Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital
The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM is a large aperture lens that provides a standard angle most similar to the human eye. The 30mm focal length translates to approximately 50mm in 35mm format(*).
A glass mold aspherical lens element at the rear group of the lens reduces color aberration and provides high-quality image results. From 15.7" (40 cm) minimum focusing distance to infinity, this lens creates very sharp images with high contrast, and can perform superbly in a great range of applications, including snapshots, portraiture, indoor shooting and landscape photography.
DC lenses are exclusively designed for digital SLR cameras. The image circle (rear of lens) is made to match the smaller dimensions used for the image sensor on digital cameras. As a result these lenses are also more compact and lightweight, and are better matched to digital SLR cameras.
Note! (*) Not suitable for 35mm film SLR cameras or for any digital SLR camera with image sensor bigger than APS-C size, e.g. 1D series or Kodak Pro SLR/c.
- EX lens series denotes excellence of engineering and new technology
- Correction for various types of aberration provided by two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass element and a hybrid aspherical lenses
- Equipped with the silent, responsive and high speed Hyper Sonic Motor and provides fulltime manual focus override
Go To
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 30 mm |
| Aperture |
Maximum: f/1.4 Minimum: f/16 |
| Camera Mount Type | Canon EF-S |
| Format Compatibility | Canon (APS-C) |
| Angle of View | 45° |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 1.31' (40 cm) |
| Magnification | 0.09x |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 1:10.4 |
| Groups/Elements | 7/7 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8 |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Tripod Collar | No |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Filter Thread | 62 mm |
| Dimensions (DxL) | Approx. 3.2 x 2.3" (8.13 x 5.84 cm) |
| Weight | 15.17 oz (430 g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 258 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
96%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Fast / accurate auto-focus (180)
- Strong construction (168)
- Nice bokeh (141)
- Consistent output (140)
- Durable (131)
Cons
- Heavy (39)
- Slow focus (26)
- Blurry focus (15)
- Tough to attach (10)
Best Uses
- Low light (171)
- Night photography (142)
- Weddings (100)
- Video (97)
- Landscape/scenery (65)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Photo enthusiast (98), Semi-pro photographer (75), Enthusiast (25), Pro photographer (16), Casual photographer (15)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (157), Yes (3)
Most Liked Positive Review
Lots of Pros, some Cons.
Using this on my Canon 7D, so it's close to 50mm normal.
Cons first:
- At anything faster than f/2.0 the lens has a soft fuzzy look to i...Read complete review
Using this on my Canon 7D, so it's close to 50mm normal.
Cons first:
- At anything faster than f/2.0 the lens has a soft fuzzy look to it. I think this is normal, but it's very strong at 1.4.
- It's heavier than expected. Surprising actually. But it's built really tough.
- The focus ring is a little too stiff for my taste, but it's useful when you're shooting video so that your rack focus isn't too jarring
- Auto-Focus is SLOWWWWW. This has to me my biggest complaint. At a very narrow focus range, it's also hard to get the right thing in focus without using manual. But the fulltime manual override works well.
- Chromatic Abberation (however you spell it) is BAD below f/2.2 - yes, you can fix this in photoshop, but its a pain. Price you pay for a super fast lens I guess...
Pros:
- Heavy duty build, just a little heavy.
- Really sharp, crispy images starting at f/2.5, no distortion.
- Lens hood is free, always use it
- Great for video. Amazing images, out-of-focus is creamy looking. Bokeh looks nice too.
Final Judgement:
Again, really gorgeous images when you have enough light and plenty of time to focus correctly. I was going to return it, but after using it for video, it proved very useful in low light - created really beautiful footage and smooth manual focusing. With video, you don't do much zooming anyway, so the fixed 30mm was a good trade-off for a superfast f/1.4.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
good, but not superb.
This lens is overall great. fast, sharp focus, very sharp image overall. The only problem i noticed right away was a blue ghosting on high contrast objects, such as black and white text...Read complete review
This lens is overall great. fast, sharp focus, very sharp image overall. The only problem i noticed right away was a blue ghosting on high contrast objects, such as black and white text, or even outdoors where a light wall meets a darker colored background. This only occurs within the f/1.4-2.8 range. Sadly, i bought this lens specifically to use in that range. The ghost color is not particularly noticeable at 1:1 or less, but if you need to crop to a certain area, you'll be out of luck.
Also notable, is that in the f/1.4-2.8 range, objects are not as sharp as they would be in higher ranges. It almost has the effect of a very soft filter, even when in perfect focus.
Overall, a good, sturdily constructed lens. Fast and accurate AF, and great overall sharpness.
Reviewed by 258 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Low Light
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Heavy
- Tough To Attach
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Photography
- Video
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
I am a young independent filmmaker and use a canon t3i for video. I wanted a lens that was moderately wide and could shoot in extremely low light, and this lens does just that.
However, the lens is not always as sharp as I would like it to be and sometimes in very very low light there are lines in the image. That may just be the camera, but I'm not sure.
Overall, I would for sure suggest this lens to beginning filmmakers due to its ability to shoot in low light. It's one of the best lens out there for its price. Another lens you might want to look into would be the Bower 35mm f/1.4. I did a lot of research and decided to buy the sigma, but who knows? Check the Bower out, it's a bit cheaper, but not as wide.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Autofocus unreliable
Best Uses
- Video
- YouTube
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
I use this lens with a Canon T2i. The lens gives me incredibly professional looking photographs and I am no professional by any means.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Nice Bokeh
- Rugged
Cons
- Soft below 18
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
Very good value, outperfoms the fast fifty Canon 1.4 (having used it previously). As some others have said, it gets pretty soft below 1.8 most of the time, but tack-sharp 2.0 and up. Well worth the cost!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Street photography
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
This is the lens that I use the most often on my 40D in cities. If you use selective focus, the smoothness of the out-of-focus areas is superb. I think this lens, and the Sigma 50mm that I use on my 5D, have the best bokeh of any of my lenses.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
Use on my Canon T2i and love it!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
- Blurry Focus
- Inconsistent focus
Best Uses
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
I read a lot of reviews and since there were seemingly more good than bad experiences, I chose to purchase this lens. Unfortunately, I received a bad copy.
Cons:
- Nothing crisp below f/5
- Would focus on a different area than what was targeted
Those are the only two things I noticed before I returned the lens. There may have been more.
I would suggest going to a camera dealer to actually try out the lens that you will be purchasing if you are considering this one. I have bought many wonderful products from B&H, but the Sigmas just seem too inconsistent to buy online.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Nice Bokeh
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Photography
- Video
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
I found this lens to be exactly what I needed for low light photography around my home and outdoors at night.
It's a little on the heavy side but is extremely sharp at f/2 and produces excellent bokeh. When shooting wide open the image quality is excellent.
The manual override is nice because you don't need to necessarily switch over from AF to MF for one shot, you can simply turn the focus ring for minor tweaks.
I'm not sure what was difficult to attach as noted in some other reviews, the lens attaches to the camera in the same way that any Canon lens would. Click and turn.
The 4 year standard warranty is better than the Canon 1 year warranty in my opinion. The accompanying lens hood is also a great compliment to this lens for outdoor use in direct sunlight.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Nice Bokeh
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Photography
- Video
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
excellent lens so far. been using this lens for HD video recording on a DSLR rig. Sharp picture and great low light performance. No AF issues.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Nice Bokeh
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Night Photography
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
this lens quickly moved to the top of my list. fantastic in low light, great pics and quality build. it even came with a hood, which was a nice surprise. and B&H gave me their usual good price and fast shipping.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Nice Bokeh
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Architecture
- Night Photography
- Portraits
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
Having recently acquired this lens, I have been experimenting with it in several situations: low light (the large aperture was the reason I initially bought it for, and it does not disappoint); architecture and cityscapes (very sharp at medium apertures, with a focal length that is just right) and landscapes (closes down to f/16). I am glad to report it has produced excellent images in almost every situation, and is exceptional for portraits.
What I like the most about this lens is the fact that it feels like a quality product when compared to some of the cheaper/kit Canon lenses. The Autofocus is much faster and silent than the Canon 50mm f/1.8, for example. It also comes in a really nice and protective case.
Perhaps the most negative aspect is its weight. If it was a little lighter it would be almost perfect.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Similar:
- Canon 50mm f/1.8
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
A little difficult to get used to at first, a great lense! Very crisp pictures and fabulous quality!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Video
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
I use this lens on my canon t2i for video. It's an excellent fast lens. Great for low light and capturing those shallow DOF shots. Great build quality. Highly recommend it!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
I purchased this lens for a backup 60D as I wanted something smaller for the footprint side of things as well as a wider, faster lens in general. Despite past reviews of lens issues, I took about 2,000 photos with this over the last week and it's spot-on in terms of focus and didn't notice any vignetting, chromatic issues, or otherwise. It's amazing in low light and focus, while a bit slow with hunting, is very accurate.
I think it's a great prime for a crop lens and may actually get another for our secondary camera setup.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Macro Photography
- Night Photography
- Sports/Action
- Video
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
Fantastic lens! Gets the job done nicely.. Looking forward to getting
Another new lens for a great price. :)
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Great in Low Light
- Nice Bokeh
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Blurry Focus
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Night Photography
- Video
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
I haven´t use the flash light since I got this lens. Is great in low light situations. You will have a nice contrast image. I use the lens mostly for video in a t3i camera. If you are going to use Magic Lantern with this lens with AF it is going to be very noisy. I really like this lens, is great for taking pictures but AF is difficult (I guess is a t3i issue) and sometimes blurry. It doesn't have the image stabilizer, then you will feel the movement. In the other hand, the focus ring moves smoothly.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Blurry Focus
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
Front focus problem found and sigma company will fix the problem. Otherwise, it is an excellent single lense for the value of money.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Macro Photography
- Night Photography
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
I bought this lens as a walk around lens on my 7d the lens works great
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Nice Bokeh
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Night Photography
- Video
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
I purchased this lens primarily for low light, but it also has a very shallow depth of field in daylight, with a beautiful bokeh. I have not experienced any of the autofocus issues that other reviewers have mentioned. Over all this is a great lens for intended purpose.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Low Light
- Nice Bokeh
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Video
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
This lens is awesome on a cropped-sensor video DSLR. Image quality is excellent, and the depth of field is stunning. This is always my go-to lens in dark situations. The focus ring turns very smoothly, unlike a lot of lenses where it's loose and hard to get a smooth focus pull. Not to mention it's great for stills too!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Macro Photography
- Night Photography
- Video
Comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital:
This thing is great. I bought it for video. I would recommend to get a CPL or ND filter if you intend to use this is bright conditions, especially if you're doing video. You may want to get an even wider lens for video (11 - 18) but for the price, you can't go wrong. 30 ends up being 50, which is more or less the standard for video. Great for all those shots your other lenses can't do because of aperture.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Displaying reviews 1-20
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- Price: $24.90
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- Price: $39.95
Cases & Wraps
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- Original: $11.99
- Save: $1.20
- Price: $10.79
What's in the Box
- Front & Rear Lens Caps
- Lens Hood
- Carrying Case
- 1-Year Worldwide Warranty + 3-Year Extended USA Warranty
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