Sigma 12-24mm f/4 DG HSM Art Lens for Canon EF

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM shows pretty decent performance throughout the zoom range from f/8 and on. At wider apertures the lens exhibits some weakness around borders (primarily in the 12-17mm range), so you should be prepared to stop down to achieve the best results.

I do not plan to create a full Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM Lens review - hopefully the standardized results for this lens will be helpful to you.

A huge field of view, coupled with a sensible zoom range that is still useful on cropped sensor cameras as well as the full frame that it is designed for make this lens extremely practical. A great item of award winning kit, especially if you use more than one format of sensor.

• +

  Enormous field of view, Amazing control of distortions, Solid build quality with good protection of front element

• -

  Difficult to use front mounted filters (Though not impossible), Bulbous front element needs careful handling.

I haven't tried the Canon 11-24 as that is a bit out of my price range so I was really hoping that Sigma would compete with a better bang for your buck offering that would still have great image quality and I think they have delivered!

I don't understand why people pick up a lens second-hand, find it doesn't perform very well and then denigrate it without checking to see if it is faulty or if it was abused by the last owner. Why was it sold and why was it so cheap? Do they never ask these questions? No.

• +

  Range, build quality, image quality

• -

  Can't use a polarizing filter at the wide setting.

This is the ugliest imaginable lens... Sorry, but had to say that and get it off my chest. It just looks ghastly on my Nikon F5 and on the F100 too. Oh, well, now that I said it, I should add that it's a very good, reliable tool. Where does one get a wide-angle this wide? Nowhere!

• +

  Speed, size and relatively discreet look (if it wasn't for that front element that's downright bulbous). Nice range of focal lengths.

• -

  Maybe it's ugliness, along with that the front element is so weird looking and doesn't allow for filters of any type. Other than that, it's not a lens to use with flash 'cuz it vignettes like mad, especially at 12mm (and what's the fun of using a flash at 24mm with this lens? None.