Sigma 24mm f/1.8 EX DF RF Macro Aspherical Lens

Description:

This Sigma 24mm F1.8 EX DG SLR Lens Aspherical Macro is one of the EX Series prime lenses. It has a fast F1.8 maximum aperture with macro focusing capability of minimum focusing down to 18cm/7.1inches (reproduction ratio 1:2.7). The iris diaphragm has 9 diaphragm blades to obtain beautiful out of focus images.

Sigma 24mm F1.8 EX DG Macro SLR Fast Wide Angle Prime Lens

This 24mm lens has a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture with macro focusing capability (minimum focusing distance is 7.1" for a reproduction ratio of 1:2.7). The 9-bladed aperture diaphragm obtains beautiful, circular out of focus characteristics. It incorporates a floating focus system and uses two aspherical elements for minimized distortion, spherical aberration and astigmatism.

Sigma 24mm F1.8 EX DG Macro SLR Fast Wide Angle Prime Lens - Top Angle

The lens front does not rotate during focusing, thus allowing the use of a "perfect hood" and the easy polarizing filters. Optical construction was created to minimize light falloff (darkening of the image corners) at maximum aperture-a big benefit particularly for digital cameras. Materials used in this lens are lead and arsenic free ecological glass.

Note: this lens has no built-in motor and will not autofocus on the Nikon D40/D40x, Nikon D60, Nikon D3000, Nikon D3100 or the Nikon D5000 Cameras.

It incorporates the floating focus system and uses two aspherical lens elements for minimizing distortion and spherical aberration and astigmatism. Internal focus system eliminates front lens rotation, As a result allowing the use of a Perfect Hood and the easy use of polarizing filters. The lens incorporates non-vignetting optical construction, in order to obtain adequate peripheral brightness even at open aperture. This is desirable for digital cameras. The lens also incorporates dual-focus mechanism. It is easy to hold the lens, since focusing ring does not rotate during auto-focus, and yet it provides adequate focusing torque of the focusing ring during manual focusing of the lens. The lens materials used in this new lens are lead and arsenic free ecological glass.

Lens Hood, Front & Rear Lens Caps, Pouch Case, 4-Year USA Warranty, 1-Year International Warranty

Great combination 24mm AND a macro, May 3, 2008

By eric

The idea if having a wide angle macro was incredibly appealing to me. Getting a couple inches away from a subject with that exaggerated wide angle can produce incredibly engaging results. I love the creative possibilities of this lens. Great! Plus that it's a 1.8 allows you to shoot hand held at night with ambient street light. The price is great. The build is very good, not a tank like my Nikon 105mm but very good. It doesn't feel cheap at all. Getting from automatic to manual focus, you need to switch the camera but also disengage the focus ring on the lens by pushing it towards the front of the lens or toward the camera body. This is not a big deal like some other reviews have brought up. At 1.8 the lens is a little soft, but only a little. If you're used to the Nikon 14mm lens for 1500 bucks you might be a little let down. But the lens sharpens fine at 2.5 or so. No concern at all the more you close it down. The creative possibilities, the price, the quality build and the speed of the lens FAR out weigh the small softness issue for me. If you want a wide angle macro, for the price this is HIGHLY recommended. I love it and I've using it exclusively on my f100.

By Gerald Khoo (Singapore)

I was looking for a lens that would be 36mm on APS-C crop camera and the 24mm would be it. The fastest Nikkor lens of this would be the Nikkor 24mm f/2.8, and I wanted something faster, so the choice would be the Sigma 24mm f/1.8 lens. This lens is a full-frame lens, and works on the FX bodies like D3 and D700. Hence, buying this lens does give you a warranty for future full-frame cameras when you get one.

When I read various reviews of this lens, people either liked it or hated it, and when I got one for myself, I realized why. My had a front-focusing problem which made the pictures a bit soft. A fren of mine had one with a back-focusing problem. A trip to the Sigma Service Center to calibrate the lens took care of the focusing issue.

This lens has good contrast. The rendition of skin tones are a bit different from Nikkor lenses, and sharpness is alright. It does have a bit of CA wide open. The macro (or close focusing) design of this lens is also a cool feature where you can go to about 1:2.7.