Hi there good folk of 365! I've just busted my Canon 50mm f/1.4! The repair would cost almost as much as a new one, so a new one it is. However my husband is suggesting I consider the Sigma Art. It's about twice the price, and I'm hesitant, but he points out that if I would consider upgrading in the future ... well now is the time. My original feeling was that I'm happy with what I've got ... but then I remember the last few shoots I've done out in the open and the focus seems to be very soft/front-focussing on the majority of shots (indoor/close distances, even wide open is completely fine). Any thoughts?
For the record, I shoot on a 6D and also have a 24-70 f/2.8. I've had the 50 long enough to know I want to continue to have a 50, and it's the only lens I use when I photograph births (my primary interest). I'll consider a 35mm down the track, but that's a question for another day :)
@aliha The Sigma Art is an incredible piece of glass. It will outperform your Canon 50mm in every category...sharpness, distortion, vignetting, chromatic aberration. It is almost 3 times heavier though if that matters, but in my opinion worth every penny and every gram. Its refreshing that you're pleased with your current lens and aren't suffering from GAS (gear acquisition syndrome), but maybe that also means its the right time to upgrade. ;-)
@dbj Thanks for your input and hehe no, no GAS for me :) Yes that's my other (small) hesitation ... I kind of like having one small lens! Since the 24-70 is so big and heavy, and my other is a 70-200, also quite big (although not as big and heavy as the f/2.8 IS version!). So there would be no more, just take the 50 to keep things light and simple ...
The Sigma is very expensive (almost US$1,000), big (77mm filter thread and 3 1/2 inches long) and very heavy (almost 2 pounds) for a standard prime. Superb reviews, I have not shot with it. Do you really need it though? Is it really necessary to have a super-sharp performer for your birthing business? You said your Canon has served you well, and you did say something about the ease and convenience of a small footprint lens.
@frankhymus Yes yes these are the questions. I'm surprised it's that expensive in the US, it's listed here at $990 or so and the Aussie dollar is strong today at 73US cents. But yes that size and weight is a serious drawback I think. There's something to be said for feeling less conspicuous in certain situations! I'm happy to wear it for the 24-70 ... but it makes a fifty seem slightly less nifty!!
And yes my Canon does perform well for births, it's when I take it out for a maternity shoot that it lets me down.
Teds has it listed for $999, Digi Direct for $987, Camera Warehouse for $945. I've noticed the retailers' prices are consistently cheaper than Canon's website too.
@aliha hey Alison, have you ever thought of old manual focus lenses? I've invested in just a few (too many) and they are really great. The Pentax super takumar 50 1.4 is great and is only $200 for a mint example. Or if like me 1.4 is not enough you can pick up the 50 1.2 :-) for about $500 and that lens puts a huge smile on my dial.
@longexposure Great idea. I suspect I had your input a while back (a long while back) re getting out a film camera I'd been given, sounds like something you would recommend :) Unfortunately the bulk of my work (that's the plan anyway) is birth, which means low light and wide apertures. I really wouldn't trust myself to manual focus I don't think, in that environment - being firstly too dark to nail it and secondly the stakes being high at certain moments!
@dbj@frankhymus@jasperc@longexposure Update in case anyone is interested ... so I went ahead and bought the Sigma on Friday night. I took along my camera to test it but for the first time in my life, no memory card, so I ended up buying a cheap one so that I could bring the shots home and scrutinise them. Since my Canon 50 is completely busted, I also asked to put that one on for a few test shots too. So after playing about in the store for a bit, we went to get some dinner and sit on it for a bit, then came back to the store and purchased it. HOWEVER when we got home and I downloaded the shots, I found that the Canon shots were significantly sharper than the Sigma, which I was NOT expecting. So I took the new lens out of the box and put it on the camera and took a few shots around our office, and it seems to be significantly back focusing. As in, the object 15cm or so behind the object I'm focussing on is MUCH clearer. I am just grateful I bought that memory card, or it might have taken a lot longer to recognise the problem, and especially useful having the comparison to the Canon. So I got on the phone to the store first thing Saturday morning and they are getting another copy for me to come and check out (I bought the last one in the store) hopefully later this week. This afternoon I've been out testing shots of fence palings with a tripod, comparing Live View AF to viewfinder AF at various distances (55cm-4m). It doesn't seem too bad closer up and a bit inconclusive around 2-3m but significantly out at 4m. Will just have to keep playing with it this week until I get a call from the store. Wish I had your brain Frank, I've been scouring for info re AF and AFMA and calibrating and most of it goes over my head ...
@aliha The store should be able to calibrate it for you. That is a real shame. Sigma used to have quality control issues, but I had not heard of issues lately especially with its premier Art line. If it or the second copy cannot be fixed, don't hesitate to hand back in for a refund.
@jasperc@frankhymus@longexposure@vignouse@shesnapped@dbj After much deliberation and hours of fiddling with AFMA and testing I have returned the Sigma for a new Canon. At times I felt the Sigma might be better ... but "might" didn't fell like a very good justification for the extra 500 bucks!!
@aliha I had thought that Sigma had solved the problem of manufacturing inconsistency which had plagued them for many years. The important thing is that you now have a lens which you like and in which you have confidence... good shooting!
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And yes my Canon does perform well for births,