More Than Just A Change Of Clothes - New Sigma

I have been watching the Sigma range of lenses over the last five years - not just as a salesperson, but as a user of their wide angle 8-16mm lens on my Nikon camera. As I explained before, I spent my own money to buy one, use it in the studio and at weddings and car shows*, and amdelighted with the results.

In examining the lenses, I have noted a constant change in the presentation of them. of course the mounts - whether Nikon, Canon, Pentax, etc - remain constant, but the barrel finish and control rings seem to change quite a lot. I've seen smooth aluminium anodising, matt plastic surface, crinkled paint surface, and any number of patterns for the rubber rings. Some of these seem to be more successful than others in resisting the grubbiness of he fingers that grip them.

What intrigued me today in looking for a blog topic was a comparison between the 30mm f:1.4 lens of six months ago with the current new 30mm f:1.4 Art lens. The barrel finish is different - sure - and the mounts are the same - sure - but the big surprise comes in looking at the front element.

I had expected to see the same glass in each mount. No way - the filter thread is 62ø in each case but the front element size in the new Art lens is half the area of the older lens. Both are coated, of course. If they are both f:1.4, and the exit pupil of each lens is roughly the same,  how the heck can one be half the size of the other?

Different lens formulation is my guess - so we are not just getting the old wine in a new bottle. As the 30mm focal length is perfect for my DX-sized camera...equating to 45mm in the old film camera speak...I think it is time to do some real personal studio tests on the new Art lens to see what it produces. I shall report.

Uncle Dick