Sigma 24mm F1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF Macro Lens

The Sigma 24mm F1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF Macro Lens ($580 list) is a fast wide angle lens, available for Nikon, Canon, Sony/Minolta, Pentax, Four Thirds, and Sigma D-SLRs. When used on a full framecamerait provides an impressive 84° field of view, which narrows a bit when paired with an APS-C camera. It can focus on objects as close as 7.1 inches, which makes it possible to fill the frame with smaller objects.

I usedImatestto measure the sharpness of the lens on the 36-megapixel ($2,999.95, 4 stars), and the results were very impressive. At its widest aperture the lens records more than 2,100 lines per picture height using a center-weighted method, well eclipsing the 1,800 lines required for a sharp photo. More impressive is that the center resolution at that aperture is greater than 3,000 lines. Stopping down the aperture improves the sharpness immensely—at f/2.8 it hits close to 2,500 lines with nearly 3,600 in the center, and the center-weighted score tops 3,000 lines by f/5.6.