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Sigma
30mm f/2.8 EX DN
4.6oz
46mm Filters
4.6oz
46mm Filters
Sigma's 30mm f/2.8 lens for Sony's NEX system is a good deal at $200 and steal at $100. You can take everything I said about the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN and apply it to the 30mm, except the 30mm is even better. Sharper in the corners, slightly smaller in size and not my personal favorite focal length.
Emme King on the South Fork of the Feather River.
Sony NEX-7, Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN @ 1/500 f/2.8 ISO 400
A 100% unsharpened crop from the picky 24mp sensor.
Sony NEX-7, Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN @ 1/500 f/2.8 ISO 400
Sean Manchaster on the South Fork Feather
Sony NEX-7, Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN @ 1/800 f/4 ISO 100
Some purple fringing is evident but easy to get rid of in lighroom or photoshop.
Sony NEX-7, Sigma 30mm
f/2.8 EX DN @
1/800 f/4 ISO 100
Build:
6/10
- About like a kit zoom.
Handling: 5/10 - Not much to mention here, but the by-the-wire focusing feels better than the Sony 18-55mm kit lens.
Performance: 9/10 - It's not trying to do a lot, but it does it very well
Value: 9/10 - Good performance at $200 with full accessories.
Overall: 8/10 - Performance is better than the price would reflect.
For kayaking this lens is near perfect for what it is: light, sharp, moderately fast and quite cheap. It's also not terribly fragile, and for $200 it doesn't break the bank if it does suffer a mishap. The colors and contrast look natural (compared to the kit lens) and this lens blows away Sony's 16mm f/2.8 in all aspects except AF speed. I give this little gem two big thumbs up considering the price. It's not perfect, but it's very good and moderately priced, and performs better in the real world than test chats tend to show. It's oh so slightly shorter than the 19mm and about the same diameter. The real steal is that from time to time you can buy both the 30mm and 19mm for $200.
Other Reviews:
Kurt Munger
Lenstip
Photozone
Handling: 5/10 - Not much to mention here, but the by-the-wire focusing feels better than the Sony 18-55mm kit lens.
Performance: 9/10 - It's not trying to do a lot, but it does it very well
Value: 9/10 - Good performance at $200 with full accessories.
Overall: 8/10 - Performance is better than the price would reflect.
Practicality
for kayaking: 9/10
For kayaking this lens is near perfect for what it is: light, sharp, moderately fast and quite cheap. It's also not terribly fragile, and for $200 it doesn't break the bank if it does suffer a mishap. The colors and contrast look natural (compared to the kit lens) and this lens blows away Sony's 16mm f/2.8 in all aspects except AF speed. I give this little gem two big thumbs up considering the price. It's not perfect, but it's very good and moderately priced, and performs better in the real world than test chats tend to show. It's oh so slightly shorter than the 19mm and about the same diameter. The real steal is that from time to time you can buy both the 30mm and 19mm for $200.
Other Reviews:
Kurt Munger
Lenstip
Photozone
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