Ultra Wide Angle Sigma Dirty Word Camera Test

Guys.....

I have just bought a Sigma EX DG 12-24mm HSM 4.5-5.6 Ultra Wide Angle Lens for my Canon 5D MkII, and at first I thought it was crap. Then I figured out why.... the AF is crap on this lens. It just isn't accurate, MF does the job!

I am undecided whether or not to keep hold of it...

I value the opinion of you guys.... so please.... give me your thoughts!

One other thing.... has anyone used one the Walimex 14mm 2.8 Lens?

Thank you,
Ian

Contrasty photographs but its a contrasty day, colours look good but distortion is at play.

Ultra wide lens on FF, I went with the Irix 15mm Pentax fit, Irix do Canon fit also.
Manual focus only but with a focus ring lock which is very handy for infinity focus (90% of the time in my case) when focus is nailed.
Handles distortion superbly when kept level on both planes.
Optics are excellent but requires sharpening in post but responds easily.
john Riley has a review of this lens on this site.
Just an alternative view to the lenes you are considering

This is one of my first photos with the lens on the K1 and pointing upwards B@W i know but still
considering

I agree with Flan. It really does pull the foreground towards you in a rather alarming way.

Yes indeed. That's what ultra-wide does. It isn't distortion (although true distortion can also occur), it's just a perspective that is very different to what we experience through normal sight and we therefore react to it as something very strange (or alarming!). I had that reaction after getting a Tamron 10-24mm and using it at the 10mm end for the first time. But once you understand how to use that perspective creatively, it becomes just another tool in the creative toolbox to be brought out as and when it will give the effect you want. Personally, I don't use it much but when the need arises then I'm glad I've got it in the box.

So Spad's question about whether to keep the Sigma 12-24mm is actually two questions:
1. Is the perspective that the lens produces at the widest end one that you want in the creative toolbox?
2. If that perspective is wanted, is the Sigma good enough on the other attributes that you want from a lens (resolution, sharpness, handling etc. etc.)?

Steve

@Flan - I know about the Irix lens, but sadly I can't afford one at present. The Sigma was just over £100. Next year hopefully I want to get a K1. If it happens all the Canon kit will go, mainly to fund a couple of used lenses for it. The Irix will be one of those lenses.

@davidwozhere - As Steve says... it's the nature of ultra wide angles. I have a Sigma 10-20mm for my K3. That has a very pronounced effect on images at 10mm.

@Lubbyman - as ever..... you get thinking laterally!

1. Yes I can very much use this lens, as I love the effect. So it stays in my creative tool box!

2. At just over a hundred quid.... it is acceptable quality, and I am happy with the outcome. No matter how much a lens of this extreme nature costs, there is always gonna be a compromise (with the exception of Fisheyes).

Well, 100 squids is about what it would cost to have a coffee or pint of beer from a coffee shop or pub once a fortnight for a year - not even one every weekend. So which would give you the most pleasure and memories??

Steve

I don't drink.... so I think that answers your question!

At that price for an ultra-wide it seems like a good deal even if AF is dodgy, as long as you can focus it manually with good results. You won't find many other options at 12mm.

I have a 6D, so a bit newer than a 5D II, but it has AF fine-tuning so I would imagine the 5D II would too. Maybe it's just that? My Tamron 28-75/2.8 focused badly on the 6D but the other Tamron and Sigma lenses I've tried on it are fine, if slower and noisier than the newer Canon lenses I have.

There is some terrible language in these posts!

CANON!!!

Takes a deep breath.......

CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON CANON!!!

Has that desensitised you yet???? Oh course!!! I forgot Canon can do this. Thanks for reminding me. I'll give it a shot.