Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG II HSM - Nikon F

The Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG II HSM for Nikon F is a full-frame ultra-wide zoom lens covering 12–24mm with a 122° diagonal angle of view, HSM autofocus, and Super Multi Coating — one of the widest rectilinear zooms ever built for full-frame DSLRs.

Key Specifications

• Focal length: 12–24mm (ultra-wide zoom)
• Maximum aperture: f/4.5 (wide) – f/5.6 (tele)
• Angle of view: 122° diagonal at 12mm
• Autofocus: Yes — HSM (Hypersonic Motor) for fast, quiet AF
• Lens type: Ultra wide-angle zoom
• Format coverage: Full-frame (35mm) and APS-C sensors
• Coating: Super Multi Coating to reduce flare and ghosting
• Mount: Nikon F — fits Nikon F-mount DSLR bodies
• Series: EX DG (professional-grade, digitally optimised)
• Warranty: Minimum 12 months (exact period shown on listing)

What makes the Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG II HSM special?

Reaching 12mm on a rectilinear full-frame lens is genuinely hard to engineer. At that focal length you're dealing with a 122° diagonal field of view — the kind of perspective that physically bends the world around you without the distortion of a fisheye. Sigma achieved this by using aspherical elements combined with Super Multi Coating, which keeps flare and ghosting under control even when you're pointing toward bright light sources, something that matters enormously in landscape and astro shooting.

Compared to the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED, the Sigma trades two stops of maximum aperture for two extra millimetres at the wide end — a meaningful difference for anyone who needs that ultra-compressed foreground-to-infinity look. The Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 is brighter and sharper wide open, but it costs considerably more, even used. The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR has optical image stabilisation that the Sigma lacks, but starts four millimetres narrower, which is a significant gap when you're shooting architecture or night skies. If you want to go wider than 14mm on a full-frame Nikon DSLR without a fisheye, the Sigma 12-24mm is one of very few rectilinear options that actually exists.

It's also worth noting that reviews consistently praise centre sharpness across the entire focal length range even at maximum aperture, though the corners and the 24mm end show some softness wide open — a reasonable trade-off for such an extreme zoom range.

Who is the Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG II HSM for?

This lens is aimed squarely at landscape and astro photographers who shoot on a full-frame or APS-C DSLR and want the widest possible rectilinear coverage. At 12mm you can fit a sweeping Milky Way arc with dramatic foreground into a single frame. The HSM motor makes autofocus fast and virtually silent, which also makes it useful for video work and wildlife in open environments where you want maximum environmental context in the shot.

Architecture and real-estate photographers will appreciate the rectilinear rendering at 12mm — straight lines stay straight, unlike a fisheye. Interior photographers shooting tight spaces where even a 14mm isn't wide enough will find it solves problems that no other affordable lens can.

It is less suited to low-light event shooting or portraiture where you need f/2.8 or wider. The f/4.5–5.6 aperture range means you'll lean on higher ISO settings for night work, but modern full-frame bodies handle that well. On an APS-C body the effective range becomes approximately 18–36mm — still usable, but you lose much of the magic of 12mm.

Buying a used Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG II HSM

At Camera-tweedehands.nl, every Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG II HSM is hand-inspected and professionally photographed before listing. Because the front element bulges significantly and cannot accept a standard filter, we pay special attention to this exposed surface during inspection — verifying it is free of chips, deep scratches, and fungus. We confirm the HSM autofocus motor engages smoothly without grinding or hesitation.

We also verify that the zoom ring rotates evenly throughout its full range with no stiff spots or play. Internal dust is documented in our inspection report — small amounts are normal and rarely affect image quality, but we note any heavier contamination. Every used copy comes with a minimum 12 months warranty, with the exact warranty period visible on the listing.