Sigma 35mm f1.4....?!!

Ksanti said:
DR are always very quick though, so I should at least have it by next weekend? Hmmm I'll still have the 5d and 50 1.4 so in a pinch that'll do as my wide prime.

Just about to pull the trigger on a D800, 85 1.4D (I figure Sigma will replace theirs as soon as I buy one of the current models, and I'd rather not faf about with dud copies at this point. Love my one on my 5D but the build of the 85 D is very tempting), 35 1.4 and Tokina 100 2.8 (decided to go with that over the Tamron 90). God this is exciting :)

The 18-55 will replace my Sigma 24 on Canon. The aperture and mfd was very nice on it, but tbh given 99% of my usage for it was random landscapes I can deal with it.
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I would get the sigma 85 of the Nikon 85mm 1.4D is absolute sharpness is important wide open. The Nikon 85mm f1.4D (not the newer G version if anyone is confused) is a great lens for portraiture, edges asre a touch soft and wide open the contrast is not too strong and the images render with a fairly dreamy look. Stopped down contrast and sharpness is great of course.

Just depends on your style, when the new G version came put. A lot Nikon wedding togs kept their older D version because of the softer dream look wide open but crisp details by f2.0.


The sigma 85mm also has very fast AF.


I really don't think sigma will update this lens any time soon, and if they do it will be largely cosmetic changes to the barrel with a price hike.


Of course you can buy the Nikon D version 2nd hand cheap and it won't loose it value anytime soon.
 
Ksanti said:
Yeah the 85G is meant to be quite slow but slap bang accurate in comparison to the 85D and Sigma which are both faster than they are accurate, apparently. Still, I'll see what I get out of it. If it's unusable during my shoots or I lose too many then I'll return it or sell it when I can afford to move to an 85G or when Sigma update their 85.
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I've not had any inaccuracy with the Sigma at all. Not even needed any micro adjust.
 
DP: Yeah I know, I'll see how I get on with the 85D. If I get a Sigma and then two weeks later they announce the new one in their art line, even if it's just the old optics in a new body and quality control, that'd be at least £100 straight down the toilet because second hand values will tank due to the new one (assuming it's reasonably priced like the current one and the 35).

Mrk: Nor have I, but I've heard too many horror stories of dud copies to want to be sorting out a replacement lens when I should be sorting out shoot logistics.
 
I read about them too. I also read about the 50mm 1.4 Sigma AF issues yet I had no issues with that.

Maybe I get lucky with these things but I always try them out anyway and if it's dud it gets returned/ This hasn't happened with a Sigma yet. It has happened with many L lenses though but that doesn't mean L lenses are to be avoided just in case either!

If you get what I'm trying to say :p
 
Yeah I understand entirely. I've already had the sigma though so I'm curious as much as anything. I love the lenses and if the standards stay as high as the 35 has set them, I'll be very happy to be an all Sigma shooter (one of the reasons Nikon pulls ahead for me and I'm making the swap), but for the time being I think the Nikon just complements my shooting just that little bit better in terms of being a proven workhorse, which tbh is in many ways what I need. If I still have it I might take the 5D along on one shoot to do a bit of a comparison to make my final decision. I'd like to be able to get the 85G but it's just out of reach at the moment. Maybe once this round of gear has paid for itself
 
Also have a look at the Nikon 85mm f1.8G, it by far the sharpest of the lot and the bokeh is great as well.

Photozone.de have all the Nikon 85mm f1.8 and 1.4 D And G reviews as well as the sigma.

For the the he Nikon 1.8G is the clear choice I don't need that half stop. I would maybe consider getting that as a stop gap and seeing what sigma does.
 
It may be because loads of people on flickr use the 85 1.8G on a crop camera, but the depth of field control just doesn't look quite enough to me - I know that if I got the 85 1.8 I'd always be looking at a 1.4
 
All I know is, I wouldn't be buying a D800, to stick an 85D in front of it.
Take a picture with your 85 at 1.4, then take another identical one at 1.8, and see how much difference there is.
Yes I know you would always be looking to put a 1.4 on it, but personally if I got the D, I would always be looking for better optics, and consistent AF to put on it, which either the Sigma or 1.8G will do.
Personally I don't know why your not getting the Sigma, if it front or backfocus's, just use AF finetune until you have time to send it off for calibration, it's rare you will get one with a genuine fault.
Once finetuned or calibrated (should it need it) it is a very consistent lens tbh, maybe the 85G's are a fraction more reliable in this respect (maybe they arn't), but it's nothing that will make much real world difference.
 
Roger over at Lens rentals is currently blogging his buying decisions. He's done some interesting lens/camera/resolution comparisons. It's all test lab stuff though, so be forewarned :)

For example the average MTF50 of a Canon 5D3 with 24-70 II is better than a D800e with the popular Tamron 24-70. We're not talking big numbers, but it's interesting reading...

He also later discounts Canon bodies by using purely test bench data (he goes graph happy!) against his requirements, which he says is interesting as having used Canon bodies in the field he knows they pretty much meet his needs. It's all good from a data point of view though.

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/01/a-24-70mm-system-comparison
 
Been looking over some shots taken with this lens over at POTN. Quite surprised how often it displays signs of nervous bokeh in various high contrast shots. A little disappointing.
 
Every fast 35 has nervous bokeh in certain situations, the Canon is worst for it, and I'd put the Nikon at about the same level as the Sigma. You need to be careful with the backgrounds you use but tbh you should be careful anyway, rather than using a big aperture as a crutch so you don't need to bother with decent locations.

Mine arrived this morning. I'm shooting with it this afternoon, but first impressions are very good. Build quality is stunning, and has spoilt yet another price tier of lenses for me. I've not shot with high end Nikon primes but this feels absolutely brilliant. Sharpness seems very good, but I've not had much experience with the D800 to properly compare, we'll see how it goes today. If they update the 85 to this fit and finish I'll almost certainly sell mine on again. Not sure how much is plastic and metal but it definitely feels solid and I'm loving it.
 
It got excellent reviews at photozone.de

Really want sigma to release 24mm version as good as this. None of the other sigma fast primes seem to be close to this, the 30mm DX, 50mm ad 85 mm f/1.4 have very soft corners relative to the Nikon 1.4 and 1.8 versions.
 
I'm really waiting for them to revamp their 50mm and 85mm...

Still really want the 35mm prime and hopefully my price will be honoured when it's back in stock...and i have the cash...
 
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I noticed this weird thing before leaving for Finland but forgot about it until now, little halos on the front element but only visible from certain angles, head on they're invisible.

I have cleaned the element with Eclipse fluid to try and see if it's surface halos but it's not so appears to be on the inside or under the AR coating?

They (there are 4 of them) do not appear on photos either so appear to be just random weirdness!

Anyone have any ideas?
 
the only think i can think that could cause it would be dust on the lens before they coated it -dirty production area .hopefully i am wrong as that would be really bad environmental control on sigmas part
 
It doesn't look like manufacturing defect as I'm sure I'd have noticed it before, only noticed a week before leaving for Finland. It's like it just randomly happened one day it's weird.

I'm going to email Fixation as I'm sure they must have seen this before. It's not a huge issue since its nit affecting images or kens performance either.
 
mrk said:
It doesn't look like manufacturing defect as I'm sure I'd have noticed it before, only noticed a week before leaving for Finland. It's like it just randomly happened one day it's weird.

I'm going to email Fixation as I'm sure they must have seen this before. It's not a huge issue since its nit affecting images or kens performance either.
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keep us updated please mate ,i am trying tomake my mind up what 35mm to get
 
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