More Wonderful Nonsense: Sony A7c + MC11 + SIGMA DC (Crop) 30mm f/1.4 Art

I have now written about this combination twice.

A full-frame Sony camera used with an SA mount crop lens bought for a different camera with an adapter purchased for a whole different lens.

I spent the first post basically marveling that the combination worked at all.

The second post sought to make a case for acquiring the combination.

This one is a bit different. It comes after I chose to use this as a dedicated image capturing solution for a few days rather than as an oddity.

What I learned is that while the path to arriving at this combination may have been odd, there is nothing odd about the combination itself. Who cares about how much sense things make when you are getting results you genuinely enjoy? Again reminded that what was first stated as a joke has some truth to it:

If you are looking for photography to make sense you may not be doing it right.

First I will say that this lens is wonderful as originally intended with the SIGMA sd Quattro.

You do lose the wonderful image quality a Foveon sensor can create. A wonderful combination resulting in wonderful images. While you do lose that certain Foveon look on paper there are benefits to pairing this lens with a full-frame Sony A7 body.

Much of this Art lens’ excellent IQ stands regardless of the sensor used.
Access to the full 30mm field of view, with occasional vignetting.
f/1.4 at such a wide focal length is not common
A relatively compact lens, even with the adapter.
Access to ISO levels above 400 or 800.
Access to swift, modern phase detect AF performance and Eye detect AF.

There are also downsides.

Video will be hampered by requiring off camera mics due to constant focus racket.
- Using for stills so this is not an issue for me.
At f/1.4 there is slight vignetting, sometimes.
- Again personal choice, but easily worth it due to the results.

There are more sensible lenses that I have owned. Many picked up in pursuit of a bit of the “magic” another solution provided in the past, but more on that later.

The Others

Rokinon/Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE

As compared to the SIGMA Art 30mm f/1.4:

Despite my initial enthusiasm, it served me well on a trip to NYC, it lacked that certain something IQ-wise in the end. Personal preference. Others may not see the difference but for me, it is there.
Because of this, it was traded towards a bag of primes zoom lens that effectively took its place.
I find that a bit wider focal length by 5mm affords a “special” look that this lens cannot quite match.
f/1.8 when the SIGMA goes to 11… I mean f/1.4.
You may get on fine with it.

Rokinon/Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE

As compared to the SIGMA Art 30mm f/1.4:

Despite my not having a single complaint IQ-wise and an aperture that matches the SIGMA, twice owned, this lens rarely left the bag for its primary use. Daily use. Why? Too large and heavy for a walkabout lens.
Ok… I do like the SIGMA’s IQ a bit better.
I find that a bit wider focal length by 5mm affords a “special” look that this lens cannot quite match.
That is about it really. You may get on fine with it.

Rokinon/Samyang AF 24mm F1.8 FE

As compared to the SIGMA Art 30mm f/1.4:

I really liked this lens. But similar to the 35mm f/1.8 above this lens was ultimately displaced by a Tamron zoom lens that, while not having as bright an aperture, offered broader flexibility in a package that was not much larger.
Again… I do like the SIGMA’s IQ a bit better.
Swiftly contradicting my notes above I found 24mm to be a bit too wide for walkabout use.
You may get on fine with it.

If asked after acquiring the 24mm lens above I would have said that it had finally filled the role as a replacement for another. But it wore off.

The “magic” solution mentioned above. The Leica Q.

Heresy alert. I like the images produced by the 30mm f/1.4 Art better. But before I get to that here is a like comparison.

As compared to the SIGMA Art 30mm f/1.4:

I like 30mm at f/1.4 a bit better than 28mm at f/1.7 and it creates a similarly magical depth of field to focal length ratio.
Unlike the minor IQ compromises the lenses above ask, the Art gives nothing up to the Leica in my opinion. Sharpness, quality bokeh, and pleasing colors are all there in abundance.
All this pairs well with Sony’s no compromise AF speed and accuracy.
MF is also easy to invoke and is as easy to focus with effective peaking as the Leica.
Some may debate this, understandably so, but for me the images below speak for themselves.
May not matter to some, but better value. A Leica Q goes for nearly $3,000 used (no longer for sale new) as of this post’s writing. A used A7c, MC11, and SIGMA 30mm f/1.4 Art combined would be about $1,000 less. A newer Leica Q2 rings in at $5,795 while a similarly MP’d brand new A7IV, MC11, and SIGMA 30mm f/1.4 Art would ring in at about $3,200.

Better than the Leica Q? No. Not saying that. Different. In a way that I find better suits me.

Does any of this make sense? No. Not at all. For the love of Pete if possible save yourself, and buy any number of perfectly acceptable image capturing solutions that do not require long winded attempts at justifying such madness… An a6XXX something or other and a SIGMA Contemprary 16mm f/1.4.

A Canon EOS RP and an RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro STM.

You have a Pentax K-1 and an HD 35mm f/2.

Heck… What else… How about a Fufjifilm X-Pro1 and their XF 23mm f/2 R WR.

Any number of MFT cameras and the Olympus 17mm f/1.8.

How about a Fujifilm X100S?

All perfectly sensible solutions. Have owned all of the above. Still own one listed. They all would do just fine…

Still there? Ok. On we go to the sample images gathered over only a couple of days after the last post on this combination. You may look at these images and go “big whoop”. If so good for you. Keep on keeping on with what you have. Maybe take a look at the options above.

Samples

Welp. That is about it. Given my past experience with thinking that I was good only to later trade on, I had become concerned that the same would happen here as well. While anything is possible I do not believe that will be the case here for a few reasons.

This combination is so good that I do not really compare it to anything else. It has become its own thing for me.
This is a lens that has greater purposes than just this. I still enjoy using this lens with its native SA mount film and digital solutions.
In its own way, it is quite weird. And I like weird.

So again this is a solution that is not a workable one for many, but it is right up my alley.