Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG ASPHERICAL HSM: Review

Posted to Lenses 2009-12-27

Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG ASPHERICAL HSM review:

The Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG Aspherical HSM is an ultra-wide angle zoom lens available with mounts for Sigma, Canon, Nikon, Sony/Minolta (D) and Pentax cameras. The lens features a super-wide 122 - 84.1 degree angle of view (when used with a full-frame digital SLR or 35mm film camera) and Special Low Dispersion glass elements to reduce chromatic aberrations.

The lens is constructed using 16 elements in 12 groups, 6 blades in the diaphragm and a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for quiet and fast operation. You can switch from automatic to manual focus simply by turning the focus ring. The lens also features a minimum aperture of F22, uses a rear 87mm filter and has a minimum focusing distance of 11 inches. The lens measures 3.4" x 3.9" and weighs 21.6 ounces.

Rating:

3.6 out of 5

Quality

The Sigma 12-24mm EX DG features above-average build quality. It's a bit pricey, but the build quality reflects this. The lens uses special low dispersion glass, which corrects for chromatic aberration, a common problem with extreme wide angle lenses. The focusing motor is of above average quality as well, and the manual focus override is a very convenient feature. The lens also features a fixed petal-type lens hood to reduce glare under most any picture taking situation.

Performance

The Sigma 12-24mm EX DG produces above average performance throughout the zoom range. Barrel and pincushion distortion are not a problem, and chromatic aberrations are kept to a minimum. The focus motor is fast, and switching from automatic to manual focus is as easy as turning the focus ring. The 11 in. minimum focus distance provides for near macro operation, and combined with the extreme wide angle of view opens up a lot of picture taking opportunities.

Summary

If you're in the market for a near pro-quality ultra wide angle zoom lens, the Sigma 12-24mm EX DG provides a good value. It's a bit on the expensive side, but shouldn't need replacing for quite a few years. This lens has won several awards, and they're well deserved. All in all a very good offering from Sigma.

Pros

12-24mm focal length
HSM focus motor
16 elements in 12 groups
Special low dispersion glass
Convenient manual focus override

Cons

There are no cons for this product