The 30mm f/1.4 Canon mount version
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SAR reader Okie-Centric (Thanks!) got an answer from Sigma about their new 30mm f/1.4 lens not being available as A-mount versions:
“Upon inquiring about the future of Sigma A-Mount lenses, got this response. There was a little back & forth too. Now I like Sigma all the more, for their quick and personal response(s)…..
Good morning,
We will still be making Sony mount for some of the new Global Vision lenses. The new 35mm as well as the new 17-70 both have Sony versions. The new 120-300 won’t be in Sony, but the older version wasn’t either. The only upgraded lens that has dropped Sony was the new 30mm and from I can tell, that was due to the older version selling poorly. Our parent company didn’t see the demand for the lens and therefore decided not to produce it.
Please be assured that going forward, Sigma will still be producing lenses for Sony cameras, however which new lenses get made in Sony are determined on a case by case basis.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a great day!
Sincerely,
——-(name removed)
SIGMA Corporation of America”
That’s bad news. By the way, the old 30mm lens version wans’t really a good quality lens (see test at Photozone). That could also be a reaosn why they didn’t sell many A-mount lenses!
P.S.: The new 35mm f/1.4 will ship next week according to BHphoto (Click here).
55 Responses
The 30 would still probably not sell well due to the presence of the outstanding Sony 35 1.8.
wrong mount, chief
Why wrong? 35/1.8 is available on both A-mount and e-mount.
I stand corrected. Complete ignorance on my part.
Hey, you took responsibility for your error. I commend you! I wish we had more people that would do that!
what?? 35/1.8 e-mount? where?
Not sure if you are somehow making a joke or you really didn’t know (hard to believe considering the vast multitude of Sony lenses for e mount !)
But here you go – http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/892387-REG/Sony_sel35f18_35mm_F_1_8_Optical_Steady.html
Brendon,
We are talking about SIGMA, you are talkin about sony lens
Well, they definitely have a point – 35 SAM was so successful that it killed off any demand for alternatives. Top that with 30 Macro and you can’t be surprised seeing low demand for Sigma variant.
Agreed. I really liked the look of the Sigma 30mm bokeh and the options for smaller depth of field, but there was talk of the focus being a little hit-and-miss, so I went with the (also cheaper) Sony 35mm 1.8 instead.
yeah the old sigma 30 is a weak choice in a world where the sony 35/1.8 exists at half the price. that is probably the #1 reason why it doesn’t sell. if the new one is better, it might have carved its own niche and sold a bit, but I guess we’ll never know.
+1 i really like the image quality and price of this 35 1.8 plastic lens…
thats bad news regarding the 120-300 🙁 i was so looking forward to get it..
I got a similar, though slightly less detailed response from Sigma about my inquiry. They told me that initial offerings of lenses in other mounts does not necessarily preclude future offerings in A mount of the same lens. In other words, if it’s a hot seller for Canikon, they’ll probably make it for Sony too but only after it’s been proven a winner worthy of additional investment.
I got a similar, though slightly less detailed response from Sigma about my inquiry. They told me that initial offerings of lenses in other mounts does not necessarily preclude future offerings in A mount of the same lens. In other words, if it’s a hot seller for Canikon, they’ll probably make it for Sony too but only after it’s been proven a winner worthy of additional investment.
I’ve owned 3 copies of the original 30mm now. The 1st copy was soft even after hours of micro-adjustment (corner sharpness was a joke) and ended up on Ebay. The 2nd copy was a victim of Sigma’s legendary QC (it left the factory with a bubble in the front element!). 3rd time lucky for me – acceptable centre sharpness wide open and it has a nice character, but corner sharpness is still disappointing.
I agree with Sky_walker – the 35/1.8 really is the gem in Sony’s Easy Choice line-up and Sigma would have to release a blinder to beat it. (If I didn’t need a 50mm equivalent f1.4 with dmf, there’s no way I’d have bought the Sigma.)
If I was being mean, I’d say the new version is just a rebrand job and Sigma know it can’t compete at that price point (people will either save the cash and buy the Sony, or spend a bit more on the 35/1.4).
I have a feeling that the A-Mount is a dying technology. If you look at the E-mont technology and the fact that sales are far better. They (Sony) will put their money into what people want. Sorry A-monut supporters. But that is my 2cents.
Which E mount technology specifically? And even if sales are as you state (no one in here really knows the worldwide numbers), does that automatically mean the one with the lesser sales will die? If that were true, FF would have been dead many years ago.
Even MF cameras did not die, but are they really alive? 😉
I think the right question should be: how profitable are they at such a small production scale?
And again, only Sony has the answers for that in the case of their A mount cameras. But the SLT design in principle is still more profitable than the classic DSLR design, ceteris (price included) paribus. So even with lower sales, it can still be profitable. No on in here knows.
US$900 for the new Sigma 35 1.4 (in Sony mount)? They’re kidding right.
You’ve apparently missed all the reviews. That Sigma 35mm won an 89% score from dpreview, and has received A+ reviews from, well, everyone. It easily beats the pro equivalents from all the vendors, and costs $500-600 less.
I concur with that. I can’t wait to get one! ……just a couple of more shoots ought to net the money for that purchase. :o)
No, and it’s a DG, meaning ‘full frame’, lens which seems to be the very best 35mm on the market, including the Zeiss mf lenses.
Sonys alternative is a 30 year old, screw driven, soft open and always in the corner 1200$ lens.
If i recall correctly Sigma 30/1.4 for Sony wasn’t ever made with HSM. I am sure that is part of the reason it didn’t sell well. One could wait and postpone buying decision due to expected updated version with HSM that never came. So if you don’t offer something then don’t expect it will sell well.
I am sure they sell tens more each A mount lens model every year than whole Sigma mount lenses ever made:)
It’s just a number thing. Look how long the new 35mm has been out for canon. I will be surprised if the 35mm will be released for the A-mount at the end of the month. I preordered the darn thing in December. However, I would love to get the 120-300/2.8. I guess I will have to save my pennies for sony’s 300/2.8. I thought about switching to canon because of the greater choices in lenses and flash system but am enjoying the 99 so much that the idea of switching is not even on my radar at this time.
Sony has not made a major improvement since the a77 nex7.
They need to make a EXTREMELY high res camera and a EXTREMELY fast camera.
Waiting 3 years for a meaningful improvement is a disgrace.
Sigma didnt drop Sony —-Sony dropped Sony!
If they don’t get thier act together many more will follow.
What exactly is wrong with the A77 and NEX-7? And they have been announced in August 2011. That would make them around 1.5 years old.
edges and corners
Maybe you should explain better, because my NEX-7’s corners are nicely smooth.
They were great cameras when they came out.
The problem is that all this time has gone by and they are still arguably Sonys best cameras.
Sony has not come out with sny substantial improvements.
Bacteria are great animals but nature has come up with quite a few improvements since then.
I beg to differ. The a99 is more like the best Sony ILC camera at the moment. Now it is not a crop camera but it is in my opinion better than those two you mention and those two are great cameras.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both and the a99 is still only a 24mp camera.
I stand by my ststsment no MAJOR improvemets.
Well, you obviously have never used both the a99 and the a77. The a99 is definitely an improvement over the a77. But it does cost a good bit more. Only 24mp? Geeze some people are so greedy. Please actually use a camera and stop complaining it is only 24mp!
How much improvement would you expect in 1.5 years of a camera being on sale and what about the A99 and RX1?? That just came out months ago. Cameras usually only improve greatly about every 3 to 4 years and to me that has slowed down. I can still get awesome pics with a A700 if I still had it. I think you expect way too much and bacteria and camera technology should not even be compared unless your talking about how many different NEX models keep poping up. You often comment on sony needing high res camera but to me you need a high res camera so maybe you should go with something else other than sony.
animalsbarry, I certainly don’t understand what you mean by “all this time has gone by”. It has been 1.5 years, as I pointed out. Surely you don’t need a new camera every 6 months? The Nikon D7000 has been announced at the same time as the A77/NEX-7 and just got replaced in February. Canon’s APS-C flagship is from 2009. (and I believe the A77 is as good or better than those). Technically speaking it is Canon and Nikon who hadn’t gotten much improvements lately, unless you want to point a few out?
For me, Sony has made more improvements than anyone else, if only because of the swivel screens on their cameras.
Animalhusbandrybybarry,
Here we go again about your wanting a one million MP sensor. Give it a rest!
Since when did 3 years become unacceptable for the release of a high end camera? Canon took 4 years to update the mark II. Nikon took 4 years to update the D700. The EOS 7D is still Canon’s high end crop sensor and it was announced in 2009. As somebody already mentioned, the cameras you mentioned are nowhere near that old. If you are an owner of a A77 or NEX-7, what technology is ridiculously outdated compared to equivalents from Nikon or Canon?
Thank you Dave… 100% agree!
A77 and A99 are great camera’s, enjoy them and get out shooting with them!
Clearly some of you believe the a99 is a huge advance rather than a small improvement.
Clearly Sigma does not share that opinion.
@animalsbybarry2
Sorry but your statement “Clearly Sigma does not share that opinion” I don’t get how you can link the two they are not related at all!
let me re-word Sigma’s answer for you, every one has a huge wing there is not enough lenses and they want this they want that but when it’s made available not many people purchase it… So why should be update it until ‘real’ demand increases.
They did not say that for ‘all’ there lens just that one lens which they have found very little demand for that’s all, it’s that simply, Sony have a better offering in this range that most people seem to prefer and is allot cheaper, if Sigma can’t make money on that particular lens can you blame them not wanting to waist money on it? I can’t…
Rather target lenses that people want and were they can offer a competitive product that users will buy. Sigma not releasing this lens in Sony A mount for me personally has no impact what so ever and going on Sigma’s reply it would seem it will have VERY little impact for many (it’s good to finally get my thoughts confirmed by the vendor).
I suggest you check the release cycles of other manufacturers, they are all about the same! Asking for yearly updates in the high end is just silly and I’m VERY happy Sony have said they will not do it!
If you don’t belive me why not check out the bottom of the following articles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Canon_EOS_digital_cameras
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Nikon_DSLR_cameras
I think it’s about time people stopped complaining and enjoyed there camera, get out and USE it… they are not BAD camera’s I love both the A77 and A99 and do not want either to be replaced for at least another 1-2+ years!
What Sony could do and it would seem is there plans is to simply release firmware/software updates as the hardware is great and most of the complaints can be fixed by software and does not required hardware changes.
Enjoy your hobby/job, get out and shoot and have a good time!
Cause it was bad, newer version is better, but not something I would buy. There are other options. Including amazing 35/1.4 from.. yea Sigma. 😀 Which is for Sony (even for Pentax!).
If you had a good copy on the Canon mount, it was excellent and nice focal length for the crop sensor. Face it, Sony is losing and will end up being at best a supplier or at worst, bankrupt. Nex is going nowhere.
They’re making good amounts of money on their ILC’s and more people own Alpha cameras than ever before. Next attempt to spread FUD please.
That is ridiculous. The only reason keeping me from buying the 30 1.4 was the fact that in A-mount, it didn’t have HSM. I was waiting and waiting for them to finally get rid of the outdated screw drive in this lens, but they didn’t. Now guess why the A-mount version didn’t sell well! The other versions simply offered more for the same price! It’s like saying “Man, our crappy lens really didn’t sell well. Hence, let’s not sell a better version.”
I disagree that the old version of the 30mm f/1.4 was of low quality. My copy was supremely sharp in the center; like razor sharp, macro lens sharp in the center. It had fast autofocus, that was accurate everywhere except perhaps near close-focus where it had issues. The build was solid (and sort of annoyingly heavy). I had a Lightroom profile for it that squelched the distortion mostly, so that wasn’t a big deal for me. I didn’t notice the corner softness so much, but I mostly used it wide-open(ish) and wasn’t expecting much from that most of the time.
My biggest issue with it that it was what I consider to be an awkward focal length–it always felt either too wide or too long. Not a focal length I’d buy again.
Not a perfect lens, but definitely not terrible. 😛
I own KM5D, A550 and a77 but never buy DC lens, FF will get cheaper and in 3-5 year time it will reach $1000 for body and I don’t see reason why I will not abandon APS-C.
All I can say for now is why can’t Sony make a NEX in traditional SLR form like the just released Panny G6. Traditional controls would great. With that SL1 around the corner, Sony has a short window of opportunity. NEX in it’s current state is not going to cut it.
What would be the point? The thing will become exactly as big as an SLT camera and the NEX-7 provides an impressive amount of controls.
Do you really think fake pentaprism and bulbous protrusion at the top suddently makes a camera more comfortable?
Maybe sony user need to bought more sigma lens , or they will omit the sony A mount’s existence…
They maybe thinking E-mount is a more potential market then a sony A-mount~
One more thing that we have to keep in mind. Japan is going through a very rough economy at the moment. I am sure that Sony would love to make 10 big moves right now. But will have to make two or three (Safe, wise, smart) choices and not take chances.
Not a big deal. I wouldn’t cry if Sigma completely stop supporting Sony A-mount. Sigma lenses were mostly not my favorite choice because of poor IQ. I rather go with Tamron or Sony. And if Sigma pisses off from Sony, there’re more customers for those two.
I agree with everyone who says that Sony’s behavior has killed the A-mount.
What a disappointment.
On the bright side, Sony is kicking butt with its consumer offerings, like the NEX, RX-1, RX-100, and the new HX super-zoom.
That is the future of Sony digicams. 99% of my shooting is done with a non-SLR, the only thing I use my SLR for is serious macro and architectural shots–although with better sensors, and processing in software, even those 2 areas might fall to a “non-serious” cam, if they get good enough.