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edelsolar
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Registered: Aug 17, 2005
Location: N/A
Posts: 13
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Review Date: Jul 18, 2010
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $860.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Works great on 5 DII, only lens to do true 12mm, little linear distortion. Sharp where it counts.
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Cons:
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Quality control on the lens is not great.
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I take images of landscapes and cityscapes. My 17-40, an OK lens, has significant linear distortion at the wide range. The Sigma is one or two steps up in this regard even at the 12 mm range. Wide corners at the 17mm are sharper in the Sigma (based on testing 4 Sigma copies) compared to my 17-40. The Sigma has nice construction, fast AF, takes fairly sharp images at 12mm up to 24mm.
Unlike some of my other wide lenses, this lens seems to take more light, thus I find underexposing by two stops gives me better skies.
One of the copies I tested was defective on one corner, the other had overall softness from the 12-20mm range. Overall, I am quite pleased with this purchase.
Here are a few images with this lens, mostly at the 12mm many showing linear distortion is well corrected for a lens of this type.
http://delsolar.org/nature/webs/SIGMA%2012-24/
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 Jul 18, 2010
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SteveTuerk
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Registered: Jan 16, 2010
Location: United States
Posts: 509
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Review Date: Apr 26, 2010
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $600.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Excellent color and very good sharpness, even at 12mm. VERY nice from 14-24mm. Good low price for the wide view(s). Solidly made.
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Cons:
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Hard lens for a slow learner like me.
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This lens has a fairly steep learning curve compared to most. On a FF it vignetts (sp?) if the filter/lenscap holding ring is left on, for example. It took me a while to really appreciate what this can do for me.
I wanted a low level shooting position and a wide view for certain landscape type images I had in mind and this lens did the trick, even when used on 5D2 - the full frame. 12mm is awesome! It's a huge change from 16mm.
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Apr 26, 2010
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mahonet
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Registered: Nov 30, 2008
Location: Finland
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Dec 29, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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With Canon 1 D mark III (1,3 crop sensor) in apertures 8-16 sharp also in corners, good colours and contrast, no distortion, no CA. 12mm really wide.
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Cons:
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a little heavy and bulky, not possible to use uv/skylight filter in front of the front lens.
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I bought this lens for Canon 1D mark III in order to get more wide angle. I have also Canon 17-40mm, but difference between 17mm and 12 mm is big in 1,3 -crop body. Must be stopped down to f8-13 to get best results, and in landscape photography it´s usually ok. Works also in indoor or low light situation when camera is supported. I like this bulky friend! Practically no distortion or vignetting at f8.
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Dec 29, 2009
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kevindar
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Registered: May 6, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 604
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Review Date: Nov 16, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $500.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Range
Distortion generally well controlled.
Center sharpness is good
Good CA control
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Cons:
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Corners, never completely sharp
Slight decentering
No possiblity for filters
slightly flare prone
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using this lens on a 5D, and 5DII. Returned my copy to sigma for some decentering. Came back better, but not perfect. The corners are never sharp, even at f11-f16, but the rest of frame is very good. I look at it as an effective 14mm lens, as I have to crop the corners out if I want great sharpness for large print. Contrast is good. CA is surprisingly good. A little prone to flare, especially b/c of protruding front element.
It also makes for a very fun indoor video lens.
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Nov 16, 2009
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BrentM
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Registered: Jul 19, 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 2
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Review Date: Nov 13, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $428.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Build quality seems good. Picture quality good.
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Cons:
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I've only had the lens for a day and using with a 5D MKII, but I like it so far. I have a 17-40L, but I wanted something wider for a different perspective....I don't plan to use the lens except for at 12mm and it seems like a quality alternative to a 14mmL considering the price difference!
Here's a couple samples just for fun (first one cropped):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/automotomedia/4099160676/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/automotomedia/4101228040/
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Nov 13, 2009
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ellenmac
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Registered: Sep 1, 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 216
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Review Date: Nov 5, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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very sharp, lovely colors, strongly built,
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Cons:
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Cannot fit filters.
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I bought this lens as i wanted a wider angle for scenery.
I find when I do things right the pictures are very sharp and crisp, and that is what is important to me. The lens seems to be well made but a tad heavy for me.
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Nov 5, 2009
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fusionphoto
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Registered: Apr 16, 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 12
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Review Date: Oct 9, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Built quality good, focusing quick and precise,color are good.
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Cons:
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No yet.
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I must say I was a little worried about the reported QC issues and number of soft lenses out there. This lens quite expensive new here in UK and I don't think I would have bought it at that price but I came across this immaculate copy used for a very good price and I must say I am very pleased with the sharpness and overall quality of the lens on my 1Ds FF. 12mm is wide, really wide and will take a little getting used to but should be able to get some really funky images with this.
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Oct 9, 2009
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agnius
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Registered: Nov 10, 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 43
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Review Date: Sep 28, 2009
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Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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Pros:
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The widest lens on 35mm SLR system, useful range
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Cons:
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I had 2 different copies of the lens - one had a soft spot on the left edge, another soft spots on the right
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I got it from Amazon craving the ultra wide perspective. I loved the perspective, but the lens had soft spots that were just not acceptable. I contacted Sigma, and they advised to send in the lens and the camera. I did not have the luxury of time, so I returned the lens. Amazon gave me full credit for it, they stand behind the product they sell. Too bad, it could have been a much better experience.
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Sep 28, 2009
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recordproducti
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Registered: Jul 11, 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 145
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Review Date: Aug 8, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Sharper than I expected, super wide on full frame that's great fun to play with. Less distortion than I'd expected.
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Cons:
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Flare can be ugly
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This was bought as my 16-35L just didn't seem wide enough on the 5DmkII for many shots. Wow! This is an amazing lens that impressed me for the lack of distortion (of course there is some but it's very good) and the lens is useable wide open though it really is best stopped down to f/8 and beyond. I think that f/22 is better than would be expected too.
Getting close up to objects is huge fun and it's brought some renewed wide angle creativity out of me. For the money it's superb. Yes, when I get the cash I probably will sell it and get the 14L mkII but that's a way off.
The things that have to be taken in to account are:
- It's a slow lens. Not really suitable for indoor situations without paying attention to lighting, ie, flash. Environmental indoor portraits are unlikely to be this lens' best features.
- The flare can be horrible. Care needs to be taken. Spot lights etc can be an issue and shooting with the sun anywhere in the frame can case problems.
For the money, it's a ten out of ten. Money aside, it's really a 7 or 8 when compared with some of the great glass out there. Creative abilities push my rating up again and give it an 8.5. Mind you, on that scale, the 85L is a 17+ :-)
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Aug 8, 2009
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exoprasta
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Registered: Jul 20, 2009
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Aug 8, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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extremely wide, build quality, sharp!!!
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Cons:
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cannot accept any filter at front thread
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When I got my first full frame camera (5D) there is nothing else I was thinking then to get this lens because i've heard that it is the widest lens in the world!!
In my country, there is no returning policy, so you must be happy with your purchase after walking out the store's door, like it or not. I had to tell the salesman to take all the stocks she has in the warehouse and I tried it one by one, and I'm glad I did this. It was my third attempt from all 5 lenses that worked.
Generally, from f/4.5 - 8, i experience a light fall-off at the corners, but f/8 - upwards this symptom is gone and the image is tack sharp from corner to corner!!! The extremely wide angle is soooo exceptional and I am so loving this lens because of it.
I also own a canon 15mm fisheye and a 16-35mm II L, who are canon's state-of-the-art lenses for sharpness. But hey, you can only see the difference when magnify 100%. In other words, both the fisheye and 16-35 win over a slight margin only.
I wish it had been a prime 12mm, cos I never used it in other focal lengths....
no problem with autofocus since I usually manual focus for landscape photography...
Loving this lens for its Extremely-Ultra-Wide-Angle!!!
If this lens can accept filters, i would have rated 10!
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Aug 8, 2009
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kbdozz
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Registered: Jul 25, 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Jul 25, 2009
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Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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Pros:
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Weight, Quality, Construction, Versatility
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Cons:
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Exposed front element - caution required not to damage.
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I purchased this lens just before a trip in 09/08 to Europe, Greece, and Egypt.
This lens was an incredible performer - especially when it came to photographing the interior of the new Library of Alexandria (Egypt).
Shooting on a 40D.
Pictures speak 1000 words so you can see examples of this lens's performance here: http://www.gekkoimages.com.au/portfolio.php?p=kbdozz
Virtually all the 'wide' shots are from the Sigma.
Highly recommended!
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Jul 25, 2009
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kbdozz
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Registered: Jul 25, 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Jul 25, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Weight, Quality, Construction, Versatility
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Cons:
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Exposed front element - caution required not to damage.
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Pictures speak 1000 words so you can see examples of this lens's performance here: http://www.gekkoimages.com.au/portfolio.php?p=kbdozz
Virtually all the 'wide' shots are from the Sigma.
Highly recommended!
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Jul 25, 2009
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