Sigma 12-24mm f/4 "A" Review by Darren Miles

[@AnysiaC]

I had a very old (at least 25 years old) Canon wide angle lens, a 17-35mm F/2.8 L. Although it worked great for older camera bodies (550D, 40D, 7D) but its performance falls short on the 5DmkIV and the 7DmkII. So, I tested different lenses, taking a photo of the same thing, same settings.. Canon 11-24 f/4 - clear images even close to the edges, barely visible fringing, minor vignetting. Can’t mount a UV filter, but the lens hood extends past the element. Canon 17-40 f/4 - clear images, slight softening at the edges. Visible vignetting and fringing. Can mount a UV filter. Canon 16-35 f/4 - clear images, visible fringing and minor vignetting. Can mount UV filter. Canon 16/35 f/2.8 - clear images, slightly visible fringing, and minor vignetting, but less than the f/4 version. Can mount UV filter. Tamron 15-30 f/2.8 - clear images, very visible fringing, minor vignetting. Can’t mount UV filter, but lens hood extends past the element. Sigma Art 12-24 f/4 - clear images, even close to the edges. Negligible fringing, negligible vignetting. Can’t mount UV filter, but lens hood extends past the element. So, it was down to the Canon 11-24 f/4 and the Sigma Art 12-24 f/4. They both produced excellent images, sharp, clear, even close to the edges, so I had to choose by other criteria. The Canon 11-24 f/4 is $2866 ('grey market') to $3,844 (average retail price) The Sigma Art 12-24 f/4 is $1579 to $1999. For me, it was a no brainer. Got the Sigma and am very pleased with it.

[@GettingthruLife]

I am a architectural phototog for 16 years. I photo hotel and resorts. I started with a 5D, then a 5D2 then the 5DSR. My 5DSR is still my current camera and works as good a day I got it. I've been holding off going mirrorless because it's not a big advantage for me switching and it just means spending more money and I got loads of other thing to buy. I don't need high frame rate, don't need auto focus, don't need dual pixel, eye detection and I don't even look through the view finder. I've been using my EF 16-35 2.8 L lens 1 and then the II series all this time with other L series lenses. Over time I've become less enthused with the Canon 16-35 lens so just now I ordered the Sigma f/4 12-24 Art lens to breathe new life into my work and cut back on taxes amount. Also just bought new apple display, new loaded m2 pro max out mini mac and new Samsung S24plus. This lens costs $998 now. I like bigger and heavier rather then this whole forced mirrorless, smaller, dainty design and video B.S. I think I'm going to really like 13-14mm.

[@moathahmed322]

You are one of the best reviewers on KZbin honestly every time i watch your videos i go like this man knows better than others i really enjoy your videos to the max. i'd also love to see your opinions on the new Tamron SP 70-200 g2 and Tamron SP 15-30 . Thank you

[@DarrenMiles]

Thank you very much! I reviewed the 15-30 awhile ago and thought it was amazing! The 70-200 tamron g2 is on my list.

[@moathahmed322]

i cant find the 15-30 in your channel can you please give me a link for that video .

[@moathahmed322]

i found it haha

[@leonchen4065]

Thanks for the review. I purchased the sigma 12-24 art as a result of this video

[@pieromonteverde3169]

The DXOMark test results for this lens just came out. You were right Darren, great sharpness at f8 across the focal range.

[@DarrenMiles]

Sweet, thanks for posting that Piero!

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

I really like the cover of my Sigma 20mm f/1.4, which is similar to this 12-24mm. And by the way, your indoor shots are so professional. You've probably beat all the guys who do architecture photos in my country that I am aware of!

[@DarrenMiles]

Thanks Aaron - really appreciate the kind words!

[@Elizath]

The sigma art 12-24 is awesome. Too heavy for my gimbal but perfect for pics. So sharp!

[@CJUrbex]

im thinking of getting the 12-24 art sigma for my D750 nikon, its either this or the 14mm 2.8 prime nikon ?

[@Carbonisation]

CJ Urbex Get the Sigma

[@CJUrbex]

@@Carbonisation what makes u say this? Just out of interest

[@Carbonisation]

CJ Urbex Sorry for getting on another track xd

[@CJUrbex]

@@Carbonisation i just thought a prime would be really sharp but id fit more in with a 12 i suppose, u rekon the sigma then dood?

[@karthikeyanseetharaman8004]

awesome review!!! template (templatized) review!!! helped me to decide my lens purchase in the past. you rock. keep the review going...

[@DarrenMiles]

Thank you very much!

[@icemanphotos]

Brilliant clip Darren. Can you tell me how many expos you did those shots at 8:24? And some exif data. Thank you

[@christosphillips3568]

Darren great review, love your style and order of presenting , I wish you did a review on the Nikkor 24-70 VR.....not much out there on this lens. Thanks, again job well done bro.

[@DarrenMiles]

Thanks Christos! Not sure I'll be reviewing that one anytime soon, but never say never :-)

[@jeremygarretson5482]

Great video. You are verify thorough and I just subscribed. I am about to get a Sony a7r2 as my second body and am debating whether to get this lens with a converter or get the Sony 16-35 f4(heard it sucks). Any suggestions? I used to shoot the 5d3, currently shooting Fuji X T2.

[@jiridvorak]

have Sigma 12-24 F4 DG HSM II on 5DSR....is it worthy to upgrade to this A version? Primary for real estate at 12mm 8f.Thanks

[@fabioarodrigues]

Hi Darren, out of curiosity, if you are going to do a professional real estate shot and you were presented with the following options: 1 - Full Frame Nikon D810 or Canon 5D with this Sigma 12-24mm f4.0 Art. 2 - Olympus OM-D E-M1 with M.Zuiko 7-14mm f2.8. Which one would you choose? Cheers!

[@Noeman2009]

Fabio Alves Rodrigues I'm not Darren, but if I were you, I would use TS lenses for architecture photography.

[@DarrenMiles]

I'd likely go with the full frame, though the new EM- Mark ii has me intrigued, can't wait to try it out and the Oly 7-14 is AMAZING! Fabio - with regard to TS lenses - yes and no - YES, they do a MUCH better job handling distortion and they can really straighten out bent edges in a photo better than any ordinary wide angle - NO: The widest available in the market place is 17mm (that I'm aware of), and speaking for myself, that's just outside of the width I prefer to shoot with. Moreover, the new lens correction/distortion correction capabilities in the latest version of light room do a really good job emulating TS-lenses - they're not as good, but they get pretty close...

[@fabioarodrigues]

Thanks Darren, I'm an enthusiast photographer and I currently have an E-M5 Mark 1. I recently found the Oly 7-14mm f2.8 at a very good price and I'm thinking of buying it. I don't have any FF camera, just MFT, and I like the system for its great performance with low weight and size, as I can carry my camera and all my lenses in a small bag all day long. I'm thinking in starting shooting professionally, maybe doing some product and real estate photography, and buying a new camera with Hi-Res shot capabilities (E-M5 Mark II or E-M1 Mark II). I remember you saying in your review of the Oly 7-14 f2.8 that you could definitely use it for professional Real Estate photography. I'd like to understand better why people still go with the FF options in situations like that, when it seems that, specially now with the hi-res mode of the E-M5 Mark II and E-M1 Mark II, and a very praised lens such as the 7-14mm f2.8, you probably can get a much better quality picture out of these cameras than a FF (correct me if I'm wrong). Could you comment what are your thoughts on the use of Oly Hi-Res resolution for the work you do (when majority of the time there's virtually no moving objects in the picture)?

[@Weatherby86]

Thanks for the review Darren, kinda leaning towards this over the Tamron for the extra width for real estate. Question, what tripod is that? In market for a set of carbon fiber sticks.

[@DarrenMiles]

It's a manfrotto. Not exactly sure which one it is... Don't laugh at me, but I use it so much, the model number has actually been worn off...

[@haiderabbas96]

Nice review as always. Darren what would be your first and second choice for wide angle zoom lenses for Nikon for landscapes?

[@DarrenMiles]

Probably Tamron 15-30 first, Nikon 14-24 Second and Sigma 12-24 3rd... But they are all REALLY close...

[@r.powell2351]

Hi, Darren, new subscriber here, so glad I joined. Would you still choose this lens over the Sigma 14-24 2.8 for what you are doing?

[@DarrenMiles]

I'd probably get the Sigma 14-24 - better low light performance for night shots...

[@r.powell2351]

Darren Miles, thanks. So I’ll get 14-24 2.8 as my new real estate wide angle lens. 😊

[@RandomWalker1995]

@DarrenMiles We always hear about the Art series that its not weather sealed ,can you make a list of the best weather sealed lenses you used?

[@dunnymonster]

I really enjoy your reviews and I like that you score based on different aspects of the lens from build to performance. Now interestingly I feel another category needs to be added to your testing criteria, which I'll get to in a moment. Clearly this Sigma lens delivers very sharp edge to edge images, for real estate photography it seems to tick all the boxes. Now here is where I come to the additional testing catergory. Given Sigmas less than stellar reputation for its long term lens' reliability, I feel follow up videos ( say 6 months later ) would weed out any reliability issues, assuming there is any. I'm not picking on Sigma here either, all lens reviews should have follow up videos in my opinion. This would detail any issues encountered and how the manufacturer dealt with sorting it out. Lenses are an expensive long term investment, it's important not to have a lens that only performs well initially but over a period of time. 😃

[@DarrenMiles]

Appreciate the feedback, the big downside is many of these lenses are lent to me and I have to return them, though there are several that I do own and could do some followup reviews on....

[@randydietmeyer5883]

I know this comment is coming a year after this video posted, but as someone who has been doing real estate photography for just about that long (and using the Tamron 15-30), I have to ask, given one choice, would you use the Tamron or the Sigma? Right now I am leaning towards purchasing THIS lens considering how many non-staged homes I do where there is no furniture to help with a composition and how hard it is to get corner-to-corner with the Tamron when all you have IS the corners of the room.

[@DarrenMiles]

Randy Dietmeyer That is a great question! To me personally I found that 12 mm was typically too wide, unless I was photographing a yacht or a small condominium with really small bathrooms in a really small kitchen, then 12 mm really came in handy. I find that more often than not I’m shooting between 14 and 24 mm for real estate photography. Even in those really big empty rooms I’m able to get corner to corner with 14 mm. That said the Tamron 15 to 30 is one of the best wide angles I’ve ever tested. In the end I would probably be happy with either, however one other caveat is that lately more and more of my clients have been asking me to get into video and I find that I really appreciate the extra stop the F/2.8 aperture gives me in my video work

[@randydietmeyer5883]

Thanks for the response! I work throughout the Phoenix valley and often I will do a multi-million dollar home one day and a $50,000 double-wide the next. . . Of course there are many in-between those two extremes which include many many smaller homes. I doubt I would need 12mm but so often I. Just. Need. That. Little. Bit. Extra, like 13.5 to 14. LOL (Amazon is also selling it for $1199 now. . . .)

[@philipgowdy]

Hi Darren, been looking through all your videos and wondered if you could update your views on Olympus and Sony. I added Olympus to my Nikon setup and love the live view, tilt screen, small lenses though expensive. Took me three weeks to conquer the menu systems. I am now thinking of Sony instead of Nikon for full frame but I am nervous! My work groups are like yours so would you do it? I also understand that their is a possibility of Nikon hitting the mirrorless scene,better late than never. I have the Nikon v2 and its amazing for its size but not for real work. If they enlaged it 8x could be a winner.

[@DarrenMiles]

If I had to choose between Nikon and Sony? I'd likely go with Nikon - here's the thing - the Sony images are arguably better, but the Sony ergonomics - in MY opinion - are MUCH harder to work with than either Nikon or Canon or even Olympus for that matter. The worst thing about Sony to me, is how challenging they are to use. Dan Watson put out a review recently about which camera he prefers for wedding videos and he chose the Canon 80D - not because it's 4K (It's NOT), but because he can use a couple of really nice Sigma lenses with it and the color straight out of camera is amazing, that and it's easy to use - there's a great wedding photographer in Philadelphia named Cliff Mauntner, he always says GET THE SHOT!! To me, I feel like I'm fiddling around with too many buttons on Sony and I risk getting the shot with them - it's really that simple - honest. What it really comes down to, is what are you comfortable with? For me, I feel like I'm constantly searching for the right button to get the image with Sony, whereas I can nail it most of the time with Nikon, Canon, etc... Just my .02....

[@philipgowdy]

Thanks for taking the time to reply with such detail. I will check out the work of the guy you mentioned. Your channel is just so much clearer in content than others and I get your a real pro, unlike most on KZbin and know that earning from photography is a lot more than just about the gear you carry. I just love the Interiors you shoot. I think the place you live supports a massive diversity of property, probably unequalled anywhere in the world, great to view. Wishing you sucsess in 2017 and please keep up the great vids... I will keep with Nikon a bit longer...

[@philipgowdy]

I can understand your thinking on every point, but Nikon seem to be falling way behind on what they can actually do. I find that the more and more I use the Olympus with its ease of live view for composition when you return to Nikons way of working it seems prehistoric..especially focus issues. Great to hear back from you again. I built a drive in background for cars etc like yours 20 years ago and still remember all the work it took and how much re-painting it took..costly pursuit..make sure people wipe their feet! All the best for 2017. Keep those videos coming..from not so sunny England UK.

[@chirag4]

you got hurt on the right eye-brow it seems. Thanks for another fabulous review Darren. Though DPReview had little good to say about this Siggy, it was nice to hear positives about it from your mouth, to have the other point of view as well.

[@DarrenMiles]

I did - took a head butt during training - OUCH! I think Sigma still has some production variance issues - for example, I tried out the 85 "A" and had to send it back, the AF was just BAD - but I got another and it focusses much more accurately - all I can tell you is my copy of the 12-24 worked extraordinarily well, and I think you can see from the results there isn't a lot to complain about.

[@Juraj037]

my 85 art wasn't checked for focus, I took it to vegas, got tons of shots, only to find out all of them are front focused. tonight i micro adjusted all my cameras with this lens and it is dead on. just sucks that right out of the box it was front focusing.

[@Spawn666949]

Great images!

[@DarrenMiles]

Thank you!

[@KKG51]

Hi D, have you done anything on the Part 107 test?

[@DarrenMiles]

Not yet, just started on the FAA website - my goal is to get a license by the end of the year... you?

[@KKG51]

I'm gonna take pass for a bit. I have the 333 exemption as I've been a licensed pilot since 1978 but now I'm sure the field will be flooded with "pilots"

[@TheSteve57]

Sigma,Canon or Tamron for controlling light from windows and/or wall and ceiling lights ?

[@DarrenMiles]

Steve Moore If I were a canon shooter I would get the 16-35 f/4L... if I were a Nikon shooter I would likely get the Tamron 15-30 - if I just wanted to get really, really wide, I would get the Sigma.... of the three, the Tamron handles bright light better than just about any wide-angle lens that I’ve used...

[@TheSteve57]

Thank you for your reply,as the Tamron handles light better are you saying the Canon is sharper ?

[@DarrenMiles]

Steve Moore yes, The Canon is slightly sharper, but there isn’t a wide angle lens on the market that handles flare as well as the Tamron in my opinion

[@TheSteve57]

Thank you very much for your help,i was leaning towards the Tamron but after what you are saying and the review by Matthew Gore, who i also like, i now feel myself leaning toward the Canon F4 16-35mm, thanks.

[@MichaelMa]

Bad hair day eh? Hah. Anyways, thanks for the review. It'll be a much cheaper option for Canon 5D4 owners who want to shoot video at 24mm or wider.

[@DarrenMiles]

Indeed - got it cut (hair) and the butterfly bandages removed the day after I finished the review :-)

[@pieromonteverde3169]

Hey Darren. Great review as always: the only serious one for the true purpose of this lens thus far. How about the reported softness above 16mm? I am torn about the price, given that one can still get the Tamron 15-30mm preowned for about $700-800. Btw, you should review the Fuji GXF 50s next... must resist G.A.S.

[@DarrenMiles]

Hah! Thanks Piero! I've used the 12-24 at a variety of focal lengths, but the bulk of the time I'm shooting at f/8 for my real estate stuff (as you know!) so I didn't really do an in depth analysis of the lens at all kinds of focal lengths and apertures - that said I didn't notice a discernible difference at 12 or 14 or 16 - apart from less distortion...

[@JalanSalur]

YAWN

[@timpriestley8997]

I bet your review isn't even close to being as detailed or informative as this.....

[@warpspeed9877]

Hmm...did your mother had an affair with Roger Moore? The looks and the voice are pretty spot-on!

[@DarrenMiles]

Miles… Darren Miles....

[@joeblow9931]

the angry guy says this lens is no bueno

[@DarrenMiles]

Yeah, I talk to him about Sigma all the time, I'm a proponent, he's not - his biggest issue with Sigma is longevity - and with their old line of lenses - before the global vision line - I would agree with him - but with the new ones, we'll have to wait and see, speaking for myself, not one has failed... YET. That said, my Nikon 70-200 VR II's focus motor just failed and I had to have it replaced...

[@freddiemurry]

Darren Miles who's the angry guy?

[@pieromonteverde3169]

Someone that has the strongest opinions yet the least useful reviews on the web.

[@Spawn666949]

The Angry Guy can't shoot worth a shit so his opinions are worth just as much.

[@freddiemurry]

Spawn Brimstone tattoo angry guy?

[@petercdejong]

I will never put Sigma on my body's again. Never!

[@DarrenMiles]

Why? What happened?

[@petercdejong]

The Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM happend.... I do not trust Sigma any more.

[@samarianosans]

Art series can't compare to APO series... different beast

[@leacol36]

Why would anyone buy a Sigma with all the good stuff out there ?

[@Spawn666949]

Oh, man, you must have been living in a cave lately.

[@leacol36]

Sigma lenses not great Spawn Ziess Voigtlander Olympus Nikon Lumix all way ahead

[@RhettThompsonFilm]

Yeah Sigma has made numerous groundbreaking, record setting, and revolutionary lenses that literally have no competition in existence they are so good and often times way cheaper or equal to inferior competitors.

[@petercdejong]

Sigma sucks.

[@cardiacade]

That's constructive.

[@Spawn666949]

I'm sure Sigma feels the way about you.