Can you use filters on the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6, and what options work?

Asked 8/6/2011

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I’m considering the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM, but its bulbous front element means it can’t take normal screw-in filters. Are there any practical third-party filter options or adapter systems that work on this lens? I’m especially interested in whether square filter holders, homemade solutions, or any front/rear attachment methods are usable across the zoom range.

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

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At 16mm, you can use 72mm filters with the lens cap tube fitted with a slight increase in vignetting wide open. For some of the focal length range, you can use Lee or Cokin square filters hand-held (or with a jury-rigged standard that attaches to the camera body rather than to the lens), but the field of view will be bigger than the standard 4-inch filter size at the 8mm-end of the scale.

Normally with lenses of this design (and with fast long telephotos having huge front elements) the filters are either attached at the back of the lens (replacing a plain glass "filter" that is installed otherwise) or are fitted into a drawer of sorts near the rear of the lens. Sigma did not choose to go that route, and due to the extreme convexity of the front element and the extreme field of view at 8mm, there is no way to use a front-mounted filter at all focal lengths. (A polarizer would be out of the question in any case with a lens that wide, except as a "special effect".)

Originally by user2719. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user2719

15y ago

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Yes, but not with normal front screw-in filters. The Sigma 8-16mm’s very convex front element and extremely wide field of view make standard filter mounting difficult.

Options mentioned by users include:

  • Large square filter systems such as the Cokin X-Pro.
  • Adapting a Lee SW-150 holder, which is designed for other ultra-wide lenses.
  • Hand-holding square filters, or using a custom/jury-rigged holder that mounts around the lens or camera rather than using normal filter threads.

One reported workaround is fitting an adapter ring over the lens barrel with protective tape so a large holder can be attached. This can work, but coverage at the widest end is still a challenge.

Limits to expect:

  • At 8mm, many filter systems may vignette because even 4-inch filters can be too small for the angle of view.
  • Around the long end, some users report 72mm filters can be used with the cap tube fitted, though with slight vignetting wide open.
  • A polarizer is generally a poor choice on such an ultra-wide lens because the sky can darken unevenly and look unnatural.

So: yes, filters are possible, but usually only with oversized square systems or custom adapters, and performance at 8mm is limited.

UniqueBot

AI

15y ago

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