Sigma EX DG 512-306 15-30mm
With a 15-30mm focal range, f/3.5-4.5 aperture, and Super Multi Coating that suppresses flare on digital bodies, this lens uses 17 elements—including two aspherical elements—to keep distortion in check. Its surprisingly strong 72.7/100 macro score delivers close-focus performance at just 30cm, adding versatility that’s rare in an ultra-wide zoom. It’s best for Nikon F-mount hobbyists who want a budget wide-angle zoom for architecture and landscapes while still getting tight detail shots at close range.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong macro (98th percentile) 98th
- Strong optical (84th percentile) 84th
- Strong aperture (80th percentile) 80th
- Strong bokeh (78th percentile) 78th
Cons
- Below average user sentiment (7th percentile)
- Below average build (17th percentile)
- Below average social proof (22nd percentile)
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 13 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 15 |
| Focal Length Max | 30 |
| Elements | 17 |
| Groups | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 |
| Coating | Super Multi Coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-4.5 |
| Constant | No |
Build
| Mount | Nikon F |
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.4 lbs |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 30 |
vs Competition
| Spec | Sigma EX DG 512-306 15-30mm | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 VXD G2 | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 | Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM | Sony G SELP28135G.SYX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 15-30mm | 17-28mm | 28-75mm | 12-60mm | 28-70mm | 28-135mm |
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/22 | f/4 |
| Mount | Nikon F | Nikon Z | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds | Canon RF | Sony E |
| Stabilization | false | false | false | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 615 | 450 | 540 | 320 | 495 | 420 |
| AF Type | - | Stepping Motor | VXD | linear motor | STM | SSM |
| Lens Type | wide-angle | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma EX DG 512-306 15-30mm | 54.6 | 77.8 | 17 | 97.9 | 84.2 | 79.8 | 7.2 | 72.1 | 22 | 38 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 87 | 88.1 | 73.6 | 86.3 | 87 | 85.8 | 90.8 | 68.1 | 64.6 | 38 |
| Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 VXD G2 Compare | 54.6 | 88.1 | 67.2 | 87.3 | 87.8 | 85.8 | 80.4 | 78.2 | 83.1 | 38 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 Compare | 98 | 88.1 | 83.1 | 50.4 | 90.2 | 85.8 | 44.2 | 93.1 | 63.5 | 83.2 |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Compare | 87 | 25.9 | 70.2 | 80.4 | 85 | 22.6 | 98.1 | 77.2 | 87.9 | 98.5 |
| Sony G SELP28135G.SYX Compare | 94.2 | 80.2 | 75.5 | 31.2 | 87 | 69.9 | 63.3 | 92.4 | 50.2 | 92.8 |
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
