Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN 30mm
Pentax DA 21987 35mm
What Buyers Say
Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN 30mm
The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, fast f/1.4 aperture, and beautiful bokeh, making it a favorite for low-light and portrait photography on APS-C cameras. Users consistently highlight its solid build quality and excellent value for money. However, some reviewers report inconsistent autofocus, particularly at longer distances, and occasional chromatic aberration or vignetting wide open. A few copies have exhibited noisy or unreliable AF motors, especially in video mode.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Beautiful bokeh
- Solid build quality
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Inconsistent autofocus at distance
- Chromatic aberration wide open
- Vignetting wide open
- Noisy AF motor in some copies
- Soft corners at f/1.4
Pentax DA 21987 35mm
This Pentax 35mm f/2.4 lens is widely praised for its sharpness, color rendition, and value for money. Users consistently note that it outperforms its price point, with many calling it a bargain and a great walk-around lens. The main criticisms are the plastic build and mount, lack of a lens hood, and limited manual focus control, but these are often seen as acceptable trade-offs for the price. Overall, it's highly recommended for Pentax DSLR users seeking an affordable prime.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Excellent value for money
- Compact and lightweight
- Good color rendition
- Fast autofocus
Cons
- Plastic build and mount
- No lens hood included
- Limited manual focus control
- No aperture ring
- Not weather-sealed
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN 30mm | Pentax DA 21987 35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 30 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 30 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 9 | 6 |
| Groups | 7 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 5★ | — |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | PENTAX Super Protect (SP) coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/1.4 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.4 | f/2.4 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9★ | 6 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Pentax K |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.27 kg | 0.13 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 52 mm | 49 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | HSM | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 300 mm | 300 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:7.14★ | 0.17x |
Pros & Cons
Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN 30mm
- Strong aperture (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong build (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pentax DA 21987 35mm
- Strong build (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average bokeh (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Pentax DA 21987 35mm offers 1.5x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 82 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
