I want a fast standard lens for my D200 and it has come down to the Sigma 30mm F1.4 and the Nikkor 35mm F2. Has anyone had any experience with either lenses? The extra speed of the sigma isn’t a massive feature for me if the rest of the lens doesn’t stand up to the Nikkor…
I’ve had the sigma for a year now ,it’s ok but a little hit and miss sometimes.
It’s a heavy lens for it’s size and isn’t very well balanced on my 350D ,can be cumbersome but I suppose thats because of the high amount of glass.
The view is cool and I can get to use my camera late at night ,hand held and the shots come out fine without flash.
I used the Nikkor 50mm 1.8 and love it, its just soooo sharp, one of the best they’ve ever made.
Some of the members also have the 50mm 1.4 and love it too. Quite a bit more expensive too of course.
Yeah I was looking at the 50mm but the crop on my camera means its a 75mm which is to long for me… I tend to prefer the wide angle side of things, even a 35mm (50mm with crop) is a step forward for me:)
If you’re buying new then get the Nikon 35mm, meant to be a really nice lens.
However if you’re buying secondhand then make sure it was made after 2001 as there
was an issue with the diaphragm blades getting sticky.
I have the sigma 1.4 ; Like many 1.4 lenses, you don’t really want to ise it at 1.4, but it’s sharp as anything by f2 and can focus in near darkness (which is the real benefit of these lenses).
Sharpness wise. The sigma is fine, i don’t have the 35mm, but the Sigma is sharper than most of the lenses in my bag and you need something like a D2x to tell some of them apart.