subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 21 September 2019 51
Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6
EX DC HSM
l Guide price £130-190
One of the earliest wideangle zooms made
for APS-C DSLRs, this was an extremely
popular lens before it was gradually replaced
by the f/3.5 version that’s currently available
new. As a result it’s relatively plentiful on the
second-hand market, resulting in prices that
are surprisingly low. It’s a very competent
performer, thanks to the use of super-low
dispersion glass and three aspherical
elements to suppress chromatic aberration
and distortion. In the Canon, Nikon, Sigma
and Four Thirds versions, the built-in
ultrasonic motor provides fast, silent focusing,
but Sony and Pentax users have to make
do with screw-drive AF from the camera
body. Photographers who regularly shoot
architectural subjects should be aware of
the pronounced barrel distortion at 10mm
that’s localised to the corners of the frame,
requiring profiled corrections.Samyang AF 35mm
F2.8 FE
l Guide price £180-205
There are very few inexpensive autofocus
lenses available for full-frame mirrorless
systems, with the longer-established
third-party lens makers preferring to hold fire
on making native designs until very recently.
But Korean manufacturer Samyang has
spotted this gap in the market, and is busily
filling it in with a range of small but appealing
primes. With the AF 35mm F2.8 FE, it’s
delivered a lens that’s a perfect match
to Sony’s compact Alpha 7-series bodies.
Indeed this is exactly the kind of small, sharp
lens that will remind many photographers of
classic old manual focus primes. It’s a great
option for situations when you want to stay
unobtrusive, for example, street photography.
The autofocus isn’t as fast and decisive as
Sony’s own lenses, but image quality is very
good indeed, especially at f/8. At this price,
frankly it’s an absolute steal.
Sigma 30mm F1.4
EX DC HSM
l Guide price £155-185
It may have been replaced by an all-new
model in Sigma’s ‘Art’ line in early 2013, but
the firm’s original 30mm f/1.4 is still a very
fine lens. It’s the only third-party fast ‘normal’
prime for APS-C DSLRs, with a 45mm
equivalent angle of view. This provides a
very natural look for everyday photography,
while the fast aperture is ideal for low-light
and shallow depth-of-field shooting. The
lens includes a hypersonic motor for silent
autofocus, with full-time manual override
available and a focus distance window on the
top of the barrel. The large aperture means
that it’s not exactly a lightweight, at 430g, but
as usual for Sigma’s EX lenses, build quality
is very good indeed. Unlike its successor, it’s
available for all the main DSLR systems: not
only Canon, Nikon and Sigma’s own SA
mount, but also for Sony Alpha, Pentax,
and Four Thirds.The Samyang 35mm f/2.8
is great for unobtrusive
street photography
Sony A7 II, Samyang 35mm f/2.8,
1/60sec at f/5.6, ISO 3200