Sigma 50mm F/1.4 on the way!

edryn80

edryn80

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Edryn
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Having read many reviews of the Canon vs Siggy, decided to go for the Sigma this afternoon, 3-5 working days to go!

Looking forward to the step up from the nifty (super soft wide open) although I know the Sigma is also not at it's best wide open, it should be better. Also I can handle it without worrying about it falling apart!

I have a couple of friends weddings coming up so it should be good for them as well as general family/friend portraits and silly DoFness!
 
Congrats.

Just as a slightly off topic when did all this nifty fifty super soft stuff start? ever since I've been using this site the fifty has got universal praise with most even saying it was reasonable wide open. However recently I've noticed increasing numbers of people slating it wide open with in extremes one poster claiming it's unusable below f8!

I've never had an issue with mine and while I prefer to stop it down a little I don't think twice about using it wide open if the situation requires and have never seen a significant issue on a print or sensible screen viewing.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Congrats.

Just as a slightly off topic when did all this nifty fifty super soft stuff start? ever since I've been using this site the fifty has got universal praise with most even saying it was reasonable wide open. However recently I've noticed increasing numbers of people slating it wide open with in extremes one poster claiming it's unusable below f8!

I've never had an issue with mine and while I prefer to stop it down a little I don't think twice about using it wide open if the situation requires and have never seen a significant issue on a print or sensible screen viewing.
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F/8, are they mad? :lol:
 
the sigma 50mm f1.4 seems unbeatable and wipes the floor with the OEM versions, it seems especially good if you use it wide open because its really sharp at f1.4!

i wish i could afford one but for now my minolta 50mm f1.7 will do.
 
I find mine is soft, maybe not super soft but when you drop to F/4.0 you can easily notice the increase sharpness.

As for F/8.0, I'm sure it's very sharp then also but I wouldnt say it was unusable under F/8.0!
 
mastertrinity said:
the sigma 50mm f1.4 seems unbeatable and wipes the floor with the OEM versions, it seems especially good if you use it wide open because its really sharp at f1.4!

i wish i could afford one but for now my minolta 50mm f1.7 will do.
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Afford it? I really must get on with seling some stuff on ebay, to both raise funds and otherwise the missus is bound to notice the increase in kit...
 
a1ex2001 said:
Congrats.

Just as a slightly off topic when did all this nifty fifty super soft stuff start? ever since I've been using this site the fifty has got universal praise with most even saying it was reasonable wide open. However recently I've noticed increasing numbers of people slating it wide open with in extremes one poster claiming it's unusable below f8!
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Rapidly becoming an internet legend like the 100-400L being the "dust pump" :shake:

OP: Enjoy, it's a cracking lens and I'm glad I chose it over the Canon version which seems to have some long term reliability issues. There is a tiny chance the Sigmalux may have back / front focus issues but once it's sorted (it will be VERY obvious if you have a duff 'un) it's a tank of a lens.
 
I bought one recently from Jacobs and it focussed about 30mm closer than the subject at 1.5 metres, I took this into account and did a family photoshoot in the woods some of it at f1.4 and the results are stunning, very sharp and lovely blurry woods in the background.

It's just gone off to Sigma for recalibrating which I very much anticipated.

A very lovely lens with an ethereal and very sharp image quality and tremendous flare resistance at large apertures.
 
The front/back focussing issues are well known so I'll have to see how it goes when it arrives. Thus is what made me buy it from Jacobs as opposed to OSD which was a bit cheaper (no case though?!). I have a Jacobs round the corner from work hence any issues can be dealt with face to face.
 
I got myself one from Jacobs n'all a couple of weeks ago, and tested it silly within the first seven days to make sure there were no focus issues, and, thankfully there were NOWT! I find that even when wide open, and you are on target (which isn't always easy at f/1.4) it can be very sharp indeedy.

Would be loooooovely if the forthcoming Sigma 85 f/1.4 performs as well as this; although at a reputed £799 street price it's gonna have to.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Congrats.

Just as a slightly off topic when did all this nifty fifty super soft stuff start? ever since I've been using this site the fifty has got universal praise with most even saying it was reasonable wide open. However recently I've noticed increasing numbers of people slating it wide open with in extremes one poster claiming it's unusable below f8!

I've never had an issue with mine and while I prefer to stop it down a little I don't think twice about using it wide open if the situation requires and have never seen a significant issue on a print or sensible screen viewing.
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Think people confuse softness with shallow DoF and not getting their focus spot-on.....
 
The nifty fifty is a little soft at f/1.8 until around f/2.5. You can see halation around contrasty objects and the image has a kind of dreamy look to it. Still, I have some printed hanging on my wall that are perfectly viewable. The performance is similar to just about any other fast 50 I think, although I am less hesitant using my 50mm f/1.4 wide open as it produces cleaner images, and closed down even just to f/1.8 or f/2 it really produces gorgeous shots.
 
specialman said:
Think people confuse softness with shallow DoF and not getting their focus spot-on.....
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Indeed, I was at a wedding recently and quite often on moving shots, it's tricky to get the focus spot on as it takes very little to be OOF. The 1.4 is a heavier bit of glass so the AF will struggle slightly if the subject is moving at all. Practise makes perfect, that and a little bit of luck and technical knowhow..
 
I put one of these on my camera at an open day a few weeks ago and it's firmly on my wish list, if I get the job I was interviewed for today I'm having one no question. Hope you enjoy yours OP.
 
Digikat said:
I put one of these on my camera at an open day a few weeks ago and it's firmly on my wish list, if I get the job I was interviewed for today I'm having one no question. Hope you enjoy yours OP.
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Funny, I got mine as a gift for myself after being successful at a job interview. Well done :thumbs:
 
I hope you're very happy with it. I think mine is great, really sharp and I've never had the oft reported focus issues so here's hoping that you don't either.

I bought mine to compliment a Siggy 30mm f1.4 and a Canon 50mm f2.5 thinking that I'd use the Canon 50mm mostly and keep the Siggy 50mm f1.4 for low light use but it's so good that I only use the Canon for close up shots now.
 
when it arrives and you unpack it i bet you use a word like "blimey" when seeing the sheer chunkiness of the lens.. :)

only had mine a couple of weeks, hoping to get out and use it this weekend as ive got some time off.
 
I've just hired a Sigma 50mm 1.4 for a party next saturday, should arrive today, can't wait. :cool:
 
Been out and about over the weekend with the D90 & 50mm 1.4. Can't believe how fast and bright it is. I thought my 18-50 2.8 was fast but 1.4 is 4 stops faster which is epic indoors getting speeds of 1/50 at ISO200 in really low light.

Definately on the want list.
 
hehehe!!! :lol:

f1.4 is the fastest lens I have and it's amazing to see how much faster than even f1.8.

Get saving...

PS. I use mine at ISO 3200.
 
edryn80 said:
I find mine is soft, maybe not super soft but when you drop to F/4.0 you can easily notice the increase sharpness.

As for F/8.0, I'm sure it's very sharp then also but I wouldnt say it was unusable under F/8.0!
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Not much point buying a 1.4 to use at f4.

Compared to the Nikon 1.4 the sigma is rated as being sharper centrally at 1.4than the Nikon but a bit softer on the edges.

Most people using it for portraits will prefer the central sharpness.
 
Scotty B said:
Been out and about over the weekend with the D90 & 50mm 1.4. Can't believe how fast and bright it is. I thought my 18-50 2.8 was fast but 1.4 is 4 stops faster which is epic indoors getting speeds of 1/50 at ISO200 in really low light.

Definately on the want list.
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1.4 is two stops faster than f/2.8...


woof woof said:
f1.4 is the fastest lens I have and it's amazing to see how much faster than even f1.8.
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Really ? In the tests I did, there was hardly any difference in exposure between my Canon 50mm set at f/1.4 or f/1.8. The only real advantage is you have 2/3 of a stop higher shutter speed.
 
"The only real advantage is you have 2/3 of a stop higher shutter speed."

Seems to confirm what I said then.
 
2.8, 2, 1.8, 1.4 each step doubled the shutter speed. :thinking:

Still, the shots that are now accessible with the 1.4 are ridiculous when combined with ISO1600 upwards.
 
Scotty B said:
2.8, 2, 1.8, 1.4 each step doubled the shutter speed. :thinking:

Still, the shots that are now accessible with the 1.4 are ridiculous when combined with ISO1600 upwards.
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No.

It goes, 2.8 -> 2 -> 1.4.
 
Scotty B said:
I thought my 18-50 2.8 was fast but 1.4 is 4 stops faster which is epic indoors getting speeds of 1/50 at ISO200 in really low light.
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trencheel303 said:
1.4 is two stops faster than f/2.8...
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Scotty B said:
2.8, 2, 1.8, 1.4 each step doubled the shutter speed. :thinking:
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The difference between f/2.8 and f/1.4 is indeed two stops, which means f/1.4 lets in four times as much light as f/2.8 (each stop wider doubles the amount of light) and has a corresponding effect on shutter speeds.

f/2.8, f/2 & f/1.4 are full stops, f/1.8 isn't.
 
Nifkin said:
The difference between f/2.8 and f/1.4 is indeed two stops, which means f/1.4 lets in four times as much light as f/2.8 (each stop wider doubles the amount of light) and has a corresponding effect on shutter speeds.

f/2.8, f/2 & f/1.4 are full stops, f/1.8 isn't.
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Thanks for that. :thumbs:
 
I got my new job so I can now justify a celebratory purchase I wouldn't be surprised if one turns up in my kit bag over the next few days....
 
Digikat said:
I got my new job so I can now justify a celebratory purchase I wouldn't be surprised if one turns up in my kit bag over the next few days....
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Hooray! Well done! Nice feeling isn't it? Will be an even nicer feeling to be clutching that heavy Sigma 50 in your hands ;)
 
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