SIGMA 30mm EX DC HSM

Standard lens for APS-C size sensors

Sigma 30mm EX DC HSM review and photo examples

Gallery

SIGMA 30mm DC HSM Sample photos (SIGMA SD10)

Review

Usage
Lens overview
Focal length 30mm

Lens configuration diagram taken from SIGMA’s official page

1．Usage

The SIGMA 30mm DC HSM is a lens for single-lens reflex cameras with APS-C size sensors. It uses a Sigma lens barrel from the 2000s, and the textured coating on the barrel peels off over time.

When it was released, it was part of the EX line (Sigma’s old high-end lens line), and I was excited to buy it because it was a large-diameter lens designed specifically for APS-C sensors. However, perhaps due to the price, I was disappointed by the poor depiction, with a tendency for the background bokeh to be two lines, and I ended up getting rid of it without using it much.

The autofocus (AF) drive motor is equipped with an HSM, and the focus speed is at a level that leaves nothing to be desired. The AF accuracy is fine for general subjects, but manual focus is required for scenes where the body sensor is fooled, such as fences and bushes.

2．Lens overview

The included hood is a flower-shaped bayonet type, and the tabs that secure the hood are made of plastic, so if you handle it roughly or remove it several times, the tabs will wear down and it will no longer be secure.

As shown in the diagram quoted from Sigma’s official website, the lens configuration is a derivative of the double Gauss type, which is suitable for large apertures, and uses special dispersion glass and aspherical lenses, but it is presumed that the design technology at the time was at the limit of what could be done to correct aberrations.

It is an old lens released during the SD9 and SD10 era, but even in 2023, you can find it in fairly good condition on the used market. This is probably because new lenses were available for about half the list price a few years after their release, so sales are high.

3．Focal length 30mm

The 30mm focal length is becoming more common in mirrorless lenses in the 2020s, but it is rare for a lens for a single-lens reflex camera. Since the shooting range is not that different from the more common focal length of 35mm, it is thought that this focal length was not made out of necessity. Sigma has adopted this because the APS-C size sensor used in their cameras has a 35mm conversion magnification of 1.7x, so the focal length of 30mm is equivalent to 51mm in 35mm format, which is just the right focal length.

Specification

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-

Reference links

Update

2024.9.28
2024.2.6:First draft

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