SIGMA 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM | A £349/$499

A neat ‘standard prime’ for APS-C format Canon DSLRS with a speedy autofocus system and aperture rating

The only prime lenses that Canon makes specifically for its APS-C format DSLRS are a 24mm pancake lens and two macro lenses in 35mm and 60mm focal lengths. All three have an aperture rating of f/2.8, which isn’t conducive to great bokeh, unless you’re shooting extreme close-ups with one of the macro lenses. That leaves the door open for this Sigma, its 30mm focal length equating to 48mm in full-frame terms. It therefore gives a very ‘standard’ viewing angle and perspective, thanks to the 1.6x crop factor of APS-C format Canon cameras.

Build quality is good although it lacks weather-seals and, unlike Canon’s non-l series lenses, the Sigma comes complete with a hood. It’s actually the only prime lens that Sigma makes for APS-C format DSLRS, as signified by its ‘DC’ credentials. From the Art line-up of Global Vision lenses, it has a typically high-quality optical path that includes a complex double aspherical element. It also features a fast and whisper-quite ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system, with the usual mechanically linked full-time manual override facility. Another highlight is that the aperture remains very well-rounded when stopping down a little, thanks to a nine-blade diaphragm.

Performance

Given that depth of field is governed more by the ‘actual’ than ‘effective’ focal length of a lens, good bokeh is a big ask for a 30mm lens. Even so, this Sigma is capable of delivering smooth background blur and the quality of its bokeh is much more attractive than that of Canon’s 50mm f/1.8 lens on test.