SIGMA 30mm EX DC HSM for APS-C

A review and sample photos using the Sigma 30mm EX DC HSM with the SIGMA SD10 and SIGMA SD14.

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Gallery
Review
Specification and more
Reference links

Gallery

The following cameras were used for the sample photos:

1．Overview

The SIGMA 30mm EX DC HSM is a 30mm focal length lens for SLR cameras with APS-C sensors.
It features a gold ring and matte, textured exterior design common to SIGMA EX lenses from the 2000s. The lens’s functional features are minimal, with only the AF/MF switch, focus ring, and distance scale.

The main specifications are as follows; detailed specifications are provided at the link.

Aperture: F1.4
Lens Construction: 9 elements in 8 groups
Minimum Focus Distance: 0.3m
Aperture Blades: 9

35mm equivalent focal lengths are as follows:

SONY, PENTAX, NIKON, SIGMA, APS-C x1.5 = 45mm
CANON APS-C x1.6 = 48mm
SIGMA APS-C x1.7 = 51mm
Panasonic, OLYMPUS Micro Four Thirds x2 = 60mm

2．Usability

The SIGMA 30mm EX DC HSM is a lens designed specifically for APS-C sensors and part of Sigma’s high-end EX line. Its construction, incorporating a double Gauss derivative, typically used in large-diameter lenses, special dispersion glass, and aspherical lens elements, makes it a fairly luxurious lens, and I purchased it with high expectations for its image quality.

However, I was disappointed with the resulting image, characterized by a tendency for background bokeh to have two lines and false colors at the edges of the subject.

This likely reflects the low lens price, but also reflects the limitations of the aberration correction design technology at the time.

The autofocus (AF) drive motor is equipped with HSM, providing satisfactory focusing speed. AF accuracy is adequate for typical subjects, but manual focus is required for scenes where the camera’s built-in sensor might be fooled, such as fences or bushes.

The included hood is a bayonet-type lens, and the clips that secure the hood are made of plastic. Rough handling or repeated removal can wear down the clips and cause the hood to become less secure. Additionally, the textured finish on the lens barrel peels off over time.

Although it is an old lens released during the SD9 and SD10 era, it can still be found in fairly good condition on the used market in 2023. This is probably because a few years after its release, new lenses were circulating for about half the retail price, resulting in a high sales volume.

3．Summary

In conclusion, to sum up the SIGMA 30mm EX DC HSM is a bright, affordable standard lens for APS-C size sensors. While the large F1.4 aperture is appealing, there’s a tendency for double-line bokeh at full aperture, and false colors can appear with some subjects.

The Art 30mm, released in 2013, offers better image quality, despite the fact that its used price isn’t that different.

Specifications, considerations, etc.

The SIGMA 30mm EX DC HSM is a lens released by Sigma as a 50mm equivalent for their own APS-C size sensor x1.7. It is also available for other companies’ SLR cameras, and as noted in the overview, each manufacturer’s sensor size varies slightly, so the image range will vary depending on the camera used. The use of the nice round number 30 has the small advantage of making it easy to calculate the 35mm equivalent focal length.

Eight years after the lens introduced above, in 2013, a successor to this lens was released for SLR cameras: the SIGMA 30mm DC HSM Art, and the Art 30mm F2.8 DN (Sony E-mount, Micro Four Thirds mount) for mirrorless cameras.

This was a time when the popularity of mirrorless and SLR cameras was intersecting, and Sigma was quick to produce lenses for mirrorless cameras, ready to adapt to either trend.

The Contemporary 30mm F1.4 DC DN was released in 2016, when the digital camera market was almost fully established and leading manufacturers like Sony were expanding their mirrorless camera lineups. This lens has expanded its mount compatibility with each mirrorless camera release, resulting in a full lineup of mounts for major manufacturers. The compatible mounts are as follows:

L-mount: 50.7°
Sony E-mount: 50.7°
Fujifilm X-mount: 50.7°
Micro Four Thirds mount: 39.6°
Nikon Z-mount: 50.7°
Canon EF-M-mount: 48.2°
Canon RF-mount: 48.2°

The specifications of 30mm lenses for SLR mounts are compared below.

Lens name	SIGMA 30mm DC HSM Art	30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM
Focal length(mm)	30	←
Max aperture	1.4	←
Min aperture	16	←
Leaf blade	9	8
Lens Construction	9elements in 8groups	7elements in 7groups
Min distance(m)	0.3	0.4
Lens length(mm)	63.3	59
Max diameter(mm)	74.2	76.6
Filter Size(mm)	62	←
Weight(g)	435	400
Release date	2013	2005
Price(Yen/No-tax)	Open price	¥55,000-

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Update history

2024.9.28
2024.2.6:First draft