| Brand: | Sigma | ||
| Average Rating |
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10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM lens allows enjoyment of super wide-angle photography and it is a very powerful tool for indoor shooting and landscape photography with digital SLR cameras. Wide angle of view (102.4 degrees at 10mm and 63.8 degrees at 20mm) offers the photographer greater freedom of expression. 3 Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements are employed for effective compensation of color aberration, which is a common problem with super-wide angle lenses. One piece of glass mold and two hybrid aspherical lenses, offer excellent correction for distortion, as well as all types of aberration. This lens is equipped with an inner focusing system, and the models which are equipped with HSM system provide quiet, high speed autofocus shooting and also offer full time manual focusing. It has a minimum focusing distance of 24cm at all focal lengths. The non-rotating lens barrel perfectly suits the petal shaped lens hood. A circular polarizing filter can also be used conveniently. Angle of View – 102.4 – 63.8 degrees 6 Diaphragm Blades Minimum Aperture F22 Minimum Focusing Distance – 24cm/9.4 inches Maximum Magnification – 1 – 6.7 Filter Size – Diameter 77mm Lens Hood Petal Hood Dimensions – Diameter 83.5mm x Length 81mm, 3.3 x 3.2 inches Weight – 470 gram (16.6 ounces) more info
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Great Lense, Solved My Problem
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m not a technical photographer. Just a photo hobbiest. As a realtor I knew that I needed to solve the problem of taking interior pictures for listings and not getting enough of small rooms in my pictures. I purchased this lense and it solved that problem 100%.
I’m getting compliments on my listing pictures and find that I’m using this lense most of the time. It takes wonderful, clear, color intense pictures with an almost 180 degree field of vision.
It performs as advertised with no learning curve. It went from the box to my Canon Rebel. I took a few practice shots for lighting purposes, took it to my next listings and shot good photos with no issues.
It’s good – for what it is
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
First, this is not my first UWA lens. When it comes to ultra-wides, I’ve had my share. From the Tokina 11-16/2.8 (sold cause the range was too limited), two copies (one Nikon, one Canon) of the Tokina 12-24/4 and the Tokina 10-17 fisheye, I’ve tried most of them out there. (Sorry, I’ll not spend a dime on a EF-S lens again. Thus, I’ve never had the cheapo Canon 10-22)
This is my replacement to the motorless Nikon-mount Tokina 12-24/4 (version 1 – version 2 has an internal focus motor). I was very skeptical of this lens for a number of reasons. Sigma has had troubles lately, I’m not a fan of variable aperture lenses and it’s a “third party” lens. I’ve owned lots of them, but I usually end up being happier with Canon or Nikon lenses. As this does replace one of the top-rated (and personal fav of mine) 12-24, it has a lot to live up to. It doesn’t disappoint.
Honestly, you’re spending about half (or less) than any Nikon branded lens in the range (and right now – that would be one: 10-24). So expecting perfection or even close is certainly a path to unhappiness. I expected to send it back – but I haven’t.
Pros: 10mm on the short end. Fixable distortion. Reasonable CA. You get good colors and contrast. Fast focus, given the focal length.
Cons: CA, soft at the edges.
Really, for the money and for the way that most of us print, you’ll find little, if any, difference between this and any other UWA. Nope, it doesn’t have a fixed 2.8 – so if isolating your subject is important – pick the Tokina 11-16. Although I’m not sure that’s the focus of this type of lens, anyway.
Anyone who will be really unhappy with this lens will fall into two camps: pixel-peepers and pros. Pros, most likely, won’t be shooting DX anyway. Pixel-peepers are seldom, if ever, really happy. Everyone else is going to find what most reviewers say, it’s a great lens. Had I not seen the edge-to-edge sharpness of the 11-16 or incredible colors of the 12-24, I probably couldn’t find fault with it either.
Buy it, use it, love it. Keep it off brick walls and use something else for your 20″x30″ posters and you’ll find it’s a keeper.
Solid Lens…a bit Fuzzy even with Tripod…on timer
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Got this lens yesterday and took some shots. the wide angle is great, so many possibilities. I did notice that some of the images came out blurry so i attached it to my tripod and took another round of pictures. the edges were still a bit blurred. Then i set the camera on timer to see if maybe it is “user error” but the edges of the 3rd round of shots were still not sharp.
i went back on amazon to read all the 1-3 star reviews to see why people did not like the lens and realized that Sigma had a quality control issue (wished i read it before) i probably still would have crossed my fingers and bought it though..
Anyway. i just ordered another Sigma lens today to compare. The rep at Amazon could not help me re: the absent extended warranty card or the fact i could have received a “grey market” lens (as one reviewer put it)because there was no extended warranty card…but gave me the number to Sigma to work it out.
i’m off to a rough start with this lens but still have high hopes based on the customer review photos (awesome)…there are good lens out there. I want to make sure i have one. The rating can go up if the 2nd lens i ordered is sharper than the one i just recd…dont want to think of the flip side.
Very pleased
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is an eceptional lens considering the price. If you are a perfectionist and want to do all sorts of lens test, this is not for you. But, if you are into photography and wand exceptional images this lens will work just fine and produce incredible images at a budget price. You can spend more that twice as much and get Nikon’s latest offering or spend more and get Sigma’s latest offering, but this lens will produce wonderful images!!!
I remember when Sigma meant cheap and just barely OK
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a fine lens for superwide applications, and I endorse it.
I just wish I could get a 10mm single focal length to carry. I almost always find myself shooting at the extreme ends of a zoom’s focal length, the wide end in this case, and the Sigma 10-20 is bulky.
Great lens for the price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I use this lens for taking photos for a newspaper.
It is plenty sharp for my needs and allows for interesting shots.
It fits all three of my Nikon cameras.
Would recommend it to anyone wanting a new perspective in their photographs!
Bob Turner
Fabulous wide angle lens!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my first non-Canon lens, and before I pulled the trigger on purchasing it I researched the heck out of it online. I can honestly say that Sigma didn’t disappoint me. They delivered me a lens that matched the enormous respect it has in the photographic community.
I use this lens on a Canon EOS 50D and take my word for it…it is WIDE! It is the widest lens I’ve ever owned and is absolutely perfect for taking group shots at weddings or family gatherings, and it opens up a whole other dimension of photography when I’m just out shooting as a hobbyist/artist.
As far as focusing goes: I’ve zero complaints. When I manually focus (which is how I usually focus, no matter what lens I’m using) I get nice crisp images. But even when I use this lens’s autofocusing I get high-quality sharp photos. The autofocusing mechanism is, as promised, whisper quiet and very speedy.
This lens also reproduces colors exceptionally well. Whenever I buy a new lens I look particularly at the reds and blues it captures, and this Sigma gives me dazzling colors that are true.
But you want to know what really thrills me about this lens? The cost! I cannot even imagine spending around $300 MORE for Canon’s 10-22mm lens when this Sigma lens delivers excellent image quality and has a build quality that is rock-solid, very professional-looking and looks great on the camera. Nothing about this lens feels or looks cheap. I just don’t see what the extra $300 would have gotten me if I had bought the Canon 10-22mm instead.
That extra money certainly would not have gotten me a lens hood and padded lens case, which is what Sigma INCLUDED with this lens. Sigma simply has Canon beat when it comes to what comes in the box.
So, if you’re looking for a quality wide angle lens that delivers excellent image quality, save a few hundred dollars and go with this Sigma.
This lens works very well with Nikon D40 FYI
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The other descriptions and details apply directly to the D40. Works fine. I like mine, would buy it again
Great wide angle lens for the money!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have a Nikon D60 which right-off-the-bat limits which lenses you can use because it has no motor in the body. I really wanted a wide angle lens for an upcoming trip to Hawaii so I started investigating and all the Nikkor wide-angle lenses that would work with the D60 were well over $1000. So a friend turned me onto the Sigma 10-20mm and after seeing what it could do for a very reasonable price, I bought it. Now, I have some amazing pictures of Hawaii!
If you have a D60 and want a wide angle lens, do yourself the favor a save the $600 or so dollars and get yourself this lens.
fun.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
likes:
very very wide, without fisheye’ing. quiet. focus is dead on, which is a worry for 3rd party lenses.
dislikes:
some images look a bit flat, but its still a new lens to me. while it doesn’t fisheye, the rectilinear corrections do very strange things to people. at 10mm people have huge heads, and small bodies. when taking of the non-human pictures, i don’t think anyone would notice the distortions.
should be obvious, but if you buy there is no reason to open up the aperture beyond 7′ish.
Awesome Landscape Lens – Careful with People, Though!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
If you’re shooting landscape, this lens is an absolute must have — stick it on a tripod, set it at f/8 and you’re golden. Auto-focus is fast and accurate and doesn’t have an issue focusing on objects that are close up.
That being said, when it comes to people, it’s a little more problematic. Even at 16-17mm, you get distortion at the edges, so if you’re shooting groups, they will be stretched/elongated. The good news is that, at 20mm, it’s fairly unnoticeable. So, if you’re shooting more formal pictures, rack the lens out to 20mm and move your body or tripod. If you’re shooting something more action oriented like urban, extreme sports — snowboarding/skateboarding, etc, then the distortion might actually add to the photos.
My Favorite Lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I use this lens on my Canon 40D, and it has become my favorite lens (I also have a 50mm f/1.8, 70-300mm zoom, and 28-135 IS). It’s a great lens for doing creative HDR photography, as well as just getting a different perspective on everyday shots.
Sigma Quality is not consistent
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I received this glass and played with it for few days. Could never get a sharp image. May be I got a bad piece. Just returned it and did not take the risk of ordering another one. Will probably consider buy it from local store so that I can test it and then buy. You will have to do your won quality checks.
Prepare to Relearn Photography
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
If you’ve never used an ultrawide lens before, you’re in for a shock — and a new challenge. Mount the Sigma (or any other ultrawide) on a DSLR, rack it out to 10-11mm, look through the viewfinder and see an entirely new perspective on the world that is totally different from what the human eye sees. Objects that are close to the camera appear much closer, and distant objects appear to be much farther away. You’ll also notice that straight lines toward the edges of the frame bend, and this distortion changes dramatically as you point the camera up or down. It’s a whole new world of photography, and making effective use of the ultrawide perspective takes some practice and getting used to.
Regarding the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 specifically, it is arguably the most popular among several ultrawide choices available to Nikon and Canon users for several good reasons — not the least of which is its low price (I recently purchased one from Amazon for my Nikon D90 for $479.99). Construction quality is excellent, particularly for a third party lens. There’s nothing loose or sloppy about it, and it feels solid. I especially like the nonslip exterior finish of the zoom and focus rings, which are large and well-separated. Zooming is a little on the stiff side, but very nicely dampened and smooth without any “catches” in the zoom travel.
Optically it’s a bit of a compromise, like all ultrawides, but Sigma did a good job of balancing them. Overall sharpness is generally quite good, but it’s not absolutely tack-sharp. It’s noticeably soft, even in the center, at f/4 (especially zoomed out to 10mm). Stopping down to f/5.6 cures this and improves edge sharpness dramatically. Vignetting is also quite noticeable wide open at 10mm, but stopping down a bit virtually eliminates this problem. Distortion at 10 mm is irregular and difficult to correct in post processing, but simply zooming in to 11mm corrects this problem for architectural shots with a lot of straight lines. Lens flare and chromatic aberration that can be problematic with ultrawides are both extremely well managed — not a problem at all, in fact.
In summary, the Sigma 10-20 is a reasonably priced and incredibly useful addition that will open up new photographic horizons for anyone whose current widest angle lens is 17-18mm. For example, it’s a perfect complement to the versatile Nikon 18-200 VR lens for anyone who wants to travel light and still have all their bases covered for any photographic eventuality. Other users have accurately described it as a “fun” lens. And it even comes packaged with a nice padded case. Nice touch, Sigma.
Bought it for a trip, ended up keeping it.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this lens specifically for a trip to Italy. Ancient cities like Venice tend to be pretty cramped, and it is sometimes impossible to get everything you want on the frame with a regular lens. At first, I had some trouble adjusting to the properties of a lens this wide, but I got some beautiful pictures that would have been impossible with another lens. I would recommend practicing with it before you take any important photos.
The lens feels very solid and professional much more so than the lenses that come with most Nikon or Canon kits. The pictures are gorgeous (there is some distortion and vignetting, but nothing to complain about).
My original intention was to sell the lens online after the trip, but I just like it too much.