Is the Sigma 35mm ART lens worth buying?

The Sigma 35mm Art lens, like all lenses in the Sigma Art range, is an exceptionally good lens. This is a tough and durable lens that is exceptionally well made. The action of this lens is super smooth and not at all clunky. The image quality is superb and images are sharp, crisp and vivid. There’s no doubt that the Sigma 35mm Art lens is awesome but this does come at a cost, and a very high cost at that.
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The image quality of the Sigma 35mm Art lens is awesome, but is this level of detail really needed? Put an image taken with the Sigma Art lens on a photo editing program and go pixel peeping and it will be flawless. Put an image taken with the Sigma Art lens under a microscope and it will be perfect. This is all great stuff, but in the real world no paying client is going to scrutinise a photo to this extent. Other photographers may critique an image by going pixel peeping, but you should ignore these OTT and overly critical photographers with nothing better to do than nit-pick over things you can barely see with the human eye. At the end of the day it is the paying customer who determines whether an image is good enough or not, and I can assure you that images captured with the Sigma 35mm Art lens are simply too detailed.

If you want the kudos of owning the best 35mm lens the Sigma 35mm Art lens is for you. If you want to impress your photography buddies or attempt to make them jealous the Sigma 35mm Art lens is for you. If you want to brag on the photography forums the Sigma 35mm Art lens is for you. The thing is, you are going to have to pay through the nose for this.

If you want a 35mm lens to capture photos that are more than good enough for commercial use and will keep the paying customers happy there are alternatives to the Sigma 35mm Art lens. These lenses may not be as bullet proof as the Sigma 35mm Art lens but they are tough and sturdy lenses that plenty tough enough. These lenses may not have the same minute levels of detail as the Sigma 35mm Art lens but the image quality is plenty good enough to impress paying customers. The alternative 35mm lenses will not only impress but also save you a whole heap of cash too.

Remember to consider the crop factor before buying a lens for your Canon Camera

If you shoot a Canon dslr camera with a crop sensor and want a lens with a 135mm focal length you do not want to go and buy a “135mm lens”. It may seem like I am spouting rubbish at the moment, but please bear with me on this and all will become crystal……..

A crop sensor camera doesn’t change the actual focal length of the lens you stick on the front of the camera but it does change the effective field of view. A crop sensor camera increases the effective focal length by 1.6 times, i.e. a 135mm lens effectively becomes a 216mm lens (being 135 x 1.6). This basically means the field of view of a 135mm lens on a crop sensor dslr camera is the same as the field of view of 216mm lens on a full frame camera.

An 85mm lens has an effective field of view as a 136mm lens on a crop sensor dslr camera, and whilst this is not the 135mm you’re after it is pretty damn close. Besides, you won’t get closer in the real world.
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You may already be aware of the crop sensor effect, and if you are the above won’t be new to you. If you are not aware of the crop sensor effect you are not alone, from what I have discovered from reading around the various photography forums I actively participate in. It appears that many photographers don’t understand or appreciate the crop sensor effect and consequently end up buying an unsuitable lens. 

Before you part with your hard earned money and buy a lens make sure you consider the crop sensor effect and get a lens that is the “effective” focal length you need. 

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If you want a lens with an effective focal  length of 35mm for your crop sensor dslr camera the only real option is a 24mm lens. Okay, this gives an effective focal length of 38.4mm, but you won’t get any closer.

​If you want a lens with an effective focal length of 85mm for your crop sensor dslr camera the only real option is a 50mm lens. Okay, this gives an effective focal length of 80mm, but you won’t get any closer.

​If you want a lens with an effective focal length of 35mm for your crop sensor dslr camera the only real option is an 85mm lens. Okay, this gives an effective focal length of 136mm, but you won’t get any closer.

Canon 50mm f1.8 or Yongnuo 50mm f1.8

If you shoot a Canon dslr camera and are looking for a 50mm f1.8 prime lenses there are two options, and these are the Canon 50mm f1.8 and the Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 lens. The Canon has been around for several years, and is a bit of a dinosaur whereas the Yongnuo has only been around for a few short years, and is relatively new.
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I have read several negative reviews about the Yongnuo 50mm f1.8, and all of these comment on the poor build quality. Okay, the Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 lens isn’t the toughest lens out there, and it does feel like a child’s toy rather than a serious photography lens but so does the Canon 50mm f1.8 lens. Using the Canon 50mm f1.8 and the Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 and comparing them side by side clearly shows there is no difference in build quality between the two lenses whatsoever, and neither one is better than the other.

Many of the Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 reviews I have read comment on poor image quality. Okay, the image quality of the Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 may not be exceptional, but it is just as good as the Canon 50mm f1.8. I have done a side by side comparison of photos taken with the Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 and the Canon 50mm f1.8 and they are identical. Yep, there is no difference in image quality between the two lenses whatsoever.

The Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 lens and the Canon 50m f1.8 lens are identical in every way, other than the price - the Canon 50mm f1.8 is more than double the cost of the Yongnuo 50mm f1.8, so it is easy to see the Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 is awesome value for money.

If you are looking for a 50mm f1.8 lens for your Canon dslr camera I highly recommend the Yongnuo 50mm f1.8, and I assure you that it is identical to the Canon’s own 50mm f1.8 lens only you’ll have some money left in your pocket to spend on some other piece of photography equipment. 

Canon 50mm f1.8 

Focal Length – Full frame/APS-C:- 50mm/ 80mm/ Aperture:- 1.8 - 22/ Min focus:- 13.8"/ Dimensions:- 2.72" x 1.55"/ Weight:- 5.6 oz/ Image stabilization:- No/ Price (approx.) $USD/£ GBP:-      $125.00/£100.00 

Yongnuo 50mm f1.8

Focal Length – Full frame/APS-C:- 50mm/80mm/ Aperture:- 1.8 - 22/Min focus:- 17.7”/ Dimensions:- 3.15” x 3.27”/ Weight:- 4.2oz/ Image stabilization:- No/ Price (approx.) $USD/£GBP:- $58.00/£40.00

Shooting at a 50mm focal length using a crop sensor camera

If you use a Canon dslr camera with a crop sensor a 50mm prime lens is not going to behave like a 50mm lens. The problem with a crop sensor camera is the crop effect, which effectively changes the field of view, and hence the effective focal length of the lens.

A 50mm lens on a crop sensor camera has the same field of view as an 80mm lens (i.e. 50mm x 1.6) on a full frame camera. This means a 50mm prime lens on a crop sensor camera doesn’t shoot as wide as a 50mm on a full frame camera, which in turn means you won’t get as much in the frame.

Getting a 50mm field of view on a crop sensor camera is not possible with a prime lens, however you can get close. A 35mm prime lens gives the same field of view, i.e. has the same effective focal length, as a 56mm lens. This still isn’t as wide as a true 50mm lens, but it is pretty close.  Another lens you may wish to consider is a 28mm prime lens. This has an effective focal length of 44.8m, which is slighter wider than a 50mm lens.
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With two lenses to choose from the big question has to be “which one is best?” The answer to this depends on how much you want to get in the frame. If you want a wider field of view the 28mm lens is the most suitable, and if you want a bit more reach the 35mm lens is the most suitable. It is worth noting at this point that there is a greater choice of 35mm prime lenses than there are 28mm prime lenses.

The same applies to Nikon, Sony, Olympus and any other camera with a crop sensor, so you have to take the crop factor in to account.

Why you need to have a go at off camera flash photography

If you want to take your flash photography images and shots to the next level you need to take your flash off camera. By taking the flash off camera you have more freedom to model the light and place it wherever you want. Taking the flash off camera enables you to light specific parts of the subject at different intensities. 


The lighting options taking the flash off camera are endless, and the world really is your oyster when you light your subjects this way.

If you are still not convinced about taking your flash off camera, or why you at least need to have a go at taking the flash off camera a take a look at the following clip, and I think you may just change your mind.





Related videos

For more flash photography related videos and footage check out the following "Flash photography" playlist, courtesy of Youtube.

Using the Yongnuo YN300 II led light

The Yongnuo YN300 LED light panels are awesome photography lights, and if you need a lighting solution for product photography, table top photography or indoor portrait photography you should definitely check them out. 


The following clip shows how to use the Yongnuo YN300 LED light panels and how to get the best out of them.

Related videos 

For other flash and lighting videos and footage you may want to check out the "flash photography" playlist, courtesy of Youtube, below.
 

Yongnuo YN300 II LED lights un-boxed

Continuous LED lights are perfect for product photography, table top photography and indoor portrait photography (head shots, corporate shots, family shots, boudoir shots etc. etc.), so it is easy to see why they are such a popular photography lighting solution. 

There are loads of brands and models of continuous LED lights, and choosing the right lights can be an absolute mission. Some LED lights are very good and some are utter rubbish, and choosing good LED lights can be pot luck, or should I say it used to be pot luck? 

Yongnuo are well known for their excellent, and affordable, speed lights and flashes and this company has now sells other photography lights, including LED lighting panels. Like all Yongnuo lights the LED lighting panels are powerful, easy to use, well built and also affordable. With the Yongnuo range of LED light panels there really is no need to spend loads of money. 

For an unboxing video of the Yongnuo YN300 LED light panels (of which I own two) check out the following clip.



Related videos 

For more flash photography videos and clips you may want to check out the "Flash photography" playlist, courtesy of Youtube.

Essential equipment for butterfly photography

If you want to capture stunning photos of butterflies it is crucial you have the right photographic equipment. The amount of photography gear you need isn't huge, but there are a few "must haves" you need to increase your chances of capturing awesome butterfly photos and increase your hit/keeper rate.

The "must have" butterfly photography equipment is explored in the clip below:



Related videos

For more photography videos and footage check out the "Photography ramblings" playlist, courtesy of Youtube.

Off camera flash on a shoe string budget

Many people seem to be put off having a go at off camera flash photography because of the cost. Okay, you can spend a fortune (and I mean a fortune) on the latest high end flash photography equipment for off camera flash photography, but in reality there is no need to. 


Yep, you can take your flash off camera on a shoe string budget, and spend very little money, as explored in the following clip:-



Related videos 

For more flash photography videos and footage the "Flash photography" playlist, courtesy of Youtube, may be of interest.
 

You don't need loads of gear for motor sports photography

From reading around the popular photography forums it seems that many people are of the opinion you need loads of expensive photography equipment for motor sports photography, but this simply isn't the case. 


You can, if you want to of course, spend thousands of bucks on loads of high end photography gear to take motor sports photos, but there really is no need to. There really is no need to buy loads of equipment, but there are some essential bits and pieces you need, as explored in the following clip:





Related videos 

For more photography videos and footage the following "Photography ramblings" playlist may be of interest.
 

Never use an LED light panel mounted on the camera's hot shoe

LED light panels are great for product photography, table top photography and indoor portraits. LED lights are small and powerful, and many are marketed as being "hot shoe mountable", and even supplied with a hot shoe foot. 


Okay, these small LED lights may have a hot shoe foot on them but this doesn't necessarily mean they are suitable for using on your camera's hot shoe. In my experience the small LED light panels are not suitable for use on camera and should be used off camera only, as explored in the following clip:-










Related videos 


For more flash videos and footage you may find the "Flash photography"playlist below useful/interesting.



 

Why you need to have a go at off camera flash photography

I am sure you have heard many time before, and probably read many time over too, that you should have a go at taking your flash off camera and having a go at "off camera flash" photography, so if you have not already done so I have to ask the question "Why not?"

There are loads of reasons why you need to have a go at off camera flash photography, and the main ones are explored in the following clip.



Related videos

For more flash photography related videos and footage that may be of interest take a look at the "Flash Photography" playlist, courtesy of Youtube.