Thoughts 29 Apr 2008 06:16 pm
Sigma 12-24 lens
When I bought this new lens I was looking for a 12-24 Tokina. I decided I didn’t want to spend the money on a Nikkor, and after reading the reviews on Ken Rockwell it seemed the best choice.
I was unable to find the Tokina, however a salesman at Wolfe Camera out in Henderson sold me on the Sigma 12-24.
So far it seems to be a very good lens. I read one reviewer saying that the focus was too soft for them, but I haven’t found this to be a problem. (yet)
For testing I used my Nikon D70 and a D300 both in JPEG mode.
(The D300 weighs quite a bit more, but is 100 times the camera.)
Then in order to maintain the most rigorous standards I stepped out back with the cameras on auto, and fired. The only editing was cropping and resizing.
This shot was taken with the lens at 12mm to see if straight lines stayed straight. —They do.
I took several others with both cameras with the same results.
Then I hand held the D300 with everything running auto and the lens at 24mm from about a foot and a half or maybe two feet away to take this shot.
It will never match my Nikkor 60mm Macro, but for a lens that’s not designed for close-up work it’s not half bad.
All in all I’m pleased with the lens. What will happen after I’ve lived with it a while I can’t say.
As a side note:
There is a special on the purchase of a D300 and the 18-200 VRII lens. If you buy them as a pair before May 11, 08 there’s an instant $300 rebate on the lens. Bringing the cost down to about $2300+tax. I don’t know if all stores are participating but Ritz/Wolfe is and so is B&H in NY.