Comparing these two, are there any significant benefits of the Sigma over the Nikon other than the larger aperture?
The Sigma is about twice the price. Is it worth the premium?
Nikon 35mm 1.8 vs Sigma 30mm 1.4
(51 posts) (21 voices)-
I don't know anything about the Sigma, but I doubt it. Pay double for a non Nikon lens and only gain a little aperture that you probably won't use anyway. For as much as I use mine I wouldn't get the Sigma and optically the Nikon lens is great. Other then the price I don't really see any premium in the Sigma. Maybe too many on this forum though like Niko have made me a Nikon lens only snob. To me it seems silly to pay more for a third party lens then the Nikon when the Nikon really is a great lens.
Wow...I just looked on Amazon and the Nikon 35 f1.8 has gone up to over $300. I almost feel the need to sell mine.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thom Hogan has reviews of both lenses (and the 35/2) on his site. (www.bythom.com, look down the left-hand column.) IIRC he likes almost everything about the Nikon, and thinks the Sigma is miserably soft.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I have been looking at these 2 lenses for a while myself.. I have lookd through them at the shops but really have no other experience with them however I am a rather thorough researcher when it comes to lenses I am going to buy! So the main differences besides the price is i think are the following
* 5mm diff 30 vs 35
* 2/3 stop F1.4 vs F1.8
* vignette and image softness at the edges for the sigma wide open.As a normal carry around lens the 30mm being that litte bit wider than 35 makes a nice difference. it give that wee bit more room and gets a very cozy and intimate FOV for family gatherings.
The 2/3 stop is really not that much because all cameras cheat at those wide apertures and stealthily up the ISO. but you do gain the thinner DOF that makes the image that much more.
Once stopped down to 1.8 the sigma gets sharper at the edges and the vignette is reduced some what as well. How ever the nikkor is sharp edge to edge right down to F1.8. Focusing is also reputed to be better for the nikkor and at F1.4 is a bit less confident in focus but thats an issue with sigma anyway they tend to back/front focus and you need to have it calibrated for your camera. Soem say teh Build quality of the sigma is better and heavy and solid and some say the nikon is more than adequate but lighter.
One advantage of the sigma is the CA is well controlled and a weakness for the nikon is the CA is not good at the edges.
I think both lenses are good and the final decision depends on what you want to use the lense for. I am leaning toward the sigma myself. good ol ken R thinks the nikon is better and more than adequate for the price.
You cant go wrong with either really.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Have both, played with two additional Sigma copies.
I wouldn't think twice - Buy the Nikon.
Sigma - Soft, major flairs, weird chromatic abrasions, green color shift, odd filter size, heavy, macro is not good at all.
Posted 2 years ago # -
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I own the 30mm Sigma. My biggest complaint, besides the hit or miss quality control, is that the focus is just not very responsive at all. When the focus is right then it's an awesome lens but I'd say 1 out of 5 shots misses the mark on average. I had to return two copies before I finally got a lens that didn't back-focus.
Even now my good copy is only acceptable and not exactly 100%. I got frustrated with returning it so many times that I gave up and just kept my third copy. I should have just gotten my money back after the first lens.
Get the Nikon as you won't regret it! It's cheaper and better so it's a no-brainer!
Posted 2 years ago # -
casperwb said:
and to add to that, better resale valueI bought mine used on ebay for $300 - going to list it this week to sell - We will see. Hopefully someone who doesn't read this site will start bidding!
I have had the same experience as super shooter - It can take sharp photos, when it focus correctly. Nikon got it right with their's.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anyone have a good example photo of the subject isolation (not?) available with the 30mm lens @ 1.4?
Math says it's the same as my 85 @ f/4, but I'm curious to see. I have nothing faster than f/2 close to that wide.
Posted 2 years ago # -
tcole1983 said:
I don't know anything about the Sigma, but I doubt it. Pay double for a non Nikon lens and only gain a little aperture that you probably won't use anyway. For as much as I use mine I wouldn't get the Sigma and optically the Nikon lens is great. Other then the price I don't really see any premium in the Sigma. Maybe too many on this forum though like Niko have made me a Nikon lens only snob. To me it seems silly to pay more for a third party lens then the Nikon when the Nikon really is a great lens.Wow...I just looked on Amazon and the Nikon 35 f1.8 has gone up to over $300. I almost feel the need to sell mine.
TaoTeJared said:
I bought mine used on ebay for $300 - going to list it this week to sell - We will see. Hopefully someone who doesn't read this site will start bidding!I have had the same experience as super shooter - It can take sharp photos, when it focus correctly. Nikon got it right with their's.
Amazon is listing this lens way too high. J and R was listing it earlier this afternoon at $192. I believe I got mine for $220 from J and R, paid $250 with tax.
No way am I selling mine even for $300.
Posted 2 years ago # -
NSXType-R said:
Amazon is listing this lens way too high. J and R was listing it earlier this afternoon at $192. I believe I got mine for $220 from J and R, paid $250 with tax.As was suggested in the other thread (and verified just now) J and R have ZERO in stock and everyone with one actually in stock is charging upwards of $300. J and R advertising such a price and obscuring their stock status is simply advertising, and par for the course. They are far from the only one doing it.
The amazon price is NOT too high, it is a rational response to demand greatly exceeding supply.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Testing123 said:
Anyone have a good example photo of the subject isolation (not?) available with the 30mm lens @ 1.4?Math says it's the same as my 85 @ f/4, but I'm curious to see. I have nothing faster than f/2 close to that wide.
I'll try to get some shots with the 30mm, nikon's 35mm 1.8, 50mm 1.4D, 50mm AFS, & 85mm 1.8. Been meaning to do that anyway before I sold the 30 & 50.
Posted 2 years ago # -
f/1.8 is pretty shallow as it is. I own the Nikon lens and don't usually go below f/2.2ish since anything wider and I start to lose detail in the face if I'm shooting a headshot or a portrait.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Sorry guys but you can't sell gear in the forum. Please PM each other instead.
Posted 2 years ago # -
forget this sigma, it's rubbish comparing to N35/1.8, too soft and way to overpriced IMHO
Posted 2 years ago # -
I love my Sigma 30mm 1.4. Here's a pic I took of a friend with my D7000:
Posted 2 years ago # -
slantedview said:
f/1.8 is pretty shallow as it is. I own the Nikon lens and don't usually go below f/2.2ish since anything wider and I start to lose detail in the face if I'm shooting a headshot or a portrait.Yep...if you shoot it at 1.8 it is pretty easy to not get half the face in focus. I still can't believe the jump in price of the Nikon lens.
VelocityStop what f stop was that at? Looks...I don't know..OK, but not super great...maybe it is the blown highlights on the face. I can't access my flickr from work or I could post up an example or two for the Nikon.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Nikon 35 @ f1.8
Nikon 35 @ f2.2
Nikon 35 @ f1.8
Posted 2 years ago # -
tcole1983 said:
VelocityStop what f stop was that at? Looks...I don't know..OK, but not super great...maybe it is the blown highlights on the face. I can't access my flickr from work or I could post up an example or two for the Nikon.
Someone asked about subject isolation - should have probably quoted them. It was a f/1.4 jpeg snapshot in sunlight with no editing. I have better pictures but I knew where to find that one fast and it had great subject isolation.
I browsed pages of photos on Flikr before buying my Sigma and came to the conclusion that both the Nikon and Sigma are capable of taking very similar quality photos. The super shallow depth of field at 1.4 can be hard to control, and I would assume most reported focus issues are related to this (watching the focus point carefully is key). I found mine used for $250, so price wasn't a deciding factor for me. It basically comes down to preference - metal body 30mm f/1.4 vs plastic body 35mm f/1.8.
Here's a couple more pictures at f/1.4 (I'm not a professional or anything):
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi VStop. Have you got samples at around F2 please :-) Nice photos though you seem to be front focusing :-) I know its hard to focus accurately at F1.4 keep at it ...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Here's a DRTV vid if anyone is still interested. He says the bokeh of the Nikkor is bad, but I think it's just fine. Bokeh is very subjective after all.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi,
I believe this is the Nikon 35mm with a D90 at ISO 200 at F2, but I think it really wouldn't matter if it was at f1.8, the difference at this distance would be trivial.
+1 for the Nikon.
I have a hard time understanding the price increases that Nikon is imposing on their gear. It seems like large jumps.
It's strictly a guess, but I suspect it has nothing to do with the earthquake and tsunami and it's is just tragic timing. It normally takes a lot to make global changes.
My best,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
padlockd said:
Here's a DRTV vid if anyone is still interested. He says the bokeh of the Nikkor is bad, but I think it's just fine. Bokeh is very subjective after all.Couldn't see the vid - plugin link is in German and is more technical than my brain can translate.
If anyone has the link for the plugin that would be great! I have found some, but they are just zipped files with no instructions or ability to install into a browser. :(
Posted 2 years ago # -
I loved Digital Rev's review. Some think Kai (the presenter) is a bit silly, but the show is great. Also, i have the 35mm and i love it.
Posted 2 years ago #
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