The Bokeh Boss
I love Bokeh and all its uses, but I am not one of the new age Bokeh “discoverers”, being more interested in the wholistic effect of Bokeh, not the more specialised modern take.
The Sigma 30mm f1.4 does however give me an outlet when the Bokeh bug hits me (all images at or near wide open).
Real Bokeh for Bokeh lovers.
But still bitingly sharp where needed.
Very clean and well balanced front and back Bokeh. A true creative tool.
The issue is of course, how quickly it gets over used and used inappropriately.
The lens does offer a delicateness that is different to any other lens I own, even ones that are only a hair slower in aperture.
At longer distances, the lens still has the ability to cut-out subjects cleanly.
A strong working kit needs options.
These may be problem solving, creation enabling and are often task specific. A strong Bokeh enabler is a tool like any other, but it does not need to be over done. A single strong example is plenty for my needs, although I do have several lenses that fall into this class.
My 75mm was previously my Bokeh king, but it does require a longer working distance.
The 30mm is a full frame 60, which I feel is perfect for the role. It is a genuine, but short portrait lens, wide enough to do groups are reasonable distances, but any shorter/wider and it would struggle to easily offer Bokeh as a tool. I have been tempted by the 56mm, but to be honest, it is too much of the same it ist sake only and would get squashed between two excellent 45mm lenses (smaller) and my 75mm (longer).