The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 II DG HSM and the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 II DG HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 120mm. The Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF with a length of 106mm, is 14mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 II DG HSM also has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF's 83mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 II DG HSM weighs 670g, which means it is 75g (10%) lighter than the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF which has a weight of 745g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Zoom Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Ultra-Wideangle Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 II DG HSM and the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 II DG HSM is also available in Canon EF and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 II DG HSM has a focal range of 12-24mm and
2.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
18 - 36mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF has a focal range of 17-35mm and 2.1X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 25.5 - 52.5mm.