Have you tried the Sigma 12-24mm f/4 DG HSM Art Lens for Nikon F?

[atpaula]

I really love extreme WA and this is the most extreme ever produced.
I'm thinking in purchasing one.
Of course I've already read all reviews, but I'd like to hear some real world users.
Thank you.

[arthurking83]

watch your feet, and or tripod legs! :p

I have the older, MUCH cheaper f4.5-5.6 version and it works well.
The f/4 would be handy for the slightly brighter vf in low light(I have a faster focus screen fitted to the D800E!)

If it's better than the old model(the Mk II version!) which I've read it is, then it'll serve you well.

minimal barrel distortion at 12mm(handy) and zero distortion at 14mm(great if you shoot scenes that need straight edges)

I won't update until the price of the new model comes down a bit(which they always do) .. ATM it's at (AU) $1800-ish. Maybe when it hits $1500-ish I'll hit the buy button.

Note tho: I'm reading that the Zero Distortion 12mm/2.8 from Laowa has produced some good results too tho.
again, the f/2.8 is handy for my D800E(darker fast focus screen!) for use in low light.
problem is the price they're initially asking for it(close to $1K) for a manual, barely known manufacturer.
The other benefit I (personally) find about the Laowa 12mm is that it will have a factory made filter holder accessory.
I'm old school in that I prefer physical filters to virtual filters and multi image layering.

For my old model Sigma 12-24, I cobbled up a filter holder using the Samyang 14/2.8 filter holder they made as an accessory some time ago. It's slip on diameter is exactly the same as the diameter of the (old) 12-24's built in lens hood.
Only problem with it was the weird and rare Cokin 163mm(wide) filter holder slots, and what I cobbled(easily) was two aluminium strips, removed the filter slots on each side of the holder, and mounted the aluminium strips. then remounted the filter slits closer in to hold 150mm(6") wide filters. I have a small set of Hitech 150mm filters to use on it.

Note again: 12mm is not fisheye territory, but it almost feels like it .... but it's rectilinear. Just watch your feet(and or tripod legs!)

I think I remember that you do some really nice, and interesting landscapes(Atacama, etc) and would take good advantage of the very wide perspective this kind of lens allows.
I'm convinced that this lens would work for you as long as your not super fussy/pedantic about the extreme corners of the image in terms of pinpoint sharpness!

apologies for my perspective coming from a non user as such:

Having had the chance to compare Nikon's 14-24 against my 12-24, and even tho the (old) 12-24 is not as sharp at the corners, both myself and the owner of the 14-24 both noticed the wider FOV that the 12mm allowed.
Central sharpness of the 12-24 actually looked better on both the D800(his) and my D800E compared to the 14-24. But corner sharpness(around the last 20% of the frame) was definitely down.
 
And my thoughts are coming from the expectation that the new f/4 model of this lens would have to be a lot better than the old model(ie. that I have) .. so I'm pretty much convinced that you won't hate it.

[Frank Fremerey]

Thank you, Arthur for the write up. I am looking fir a wide prime like a 15mm or 12mm and read a lot about the options. I learn 15mm rectilinear is smaller at the same speed and already an advantage over my 24mm. I will dig into the 12mm 2.8!

[atpaula]

watch your feet, and or tripod legs! :p

I have the older, MUCH cheaper f4.5-5.6 version and it works well.
The f/4 would be handy for the slightly brighter vf in low light(I have a faster focus screen fitted to the D800E!)

If it's better than the old model(the Mk II version!) which I've read it is, then it'll serve you well.

minimal barrel distortion at 12mm(handy) and zero distortion at 14mm(great if you shoot scenes that need straight edges)

I won't update until the price of the new model comes down a bit(which they always do) .. ATM it's at (AU) $1800-ish. Maybe when it hits $1500-ish I'll hit the buy button.

Note tho: I'm reading that the Zero Distortion 12mm/2.8 from Laowa has produced some good results too tho.
again, the f/2.8 is handy for my D800E(darker fast focus screen!) for use in low light.
problem is the price they're initially asking for it(close to $1K) for a manual, barely known manufacturer.
The other benefit I (personally) find about the Laowa 12mm is that it will have a factory made filter holder accessory.
I'm old school in that I prefer physical filters to virtual filters and multi image layering.

For my old model Sigma 12-24, I cobbled up a filter holder using the Samyang 14/2.8 filter holder they made as an accessory some time ago. It's slip on diameter is exactly the same as the diameter of the (old) 12-24's built in lens hood.
Only problem with it was the weird and rare Cokin 163mm(wide) filter holder slots, and what I cobbled(easily) was two aluminium strips, removed the filter slots on each side of the holder, and mounted the aluminium strips. then remounted the filter slits closer in to hold 150mm(6") wide filters. I have a small set of Hitech 150mm filters to use on it.

Note again: 12mm is not fisheye territory, but it almost feels like it .... but it's rectilinear. Just watch your feet(and or tripod legs!)

I think I remember that you do some really nice, and interesting landscapes(Atacama, etc) and would take good advantage of the very wide perspective this kind of lens allows.
I'm convinced that this lens would work for you as long as your not super fussy/pedantic about the extreme corners of the image in terms of pinpoint sharpness!

apologies for my perspective coming from a non user as such:

Having had the chance to compare Nikon's 14-24 against my 12-24, and even tho the (old) 12-24 is not as sharp at the corners, both myself and the owner of the 14-24 both noticed the wider FOV that the 12mm allowed.
Central sharpness of the 12-24 actually looked better on both the D800(his) and my D800E compared to the 14-24. But corner sharpness(around the last 20% of the frame) was definitely down.
 
And my thoughts are coming from the expectation that the new f/4 model of this lens would have to be a lot better than the old model(ie. that I have) .. so I'm pretty much convinced that you won't hate it.

Thank you so much for your extensive and helpful feedback Arthur.
I hope this lens is not as soft as the Sigma 8-16mm that I tried in the past.
I bought it and sold after a couple of photo sessions because it was too bad for my taste.
This 12-24mm has a 122 degrees wide view, while the venerable Nikkor 13mm has "only" 118 degrees.
Best regards.

[Akira]

In case you haven't checked out this review (probably you have, but...)

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sigma-12-24mm-f4-dg-hsm-art-lens-review

EDIT:

I missed you said you read all reviews.  So, please ignore my post!   

[Jan Anne]

I really love extreme WA and this is the most extreme ever produced.

Not anymore, Irix has an 11mm offering:
https://www.dpreview.com/news/6871582533/irix-introduces-11mm-super-wideangle-11mm-for-full-frame-dslrs

Although officially "introduced" last month we already played with it last September while visiting the Photokina:

iPhone 7 Plus


iPhone 7 Plus

Voigtlander also has a 10mm for Sony FE and Leica M btw but those won't fit your Nikon F mount.

[Danulon]

Not anymore, Irix has an 11mm offering:
https://www.dpreview.com/news/6871582533/irix-introduces-11mm-super-wideangle-11mm-for-full-frame-dslrs

Although officially "introduced" last month we already played with it last September while visiting the Photokina:
(...)

Some test shots using that lens at Photokina: No claim of any real professional test shots, just trying to achieve some impression of the glass at that dark booth.







Exif data included in galery.

[atpaula]

Some test shots using that lens at Photokina: No claim of any real professional test shots, just trying to achieve some impression of the glass at that dark booth

Exif data included in galery.

Thank you for posting.
The distortion in #2 is horrible.
I'm not sire if I would put my money in such a lens. Never heard of this manufacturer before.

[benveniste]

The distortion in #2 is horrible.

I imagine in shot #2 the lens isn't parallel to the floor, and most of what you are seeing is actually perspective rendering rather than optical distortion.  According to specs, the 11mm Irix has moderate barrel distortion.

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/irix-11mm-f4-lens-details-announced/

I have the Mk 1 12-24mm f/4.5~5.6, which controls distortion fairly well for a wide-angle zoom but is a bit on the soft side.

[pluton]

The Sigma 12-24 is an interesting candidate in competition with the Nikon 14-24.  The f/4 aperture takes away a lot of the low-light capability that the Nikon 14-24/2.8 offers.  Also, I expect it'd be much more difficult to eye focus at f/4 than at f/2.8.  If one only works in bright light, or always uses a tripod, then the f/4 doesn't matter as much.  I'd want to know if  I could still manually focus it when the AF motor goes out**.
**Nikon does not give out this info, it has to be learned "on the street".  I think that all the manufacturers should state if dead AF equals dead lens.

The distortion of the Irix 11mm is very low for the size of the field of view, if that Northlight chart is correct.

I wonder if this company uses the Samyang principle of saving manufacturing cost by making the lens unserviceable once assembled?  At the price it is being offered for...US$775, I expect issues.

[CS]

T
I wonder if this company uses the Samyang principle of saving manufacturing cost by making the lens unserviceable once assembled?  At the price it is being offered for...US$775, I expect issues.

Well, I've never owned or shot a Samyang lens, and I  didn't know that Samyang made them like that, until now. $775 doesn't put it in the price range of some of their competition, but IMO,  it's too much to pay for a lens that isn't serviceable. YMMV

[pluton]

We don't know if they are' terminally assembled', yet, probably until Cicala takes one apart.

[Jan Anne]

Northlight Images also has an interesting review of the Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero D:
http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/review-laowa-12mm-f2-8-zero-d-lens/

The 12mm comes without a CPU, which is of course less of an issues on a Nikon body than the Canon 5Ds he's using.

[CS]

Northlight Images also has an interesting review of the Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero D:
http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/review-laowa-12mm-f2-8-zero-d-lens/

The 12mm comes without a CPU, which is of course less of an issues on a Nikon body than the Canon 5Ds he's using.

I really enjoyed that review, thanks! I would also like to see our resident experts here give that lens a test drive.

[atpaula]

I really enjoyed that review, thanks! I would also like to see our resident experts here give that lens a test drive.

Me too!
Thank you Jan Anne.