Intro

The Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC DN is a standard lens designed for mirrorless cameras with ‘cropped’ APSC sensors. Sigma offers it in Sony E and Canon EF-M mounts, as well as for the smaller Micro Four Thirds format and can convert the mount at a later date for a fee if desired. The 30mm is part of a triplet of f1.4 DC DN native mirrorless lenses: check out my Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN review and Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN review for more details. I have also filmed a video about the triplet in their most recent Canon EF-M versions below, but most of the results also apply to the other versions.

EOS M owners looking for standard coverage now have an alternative to Canon’s own 32mm f1.4 with the Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC DN that at around $340 or 250 pounds is roughly two thirds of the price too. The Sigma 30mm is a compact lens: 65mm in diameter, 73mm long, weighs 270g, has a 52mm filter thread and a closest focusing distance of 30cm. Canon’s EF-M 32mm f1.4 is a little smaller still at 61mm in diameter, 57mm in length, weighs 235g, has a narrower 43mm filter thread and noticeably closer focusing of 23cm. But again it’s pricier than the Sigma.

The three new Sigma EF-M primes share several things in common: they all sport a bright f1.4 focal ratio that’s ideal in low light for for creating shallow depth-of-field effects. They claim to be sealed against dust and moisture, something that’s so far eluded all of Canon’s EF-M lenses, although I couldn’t see a rubber O-ring on the mounts. They all come supplied with lens hoods, an accessory that Canon charges for on non-L lenses. They all work with Canon’s Servo AF as well as face and eye detection, while additionally including built-in profiles to work with in-camera correction and provide full EXIF information. They’re all members of Sigma’s Contemporary series, and if you get bored of EF-M, you can have the mount converted – for a fee – to Sony E or Micro Four Thirds if you prefer.

Sadly none of them feature optical stabilisation which means – in the absence of sensor-stabilisation in Canon’s bodies so far – you’ll need to hold steady with a sufficiently fast shutter speed, or employ digital stabilisation for movies.

For a full analysis of my optical tests and results, see my video review above, but just briefly here: Zooming-into the corners of images taken with the 30mm at f1.4 reveals a respectable degree of sharpness with the aperture wide-open, although if you close the lens to between f2 and f4, you’ll enjoy a boost in crispness and contrast. Like the 16mm though, it’s a very usable lens wide-open. In comparison the Canon EF-M 32mm f1.4 shows a slightly tighter field of view. Zooming-into the corners of the Canon at f1.4 shows it to be a little crisper than the Sigma from the outset and while the contrast can be boosted by stopping down, this lens is delivering excellent sharpness even wide open; in terms of my test samples, the Canon also exhibited less field curvature than the Sigma.