Review on 📷 Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG IF HSM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Nikon SLR Cameras by Sean Davis

The Sigma has been heavily vilified by Nikon lens snobs, and with good reason. The build quality and optical clarity of the average Nikon lens far surpasses the average Sigma lens. This particular Sigma lens has been in my bag since 2004 (three years now) and has performed flawlessly in dusty, wet and rainy conditions. I can't say that about every Nikon lens I've had. Don't get me wrong - this is not a pristine lens. It's fairly weatherproof, but I doubt it will survive water immersion like some (but not many) Nikon lenses. It focuses faster than many Nikon lenses, but slower than competing Nikon quiet-motor models. It's quieter than any non-SWM Nikon and almost as quiet as SWM. It focuses as well as any other Nikon f/4.5-5.6 lens in similar lighting conditions. Now for the cons. It has more chromatic aberration than the Nikon 12-24mm DX and 14-24mm FX lenses. It's not that sharp, especially around the edges. But if your maximum print size is 8x10, you'll most likely never notice. PROS: While it works in full frame (important for those of us who still shoot both film and digital), it's a lot cheaper than the Nikon 12-24 f/. The 4.5-5.6 DX lens is a lens that is only suitable for Nikon digital cameras with a DX sensor. That's less than 1/3 the cost of Nikon's recently released FX (full frame) 14-24mm f/2.8 lens. Sure, Nikon's 14-24mm professional lens is clearly the best of them all, but most of us can't afford to be that extravagant. When I bought this lens it was the only 12-24mm lens available and with offers from Nikon and other lens manufacturers I have no regrets about this purchase. A Nikon 14-28mm f/2.8 lens that won't be in my budget for the foreseeable future. My buying tip: take the camera to a good camera shop and try this lens (and its competitors) for yourself. I'm sure many of you will agree that while the Sigma isn't the best lens, it's good enough and given the price it's the best compromise.