Product Description

This large-aperture wide-angle lens is equipped macro focusing capability with a maximum magnification of 1: 2.7 and fast F1.8 maximum aperture. The use of aspherical lenses is offered for superior peripheral brightness and compensation of aberrations and astigmatism. This is an ideal DG lens for Digital SLR cameras.

Product Details

• Brand: Sigma
• Model: B00005RKSR
• Dimensions: 3.00 pounds

Features

• Large-aperture, wide-angle lens for close up photography
• Features a super multi-coating that reduces flare and ghosting that tends to occur when using digital SLR cameras
• Focusing capability down to a minimum of 18 centimeters, or f1.8 aperture speed, which provides a reproduction ratio of 1:2.7
• Constructed with 10 elements in nine groups of diaphragm blades, and allows filters that are 77-millimters in diameter
• Weighs 17.1 ounces, and measures 3.3 x 3.2 inches (diameter x length)

Amazon.com Product Description
The Sigma 432-109 24mm f1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro Lens for SLR Cameras has a super multi-coating that reduces flare and ghosting that tends to occur when using digital SLR cameras. The Sigma EX DG is a large-aperture, wide-angle lens for close up photography.

This large-aperture wide-angle lens is equipped with macro focusing capability down to a minimum of 18 centimeters, or f1.8 aperture speed, which provides a reproduction ratio of 1:2.7. The use of two aspherical lens elements in a floating focus system minimizes distortion, spherical aberration and astigmatism, which provides high performance at all shooting distances, as well as superior peripheral brightness. This 24-millimeter lens has an angle of view of 84.1 degrees, which allows the capturing of high-quality images not only of your subject, but of the surrounding scenery. Not only does the advanced optical construction of this lens enable it to receive adequate peripheral brightness at open aperture, but the iris diaphragm has 9 diaphragm blades that allow it to obtain beautiful out-of-focus images in the foreground and background. For handling, this lens also incorporates a Dual-Focus (DF) mechanism that makes it easy to hold the lens, since the focusing ring does not rotate during auto-focus, yet it still provides adequate focusing torque for the focusing ring during manual focusing of the lens. This has the added benefit of allowing the use of a Petal-type hood, which is superior in its light-blocking effect.

The Sigma 432-109 macro lens is constructed with 10 elements in nine groups of diaphragm blades, and has a minimum aperture of f22. This lens allows filters that are 77-millimters in diameter, weighs 17.1 ounces, and measures 3.3 x 3.2 inches (Diameter x Length). This lens is compatible with Sigma, Canon, Nikon (D), Minolta (D), and Pentax cameras with corresponding AF mounts.

Customer Reviews

Great quality but a little heavy and big.
I wanted a wide angle prime lens that I could take to parties where the shooting distance is always about the same and I could get higher quality pictures than with zoom lenses. Since this lens is fast, f/1.8, it focuses very quickly even in low light. It doesn't have an ultrasonic focusing mechanism, but focus speed is very fast and it has a clutch focusing ring so I can hold the lens and not interfere with the rotation of the focusing ring. The body feels very tight and well put together. The texture and feel are perfect. Picture quality is extremely good. The colors are natural and it's very sharp at 1.8 and is even better at 2.0 and above. Macro is excellent and since it has 9 curved aperature blades, the bokeh looks very pleasing. There is almost no distortion or abberation and focus is accurate. So even though this lens is a bit bigger and heavier than I would like in a prime lens like this, the benefits of brighter viewfinder (due to f/1.8), extemely sharp pictures and very good build quality makes it worthwhile purchase (especially for the price).

Fast and sharp
Let's face it - Sigma lenses are just NOT built like the great mid grade Zuiko lenses from Olympus that we know and love. Okay? Now that we've got that out of the way let me be clear: I love this lens. It's fast, it's as wide as an old "standard" lens that we all knew and loved back in the days of film SLRs and it's plenty sharp. I'd rate the sharpness about the same as my Zuiko 14-54mm but not as sharp as my 11-22 DZ or the 50-200 DZ (the best lens I've ever owned) and from what I've seen so far it's sharp at maximum aperture from edge to edge.

The manual focus system on this (and other Sigma lenses) is a bit odd and not as convenient as the Olympus system (you have to throw a switch and slide the barrel ring) but it works just fine and has excellent feel and sensitivity (much better than the focus-by-wire on the Zuikos) when you do use it. The autofocus is relatively slow and can hunt or just give up in poor light, but when it grabs a lock it is very accurate on my example and of course in good light it works fine. This lens is advertised as a macro and that is a true statement - it focuses very close and this is but one reason why it's a really wonderful walkabout lens. The bokeh wide open at maximum aperture is fantastic but is only so-so when stopped down - much like the mid-grade Zuiko digital lenses - and seems to be a curse of lenses in this price range.

The build quality is just fine and certainly better than the kit lenses that come with Olympus DSLRs in the box and unlike my Sigma 105mm macro lens it does not feature an annoying screw on lens shade but instead uses a tulip shade just like the ones you are used to using with your Olympus lenses. This lens is not weather sealed however, which one must bear in mind if they're used to the weather sealed Olympus lenses. Also, this lens takes a ridiculously large filter for the size of the lens (it's not a super wide angle lens so I really don't understand the overly large flange on the front of the lens barrel) so plan on your spending there - a top quality front filter and polarizer will easily set you back over a hundred bucks.

I have been very pleased with this lens and at the end of the day that's what counts. Olympus does not offer a lens like this and the similar Leica lens (not yet available at the time of writing) will undoubtedly be much more expensive, so with that in mind you've got this lens and the somewhat similar Sigma 30mm lens to chose from if you want a fast prime lens. I chose this one because of the focal length and the macro capability. I've been very pleasantly surprised.

Great combination 24mm AND a macro
The idea if having a wide angle macro was incredibly appealing to me. Getting a couple inches away from a subject with that exaggerated wide angle can produce incredibly engaging results. I love the creative possibilities of this lens. Great! Plus that it's a 1.8 allows you to shoot hand held at night with ambient street light. The price is great. The build is very good, not a tank like my Nikon 105mm but very good. It doesn't feel cheap at all. Getting from automatic to manual focus, you need to switch the camera but also disengage the focus ring on the lens by pushing it towards the front of the lens or toward the camera body. This is not a big deal like some other reviews have brought up. At 1.8 the lens is a little soft, but only a little. If you're used to the Nikon 14mm lens for 1500 bucks you might be a little let down. But the lens sharpens fine at 2.5 or so. No concern at all the more you close it down. The creative possibilities, the price, the quality build and the speed of the lens FAR out weigh the small softness issue for me. If you want a wide angle macro, for the price this is HIGHLY recommended. I love it and I've using it exclusively on my f100.