Just a drop.

I've borrowed a sigma 30/1.4 (DC, HSM) lens, to test. The owner doesn't really like the result she gets with auto focus. Now i've read there are some problems with f/1.4, daylight and "certain" cameras on this lens, though none of the sources are from other origin then google: can't rate them for accuracy.


I put up some test shots i made: The camera is on a tripod, used a remote to trigger the shutter, so if no ones elephant was jumping too much around here i think that'll take care of movement of the camera ;)

I focused on the 'cross' in the second character from the left on the black sake-cup. Between shots i focused on something i held in between to force re-focusing. After three shots i moved the objects a bit closer.

quick lightroom web-export on my site

Their are cropped just a bit, and reduced in size. didn't think that would matter too much?
Any comments on above problem and tests are welcome! Anyone commenting on the sigma 30mm/1.4 in general welcome too ofcourse!

Conclusions/thoughts from this are that
1) more test are prolly needed, as this is just a handful of shots
2) in these circumstances the lens works fine.
3) maybe my body handles the lens differently: owner uses a 400d, i use the 30d.
4) I plan to do more 'random' shots, just to see if it feels differently from what i'd expect.

Anyway, this shot was taken with it, but it wasn't a true test for the lens: smaller the f/1.4 (f/10 even), and no auto focus. Still liked it though, so that's why you get it :D

I did a shot like this before, and i did that in a complete dark room, using on-camera flash.. I can't remember why i did it in a completely dark room, honestly: the technique works just as well in a normally lit room, although i like the other shot better.
the other shot is found there, and now i'll start and think about dinner :)