Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM Review Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM Review
There are still a few things you can only do with a full frame SLR.
reach a minimum of 12mm focal length is no longer effective since one of these Sigma presented the extreme wide-angle focal length with 8-16mm zoom for a camera sensor reduced and equivalent to a 12 on these about-24mm (depending on whether you use that Canon has a multiplication factor of 1.6 x or Nikon which has instead a factor of 1.5 x).
A great credit must go to this company, leader in the field of optical universal, is to present still new targets in those areas where large seem to doze. In fact remains unmatched even 12-24mm format that covers the full zoom and is currently the shortest on the market for full-size sensors and 35mm film, or the new 30mm f/1.4, fixed lens dedicated to APS-C bodies.
construction and equipment
But let's go on: the 8-16mm is as usual in black cardboard box in which we find a good amount of instruction manuals, package of guarantees in addition to the remarkable padded Nylon which Sigma has accustomed us. His workmanship is excellent and being equipped with a loop can be attached to the belt pants or a backpack to providing comfort and protection at the same time.
usually also the hood is part of the budget of home Sigma (unlike Canon which does not pay separately if you buy an L series) but in this case it is integrated into the lens and then you can not remove. We find a curious metal ring adapter that is inserted directly on the fixed hood and allows you to use both 72mm filters that attach the front cap.
The fact that this adapter is necessary to allow the attachment of the cap there is no doubt, but less clear is its usefulness with filters. The ring in the field of view forcefully enter it until the property value and the images have taken a kind of circular fisheye effect.
However, it's always better to use the filters and at least 16mm nothing really.
And already, the fact is that the thread in front is not present on this target and this by virtue of the fact that the front element is very prominent.
For the rest of the building is typical of the Sigma EX line: surface satin finish and rubber, very good and assembly with no visible defects. The size of the lens weighs convey strength and length a bit surprising 'because with its 106mm is longer than 20mm compared to the nearly 10-22mm Canon.
be noted that the aim is not stretching or zooming in or focus.
The zoom ring provides resistance is firm and constant, probably because the sample I tried was brand new and will be designed to ease a bit 'with its use.
The focus ring does not have a particularly smooth motion, but for the use you will never do I'd say that's fine.
optical quality
The Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 is not particularly bright, but its focus has made me very afraid for the optical performance, but it's been a big surprise.
The sharpness is excellent at any focal length and is almost perfect already the most open aperture. Close f / 8 also becomes almost superfluous because of the depth of field to say the least, immense already wide open and this will only give pleasure to all holders of the latest digital SLR, thanks to their increasingly tiny pixels begin to suffer the loss of sharpness due to diffraction already at intermediate diaphragms.
The homogeneity between the center and edges of the frame is large and close enough to stop even a single frame to make everything crystal clear.
Good color rendering even though I still know the typical tendency to yellow from Sigma, much less evident than in the past but still present.
Surprising even the resistance against the light!
Having had the 10-20mm f/4-5.6 I expected half shots in disaster when the sun is in the field of view and just off the anti-reflective coating and instead were treated very well. A comparison with the Canon 17-40mm, mounted on a 5D, I would say that we are almost at par. The Sigma 8-16mm exhibited only a few small reflection reaction that never came in minimizing unusable photos.
distance of only 24cm focus then makes it possible to take pictures from unusual and very creative perspective.
The speed of focus is not what I would call lightning, but it is a very important aspect for a wide angle to this extent. The ultrasonic motor is not shown even Sigma's silent like the Canon, but we are really looking for the nit.
Strana is a certain uncertainty in the focus manually if it leads to the minimum distance and then frames a distant object, like the clouds by starting AF. Sometimes the scale
infinite distances correctly on the ends, as expected, while some other times also stops at 0.8 meters.
now probably the difference in these two cases will be difficult to perceive since depth of field is always huge, but I still want to report this fact.
Yes, but on Full Frame?
The initials DC in the name of this 8-16mm perspective suggests that it is designed exclusively for use on small sensor cameras, however, the graft is not the typical bump of the Canon EF-S that physically prevents installation on full frame bodies and analog.
So why not try this amazing wide angle even on the EOS 5D?
the focal minimum vignetting is evident at least as funny. Thanks to the integrated hood edges because blacks have a shape that resembles a frame and may after all be used as a creative device. Cropping to get rid of the black areas will get a shot equivalent to a 12mm and this means that we have gained nothing compared to the use on a camera with APS-C.
Zooming in the black areas will become increasingly more until it disappears completely at 16mm focal length in which the Sigma cover the entire 35mm frame. This means
say words that use the Full frame is not completely excluded.
Final
The Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 HSM is certainly a view that not all specialist and you feel the need today to enjoy a very short focal lengths without having to use a body sensor full size. Its price (between 650 € and 800 €) is not low, but the price / quality ratio is definitely in his favor considering the fact that currently there are no other brand of equivalent models.
The optical qualities are all there and if there is a problem without using the filter there are no other contraindications.