Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC hsm | A

£359/$499

ultimate performance for a dx format lens

Like a scaled down version of the FX format Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens on test, this standard prime for DX cameras is less than two-thirds the physical length and barely more than half the weight. Even so, it’s twice as heavy as Nikon’s 35mm DX lens, partly due to the Sigma having a faster aperture rating.

The optical path includes a double aspheric element, with the aim of optimizing image quality. The nine-blade diaphragm is well rounded and helps to maintain the quality of bokeh when narrowing the aperture. Being reasonably compact, there’s not a great deal of room for the ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system.

Performance

Autofocus speed is a bit on the sluggish side and, despite only the rearward optical elements being moved during focusing, these elements are almost as big as the forward elements. Image quality is very good overall and the Sigma beats all of the Nikon lenses for the ‘wide-open’ sharpness. That’s despite going two-thirds of an f-stop faster than the f/1.8 lenses.

Sharpness

Wide-open sharpness is excellent, considering the f/1.4 aperture rating.

Fringing

Colour fringing is well controlled and a little less than in the Nikon DX format

Distortion

There’s fairly little barrel distortion and, again, it’s a bit less than in the Nikon DX.

Verdict

Features Build/handling Performance Value for money

Overall

With its premium build quality and performance, it’s ace value at the price.