Sigma 30mm vs. Nikon 50mm

[martin_aspeli]

Hi all,

 

I think I'm going insane from Googling and reading reviews, so I'd appreciate some personal

recommendations.

 

I have a D40 with the kit 18-55mm. I'm not a great photographer, but I want to learn, and I think it's

fun. I'm learning the jargon and the theory, but excuse me if I say something stupid.

 

I have decided (I think) to buy the "Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR" to supplement my

18-55mm lens, mainly to get "up close" on remote subjects outdoors, and because it has been

recommended to me. That's not where the trouble is though.

 

I'd like a prime lens (I think). I'd like a large aperture (I think) because I frequently find myself in low-

light/indoor situations and I don't like (read: suck at) using flash. I think I'd like a "normal" lens, or

something close to it. I also really like the effect of strong, smooth "bokeh" (who the heck came up with

that one?). I've used a manual, 35mm film Minolta SLR with a 50mm normal lens and f/1.7 and I simply

love the bokeh results for portraits and similar. That's what pulled me down this line of inquiry in the

first place.

 

Now, the things I'm looking at:

 

- Sigma 30mm f/1.4 HSM

 

Pros: Large aperture, is "normal" on a DSLR body, will auto-focus on the D40

Cons: Image quality ("it's not Nikon"), auto-focus being poor in low light (from reviews)

 

- Nikon 50mm f/1.4

 

Pros: Nikon optics supposedly very good, large aperture, 50mm may mean I don't have to get so close

to my subjects, but what do I know

Cons: Three times the price of the f/1.8 (not a huge issue if it's worth it!), won't auto-focus on the D40

 

- Nikon 50mm f/1.8

 

Pros: Very cheap ($100, and I'm earning money in ?), Nikon optics

Cons: Plastic (is this really an issue?), not f/1.4 (will I care?), won't auto-focus on the D40

 

- Nikon 85mm f/1.8

 

Pros: Supposedly high quality

Cons: Expensiveish, again won't auto-focus, and I'm not sure if 85mm is too much

 

I keep adding and removing the first three lenses from my Amazon shopping basket in various

combinations and orders, reading this website (which, by the way, is truly excellent) and others,

searching Flickr for sample images, and generally losing my sleep.

 

So: I appreciate opinionated, but informed answers!

 

Martin

[g-man1]

Don't get the nikon's as they don't autofocus on the D40x and the viewfinder is too small for manual focussing.

[kari v]

Manual focus + D40 viewfinder + low light + f1.4 - f2 = Whooops!

 

Take the Sigma. All the pics I've seen have been great. Sure, the extreme borders could be better, but for low light and portraits I don't care. Do you shoot a lot of flat test charts..? ;)

 

 

"50mm may mean I don't have to get so close to my subjects, but what do I know"

 

Sure you know, you have the 18-55 zoom.

[bmm]

I am a relative newbie and have the Nikon 50mm f/1.4 - I love it.

 

However with your D40 it won't a/f.

 

I'd go for the wider Sigma for that reason. In fact I'll probably get one myself, or the Nikon 35mm f/2.0

[sorin]

I have a 30mm 1.4 sigma and it's pretty much the only lens I use (despite having a nikkor 50mm 1.4, a 17-55 2.8 zoom and some other lenses).

[douglas_greenberg]

Nikon probably is going to redesign their 50mm. lenses to incorporate AF-S before too long (e.g.,the 50mm. f1.4 is already listed as "discontinued" in some venues, apparently). But until this happens, these lenses won't focus on a D40 body. The Sigma is your best option, I think.

[dcraton]

Here is a long list of current lenses that are D40(x) compatible. If you want a prime, currently you will have to go with Sigma if you want metering and AF.

 

Not to insult you, but you might want to go through the learning section here since you are admittedly new to digital and find other online resources for photography before spending money on lenses. Just a thought, then you may be able to decide what suits you best.

 

List of current fully compatible AF-Lenses for the D40/D40X:

 

Nikkor:

AF-S DX 12-24mm f/4.0G ED-IF

AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF

AF-S DX 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF

AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G

AF-S VR DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G New

AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF

AF-S DX 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED-IF

AF-S VR DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

AF-S VR 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF

AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED

AF-S VR 55?200mm f/4?5.6G IF-ED

AF-S VR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF

AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G

AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8D ED-IF

AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G

AF-S VR 200mm f/2.0G ED-IF

AF-S VR 200-400mm f/4.0G ED-IF

AF-I 300mm f/2.8D IF-ED

AF-S 300mm f/2.8D IF-ED

AF-S 300mm f/4.0D ED-IF

AF-S VR 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF

AF-I 400mm f/2.8D IF-ED

AF-S 400mm f/2.8D ED-IF

AF-I 500mm f/4.0D IF-ED

AF-S 500mm f/4.0D ED-IF

AF-I 600mm f/4.0D IF-ED

AF-S 600mm f/4.0D ED-IF

 

Sigma:

10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM

14mm f/2.8 EX

17-35mm f/2.8-4.0 EX DG

17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro HSM New

18-50mm f/3.5-5.6 DC HSM New

18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC Macro HSM New

18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS New

30mm f/1.4 DC

50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX DG

50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM

55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC HSM New

70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Makro

80-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Makro

80-400mm f/4-5.6 EX OS

100-300mm f/4.0 EX DG

120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG

150mm f/2.8 EX DG MAKRO

180mm f/3.5 EX DG MAKRO

300mm f/2.8 EX DG APO HSM

300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO

500mm f/4.5 EX DG HSM APO

800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO

 

Tamron:

18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II New

[martin_aspeli]

That's a lot of great answers in a very short time! Thank you very much!

 

@David - I've been going through the learning section (and I have learned a lot). Seeing as

the first thing it recommends is a "normal" prime lens, this seems like a good place to start,

but feel free to tell me I'm wrong. Also - thank you for the list of lenses, that's very useful!

[briany]

I have the 50mm f/1.8 and the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. I find the Sigma a much more useful focal length on DX, sharper in the middle than the Nikon wide open, and it will autofocus on your D40. If you want a fast "normal" lens, it seems like a no-brainer.

[vivek iyer]

No-brainer, indeed.

 

See:

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00N6Lu

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Mnfm

 

for some sample shots using the Sigma 30/1.4.

[paul_nunez]

My d40 is the first camera i have owned. I've had it for about a year now and have mostly been manually focusing. I get more joy out of my photos when i know i manually focused them.

[albertdarmali]

Now try to meter manually, you'll get even more joy!

 

Anyway, I personally think the background blur from Sigma 30mm 1.4 is 'smoother' than Nikon 50mm 1.4

 

I don't know why, but the overall pictures look more pleasant.

[photo5]

I tested the AIS 50mm f1.4 against the AI 50mm f2.0 and the f2.0 won. If you don't need the

speed of the f1.4, the f2.0 is half the price.

[Andrew in Austin]

Quit googling and get the Sigma 30/1.4 HSM for your D40.

 

Even if the D40 would auto focus with the 50/1.4 Nikkor, you'll find that you need to back away from your subjects more often than not. The Nikkor is more of a portrait lens in small rooms and tight spaces because of the camera's DX sensor.

 

Trying to manual focus the 50/1.4 Nikkor on a D40 will be hit and miss, mostly miss in my opinion.

 

I use the Sigma 30/1.4 on both a D50 and D80, mainly the D50. It focuses perfectly on both cameras. Seems to me the reviewers were either attempting to focus in the the dark or had their focus area set to the edges of the frame.

 

Use the center AF area setting on the D40 to focus in low-light, because that is where the Sigma is brightest and sharpest. You can down the AE-L / AF-L button on the back of the camera to lock the focus - then recomposed the frame at your leisure.

 

Quirks - The resolution of the 30/1.4 falls off noticeably towards the edges of the frame. At f/1.4 the edges of the frame are also exposed about 1 stop less than the center of the frame.

 

Image quality at the center of the frame is outstanding by f/2. As mention by a previous post, the background blur or bokeh of this lens is quite pleasing, a major plus.

 

Other than the lens being physically large for such a small body, I doubt that you lose any sleep over the purchase. In fact, I believe that you'll be thrilled and the kit Nikkor zoom will spend most of its life in a drawer.

[zenon_zorglub]

For my D40, I have the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, the 50mm f/1.4 AIS, and I had the 50mm

f/1.8D. In the end, I use the Sigma the most, and if I were to pick one lens it would be

that one. Only draw back, really, is that I wish it focused a bit closer.

 

I love the 50mm AIS for portraits, and I learned a great deal about exposure, etc. While

the f/1.8D meters, the focus ring is crappy.

 

If I were you, I'd get the 30mm f/1.4 Sigma as a main prime, and a cheap used 50mm

f/1.8 Series E for $30 or less on eBay for portraits. Manual focus at f/1.4 is tricky, and the

difference in light between 1.4 & 1.8 is minor.