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Sigma 12-24mm f/4 HSM DG ART ( Canon ) - Review / Test - Sample Images & Verdict |
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Lens Reviews -
Canon EOS (Full Format)
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Page 3 of 3
Sample Images
Sorry but some bar weather prevented us from taking more images.
Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window). Please note that the originals are FULL SIZE samples
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| Make |
Canon |
|
| Model |
Canon EOS 5DS R |
| ISO Speed |
320 |
| Focal Length |
24.0mm |
| Aperture: |
f/4.0 |
| Exposure |
1/100s |
|
| Make |
Canon |
|
| Model |
Canon EOS 5DS R |
| ISO Speed |
1250 |
| Focal Length |
12.0mm |
| Aperture: |
f/4.0 |
| Exposure |
1/30s |
|
| Make |
Canon |
|
| Model |
Canon EOS 5DS R |
| ISO Speed |
3200 |
| Focal Length |
12.0mm |
| Aperture: |
f/4.0 |
| Exposure |
1/20s |
|
| Make |
Canon |
|
| Model |
Canon EOS 5DS R |
| ISO Speed |
400 |
| Focal Length |
12.0mm |
| Aperture: |
f/8.0 |
| Exposure |
1/40s |
|
| Make |
Canon |
|
| Model |
Canon EOS 5DS R |
| ISO Speed |
320 |
| Focal Length |
14.0mm |
| Aperture: |
f/11.0 |
| Exposure |
1/100s |
|
| Make |
Canon |
|
| Model |
Canon EOS 5DS R |
| ISO Speed |
320 |
| Focal Length |
14.0mm |
| Aperture: |
f/11.0 |
| Exposure |
1/200s |
|
| Make |
Canon |
|
| Model |
Canon EOS 5DS R |
| ISO Speed |
320 |
| Focal Length |
12.0mm |
| Aperture: |
f/11.0 |
| Exposure |
1/250s |
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Verdict
The good, the bad an the ugly - that's a movie but this also describes the Sigma 12-24mm f/4 HSM DG ART. Of course that applies to many ultra-wide angle zoom lenses and this one shows more variations than most. The Sigma lens is certainly quite impressive at the wide end of its range - the center quality is great the borders are also very decent from f/5.6 to f/11. Conversely Very high field curvature is spoiling the results from 18mm onward. At 18mm you can recover that by stopping down to at least f/8. However, at 24mm you should better stop down to at least f/11 or f/13 (at 50mp). Now you may argue that you are buying such a lens of its extreme wide-end but I'm leaving these thoughts to you. If you are using a 21mp DSLR, the mentioned weaknesses are a far lesser issue, of course. On the positive side, vignetting is surprisingly well controlled - albeit still easily visible at f/4. Image distortions are massive at 12mm but they are not so much of an issue beyond. Lateral CAs are far better than usual for a lens in this class. On the downside flare is a problem. Now that's a problem with most extreme wide-angle lenses but the Sigma didn't really impress us here with fairly strong ghostings.
The build quality is superb and as good as Canon's best offerings. No wobbling whatsoever, smooth controls, sturdy feel and weather sealing. Whether you can live with such a vulnerable front element (and as such without front filters) is a question that we can't answer for you. It's not a big deal in our book at least. The AF speed is just fine although we weren't thrilled by the focus accuracy (but that's also related to the Canon in this specific case).
So how does it compare to the mighty Canon EF 11-24mm f/4 USM L? Honestly, if money is no issue, we'd go for the Canon. The Canon lens is simply a much more consistent performer. It may have its issues at 11mm but it rapidly improves and doesn't really suffer from that amount of field curvature that makes the Sigma a bit of an unpredictable being. The Sigma 14mm f/1.8 HSM DG ART could be an alternative as well ... soon to be presented in this theatre.
| Optical Quality (at 50 megapixels): | Not provided at this stage | |
| Optical Quality (at 21 megapixels): |  |
| Mechanical Quality: |  |
| Price/Performance: |  |
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| | What does this mean ? |
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