Sigma30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

UPDATED INFORMATION as of 2/5/2013:-------------------------The review below this update remains the same... but with two additional (important) details. I hope this helps:1. I did start to experience some autofocus misses in low light after owning the lens for about 2 weeks. Nothing too bad, but worth mentioning. Sometime it front focused, sometimes back focused. It still worked fine 90% of the time.2. SIGMA IS RELEASING A 2ND VERSION OF THIS LENS in what they are calling their ART product line (no I am not confusing this with the new Sigma 35mm f1.4). Basically the same thing as the current 30mm f1.4, but with better optics (can you believe that?), better autofocus, and in my personal opinion, much sexier than the existing design; it is much sleeker looking. I'm sure it will be more expensive but might be worth waiting for if you're not sure about the existing 30mm. I cound't find a pic on Sigma site but Canonrumors.com has a picture of it. If you don't feel safe using the links I posted below, just search google for Sigma 30mm f1.4 ART lens:The announcement was on Jan 29, 2013.SIGMA PRESS RELEASE:[...]Canonrumors.com info about it:[...]-------------------------For about 13 months, I have been searching for a fast, prime lens between 24mm and 35mm. It needed to be fast and sharp. I kept going back and forth between several lenses and finally decided to take my chances with the Sigma. I just couldn't get over the fact that the Canon 28mm f1.8 was apparently very soft at 1.8. Several reviews said it sharpened up at 2.8, but I want something that was faster than that.I have a Canon 60D, which is a cropped-frame sensor DSLR. I currently own the 50mm f1.8, but wanted something wider with at least an f1.8 aperature. I also own the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 which is a superb lens, but it is heavy. And although the f2.8 aperature is nice, I wanted a standard prime equivalent that was even faster (and a bit lighter). I like to take indoor shots at night and I also wanted to play around with the huge aperature to create nice out-of-focus backgrounds. The 50mm f1.8 does this well, but it is just too narrow for people-shots indoors on my crop body.I read several reviews (read: all of the reviews on the Internet) for the Canon 28mm 1.8, and, just like the reviews for the Sigma 30mm 1.4, some people loved it, some hated it. It was actually a very difficult decision for me since everytime I read one positive review for either lens, I'd see another on that bashed it. The Canon 35mm f2 was another option, but didn't have the fast, quiet USM motor, and the new updated version of that lens just seems too expensive for what it is. Besides, I wanted f1.8 or better.I also researched the Canon 24mm f1.4L and the Canon 35mm f1.4L. I couldn't justify spending over $1300 on either of them. I'm sure they're nice, but...When my Sigma arrived in the mail, I immediately opened that package... did you know that Sigma lenses come with a lens hood and a padded zipper case? The only other lenses I looked at that come with either of these accessories are the expensive Canon L lenses.The Sigma lens is bigger and heavier than I thought it would be, but feels great on my camera. For comparison, the Canon 50mm 1.8 is 4.5 ounces, and the Sigma 30mm 1.4 is around 14.5 ounces. It feels and looks very solid. The black finish goes perfectly with my 60D.So, shooting performance:SHARPNESS: Awesomely sharp at f1.4, even sharper stopped down. I am a pixel peeper, it's at least as sharp as my 17-55mm f2.8 when comparing 100% crops. No test charts or DXO scores were reviewed; just real world, real human-eyeball-viewing tests. Everything looked great.AUTOFOCUS: Autofocus was dead on everytime. Several reviews stated that autofous can be off at times, but its been just as accurate and as fast as my Canon 17-55mm f2.8. And, that lens is very good at what it does. If you purchase the Sigma and find the focus to be off, call Sigma and they will calibrate your lens.CONTRAST: Like I said earlier, I haven't done much technical comparison, but I found myself doing double-takes for the first day or two at how nice the contrast and color looked on the back of the camera. The only other lens I do that with is the 70-200mm f4.QUALITY: Several reviews have stated that if you "get a good copy" you'll be very happy. I must have gotten the best one they ever made, or quality control has gotten much better. Either way, I ordered this lens online, so I didn't even have the opportunity to test it before purchasing. It's great.OVERALL SATISFACTION: 100% satisfied. One of the best lens purchases I've ever made. Why? The lens is awesome, fast and sharp. And relatively inexpensive. After testing and using this lens, and having experience with some of Canon's self proclaimed best lenses, I can easily say this lens would be priced at over $1000 if Canon were MSRP-ing this gem. And here are the other lenses I own:Canon 70-200mm f4L IS USMCanon 100mm f2.8L IS USMCanon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USMTokina 11-16mm f2.8Canon 50mm f1.8Rokinon 8mm FisheyeSo if you are familiar with any of these lenses, you know the comparison is legit.To summarize: A great lens for a great price. If you are thinking of buying it, go fo it! You shouldn't be disappointed. And if you are disappointed, just make sure that whoever you purchase it from has a good return policy.Thanks for reading!

well the last 4 weeks have been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride with this lens. The first sample that turned up on Amazon was good and gave me some great pictures until I started the dreaded pixel peeping with this lens. AF was considerably as fast as a Canon but was front focussing - test with focus charts too proved the same. Some sleepless nights since the lens had never come off my Canon t3i since I put the two together - the pictures were keepers (atleast most of them) but I could not live with a new lens with front focus issues. I called up Sigma NY and they were willing to fix the problem in 1-2 working days (minus shipping time back and forth) but I could not afford to send my only camera body across for more than a week. Amazon to the rescue - a call to customer service - bang without asking a question they send a replacement that reaches me in 1 day. I used both the lenses together but the one that was sent later seemed to be of the newer lot (serial number, construction - matter finish). Gingerly as I put on the lens and prayed and clicked some pictures and went testing again with focus charts. AF was spot on - and they alternately using both the lenses for a couple of days before shipping the "defective" lens back to Amazon, I came to the following conclusions:Pros:1. This lens has an Amazing DOF - very narrow. At 1.4 this should be the case anyway. Don't know why one reviewer put it as a negative trait.2. If you can focus properly (tripod helps at f1.4) - the center sharpness is amazing.3. Construction is solid - much better than Canon 50mm f1.4 coupled with 4 year Sigma warranty4. HSM pretty fast - as good as Canon AF5. F1.4 means its great for low light conditions and pictures are pretty usable with some sharpening in PS come out great.6. VFM not cheap - till Canon has a 28/30 f1.4 - effective 50mm on APS-C sensors at a competing price - this is always going to be a better choice.7. Lastly great PQ - good contrast and great bokeh. Period.Cons:1. Poor QC for lenses/maybe the reason put out by Sigma does hold true wrt variation of AF on DSLR bodies not being standardized. Anyway their customer service folks have heard of this problem and have a fix for it. Only if there was a better solution than shipping the lens with body to Sigma.2. Can be difficult at f1.4 since DOF is narrow. This is both a pro and con - depends on the end user3. Cant find any for the last two mins - Sigma could have included a coupon for ice cream along with the lens. The packing and box was good. (its not a con).Pretty much to sum it up - its a good lens - great IQ and good contrast coupled with a VFM label means its always going to be a good seller. Can fall into the great category if Sigma can do something to address the focus issues. Overall a great buy for crop sensor cameras' provided you get a good copy/get is calibrated.