diff --git a/python/core/composer/qgsatlascomposition.sip b/python/core/composer/qgsatlascomposition.sip
index 56a6b060c1c..dc6520cc878 100644
--- a/python/core/composer/qgsatlascomposition.sip
+++ b/python/core/composer/qgsatlascomposition.sip
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ class QgsAtlasComposition : QObject
  :rtype: str
 %End
 
-    void setFileFormat( QString format );
+    void setFileFormat( const QString &format );
 %Docstring
  Sets the  atlas file format used for image exports.
  \param format set the file format extension
diff --git a/python/core/qgsdatadefinedsizelegend.sip b/python/core/qgsdatadefinedsizelegend.sip
index 41bc42d0e09..4c04d170fa4 100644
--- a/python/core/qgsdatadefinedsizelegend.sip
+++ b/python/core/qgsdatadefinedsizelegend.sip
@@ -86,11 +86,11 @@ Returns transformer for scaling of symbol sizes. Returns null if no transformer
  :rtype: QgsSizeScaleTransformer
 %End
 
-    void setClasses( const QList<QgsDataDefinedSizeLegend::SizeClass> &classes );
+    void setClasses( const QList< QgsDataDefinedSizeLegend::SizeClass > &classes );
 %Docstring
 Sets list of classes: each class is a pair of symbol size (in units used by the symbol) and label
 %End
-    QList<QgsDataDefinedSizeLegend::SizeClass> classes() const;
+    QList< QgsDataDefinedSizeLegend::SizeClass > classes() const;
 %Docstring
 Returns list of classes: each class is a pair of symbol size (in units used by the symbol) and label
  :rtype: list of QgsDataDefinedSizeLegend.SizeClass
diff --git a/python/core/qgsrendercontext.sip b/python/core/qgsrendercontext.sip
index 5257d45e8d7..438b597d303 100644
--- a/python/core/qgsrendercontext.sip
+++ b/python/core/qgsrendercontext.sip
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ Sets coordinate transformation.
 
     void setRenderingStopped( bool stopped );
 
-    void setDistanceArea( const QgsDistanceArea distanceArea );
+    void setDistanceArea( const QgsDistanceArea &distanceArea );
 %Docstring
  A general purpose distance and area calculator, capable of performing ellipsoid based calculations.
  Will be used to convert meter distances to active MapUnit values for QgsUnitTypes.RenderMetersInMapUnits
diff --git a/python/core/symbology/qgsgraduatedsymbolrenderer.sip b/python/core/symbology/qgsgraduatedsymbolrenderer.sip
index d1a299e3450..aa26d2dc4d6 100644
--- a/python/core/symbology/qgsgraduatedsymbolrenderer.sip
+++ b/python/core/symbology/qgsgraduatedsymbolrenderer.sip
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class QgsRendererRange
     void swap( QgsRendererRange &other );
 };
 
-typedef QList<QgsRendererRange> QgsRangeList;
+typedef QVector<QgsRendererRange> QgsRangeList;
 
 
 class QgsRendererRangeLabelFormat