Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens for Sony E Black: A Review
If you are looking for a fast, sharp, and versatile prime lens for your Sony E-mount camera, you might want to consider the Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens. This lens is designed for APS-C format mirrorless cameras, and offers a bright f/1.4 maximum aperture, a 45mm equivalent focal length, and a compact and lightweight design. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, and drawbacks of this lens, and compare it with some similar products on the market. We will also share some representative product reviews from Amazon customers, and provide a purchase link at the end of the article.
Features
The Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens has the following features:
– A large-diameter f/1.4 aperture that allows for low-light shooting, shallow depth of field, and smooth bokeh effects.
– A 9-blade rounded diaphragm that contributes to the pleasing out-of-focus quality of the lens.
– A stepping motor that provides fast, quiet, and accurate autofocus performance, suitable for both stills and video shooting.
– A Super Multi-Layer Coating that reduces lens flare and ghosting, and enhances contrast and color accuracy.
– Two aspherical elements and one high-refractive index element that minimize spherical aberrations and distortion, and improve sharpness and clarity across the frame.
– A metal bayonet mount that ensures durability and a secure connection to the camera body.
– A 52mm filter thread that accepts a variety of filters and accessories.
– A 30cm minimum focus distance that enables close-up shooting and macro-like effects.
Benefits
The Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens has the following benefits:
– It offers a natural and versatile angle of view that is suitable for a wide range of photography genres, such as portraits, landscapes, street, documentary, and more.
– It delivers excellent image quality, with high resolution, contrast, and color fidelity, even at wide-open apertures.
– It is compatible with the Fast Hybrid AF system of Sony E-mount cameras, which ensures fast and precise autofocus tracking and face recognition.
– It is compact and lightweight, weighing only 265g and measuring 65 x 73mm, making it easy to carry and use.
– It is affordable, with a MSRP of $339.00, and often available at a lower price on Amazon.
Drawbacks
The Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens has the following drawbacks:
– It does not have optical image stabilization, which means that it relies on the in-body stabilization of the camera, if available, to prevent camera shake and blur.
– It is not weather-sealed, which means that it is not protected from dust and moisture, and may not perform well in harsh environments.
– It exhibits some barrel distortion, which means that straight lines may appear slightly curved, especially near the edges of the frame.
– It produces some chromatic aberration, which means that color fringes may appear along high-contrast edges, especially at wide-open apertures.
Comparison
The Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens has one natural competitor in the Sony E-mount system: the Sony E 35mm F1.8 OSS. This lens is also designed for APS-C format mirrorless cameras, and offers a slightly longer focal length, a slightly narrower aperture, and optical image stabilization. Here is a comparison table of the two lenses:
| Feature | Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN | C | Sony E 35mm F1.8 OSS |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $339.00 | $448.00 | |
| Image Stabilization | No | Yes | |
| Max Aperture | F1.4 | F1.8 | |
| Minimum Aperture | F16 | F22 | |
| Aperture Ring | No | No | |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 7 | |
| Number of Elements | 9 | 8 | |
| Number of Groups | 7 | 6 | |
| Special Elements/Coatings | 2 aspherical, 1 high-refractive index, Super Multi-Layer Coating | 2 aspherical | |
| Minimum Focus | 0.30m | 0.30m | |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.14x | 0.15x | |
| Motor Type | Stepper motor | Stepper motor | |
| Full Time Manual | No | No | |
| Weight | 265g | 155g | |
| Dimensions (DxL) | 65 x 73mm | 63 x 45mm | |
| Sealing | None | None | |
| Filter Thread | 52mm | 49mm |
As you can see, the two lenses have some similarities and some differences. The Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN | C has the advantage of a wider aperture, a more rounded diaphragm, and a lower price. The Sony E 35mm F1.8 OSS has the advantage of optical image stabilization, a lighter weight, and a smaller size. The image quality of both lenses is very good, with the Sigma being slightly sharper and the Sony being slightly less distorted. The choice between the two lenses may depend on your personal preference, budget, and shooting style.
Product Reviews
Here are some representative product reviews from Amazon customers who bought the Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens:
– “I love this lens. It is sharp, fast, and produces beautiful bokeh. It is my go-to lens for portraits, street photography, and low-light situations. The autofocus is quick and silent, and works well with my Sony a6000. The build quality is solid and the lens feels well-balanced on the camera. The only minor complaint I have is that it does not have image stabilization, but that is not a deal-breaker for me. I highly recommend this lens to anyone looking for a fast and versatile prime lens for their Sony E-mount camera.”
– “This lens is amazing. It is very sharp even at f/1.4, and the colors and contrast are superb. It is also very compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. The f/1.4 aperture allows me to shoot in low-light conditions and create beautiful background blur. The autofocus is fast and accurate, and works well with the eye autofocus feature of my Sony a6400. The only downside is that it does not have weather sealing, but I don’t shoot in the rain anyway. This lens is a great value for the money and I highly recommend it.”
– “This lens is decent, but not great. It is sharp in the center, but soft in the corners, especially at wide apertures. It also has noticeable distortion and chromatic aberration, which can be corrected in post-processing, but still annoying. The autofocus is not very reliable, and sometimes hunts or misses the focus. The lens does not have image stabilization, which can be a problem in low-light situations. The lens is well-built and looks nice, but I expected more from a Sigma lens. I think the Sony 35mm F1.8 OSS is a better option for the same price range.”
Conclusion
The Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens is a fast, sharp, and versatile prime lens for Sony E-mount cameras. It offers a natural and flexible angle of view, a bright and smooth aperture, and a compact and lightweight design. It is suitable for a wide range of photography genres, such as portraits, landscapes, street, documentary, and more. It is also compatible with the Fast Hybrid AF system of Sony E-mount cameras, which ensures fast and precise autofocus performance. The lens has some drawbacks, such as the lack of optical image stabilization, weather sealing, and distortion and chromatic aberration correction. However, these drawbacks are not deal-breakers for most users, and can be overcome with the in-body stabilization of the camera, careful handling of the lens, and post-processing of the images. The lens is also affordable, with a MSRP of $339.00, and often available at a lower price on Amazon. If you are looking for a fast and versatile prime lens for your Sony E-mount camera, you might want to consider the Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens. You can buy it from Amazon by clicking [here].
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