Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF Review

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Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF Review

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF Review

The Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF is an interesting ultra wide-angle lens that can be used on full frame cameras. For full frame cameras, 15mm focal lengths give a very, very wide viewing angle, equal to approximately 111 degrees (true, only on the diagonal of the frame).

The lens was produced for different systems, this review presents a version for Nikon cameras, which in the designation written on the body near the focusing ring has the letter 'D'. This letter is absent on Canon and Sony lens variants and is called Sigma Zoom 15-30mm 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF.

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF

The designation 'EX' means 'Excellent' - the highest quality lens. Indeed, the Sigma 15-30 / 3.5-4.5 DG is well assembled, the built-in tulip-shaped hood, like most of the body, is made of metal. The zoom and focus rings are rubberized. The lens weighs 620 grams, but because of its huge size, its weight is distributed evenly and it seems that the lens is completely light.

Sigma 15-30 / 3.5-4.5 DG has a strongly convex front lens, due to which the lens is deprived of thread for light filters. Pay attention to the back of the lens, where you can clearly see the special holder for flexible gelatin filters (I have not seen such yet).

To close the lens with the front protective cover, first put on a special metal ring (cover holder), and put the cover on the ring. You can immediately put on a ring with a lid (the so-called 'glass').

If you really need to use front filters, then they can be installed on a metal ring, however, it requires the use of large 82 mm filters, which I did not have at hand when writing the review.

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF, holder for gelatin filters is visible.

The lens has a fairly fast focusing internal type (when focusing, the front and rear lenses remain fixed). But the zoom is not internal - when the focal length is changed, the front and rear lenses move in the middle of the lens barrel. The front lens is maximally protruded forward by 15 mm of focal length and recessed at maximum 30 mm (see figure below). The closest focusing distance is 30cm (maximum zoom ratio is 1: 6), and I personally would like it to be even smaller.

The lens has a window with a scale for focusing distances in meters and feet, depth of field scale for F / 5.6, 8, 11, 16 and an 'R' mark for infrared work.

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1 front lens: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF at different focal lengths

To change the focus mode, pull the focus ring towards you (or away from you). In 'AF' mode, the focus ring can be rotated freely by hand, but does not affect focusing and does not rotate while the focus motor is running. In 'MF' mode, the focus ring rotates approximately 90 degrees. The trouble is, but to switch to manual focusing mode, it is not enough to move the focusing ring, you also need to switch the camera to manual focusing mode using the switch located near the camera mount. With 'MF' selected on the lens only, the lens is not disconnected from the camera motor, so it can be damaged if focusing manually. I really disliked this stupid method of switching focus modes.

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF

It's important: auto focus with this lens is available only when using him on cameras with built-in motor focusing.

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras with a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will focus automatically:

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras without a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will not focus automatically:

Only auto focus and sound confirmation of focus will not work with these cameras, all other important functions, such as automatic exposure metering and automatic iris control, will work well.

You will find a lot of useful information on the types of cameras and lenses Nikon here.

The lens has a manual aperture ring. To be able to control the value aperture from camera or for automatic installation aperture on modern central control valves, you need to turn the control ring to F / 22 and fix it with a special lever, which is located to the right of the marks aperture. If this is not done, then on a number of cameras, the display will display an error - 'fEE' (ring is not installed aperture) Some cameras having diaphragm rheostatallow you to control the aperture using the ring aperturebut only in metering modes exposure 'M' and 'A'. You can read more about this issue in the section on Non-G Lenses.

The aperture consists of 8 blades and closes to F / 22 @ 15mm and F / 29 @ 30mm. Also, note that this lens does not correctly transmit the focal length value to the camera, and therefore in EXIF images you can see the value of 31 mm.

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF

When working with the lens, I did not like that the zoom ring is located too close to the camera mount and it is not as convenient to rotate it as we would like. Paired with a stupid method of switching the focus mode for ergonomics, the lens gets a three with a minus. But the lens focused accurately and without errors.

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF and Travenar wide auto 1: 2.8 f = 28mm

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF and Travenar wide auto 1: 2.8 f = 28mm

In the center of the frame, the lens is sharp already at fully open apertures, but as soon as you start looking towards the edges and corners of the frame, things become completely gloomy. I also want to note the strong chromatic aberration, especially at open apertures and 15 mm, which the notorious aspherical elements in the complex optical design of the lens cannot cope with. But the distortion is very strong only by 15 mm, and closer to 30 mm it practically disappears. Also, the lens does little to cope with backlight, in which it can easily catch whole flocks of 'birds with one stone' and strongly vignette (especially when focusing on MDF). But in general, as for an ultra-wide-angle lens, the image quality is quite tolerable, and at closed apertures it is not bad at all.

Here link to the archive with the originals - 433 MB, 41 photos in .NEF format (RAW) from the Nikon camera D700 (FX). Pictures in the gallery without processing are just a reduced on-camera JPEG.

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF

Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF

There are very few ultra wide-angle autofocus lenses for full frame cameras that can use 15mm focal length (personally, I only know 2 such lenses besides this Sigma). How much 15 mm will be more convenient than 16 or 17 mm, which are more common among other ultra-wide angles, is a difficult question and requires precise definition of tasks. The lens also pleases, in comparison with other lenses, a little more aperture at the long end (F / 4.5 instead of the standard F / 5.6).

Catalog of modern Sigma lenses can look at this link.

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Results

The Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF is a very interesting lens, not ideal in terms of optical performance, but its wide-angle range can cover all its disadvantages. I would not recommend using it on cropped cameras, for APS-C cameras there are much more convenient focal length ranges, but as a not very expensive 'super wide' Sigma 15-30 / 3.5-4.5 DG will do.

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Comments: 53, on the topic: Sigma Zoom 15-30mm D 1 review: 3.5-4.5 DG EX Aspherical IF

  • Lynx

    the focusers were focused, focused and not focused.

  • Czeslaw

    Sigma 20mm, 24mm, 28mm 1.8 has the same focus switching mechanism. At 28mm 1.8 itself and I would not say that this type of focus switching is bad. For me personally, this type of switching has one big plus: switching the autofocus lever on the camera to the manual and leaving the lens in autofocus mode, I ensure that under no circumstances will I accidentally shift my focus, and since I often shoot at night / with neutral filters and stars (typical situations where focusing manually, and even more so automatically is difficult enough) for me, this is a must have :-)

  • uladzimir

    sigma crop has a good shirik - 10-20 / 3,5 if you want to put on a normal lid - please! The filter is not a question either! (though with a diameter of 82 mm.) This is one of the few advantages of the crop factor.

    • Do_Oraemon

      Sigma's EX-widths are always good. There are better options, but they are worth ... But with telephoto cameras they have trouble - "Tamrons", and they are optically better.

  • Yarkiya

    Yes indeed the edges disappoint. The large size and weight are always surprising, but the picture quality is not good. I just want to ask sigma - was it worth it to fence in such a garden, so that later make excuses, like, but on a closed one.
    Thank you for the review, as always.

    • Do_Oraemon

      It was worth it. There are practically no competitors in this price category and focal length range. If you want quality, buy your own Nikkors, but they cost much more. Therefore, you should not expect super-quality for a more reasonable price. I hope you got what I meant.

    • anonym

      It was worth it, of course. And why did you get the idea that it (Sigma) is justified. A good lens for sane money.

  • Denis

    Arkady advise a good shirik on ff for landscape.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      For which system?

      • Denis

        D600

        • Arkady Shapoval

          You can recommend the modern classics, with which many landscape painters work: Nikkor 14-24 / 2.8, 16-35 / 4 VR and 24 1.4G.

          • Andrei

            Very good IMHO and Nikkor AF-S 18-35mm f / 3.5-4.5 G ED (FX)

          • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

            as well as the new 20 / 1,8g

            • Do_Oraemon

              Twenty were always great. The worst in the line of widths at Nikon is 28 mm glass.

              • Arkady Shapoval

                But what about 28 / 1.4D?

              • Do_Oraemon

                Twenty-four will be more interesting :-) Yes, and the price for the new 28-ku at that time is quite comparable to the current price of 24 / 1,4G

              • Arkady Shapoval

                I agree, 24 will be more interesting :)

              • anonym

                But what about 28f2.8Ai-s and 28f2.8D, too, praise.

          • Denis

            Thank you Arkady) but for the time being a little expensive)) But there is something more budget-friendly, wider)) you can also from third-party manufacturers, thanks in advance!

            • Arkady Shapoval

              Then you should wait. Shiriki is a delicate and expensive business.

              • Denis

                Thank you) I will wait and dream)

  • Denis

    And I forgot to say thank you for the review) my favorite site about photography)

  • Vladimir

    And in the tenth photo - where is this psychedelic path? :)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      In Vyshgrod, near the embankment, where the checkpoint is on the left.

    • THE

      Really psychedelic, like on Fisheye, just the opposite :)

  • Daria

    Good afternoon!
    Tell me, please, an adequate shirik for Nikon D 7000 crop
    Thank you very much!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      nikon 12-24 / 4, tokina 12-24 / 4, tokina 12-28 / 4, tokina 11-16 / 2.8

  • Pastor

    And only sigma 12-24 and nikon 14-24 shirshe? Does tokina have anything wide in ff? Sadness, trouble. It turns out that we need to look for sigma 12-24 ... And also, by the way, as an option for ff - Tokina 116, which does not vignette too much from 14 mm :)

  • Alexander

    Good afternoon Arkady! Help advice. I want to buy Sigma 10-20 f4-5,6 on the EOS 100D, because I like to photograph abandoned casts, tell me your opinion on this glass, otherwise I didn’t find a review on it

  • Anton

    Hello, you need a budget shirik for shooting landscapes, interiors, cars. There is a choice between nikon 18-35 3.5-4,5d or sigma 15-30, nikon d800 camera. What could you advise? I’ll still shoot from a tripod on closed.

    • Pokemon

      Anton, saw recommendations to use this lens only on crop.
      On FF, corners and edges are scolded for soap.
      I’m eyeing him myself, but only for crop (in my native mount).

      • Anton

        Is it soap sigma? Or nikon?)

        • Pokemon

          Sigma 15-30

      • Novel

        And what is the point of it on the crop if, with the exception of 3 mm from the bottom, it is practically a whale lens, only of large size? Better any 17-50 / 2.8 then. With the same dimensions, two stops of aperture at the wide end, blur and all things. A shirik take a full-fledged native.

        • Pokemon

          Sense at 15-30 on the crop is really small. Just under SA mount lenses are rare and expensive.

          • Anton

            Yes, Sigma itself produces 10-20mm f / 3.5 for crop (for example) but cannot guarantee their minimum volume for owners of any SD14, SD15, .. (its own cameras!)

            • B, R, P.

              They make money. elemental calculation.

              • Dmitry Kostin

                Here it is a little different - there is no demand, and accordingly there is no supply.
                No one wants to buy a hanger for a warehouse. Demand is very low.

  • Pokemon

    A very distinctive lens, this is the first in the EX DG lineup, originally designed for full frame film. I got caught under the SA mount, which is very rare. To my regret, the lens had a displacement of the lens unit due to which the left side of the frame at all focal lengths and at all apertures was a little soapy. Having put the lens on the camera, I immediately noticed that it became noticeably darker in the viewfinder than with the 24-70 / 2.8 or 35 / 1.4. This lens is for good sunny weather - the absence of a stabilizer at such a low aperture is certainly a minus. There is some effect of “frame warmth”, the lens slightly warms up the picture, which was noticed by the English-speaking owners. At apertures of 5.0-5.6, the picture is soft, but definitely not soapy. The maximum, ringing sharpness is obtained at aperture covered up to f / 8.0-f / 9.0. The lens fits perfectly on the camera, and it is pleasant to hold it in the hand - the weight for such dimensions is not excessive - which is surprising, and it does not break your hands. Focusing is fast, but noisy and not always accurate. The minus of the lens is a huge, almost unprotected, convex front lens for 82mm filters. The optional ring-shaped metal hood can scratch the delicate coating of the lens barrel. It also gives vignetting in the corners, even on the crop. There is a built-in metal hood, but I would still like to protect the light-collecting lens, not with anything.

    • Pokemon

      I also liked the case to the lens :-)
      Of the minuses - the delicate coating of the case, there is no way to protect the front lens.
      And I also came across an apparently falling copy - it was almost imperceptible along the body (except for one place), but apparently there was a skew of the lens unit - the left side of the frame was always soapier than the right.
      At all focal and at all apertures.

      • Pokemon

        As a result, we managed to agree with the seller about the refund and he honestly returned it to me last year. He confirmed my guess - the lens could fall off when my wife was cleaning the house.

      • Dima

        Sigma's regular bag is a separate masterpiece)

    • Dima

      My copy has 15mm. everything was perfectly sharp even on open ones, but it was only necessary to zoom in a little and the lower corners floated very strongly, very straight and it was visible on the crop. Yes, it seems like a good width, but extremely specific and kosyachny.

  • Anton Gross

    Luxurious glass, as for me. Working with him for three months is a pleasure.

    Yes - a little yellow / green, which is easily solved in post-processing.
    Yes, a bit dark, but it can be solved.
    Yes, he (or the camera with him) is unusually leading in terms of exposure relative to other other glasses, and my 7100 with it requires special attention in the light - I just flipped the exposure and got garbage from 400 ISO and above.
    Yes, unlike the classic strip, it requires attention to the corners and, in general, to all the geometry in the frame - this is a shirik, it should be like that.

    But on the other hand, they can find and raise perspective where there is none.
    You can turn the camera a little and play from a perspective in very wide and interesting shapes at short and medium distances.
    In his case, stray flares in direct light are just a cool and controllable feature that can be used for artistic purposes.
    Mine is quite fast and accurately focuses even in low light.
    As for me - almost universal for landscapes and architecture at medium to long distances.

    And the girls get bigger boobs and longer legs, which is most important for them)))

  • Anton Gross

    I had to press the picture ...

  • Alexey

    To what extent is such glass still relevant for FF? Interest in him arose simply.

    • B. R. P.

      Since there is interest, then it is relevant)

      • Alexey

        No. It's clear. I just met him at one site for 10k. And this glass for me is like “childhood match”. HERE wondered what and not whether to buy it to me. But is it worth spending money on it and expecting some good picture at a wide angle, or is it easier to buy a fixed thread, even a less wide angle one, for the same money? Like 20 / 2.8 USM.

  • Stanislas

    Hello everyone, has anyone encountered blue glare (spots) in photos taken with this glass? Appear in back and side light. Sometimes they are directly very pronounced. Is this a defect or can the age of the glass affect?

    • Alex

      This is a feature of this lens ....

    • Dima

      With backlight, any lens has more or less of them. And with such a width, this is more than the norm. With such a convex lens, what did you want?

  • Dima

    Interesting, but with its own jokes) Its chip is 15mm. I don’t see any point in zooming. For the corners are floating, and yes, what the hell is necessary) For those who say that it’s dark, are there many widths of this class with 3.5-4-5? At best 4-5.6. Unfortunately, it turned out to be unreliable and the coating will peel off. But what is interesting is that the dust does not suck at all. For 10 years, not a single speck of dust under the lens.

    • Dima

      And yes, you need to understand that 3.5 by 15mm is not the same as 3.5 by 28mm. At the width it will be noticeably lighter. And in general, the aperture on the width is stupid talk. But a stub for 15 is very much needed, no matter what anyone says.

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