Sigma 12-24 Lens: good or not?

[Karl K]

I've been looking for an extreme wide angle lens for either my Nikon F100 and F80 or for my old Maxxum 600Si. The Sigma covers the full frame, but I've read some mixed reports on the quality control of the optics. Does anyone here own and use this lens? Could you kindly give me some advice as to whether or not this lens is worthwhile? I plan to use it for B+W street shooting...sort of from the hip...very fast... on crowded NYC streets. I presently have the Nikkor 20mm f/2.8AF-D, but I want something much wider.

 

[bjorke]

I have one, none of the 'reported problems'

(pic: Canon Elan, Tri-X)

The tough part for street shooting with this baby is that it's HEAVY -- so be ready for the mass.

 

[Trond]

I used this lens a lot when I worked commercially as a photographer, mostly on digital cameras (Canon 1Ds and 5D). Never used it with a analog camera though.

+
Very wide angle...
Very low distortion, especially considering that it is an extreme wide angle zoom lens.
Doesn't cost that much

-
Flares easily
Not very sharp
Big and heavy

Trond

 

[bjorke]

off-axis flare for mine -- but see pic above, on-axis doesn't flare much

mine is very sharp

probable lesson: varying QA

 

[Stew Squires]

Doesn't cost that much

I looked pretty hard at this lens for my 20D. Full frame was a plus, but cost was pretty close to the 10-22 EF-S lens anyway, so given the QC problems that were reported in the reviews I will probably go with the Canon lens should I decide to buy it. QC issues were reported in a number of reviews of this Sigma lens, not just one.

Stew

 

[reub2000]

Flares easily

Why is that always listed as a con?

Why can't you use a prime? You'll have a much lighter lens to carry around.

 

[mawz]

reub2000: find me a 12mm prime that works on an AF body. The only 12mm rectilinear SLR lens is the Cosina one in F mount, and that requires mirror lockup and is essentially usable on the Nikon F and F2 only (F3 and F4 might work, but are a bit of a crapshoot as the mirror lockup doesn't lock positively).

 

[Dave Parker]

I would say a 12mm prime is a quite a rare bird, especially if your looking for a full frame 12mm, not an easy lens to find..in fact, I don't think I have ever seen a fullframe 12mm prime lens in the last 25 years of shooting, that is not to say they are out there, but I have never seen one..

Dave

 

[dana44]

Say it's big and heavy? got any pix of this said lense?

 

[kunihiko]

Say it's big and heavy? got any pix of this said lense?

http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/lens/widezoom/12_24_45_56.htm