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

I am using this lens on a full frame camera (D700) so this review is for full frame users. On the cropped sensor side, there's more choice (with relative pros and cons) - don't take this lens for DX. Pros: - The widest rectilinear lens for a full frame. The difference in coverage between 12 and 14mm (the next best candidate, at least Nikon's) is HUGE (if you look at it - at least 15% - 20% more on 12mm) - vivid color reproduction. I don't know why this is, but compared to the same settings at 24-120 and 50mm 1.8, the reds produced by the Sigma are deeper and more vibrant. pounds for Nikon 14-24) - good workmanship - relatively cheap. Cons: - Terrible vignetting. The corners are noticeably (2+ stops) darker than the center - The softness of the corners at any aperture (just awful at wide open) - The overall sharpness of the image. I compared the sharpness of this lens to my Nikon 24-120mm VR zoom, which in itself should not be the benchmark for image quality. The Sigma image is noticeably softer throughout the image. Both lenses were tested at 24mm, f11. One thing to note is that the closer I bring the lens to the subject (textured wall), the greater the difference in resolution - Very prone to glare, especially at night with multiple light sources - The front element protrudes, so no filters. I can live with the disadvantages, because to be honest there aren't many alternatives to this width for a full screen. The closest competitor (Nikon 14-24mm) is not as wide, twice as heavy and twice as expensive. While the Nikon 14-24 has been reported to have amazing image quality, it's not an all-around lens either.