Originally Posted by talon95tsi

canon 50mm f/1.8
canon 70-200 f/4L
sigma 24-70 f/2.8 ex dg

uwa is next on the list. i'm still torn between the tokina 12-24 f/4 and the sigma 12-24 f/4-5.6.

benjamin

Well I'll officially add my $.02 in here on that too...
If you think you will ever go FF get the sigma. They are both built like tanks, they both have similar apertures (yes the consistent f4 on the tokina is better/nice) but the fact the Sigma can cover a FF sensor is amazing...

it does a pretty good job too:
http://www.pbase.com/benjacobsen/sigma_12_24mm

this MOD thing is pretty cool... I just split that other thread into 2 since the UWA question was asked... Benjamin, you might want to readd your lenses back over there as I couldn't see how to leave a copy there...

I'm sort of torn between those two lenses as well, only in a Nikon mount, so FF doesn't become an issue for me (yet?). I've been considering the Tokina, for the constant f/4, but really, I'll be using it for landscape stuff mostly, so most likely not using it wide open much.

Either way, I can't afford the Nikon 12-24 at twice the price.

yeah, I've always read the same, but I've never seen a direct comparison...
(link if anyone has)

but I've never been unhappy with the Sigma.
The only IQ issues I could ever say it has is a slight blur at the corners as 12mm when using a large aperture... But that's to be expected when using a 12mm on FF focused close. Here's 2 examples (check the corners):




look at the dog shot specifically... Notice it has narrow DOF anyway due to being shot at f4.5 anyway, but the close corners look weird and different that the background that's OOF... Doesn't ruin the shot IMHO, just looks a bit weird. But again, that's a f4.5 and focused <6" from the camera...

Originally Posted by LateApex

I'm sort of torn between those two lenses as well, only in a Nikon mount, so FF doesn't become an issue for me (yet?). I've been considering the Tokina, for the constant f/4, but really, I'll be using it for landscape stuff mostly, so most likely not using it wide open much.

Either way, I can't afford the Nikon 12-24 at twice the price.

Well again, I can't compare the tokina to the sigma, but I'd say get the tokina for it's f4 and supposed better IQ over the sigma there as it's lighter anyway... Also I'd consider the sigma 10~20mm though as then you'll have a 15mm effective...

sigma:$689 615g
tokina:$499 570g

the tokina is lighter and $200 less expensive, so yeah, I'd say tokina or the 10~20mm unless you're on canon and are thinking of FF eventually.

Well, I think you talked me into the Sigma 10-20 when I'm ready to buy. sigma4less has it for $464.95. HSM will be nice, too. I just wish I could get one in time for my trip to the Eastern Sierras this weekend.

Also, how do you use a CP on the Sigma 12-24? Doesn't it have a slot for drop in filters?

Originally Posted by LateApex

Also, how do you use a CP on the Sigma 12-24?

you don't.
That's one of 2 complaints I have of it.
The other is there are no waterproof housings (ports) for it...

although I think if I go with a big enough coking kit it will cover it... I've proved it with paper here in the office (holding it up to the front of the lens, you can't see out...) but when I went to B&H they wouldn't let me try it to prove it either way "It won't work" "How do you know, have you tried it?" "No, It won't work..."

Well at least prove me wrong... But it was amateur hour I guess (Sunday afternoon).