Sigma EXDC 30mm f/1.4

Well its arrived and I havn't done a thing all day except play!

First impressions, I love it, but there is a but...Within certain parameters it does display some back focussing which I kinda expected.

Whether this is correct of me or not as I have not adjusted this before on the K20, I went into custom settings and brought forward AF adustment 2 notches, it seems to have helped and I made sure not to affect ALL! How does it know to adjust for that particular lens? Be grateful if someone can enlighten me.

Experimenting, I think in certain situations you alleviate this problem by manual focus which is something I never have had to do before, but my eyes are not too bad so will try more often.

However, the bokeh, colour rendition, quality as a whole I am very pleased with and it so cool to have such a fast aperture, very creative which I have come to love already on my 50mm, so nice to have it on a standard now

Not much for you yet to look at, but will post up more later, but some for those curious

This is the first one I took, full frame:
[IMG]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u193/lillymermaid/14sigma_0001a.jpg[/IMG]
100 iso f/1.4

100% crop of the same above:
[IMG]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u193/lillymermaid/14sigma_0001_100.jpg[/IMG]
100 iso f/1.4


Me playing:
[IMG]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u193/lillymermaid/14sigma_0074a.jpg[/IMG]
800iso f/1.4 ......with added grain

Lilly

I don't have a K20 so can't help you there but the pictures look very nice indeed! I think you'll get more mileage out of this for documentary shots than you would have done with a superzoom so good decision.

That is a good sharp image at 100%, Rob seems to have been right that it is indeed a cracking lens. The colours look good too. And I've just realised that's at 1.4 as well. Well that's making me think quite hard. I shall reassess the 35 f2 I think although it's smaller.

Mike

The lens model is communicated to the camera. It shows up in exif data too.

The camera now makes the relative adjustment for just that lens (actually I think it'd be any Sigma 30mm f1.4 you attached, but as you have just one, then not to worry !)

The transition from sharp focus to lovely creamy bokeh is the standout benefit of this lens I think. That's not to say you can't use a smaller aperture & get sharp results through the depth of field of course.

Happy experimenting

One from today, a coffee break after a few tiffs, we are are becoming aquainted
Lilly
[IMG]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u193/lillymermaid/14sigma_0087a.jpg[/IMG]

Camera Make: PENTAX
Camera Model: PENTAX K20D
Image Date: 2009:06:27 16:42:58
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 30.0mm (35mm equivalent: 45mm)
Exposure Time: 0.0050 s (1/200)
Aperture: f/2.0
ISO equiv: 400
Exposure Bias: 1.00
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Center Weight
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)
Exposure Mode: Manual

Damn it how do you have such a subtle and gentle way with colours. It's not the lens I know that, it may help but it's the way that you do it.

Mike

Thankx Mike really it was just what was just there, I look for the light, all I did with this was a curves adjustment and a smidge of sharpen, it is a stunning lens tho when you can tame it! Feels like a frisky horse sometimes!

I think you will both be very happy together !

Nice start Lilly

I'm glad you're getting on with it Lilly,
I told you I thought it'd suit your style very well & I have no reason to change my mind now. It doesn't give the saturated colours that the Pentax primes seem to give, but it does generate a great depth in tones (great for B&W).

I see you've just outgrown the novelty of shooting everything at f1.4 - f2 is where it starts to get into its stride.

I fancy getting the 20mm f1.8 also. I can deal with the bulk, but not the price

Yeah right no skill in that then .

Mike

Had a great weekend shooting the Golowan Street Festival in Penzance, these were all taken with my new favorite lens the 30mm, I LIKE it! It is just perfect for my doocumentary work, so thought I wd share these last few with you on this thread, thanks for all your help!
1)
[IMG]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u193/lillymermaid/2009-06-mazeyday_0009bcopy.jpg[/IMG]
2)
[IMG]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u193/lillymermaid/2009-06-mazeyday_0085copy.jpg[/IMG]
3)
[IMG]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u193/lillymermaid/2009-06-mazeyday_0111copy.jpg[/IMG]
4)
[IMG]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u193/lillymermaid/2009-06-mazeyday_0136acopy.jpg[/IMG]
5)
[IMG]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u193/lillymermaid/2009-06-mazeyday_0142copy.jpg[/IMG]
6)
[IMG]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u193/lillymermaid/2009-06-mazeyday_0177acopy.jpg[/IMG]
7)
[IMG]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u193/lillymermaid/2009-06-mazeyday_0226acopy.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u193/lillymermaid/2009-06-mazeyday_0246acopy.jpg[/IMG]
Lilly

That's a great set of images. Superb quality and a brilliant seeing eye.

Totally agree. Nos 2 & 3 struck me most.

Mike