I was like a kid in a candy store getting ready to dig into the bulk bins and create sweet photographic enjoyment.
Overwhelmed by the infinite options, my eyes were wide open to possibility of what camera equipment would mean I’d be bringing home the best of the best.
I had earned an upgrade after a year of shooting professionally, practicing, and working my butt off to improve my skills.
Three years ago, I was ready to invest in my first ‘full frame’ pro level camera and lens set, just in time to capture the birth of my daughter Brielle.
It was a sweet day.
Once the camera body was selected, we moved onto lenses.
Sidenote: For those who are curious I picked the Nikon D3s. I also own a Nikon 5100 consumer grade camera for everyday use.
I had two lenses in mind to complete my set, and always envisioned matching brands to stay consistent and ensure the proper compatibility.
A 50mm 1.4 lens was the first on my list, and surprisingly the knowledgeable sales guy pulled a Sigma lens off the shelf.
Little did he know I was there to get my hands on Twizzlers, not Red Vines.
A Sigma lens was not what I was anticipating, at all.
“You’re gonna like Sigma a whole lot better,” he encouraged.
A bit skeptical I gave the lens a test drive. Magical is the world that comes to mind to describe my experience. And my fascination with this lens has continued for the last 3 1/2 years.
For the budget conscious Momtographer this story should come as great news!
When I began my photography journey I always assumed I needed stick to the big guys: Nikon & Canon and not to trust the other companies competing for my loyalty. And for awhile I believed them.
But folks, my tune has completely changed.
There are other incredible companies out there with quality products, Sigma being one of them.
If you’re a momtographer whose been contemplating some new ‘toys’ this holiday season you’re gonna want to listen up.
I had the opportunity recently to meet up with past Momtographie student and Huffington Post blogger Jamie Davis Smith as her and I took some fantastic Sigma prime lenses for a spin.
Make note of the low aperture capabilities of these lenses. Because of this, they are each a bit of an a more hefty investment and may not be for the beginning momtographer. If that’s the case maybe you’ll want to invest is some education about your camera through a class with me first.
These lenses are primes, meaning they don’t zoom in and out. If you’re one who takes lots of sports photos of your kiddos and/or likes the ability to zoom in and out, one of these Sigma lenses might be more up your alley.
Sigma 35mm f 1.4
This lens is a great one if you’re looking to get a wider perspective of what is going on around your subject. It’s perfect for not only capturing your kiddos, but also taking a peek at their surroundings too. I shot with both the 35mm and 85mm lenses wide open (low aperture) on the day of my Sigma trials with Jamie. I really wanted to push the limits of it’s focusing ability and background blur. Overall I was really happy with how this lens performed. It locked in focus easily and accurately, and the blur is buttery and beautiful.
Cost: $899 (Nikon HERE / Canon HERE)
Nikkor or Canon equivalent lens cost: aprox. $1,500 (save $600)
Sigma 50mm f 1.4
This lens wasn’t really on my radar to use on my trial day with Jamie since I own it, but let me tell you it’s a GREAT portrait lens. This one is on my camera 99.9% of the time and I tend to shoot with it wide open (typically around aperture 2.0 or so). Many momtographers begin with a 50mm f 1.8 lens and I used to wonder if there really was a benefit to investing in the 1.4 instead. If you are one who is looking to experiment more with whimsical background blur and perfecting your sweet spot of focus this lens is a must have. The Nikkor and Canon lenses are actually around the same cost in this case so there isn’t much of a savings when you go with the Sigma option. But, this lens is the one I reference in the story above that comes highly recommended by my neighborhood photography shop and professional photographers alike!
Cost: $399 (Nikon HERE / Canon HERE)
Sigma 85mm f 1.4
This was a lens I had been wanting to get my hands on for awhile so I was excited to have the chance to do so with Jamie. My favorite thing about this lens were it’s gorgeous portrait capabilities. I could take a large step back from the action and still catch the close up smiles from my daughter. Plus with the closer zoom, the blur automatically increases as well. The one tricky part about this lens was the focus. I shot wide open, around aperture 1.4, as I did with the 35mm, and I will say with my constantly moving preschooler locking in focus was a bit complicated. Just when it would find focus she would move and then the lens wouldn’t quite know what to do. So there was some lag time with having the focus lock in and getting the photo taken. If I had backed myself up a bit or she had been a more still this may have not been as much of an issue.
Cost: $894 (Nikon HERE / Canon HERE)
Nikkor or Canon equivalent lens cost: aprox. $1,500 (save $600)
I want to show you one last comparison that showcases the difference between a 35mm lens and an 85mm lens.
In both of the images below I was standing in the same spot. The first taken with the wider 35mm, the second was shot with the closer 85mm. I love that in the 2nd shot I was standing about 20 feet away, but was still able to capture her joyful smile up close and personal.
Sigma 35mm f 1.4
Sigma 85mm f 1.4
I want you to know that it is possible to invest in quality equipment at a discount. I can tell you with absolute certainty that I now have a few Sigma lenses on my wish list this year!