Nikon SLR Cameras

Is it worth buying the Sigma 30mm f1.4 lens for my Nikon D3200?

Guest
13.02.2016
Guest

I have a Nikon D3200 and am quite happy with it. I'm not a professional photographer but love the art. I have the kit lens but since i have a garnered a decent knowledge about photography, I'm looking for a prime lens. 35mm and 50mm f1.8 seems to be economical, however the problem is the crop factor in the DX type cameras. I was thinking if Sigma 30mm will be better as it is three times the cost of a Nikon prime lens. The reviews and samples are so good. If you have any lens suggestions for doing wide angle photography and bokeh will be helpful

fhotoace
15.02.2016
fhotoace

I have a Nikon D3200 and am quite happy with it. I'm not a professional photographer but love the art. I have the kit lens but since i have a garnered a decent knowledge about photography, I'm looking for a prime lens. 35mm and 50mm f1.8 seems to be economical, however the problem is the crop factor in the DX type cameras. I was thinking if Sigma 30mm will be better as it is three times the cost of a Nikon prime lens. The reviews and samples are so good. If you have any lens suggestions for doing wide angle photography and bokeh will be helpful Only you can determine that.

We use the Sigma 35 mm f/1.4 ART lens on a Nikon D810 and D800e when shooting group shots and it works just splendidly.

On a cropped frame camera such as yours, you may find that the 50 mm is going to be more useful as a portrait lens.

What you can do is set your 18-55 mm lens at 30 mm or 35 mm and tape it there. Use it at that focal length for two weeks and then move it to 50 mm or 55 mm and tape it there for another two weeks.

This will show you which lens you will want to buy next

So far the only Sigma lenses we have purchased were the ART lenses and while they cost more than the equivalent Nikkor lens, they are plenty sharp and very robust Completely depends upon what you want to photograph. For general use on an APS-C, I would use 35mm, but for portraits I'd use the 50mm. To get the best optics for your camera be sure to only use DX lenses. When looking at images taken with FX lenses on FX bodies, you may love the results, buy that same lens on a DX body will have lower resolution because the lens is optimized for the FX format and not DX format.

So, when there's DX version and an FX version available, always choose the DX version for your DX body. Only buy FX lenses when there are no DX equivalents available.

Here's a video explaining why this is: F/1.4 for a 30mm is fantastic! Crop factor shouldn't be a problem. You just shoot what you see. With your camera, 30mm is normal/standard though. Wide angle starts at 24mm. 30mm will give you "standard lens" view. For "wide-angle" you need something shorter, maybe 24mm (slightly wide) or 18mm (medium wide). If you have the "kit zoom" set it to 18mm and to 24mm and to 30mm to see the angles of view.

Frank
15.02.2016
Frank

Completely depends upon what you want to photograph. For general use on an APS-C, I would use 35mm, but for portraits I'd use the 50mm. To get the best optics for your camera be sure to only use DX lenses. When looking at images taken with FX lenses on FX bodies, you may love the results, buy that same lens on a DX body will have lower resolution because the lens is optimized for the FX format and not DX format.

So, when there's DX version and an FX version available, always choose the DX version for your DX body. Only buy FX lenses when there are no DX equivalents available.

Here's a video explaining why this is:

keerok
15.02.2016
keerok

F/1.4 for a 30mm is fantastic! Crop factor shouldn't be a problem. You just shoot what you see. With your camera, 30mm is normal/standard though. Wide angle starts at 24mm.

John P
15.02.2016
John P

30mm will give you "standard lens" view. For "wide-angle" you need something shorter, maybe 24mm (slightly wide) or 18mm (medium wide). If you have the "kit zoom" set it to 18mm and to 24mm and to 30mm to see the angles of view.