one more time...camera lenses!

g8rbeckie

g8rbeckie

New member
OK guys! I need to give my Christmas wish list over to DH this week...

I'm leaning towards the Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens because of all the rave reviews from a prior thead. Can someone reassure me one more time that this lens will be an improvement over my 50mm 1.8?

My specific issue is that the 50mm 1.8 requires me to be too far away from the subject some times in order to get everything I want in the frame. Will the 30mm fixed allow me to get more of the scene in the frame while still achieving those gorgeous flash free portraits I love?? :unsure:

Help please!

thanks!!
 
Yes, the 30mm will allow you to get closer since it's a wider lens.

I can't tell you better/worse since I don't have that particular one. :)
 
Thanks Angie! I don't quite understand the "mm" part of lens selection...:p

That's what I needed to hear....sweet - putting the lens and a new camera bag from Etsy on my list for DH this year! :thumbup:
 
The 1.4 aperture of the 30mm lens will also give you better results with natural light than the 1.8. I just ordered this lens and it should be here Wednesday so I will try to remember to post what I think about it then. I also have the 50mm 1.8 and got the 30mm 1.4 because I needed more room for my inside shots.
 
I'm leaning this way for a new lens for myself as well at this point. I love my 50mm, but I want another prime as well. I want to build my lens stash, so to speak, so I have options if I decide to really pursue this soon.
 
That one is on my Christmas list too since I read the good reviews of it in the last thread. :) I love my 50 mm also but I'd like the flexibility that the 30 mm should give me. Now if only dh will break down and buy it . . . ;)
 
Yes, get the 30mm. Its actually closer to a normal lens than the 50 mm because of the crop factor.
 
Is there any distortion with this lens? I have heard that you shouldn't go any lower than a 50 for a portrait lens because of distortion... anyone have any experience with that?
 
robinforman said:
Is there any distortion with this lens? I have heard that you shouldn't go any lower than a 50 for a portrait lens because of distortion... anyone have any experience with that?
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No, there is no distortion.

There would be if you had a Full Frame Sensor and used a 30 mm.

Since probably none of us own a Full Frame Sensor camera, we have to deal with the crop factor on our sensors, which makes the 30mm more of a normal lens rather than a wide angle.
 
robinforman said:
Is there any distortion with this lens? I have heard that you shouldn't go any lower than a 50 for a portrait lens because of distortion... anyone have any experience with that?
Click to expand...

And lots of pro's use a 35mm for portraits. It's totally a matter of what you're comfortable with.
 
I'm confused. I was going to ask for the 50mm 1.4 for Christmas (I think it's 374.00 US on Amazon). But I am realizing that 50mm just doesn't get as close-up as I would like. So I was thinking maybe the 85mm?

Now I have the 35mm to think about....

I love close-up shots, especially when they don't know that I'm taking the picture.

Any thoughts on this??
 
paperboutique said:
I'm confused. I was going to ask for the 50mm 1.4 for Christmas (I think it's 374.00 US on Amazon). But I am realizing that 50mm just doesn't get as close-up as I would like. So I was thinking maybe the 85mm?

Now I have the 35mm to think about....

I love close-up shots, especially when they don't know that I'm taking the picture.

Any thoughts on this??
Click to expand...


The 85mm is a great portrait lens. This one is next on my list for this summer when I can get outside. It will get you closer shots without being close to your subject than the 50mm will. I am getting the 30mm because I don't have alot of room in my house and the 50mm on my camera (cropped sensor) is not a true 50mm, more like a 80mm. I am having to back up to much in a small space and I am running out of room to back up:D. The 30mm will get me more space for shooting pics of my kids in the house and also better light with the 1.4 aperture.

Here is a great article that will help with the lens and crop factors for your camera.
http://digital-photography-school.com/crop-factor-explained
 
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It was the Canon 85mm 1.8 that I was looking at...

The 1.2 looks nice, but I can't afford that. LOL
 
I think I'm gonna go for the 85 before the 30/35. The 85 f/1.8 is the same price as the 30 f/1.4 (+$10), and I think I'd use it more. I have to be sneaky to get photos of anyone anymore, lol. I think the extra range might help with that.

Not that I'm getting either of them anytime soon. Jordan doesn't spend that kinda $$ on me for birthday's or christmas, lol. But at least now I know what I want, so that's a plus, LOL!
 
Kjersti said:
I've got the 85mm 1.4 and LOVE it. Definitely something to look into...
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I totally agree.

a 90mm is a true portrait lens. So then the 50mm is more or less the "standard" - and the 30 is then the wider angle. So yes - the 30mm will then allow for more subjects in your photos. (with or without the crop factor)

And always (try) to buy the fastest lens you can afford. You'll never be sorry!
 
ColleenSwerb said:
Lynnette, what made you go with Sigma over a brand 35mm? Was it just the 1.4? Just curious. :)
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Actually I wasn't so concerned about the 1.4. In fact most of the time I use it on 1.8 and forget it even opens wider. :D It was more because every time someone in the Canon forums asked about the Canon 28 1.8 or the Sigma 30 1.4, the Sigma was the one that people raved about, including pros who had L lenses in their stash. What sold me was the two threads with sample images of each lens and the Sigma images were WAY WAY more impressive and sharp than the Canon images. So it was more just quality over brand name I guess.

nesser1981 said:
No, there is no distortion.

There would be if you had a Full Frame Sensor and used a 30 mm.

Since probably none of us own a Full Frame Sensor camera, we have to deal with the crop factor on our sensors, which makes the 30mm more of a normal lens rather than a wide angle.
Click to expand...

Nope, no distortion at 30mm. I have a zoom lens that opens up to 17mm and only at that point do I really notice distortion.

paperboutique said:
I'm confused. I was going to ask for the 50mm 1.4 for Christmas (I think it's 374.00 US on Amazon). But I am realizing that 50mm just doesn't get as close-up as I would like. So I was thinking maybe the 85mm?

Now I have the 35mm to think about....

I love close-up shots, especially when they don't know that I'm taking the picture.

Any thoughts on this??
Click to expand...

If you're looking for close up, I wouldn't bother looking at the 30mm or 35mm or anything in that range. I'm very much not a stealth photo shooter so the 30mm works a lot better for me but that doesn't mean something else wouldn't be better for you.

If you have any kind of zoom lens, that's a great way to figure out what kind of prime lens would work for based on what range of the zoom you use the most or if you're frustrated with it's lack of zoom, etc. I have the 17-85mm zoom lens and I use the 17 end WAY more than the 85mm end. The one time I rented a 70-200 zoom, I only used it a handful of times. What works best for you really just depends on your shooting style.
 
Nettio said:
Actually I wasn't so concerned about the 1.4. In fact most of the time I use it on 1.8 and forget it even opens wider. :D It was more because every time someone in the Canon forums asked about the Canon 28 1.8 or the Sigma 30 1.4, the Sigma was the one that people raved about, including pros who had L lenses in their stash. What sold me was the two threads with sample images of each lens and the Sigma images were WAY WAY more impressive and sharp than the Canon images. So it was more just quality over brand name I guess.
Click to expand...

Gotcha, good to know! I won't be getting another lens for a while I don't think, but I love to to do the research, lol.
 
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