Sigma 30mm 1.4 Vs Canon 28mm 1.8

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About Sigma 30mm 1.4 Vs Canon 28mm 1.8

Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Vs Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX

First of all, it is not worth it to spend so much time in taking a decision; both lenses are very good and you can have acceptable results with either lens.

The best way to find out which lens is better for you is to try out both lenses as I did. For those that this option is not possible, please read below.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4

This lens is sharper than the Canon 28mm at all apertures especially from f/1.8 to f/4. I find to like a little bit more the color and image quality of the sigma 30mm. This lens is more versatile in low light situations than the Canon 28mm, you can even take good pictures at 1.4. AF is good and precise and works fine in low light.

Canon 28mm f/1.8

This lens has better build quality, faster AF, quieter motor than the Sigma 30mm. Must important of all, I find the Canon 28mm is far more reliable than the Sigma 30mm. The quality build is excellent and Sigma 30 is very good. I really liked the 0.8’ focusing distance and 1:5.5 magnification. From an Aesthetical point of view, this lens looks fantastic on 20D, 30D and 5D cameras.

In the cons side, this lens is useless at f/1.8; it is not sharp at all at this aperture. I guess this lens must be called an f/2.2 instead of f/1.8. Also it shows more chromatic aberration in high contrast environment than the Sigma 30mm.

And the winner is…

1- Sharpness: Sigma
2- Image quality: Sigma
3- Best for low light: Sigma
4- Warranty: Sigma (4 years USA)
5- Build quality: Canon
6- AF speed: Canon
7- AF accuracy: tie
8- Durability and reliability: Canon
9- Size: Canon (a little bit smaller and lighter)
10- Cost: tie (Canon with actual double rebate)

Conclusion

I tested two Sigma and two Canon. The first Sigma sometimes made weird noises when auto focusing (at angles) and there was some dust inside. Image quality was the same in both Sigma lenses. Both Canon lenses performed exactly the same way.

I chose the Sigma over the Canon because its (1) sharpness, (2) image quality and (3) versatility in low light situations. Generally speaking, I believe the Canon 28mm is better build and it is far more reliable than the Sigma 30mm, but in this specific case, the 2nd Sigma 30mm was excellent build (AF was smooth, quiet and accurate). Also Sigma offers 4 years warranty here in the USA.

Please keep in mind that Sigma uses 62mm filters. That could mean extra expenses in filters for some users. In the other hand Canon is offering double rebates (Oct 15- Jan 13) that can translate from $40 to $600 in savings if buying more than two items together.

If you have some questions, feel free to contact me at: das1972@gmail.com

Good luck,