the lens lets in more light, you can capture your photos with a shorter shutter speed making your images less shaky and crisper when their on screen. However, there are other lenses out there that are cheaper and also shoot at f/1.4, (even the Canon f/1.4 50mm is cheaper than this), so why look at this lens? Compared to other f/1.4 lenses on the market, the 30mm obviously lets you capture more in the frame. On a crop sensor, this is huge. Almost every crop sensor Canon makes has a multiplier of 1.6, so really this 30mm lens is the equivalent of a 48mm on a full frame camera. I love this focal length. Even with aforementioned 40mm pancake lens I had, I found myself clearing a path as I constantly had to back further away from my subjects to capture the entirety of what I wanted. At times I was roughly 12 feet away from a group of four people if I wanted to fit them all in... and that was on a 40mm... I'd be even further away from subjects on a 50mm, which really led me to this lens. What if I wanted to shoot a small subject and wanted to fill the frame? The 30mm would be disadvantageous in this scenario right? Well... not really. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of only roughly a foot. If I did want to get an isolated image of a still, I could shoot it closer with this lens, filling the frame to a distance which is close to that of what a 50mm lens would achieve with a minimum focusing distance of 1.5 feet. There have been complaints about front focusing / back focusing with this lens... I have had no problems with this. Even so, Sigma does make a USB mount for Art lenses where you can adjust them on your computer. I do understand though that when you spend close to 500 dollars on a lens, you should not have to buy another accessory to perfect it; luckily I don't have this issue, but it's nice to know that 5 years from now if I am noticing discrepancies, I could correct for it. The video quality seems fine - I rarely shoot video - however the main issue that I have is that its noisy when auto focusing. The mic does pick it up and it is off putting when viewing videos. For me, not a big issue as I mainly shoot stills. As an armature photographer, I am very happy with this purchase and upgrade from my 40mm pancake. At the end of the day, this lens takes super sharp images, is extremely versatile (more so than a 50mm), adds great DOF to images, performs fantastically in low light, and is built strongly enough to serve you well into the future. There is really not much more a hobbyist could ask for.
This lens is tack sharp in the focus plane, has beautiful and creamy bokeh, and has super nice contrast and colour. The only issue is that it seems to not be calibrated to some of the newer cameras with different AF motors. I have a Canon T6i (750D), and it seems that the Sigma 30mm f1.4 was never calibrated for this newer model camera, or the T6s/760D, or the new 80D. I have tried of these lenses on my body, and both had issues with the AF (generally front-focusing issues, although it would sometimes back focus depending on the lighting). This has not happened with other lenses I own or have tried with my body, so it is not a camera body issue. If you go to the Sigma website, it lists all the cameras that this lens is compatible with, and the 3 cameras I listed are ... MoreThis lens is tack sharp in the focus plane, has beautiful and creamy bokeh, and has super nice contrast and colour. The only issue is that it seems to not be calibrated to some of the newer cameras with different AF motors. I have a Canon T6i (750D), and it seems that the Sigma 30mm f1.4 was never calibrated for this newer model camera, or the T6s/760D, or the new 80D. I have tried of these lenses on my body, and both had issues with the AF (generally front-focusing issues, although it would sometimes back focus depending on the lighting). This has not happened with other lenses I own or have tried with my body, so it is not a camera body issue. If you go to the Sigma website, it lists all the cameras that this lens is compatible with, and the 3 cameras I listed are not on that page. I think this compatibility issue is simply due to the release dates of these cameras vs the lens, however, when I tried to contact Sigma on the issue, they failed to answer my questions. There are work arounds; the lens and body can be sent to Sigma, or your local photography store. There is also the Sigma USB dock that can be used to calibrate the lens focus at certain focusing distances (I have not tried this but it seems to solve other people's issues). If you can get these AF issues worked out,or if you shoot video and don't rely on AF as much, this is an amazing lens with exceptional value. If Sigma can work on a firmware update that can somehow be implemented without the 70$ USB dock (loading it onto your SD card for instance), this would absolutely be a no brainer. With the way this lens behaves inconsistently, I would say it is only worth it if you can calibrate the AF.
Always tempted to jumping onto high-end mirrorless or full-frame DSLR, but dumping a perfectly-working APS-C Nikon was hard to justify. As a compromise I replaced Nikor 35mm f/1.8 lens with this new lens. Results: huge improvement in image quality - sharpness and nice bokeh. Auto-focusing motor runs quietly and swiftly. Only drawback is the lens is heavier and bulkier, but not critical at all. Surely this lens differentiates photos against smart phone photos.
I am IN love with this lens! I was shooting with a canon 50mm lens before which is great, however I was having to back up too much when I was taking shots of babies and pets and it was just cumbersome to get the beautiful shots I wanted. This 30mm lens has beautiful bokeh and is the perfect distance for pretty much everything I want to take pictures of regarding people and animals. It's very similar to what my eye sees. I also have a much much easier time getting clear crisp focal points than I did with the 50mm lens before. I don't think I will ever go back to using the 50mm again and this is my go-to lens if I only had to choose one. TOTALLY worth the investment. I do not notice that big of a difference at all between the Sigma 35mm and the 30mm.....I would ... MoreI am IN love with this lens! I was shooting with a canon 50mm lens before which is great, however I was having to back up too much when I was taking shots of babies and pets and it was just cumbersome to get the beautiful shots I wanted. This 30mm lens has beautiful bokeh and is the perfect distance for pretty much everything I want to take pictures of regarding people and animals. It's very similar to what my eye sees. I also have a much much easier time getting clear crisp focal points than I did with the 50mm lens before. I don't think I will ever go back to using the 50mm again and this is my go-to lens if I only had to choose one. TOTALLY worth the investment. I do not notice that big of a difference at all between the Sigma 35mm and the 30mm.....I would suggest saving your money and going with the 30mm Art. #sweepstakes
If you use APS-C and can't afford the Sigma 35mm ART, this is the best alternative. I shoot live music, portraits, and anything else I can point my 70D at. I've had this lens since 04/17/2015 and it's my main lens. I take it everywhere. It's built like a tank. I've dropped it once on my 70D. The lens hit the ground but only the protective filter was broken. It's been hit many times in mosh pits and giant crowds and still works perfectly fine. I've also used it in some almost extreme weather conditions. It's smaller than the 35mm and more compact. I always use the lens hood even at concerts and shows. I use a protective filter at all times and regularly clean the lens with a Gerlitz microfiber cloth. Some things to consider: I've experienced a lot of chromatic ... MoreIf you use APS-C and can't afford the Sigma 35mm ART, this is the best alternative. I shoot live music, portraits, and anything else I can point my 70D at. I've had this lens since 04/17/2015 and it's my main lens. I take it everywhere. It's built like a tank. I've dropped it once on my 70D. The lens hit the ground but only the protective filter was broken. It's been hit many times in mosh pits and giant crowds and still works perfectly fine. I've also used it in some almost extreme weather conditions. It's smaller than the 35mm and more compact. I always use the lens hood even at concerts and shows. I use a protective filter at all times and regularly clean the lens with a Gerlitz microfiber cloth. Some things to consider: I've experienced a lot of chromatic aberration in the past. Although, this became less and less as I became more proficient at properly exposing my shots. I can usually remedy any CA in Lightroom or Photoshop. If you put this lens onto a full frame body (such as a 5D) there will be drastic vignetting. It's great for video however there's audible clicking from the auto-focus during video playback even when using a muffled external microphone on the mount. The clicks are drowned out when shooting loud bands and music however (see the videos) and the image quality is brilliant. I would say that the auto-focus speed is about average when compared to Canon lenses such as the canon 50mm 1.4. Make sure your settings are properly exposing the images and use AI-Servo even at f/1.4. I almost always use f/1.4 at concerts. The accuracy depends on the movement of you and your subject, the amount of light, and if you've properly exposed your shot or not. Most of my images come out extremely sharp. My images with the 30mm + 70D are sharper than with 6D + Canon50mm 1.4.
Last year I made the switch to full frame and parked Sigma's 50mm F1.4 Art lens on my 5Diii. I thought full frame was the most amazing thing, and I could never go back. Then I started doing a little bit of video work, so I dusted off my SL1 to use as camera 2. When the SL1 was my only camera, I used an EF 50mm F1.8, EF-S 24mm F2.8, EF 75-300mm, and EF-S 10-18mm. I had always heard that lenses were more important than the body, but I never got myself to buy expensive lenses until after I had an expensive body. This lens is an expensive lens that isn't expensive. For the first video session I had a Canon EF-S 10-18mm F4.5-5.6 on the SL1 and the 50mm on the 5Diii. The footage from the SL1 was noisy garbage in comparison to the 5D. I needed to get that ISO down. I then ... MoreLast year I made the switch to full frame and parked Sigma's 50mm F1.4 Art lens on my 5Diii. I thought full frame was the most amazing thing, and I could never go back. Then I started doing a little bit of video work, so I dusted off my SL1 to use as camera 2. When the SL1 was my only camera, I used an EF 50mm F1.8, EF-S 24mm F2.8, EF 75-300mm, and EF-S 10-18mm. I had always heard that lenses were more important than the body, but I never got myself to buy expensive lenses until after I had an expensive body. This lens is an expensive lens that isn't expensive. For the first video session I had a Canon EF-S 10-18mm F4.5-5.6 on the SL1 and the 50mm on the 5Diii. The footage from the SL1 was noisy garbage in comparison to the 5D. I needed to get that ISO down. I then looked into Sigma's 24mm F1.4 Art lens to fix this problem, but I found the much smaller, lighter, and cheaper 30mm F1.4... The footage was remarkable. The difference next to the footage from the 5Diii was negligible. Since then I've been using my SL1 more often than my 5Diii. The setup is less than half the weight, roughly half the size, 1/4 the price, and 9/10 the image quality (for what I'm doing, anyways). For day to day use and for travel, this lens has been worth every penny. It's made me pick up an old body that was previously collecting dust. If I'm actually doing a shoot, though, I still try (and try and try and try) to get my money's worth out of the 5Diii. AF clicks during video, and lens has a little CA sometimes, otherwise it would get 5 stars from me. Build quality is amazing, solid, clean. It's not a huge lens (like Sigma's 50mm F1.4) which is great. Any time I talk to a friend wanting to switch to full frame, I recommend this lens first.
This is the first Sigma Art lens I have bought, reviews were all favourable for this lens. However I have found that the lens has an unfortunate characteristic in that it suffers from chromatic aberration when wide open, ie on the picture of a yellow flower with a dark background,the edges of the petals have a purple tinge. This can sometimes be fixed in photoshop but is a lot of fiddling about. This problem disappears if the lens is stopped down a stop or two. Otherwise the lens is well made and focuses flawlessly on my Nikon DSLR.
For your frame of reference, I bought this lens specifically for use in videography, so I could give an artistic look to indoor interviews that I do on a regular basis, mostly in corporate office settings for startup companies that are looking for artistic and unusual framing. Since I have a camera with an APS-C sensor, I needed a lens that would let me get close enough (the 50 mm was not cutting it) to my subject that I could conduct interviews in places with not a lot of available space (ie. corporate boardrooms, office cubicles), and that the aperture would open wide enough that I could record the interviews in most cases without the use of supplementary lighting. I would say this camera met all these criteria easily (especially the getting close enough ... MoreFor your frame of reference, I bought this lens specifically for use in videography, so I could give an artistic look to indoor interviews that I do on a regular basis, mostly in corporate office settings for startup companies that are looking for artistic and unusual framing. Since I have a camera with an APS-C sensor, I needed a lens that would let me get close enough (the 50 mm was not cutting it) to my subject that I could conduct interviews in places with not a lot of available space (ie. corporate boardrooms, office cubicles), and that the aperture would open wide enough that I could record the interviews in most cases without the use of supplementary lighting. I would say this camera met all these criteria easily (especially the getting close enough part)...It's great to have a lens that opens to 1.4 (the kit lens I was using only opened to 3.5), so you can film interviews at lower ISO settings, even in low light situations, and when it is open past the 2.2 range it really will give your interview footage that nice hazy background people look for. The lens is a lot sharper than the one that I was using (again kit lens), and it doesn't seem to fool you in the viewfinder (ie. I've had lens where it will look sharp in view finder but the footage winds up being not so much). This lens produces fairly sharp images the majority of the time, and it's easier to find the focus. Not sure why I'm not giving it 5 stars, maybe I expected the look of the final product to be a little nicer, but overall it really performs well in the ways that I wanted it to, and it will definitely bump your footage up several notches if you are considering upgrading from something like a kit lens. As a side note, i was considering the 18-35 mm Sigma for this as well, and would have preferred that for the flexibility, but purchased this one because it was a few hundred dollars cheaper. I don't regret doing that. Honestly, I don't need to get any closer than what I can with this 30 mm lens, the only place where I might want something like that is with photographs that I have to take of the offices after I do the interviews, but my other lens also works fine for that...also I never use autofocus so cant' comment at all on that. I would def recommend for somebody looking for similar performance...
| Fixed Focal Length | 30mm |
| Accessory Type | Lens |
| Durability | TSC reduces expansion and contraction of the internal lens barrel |
| Included Accessories | Lens hood |
| Included Highlights | With Lens Hood |
