Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM lens

The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM is a wide-aperture photographic lens made by the Sigma Corporation, equipped with a Hyper Sonic Motor (abbreviated HSM, Sigma's trade name for photo lens focusing technology using ultrasonic motor). The lens was produced in Canon EF mount, Four Thirds System, Nikon F-mount, Pentax K mount, the SA mount, and the Sony/Minolta AF Mount varieties, all of the same optical formula. It shipped with a removable petal-type lens hood (62mm diameter). The lens assumes a crop factor of roughly 1.5, and therefore is not usable with on full-frame or 135 film cameras.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
MakerSigma Corporation
Technical data
Focal length30 mm
Aperture (max/min)f/1.4 - f/16
Close focus distance40cm / 15.7in
Max. magnification1:10.4
Diaphragm blades8
Construction7 elements in 7 groups
Features
Short back focusNo No
Ultrasonic motorYes Yes (not available with Pentax and Sony mount)
Lens-based stabilizationNo No
Macro capableNo No
Applicationinteriors/portrait
Physical
Max. length59mm / 2.3in
Diameter75.5mm / 2.9in
Weight430g / 15.2oz.
Filter diameter62mm
Accessories
Lens hoodPetal Hood
Angle of view
Horizontal43.6(1.5x), 41.1 (1.6x)
Vertical29.9 (1.5x), 28.1 (1.6x)
Diagonal51.4(1.5x), 48.5 (1.6x)
History
Introduction2006
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM mounted on a Canon EOS 40D, hood attached.

In 2013, Sigma announced that the lens would be replaced by a redesigned model designated as the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM A; the new lens went on sale in March of that year in Canon, Nikon, and Sigma mounts.[1]

Its large aperture allows for a shallow depth of field, allowing good isolation of close subjects. On APS-C sensor cameras, its field of view equivalent to that of a 46mm lens (Nikon DX, Pentax, Sony, current Sigma bodies), 48mm lens (Canon), 51mm lens (older Sigma bodies) or 60mm lens (Four Thirds). On the Four-Thirds mount, it is the only affordable normal, large aperture lens, therefore it is popular lens on that format.

Optical properties

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Center resolution

The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM lens has unusual optical properties. With most photographic lenses, vignetting is drastically reduced by stopping down the aperture by about 1 f-stop. This lens has a more linear response to stopping down the aperture. To reduce vignetting by about one half, it is required to stop down the aperture by over 3 full f-stops. The optical resolution properties of this lens are also unique. Most lenses are typically sharp in the center of the image frame, and softer in the edges. This problem is typically solved by stopping down the lens. This lens has little response to such an effort. When stopped down by over 4 stops, the edges of the frame are still soft. However, the center resolution of the lens is high when used wide open, and becomes exceedingly high when the lens is stopped down.[2][3]

See also

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  1. ^ "Sigma Corporation announces pricing and availability for 30mm F1.4 DC HSM, 30mm F2.8 DN and 19mm F2.8 DN lenses" (Press release). Sigma Corporation of America. March 8, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  2. ^ www.photozone.de - Test Report/Review
  3. ^ the-digital-picture.com - Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens Review
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