UWA FX Full-Frame Back to Back Sigma 12-24 vs Sigma 15-30

jhelms

I just moved up to a D700 and sold my Tokina 12-24mm DX lens that I was using with my D200.

To replace that, I wanted a non-fisheye ultra wide full frame zoom. My budget pointed me in the direction of two choices and I picked up very clean copies of both to compare before deciding which one to keep.

1) Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG Aspherical HSM ($859 new at adorama.com)
My gallery of this lens: http://www.johntookmypicture.com/gallery/9343110_rX2vw

2) Sigma 15-30mm F3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF (discontinued, ~$579 MSRP?)
My gallery of this lens: http://www.johntookmypicture.com/gallery/9343328_2RMdP

First impressions - the 15-30mm has an aperture ring, is heavier, larger, and 'feels' slightly nicer. But the 12mm realm on full frame is CRAZY WIDE! On my D700 set to matrix metering and D-lighting 'normal', the 12-24mm seemed to underexpose a bit and the 15-30mm just the opposite and blew out highlights a little more often. So this meant in Lightroom, I had to use fill light and brightness more on the 12-24mm and more recovery on the 15-30mm shots. There is tons of DOF on the 12-24mm no matter what f-stop is set, while the 15-30mm gives a limited DOF and (IMHO) a decent looking OOF area. FULL exif data on all shots is available in my galleries linked above.


Size comparison of both lenses vs. a 50mm 1.8 and 18-200VR:



"Bulbous Globes" aka "protruding front elements" of the 12-24mm vs. 15-30mm



The truck.... 12-24mm vs. 15-30mm



The mailbox.... 12-24mm vs. 15-30mm

Both of those shot wide open on zoom and aperture with the focus point on the "8530"


Side of house.... 12-24mm vs. 15-30mm

Also, both shot wide open on zoom and aperture


Iron chair.... 12-24mm vs. 15-30mm

For these, I shot both at f/4.5, focus point on the white iron chair


Portrait front of house.... 12-24mm vs. 15-30mm

Locked in at f/8.0 on both shots @ 12mm and 15mm, respectively


Landscape front of house.... 12-24mm vs. 15-30mm

Locked in at f/8.0 on both shots @ 12mm and 15mm, respectively


Tools in dark workshop, 12-24mm, f/4.5 (had fun with processing on this one)



Back corner of the house, 12-24mm, f/8.0



Mailbox flowers, 15-30mm, f/3.5




Final opinions? I think I need to shoot more with both of these before deciding, and I also want to do a 15mm vs. 15mm back to back as well. I seem to like the color and limited DOF options of the faster 15-30mm lens, however the distortion and super-crazy-ultra-wideness of the 12-24mm is pretty darn cool, too. The slightly smaller size of the 12-24mm might be a plus, as I'm going to Europe next month and will only be able to take one of these (and will be selling the other).

Feel free to reply with any comments, questions, or suggestions..... thanks for reading! :biggrin:

ziggy53

Thanks for posting this John. The Sigma 12-24mm, F4.5-5.6 EX DG Aspherical HSM is a truly unique lens and the (current) widest FF zoom on the market, truly earning the "ultra-wide" designation with 4 times the angular FOV of a "standard/normal" lens.

dionysis

When you decide which one you want to sell let me know. I am interested.

Thanks

Jim

Tee Why

I recently bought a used Sigma 15-30mm for my Canon 5D for a very low price and found it very nice. I see the difference between 12mm and 15mm and to me it's not a huge difference. I can see it but it's not much more than a step backwards to compensate if you had a 15mm. The 12-24 is smaller and has a nicer HSM AF as well. But it is much more expensive than the 15-30mm.

I'm not sure why you are having metering issues with both though. I've not found it in my combo.

From what I've read, I've heard that the 15-30mm is sharper than the 12-24mm. What are your thoughts? Of course you have to adjust for the difference in the metering before you can really say, so that may take a touch extra work.

Qarik

the 12-24mm simply because it is wider. Of course if you can afford it..the nikkor 14-24mm is the best WA ever made in all of human history:ivar

insanefred

I am having similar overexposure problem with my D700 and all my Nikon lenses.

BTW, nice red shorts.

Tee Why

Just a shot with the 15-30 today. f3.5 1/45.

rharris

I have the 15-30 for a while and really liked it. The detail I got out of it, even shooting handheld, was really good. What I find remarkable is your side by side comparison to the 12-24 - I always imagined they were about the same size but the 12-24 is actually noticably smaller it seems! Anyway, if I were shooting FF and wanted an 'affordable' SWA rectilinear zoom, I would definately go with the 12-24 Sigma. They've gone up in price a little of late, but they still represent good value IMO.

This guy uses a 12-24 on his A900 to great effect: http://www.leecarus-photography.net/index.html
Not much on his actual site, i think his flickr is more regular:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/el_caruso/
(try 'architecture', you'll probably find lots of SWA shots there).

Good luck!

ziggy53

rharris wrote:

I have the 15-30 for a while and really liked it. The detail I got out of it, even shooting handheld, was really good. What I find remarkable is your side by side comparison to the 12-24 - I always imagined they were about the same size but the 12-24 is actually noticably smaller it seems! Anyway, if I were shooting FF and wanted an 'affordable' SWA rectilinear zoom, I would definately go with the 12-24 Sigma. They've gone up in price a little of late, but they still represent good value IMO.

This guy uses a 12-24 on his A900 to great effect: http://www.leecarus-photography.net/index.html
Not much on his actual site, i think his flickr is more regular:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/el_caruso/
(try 'architecture', you'll probably find lots of SWA shots there).

Good luck!

Rharris, welcome to the Digital Grin.

Thanks for the comments and links.

jhelms

As promised..... more back to back shots with these and some at 15mm vs. 15mm


12-24mm @ 12mm f8 vs. 15-30mm @ 15mm f8



12-24mm @ 12mm f11 vs. 15-30mm @ 15mm f8



12-24mm @ 12mm f4.5 vs. 15-30mm @ 15mm f3.5



12-24mm @ 12mm f4.8 (yes, 4.8! aarrgghh!) vs. 15-30mm @ 15mm f4.5



12-24mm @ 15mm f8 vs. 15-30mm @ 15mm f8



12-24mm @ 12mm f4.5 vs. 15-30mm @ 15mm f3.5



12-24mm @ 15mm f11 vs. 15-30mm @ 15mm f11

jhelms

The Sigma 12-24mm lens is now up for sale:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=163270

engrmariano

nice comparison shots

kygarden

Bringing this thread back from the dead. I hope to have a 15-30 in my hands by tomorrow. Seller claims it's 'like new' so we shall see. Anyway, looking forward to taking it on my trip to Yellowstone, Mt Rushmore, Rocky Mountains next year with the D700

Manfr3d

Wow, thanks for sharing. Not only have you got many wide lenses, you also have many cars Kidding.
I was lusting after the 15-30mm myself because it was said to be that sharp (and is very affordable on
the used market too). But then as it happened I got a 17-40 (Canon that is) and no longer want or need
one of those wide sigmas.