Story about How I Tried to Stop Buying New Ultra Wide-angle Lens from SIGMA by just Comparison

(I have to stop thinking of buying that lens... *laugh*)

Long time no write, haha. I want to write a post about the new ultra wide-angle lens from SIGMA, which was announced today.

The name is SIGMA 12-24mm F4 DG HSM | Art。

This is the third generation as the series of SIGMA wide-angle lenses. I myself use the previous lens (SIGMA 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 II DG HSM) quite a lot. I have often used this lens for wide-angle natural landscapes such as paddy fields, nightscapes and starscapes.

And I wonder when to change a new lens for that tough lens...

OMG I have to stop now.

It's my bad habit to start wanting to have a new promising lens at a first glance.

To be calm, I wrote down an itemized comparison table.

The focal length is the same. My favorite 12mm, and easy-to-use 24mm. The combination with EF24-70mm F2.8 II USM does help me to cover the focal length of 12-70mm. What a nice compatibility!

In the beginning, I care about F-number. F-number of 5.6 for the previous one at the tele-side of 24mm has changed into that of 4.0 for the new one. This is a big difference. And from 4.5 to 4 at the wide-side, equivalent to one-step lower ISO value which will work well especially for high quality nightscape photos.

Then, I must note that the number of diaphragm blades changed a lot. It changed from 6 to 9. It's not only the increase of the number, but also it is a change from the even number to the odd number. I was thrilled. When I shoot the sun, the number of shafts gets tripled - from 6 to 18. Even this feature is enough to make me try this lens. The rounded diaphragm is also interesting.

However, good quality means largeness and heaviness. This lens cannot be exceptional. The weight changed from 670g to 1,150g. Almost doubled. Heavier than 1kg...( ! ) The size is, of course, bigger by one size.

This change shocked me enough to make me being unable to evaluate the feature of dust- and splash-proof properly, which must be very valuable for photographers like me who shoot at the outdoor scenes (especially watarscapes).

Well, you know?

My gear for mountains is...

over 4kg with only the main equipments...

Canon EOS 6D → 680g

SIGMA 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 II DG USM → 670g

Canon EF24-70mm F2.8 II USM → 805g

Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD → 1,470g

Velbon UT-43Q → 1,080g

Total → 4,705g

If I bought the new lens, the total would be 5,185g. It weighs over 5kg!

Well, to tell the truth, this lens can be my favorite even with the largeness and the heaviness. I can enjoy macro-like photograph with the shorter minimum shorter focusing length. When I find the information about the price, I will consider a purchase again...