Hi guys,

I noticed some banding at high ISO on my k5 and started a thread at the other forums (link)

and just wondered if anyone noticed banding at high ISO here?

Here's what I said over there:

Sorry Jules, no one's buying because they don't want you to go over to the dark side (whatever that may be!)

But seriously, Jules has some great prices on his kit, I'm surprised most of it is still here.

I'm still considering your DA40, but need to re-think my finances as recently I'm not getting enough shifts at work :'( - I'll probably be able to afford it in a week, so will send you another PM if its not sold by then

i guess its possible. I heard that there is variation between different lenses and different cameras in terms of AF accuracy and how they are set up in factory, and differences in factory tolerances in regards to AF.

Strange, no matter what I do, my k5's 2 outer points just don't like f1.4, though I haven't been able to try any other lenses to confirm this

It's not unfortunately AF gives the usual screwdrive noise. I think sigma should cheapen the price for Pentax and sony because there's no HSM, but they don't :'(

the lens also looks like this: http://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/data/73/Sigma-30mm-F1_4.jpg

(it doesnt have the 'window' that the nikon and canon versions do.)

OK here are my thoughts, the lens is crazy sharp in centre! At f8 the borders/edges are very good - more than acceptable for landscapes. Photozone shows weak resolution/sharpness in the corners, but perhaps the lens' strong contrast gives the impression that its sharper, especially in the corners?

Bokeh is crazy smooth - took a photo of my brother, focusing on this forehead whilst he leant forward and it seemed like the rest of him melted away lol.

Build quality is very good, and I'm glad the sigma got rid of the rubbery finish on the lens (except focus ring). The lens is suprisingly smaller than the pictures of it have you believe (at least to me anyway ). The weight is ok, and feels just right on the K5

I only wish it were weatherproofed, though looking at it, it seems Sigma could easily weatherproof it because the front element barely moves during focusing. hmmm, I would also have liked it to have DOF markings on it...

Compared the my old FA31, the Sigma is a realy value-for money lens at around 1/3 the price!

GW cameras got the address wrong and I had to collect from the wrong address! Luckily the old lady was very friendly and handed over the lens after showing her some ID, but what happened if it were someone else? Citylink are also to blame, the package was addressed to Victor Chu and it was signed for by Davies according to the Citylink tracking site.

Apart from that the lens is crazy sharp in centre, and at f8 the borders/edges are very good - more than acceptable for landscapes. Photozone shows weak resolution, but perhaps the lens contrast gives the impression its sharper in the corners?

Bokeh is crazy smooth. Build quality is very good, and I'm glad the sigma got rid of the rubbery finish on the lens (except focus ring). The lens is suprisingly smaller than the pictures of it have you believe (at least to me anyway )

Hi guys,

Finally got hold of my Sigma 30mm 1.4 yesterday (had to collect it from the wrong address they sent it to!) and took a few photos @1.4 using the two outer most AF points, and got crazy front focus - around 10-20cm!

However the lens is fine with the k5's centre 9 AF points and other lenses (slower ones, e.g. 3.5-5.6 kit lenses) are fine with the outer ones.

So I'm guessing that the K5's two outer most points aren't 'sensitive enough' for use with f1.4 glass?

Absolutely shocking! It's been delivered to the wrong address somehow! I clearly put my address on eBay. Can't recommend he cameras until I know what's happened and if I get my lens and can test it out! Might be the couriers fault though. will keep updated

took the plunge finally for the 30mm 1.4, should be here tomorrow. I'll let everyone know how I get on with the lens and GW Camera's service, as they do seem the cheapest for this lens at the moment and there seems to be many others interested in this lens too.

If I have to do any AF adjustments, I might just send in to sigma as I heard they do adjustments free, and also people who have had their lens and camera calibrated by sigma are very positive.

I've got one coming tomorrow from GW Cameras off ebay, I'll let you know how I find it - they seem to have the cheapest price by £70, which is making me a little cautious.

I'm intending to have it as a cheaper replacement for my FA 31mm, so the bar is set quite high...

I played with one on a Nikon D90, and that was crazy sharp in the centre, borders soft, had very quick AF and it was silent. However I'm lead to believe the Pentax version has no HSM?