SIGMA 12-24MM F4 DG HSM | A
The reinvention of a classic, Sigma’s 12-24mm ultra-wide zoom gets the ‘Art’ treatment
Like other Sigma ‘Global Vision’ lenses that are divided into Art, Contemporary and Sport classifications, this one is a fairly recent design. It’s about twice the price of Sigma’s previous 12-24mm Mk II lens but boasts a constant-aperture design, better build quality, upgraded optics and faster AF.
Further advantages over the older lens include compatibility with Sigma’s optional USB Dock for customisation and firmware updates, and the company’s mount conversion service, should you switch between Canon and Nikon or even Sigma camera bodies. There’s also a mount converter available for use with
Sony E-mount bodies. The aperture is electromagnetically controlled in all three of the Canon, Nikon and Sigma-fit editions.
The redesigned optical path includes an extra-large-diameter aspherical element at the front of the lens and no less than five top-grade FLD (Fluorite-grade Low Dispersion) elements. Fluorine coatings have been added to the front and rear elements, to repel muck and moisture, and the mounting plate gains a weather seal.
Performance is top-notch, with excellent sharpness and contrast throughout the zoom range, even when shooting at the widest aperture of f4. Barrel distortion is impressively low at the minimum zoom setting and drops further through the rest of the range, while colour fringing, ghosting and flare are also very well controlled. There’s also much less wide-aperture vignetting than with the Canon lens.