Sigma 24mm f/2.8

Review Date
June 25, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
deeptha , Intermediate

Price Paid
$0.00 at Yodabashi Camera, Sh

Photography Experience
6-10 years , Outdoor

Summary
I bought this lens for my Nikon F90x in 1998 in Tokyo. I used my F90x until 2006 and I have kept it a side because film printing become not so convenient now. Today I have given my 24mm 2.8 Sigma for fungus cleaning to Sigma Singapore, as I just bought Nikon D300. Before giving it for cleaning, I tried it with D300 and after 10 year, it work as good with the new camera.

My lens looks old, paint is bit faded off in the lens housing, but mechanically it is as good as when I bought it 10 year back. I hope it will remain the same optically, when fungus cleaning is done (if Sigma Singapore manage to clean it all).

This lens was killer for landscape photography. I have used it indoor to photograph people as I did not have any wide-angle lens (my other lens which is as old as this one is Nikon 50mm 1.4D which Nikon just cleaned and returned to me this week). When framing people, I had to be extra careful not to get anyone to the edge of the frame where they will look wider and whole photo will look unbalanced. If you take care of this, it can produce great photos indoors as well.

This one is a very rugged lens and I have carried it to many places when I travel. It has gone through very tough times, but it survived for 10 year and not ready for go again with my new camera.

Review Date
November 20, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
jorgemonkey , Intermediate

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
My grandfather gave me this lens when I was getting into Photography. I have three pictures on my wall that were taken with this lens. It is nice and sharp. The AF hunts around a little bit, but for scenic shots to me its not that big of a deal.

Strengths
Light
Sharp
Great Bokeh

Weaknesses
AF hunting

Similar Products Used
none

Customer Service
Never had to use it.

Review Date
March 10, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
Pinesman , Intermediate

Price Paid
$240.00 at Ted's Camers

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Outdoor

Summary
Bought one of these because I couldn't afford the Canon 28mm at the time. A great little lens and affordable too.

It has produced many sharp pictures with good colour reproduction. The 24 mm focal length is more interesting than 28mm or 35mm. I find myself reaching for it more often than you might expect. Focuses right down to 40mm and takes some interesting images at that range.

Would make a great 35mm equivalent on a digital EOS, but my older version will not work with them. Have they fixed this? I do not know... Be aware of this if you are thinking of buying one.

Strengths
Clear, sharp, solid and has lasted 8 years so far with no problems. Almost certainly good enough to see off any zoom lens. Build quailty is not Canon L series, but is unmatched at this price.

Weaknesses
Like most non Canon lenses from 8 years ago, the autofocus is woeful, but it's a 24 mm so you don't need it anyway.

Similar Products Used
Canon 50mm F1.8 Series I

Customer Service
Haven't needed them.

Review Date
December 2, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
still_jj , Expert

Price Paid
$199.00 at B&H

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
For a cheap little itty-bitty lens, it's very good. Compared to the Nikor 28, it's better!

Strengths
It works nicely, focuses close, and enlargments don't show its optics immediately.

Weaknesses
focuses a bit slower than Nikor's.

Similar Products Used
Nikor 28mm

Customer Service
No need

Review Date
November 24, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
ejmphoto , Expert

Price Paid
$160.00 at New York Camera & Vi

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
At tge time I purchased this lense Sigma was producing AF Nikon lenses. This was the era when Sigmas in Nikon AF mount focused in the "Nikon Direction".
At the same time I purchased this lense, I opened a Nikop shipping box in my friends camera shop and removed a box containing a factory frsh 20/2.8 AF Nikon and it had a Sigma rear cap. I also bought it.

Strengths
Optically an incredible lense in resolution and contrast Color blows me away, Very Leica like in clarity of transmission. Metal construction in ZEN finish is easier to grip than plastic Nikon barrel.

Weaknesses
Noisy AF, speed on both my N90s bodies is fine, slower on my wifes N8008s and even my F100. I have observed many mechanical focus lenses Focus slower on F100.

Similar Products Used
18-35/3.5-4.5 AF Sigma, 20/2.8 AF Nikon, 28/2.5 AF-D Nikon, 35/2.0 AF Nikon, 50/1.8 AF Nikkor, 70-300/4.0-5.6 APO AF-D Sigma Macro, 95/1,8 AF Nikkor, 105/2.9 AF-D Nikkor, 70-200/2,8 AF APO HSM Sigma, 400/5.6 AF APO Sigma, 600.8
0 Sigma Refelx,35/2.0 pre aspgerical Summicron, 90/2.0 Summicorn ,,,,

Customer Service
The only customer service I have ever needed from Sigma is to purchase a replacement lense hood and front cap for my 70-200/2.8.