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- Super-Wide: 10-20 with maximum aperture of F3.5 throughout entire zoom range
- Includes: Petal-type Hood supplied
Product DescriptionSigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new Sigma 10-20mm F3. 5 EX DC HSM. This super-wide angle lens has a maximum aperture of F3. 5 throughout the entire zoom range. With its wide angle view from 102. 4 degrees it can produce striking images with exaggerated perspective. The maximum aperture of F3. 5 is ideal for indoor shooting and it enables photographers to emphasize the subject. Two ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass elements and a SLD (Special Low Disp. . . More >>
Sigma 10-20mm f/3. 5 EX DC HSM ELD SLD Aspherical Super Wide Angle Lens for Sony Digital SLR Cameras
Popularity: 6% [?]
Maybe I just got a lemon. I worked with this lens for the first time today and I noticed that it is focused at infinity when the outer scale reads 3 ft. And when I turn the focus ring to the infinity mark – at the line, the focus starts to go out. Going beyond this mark it goes further out of focus. I don’t usually need to pay attention to the outer scale but I do need a stop at infinity focus when I turn the focus ring all the way; not have it reach infinity and then go out of focus.
Otherwise, its a nifty view and I don’t see anything like it available. Today I set it up in the cab of a van, between the seats, within an IDC Run & Gun with a gyro on top and shot turnpike driving views out the windshield. Makes 65 mph just about dizzying and too much peripheral vehicle action to take in easily.
Check you lenses for this problem.
I’m returning it. But I’ll get another one because now I can’t do without this view and aperture at this price.
Rating: 1 / 5
Just picked up this lens on a Canon mount, and boy what a sweet lens. I find it to be just as sharp if not more so as the Canon version, yet costs much less. Focus is silent and fast (and spot on). Using my Canon 7D’s spot focus, the lens nails it every time, even in the edges at 10mm. I will be picking up another to keep in my back up bag.
Rating: 5 / 5
A lens can be judged only in connection with a specific camera body as it may perform differently with different sensors. So, I can speak about it together with the Nikon D300.
From the specifications, it seemed to be a better lens in comparison with equivalent range lenses of other brands including the new Nikon 10-24.
I was long tempted by the new Tokina 12-24 DXII but I wanted to start with a 10 mm rather than a 12 mm in order to justify the gain by the new purchase over the 16-85 mm Nikon lens which I already had. Also, I both tested the new Tokina and Nikon at a professional fair and from the few indoor shots that I took I was a bit disappointed, not as sharp as I would expect and unacceptable chromatic aberrations showed up, although distorsion compensation was OK. So I thought it was worth waiting for the new sigma. That Sigma is able to provide good lenses I had already proof with the 70 mm f2. 8 macro, excellent one. Thus, in the end I dared to buy this as soon as it came out even before reading any reviews. I wish I could read at least one though to feel a bit surer. For this reason I want to share soon my experience with those who are wondering as I did, hoping to be of some help.
So, briefly put, I have no regret. This is the lens I have long waiting for. Image quality is the most important factor for me and I am not disappointed. Sharp, excellent correction of chromatic aberrations, reduction of flare. Slightly soft edges especially at large apertures, but since I typically use a tripod then I can use higher F stops and low iso even in low light conditions and then image quality is superb. It’s not the fixed 3. 5, which I don’t need much, to make the real difference over other lenses but the combination of glasses, I believe.
If you want to see some images that I took with this lense, although not at full resolution, visit my website:
[. . . ] (look at the gallery under the category new, the wide angle images have been taken with the Sigma 10-20 f3. 5, the close up ones with the Sigma 70mm f2.
Mario
Rating: 5 / 5
I compared performance and test images taken with the Sigma 10-20 f/3. 5 against my Nikon 16-85 VRII, which I consider to be my sharpest lens. The photos were taken with a Nikon D5000, tripod mounted, no digital sharpening, of fixed targets on my living room wall at about six feet. The targets consisted of newspaper at the corners and a large US map in the center, with a variety of detail and some color. Illumination was provided by house lamps and a photo flood light. The photos were compared side by side at 200% enlargement.
The Sigma 10-20 was not as sharp as the Nikon 16-85 in the very center of the image at comparable focal lengths (16mm and 20mm) and apertures, although was very close by f/5 and nearly the same at f/8. At the edges of the image however, the Sigma 10-20 was as sharp or sharper and had better contrast at all f-stops tested (3. 5-8). I have no lens to compare the Sigma 10-20 to at shorter focal lengths but Imaging Resource tests indicate good to very good sharpness, similar to the older Sigma 10-20.
Focus speed with the Sigma 10-20 is very fast and quiet, similar to the Nikon 16-85. There is some variation in auto focus reproducibility but seems to be within a reasonable margin of error and will likely not be noticable in most photographs. The zoom action of the Sigma is smoother than the Nikon. The lens is somewhat larger and heavier than the Nikon.
Chromatic aberration/color fringing has been reported as being an issue with many wide angle lenses, including this lens. I will comment on this after shooting some high contrast scenes outdoors if I feel it is significant.
This is my second copy of the lens. The first copy appeared to have a slight back focus problem at 10mm at short focal distances as indicated by variations in auto focus performance vs manual focus to achieve optimal sharpness. Optically, the first copy appeared as sharp as this one and likely would have been acceptable to most users.
First edit 9-30-09: Outdoor shots posted in the gallery. The lens performed well in the field yielding good color and contrast. Flaring is visible as the lens is tilted towards the sun. I used my baseball cap to shade the lens and would also recommend the lens hood in most situations. At 10mm, sharpness is acceptable at f3. 5 in the center and quite soft at the edges. Sharpness at the edges seems fairly good by f4. 5. Color fringing is quite evident in high contrast areas near the edges of the image however it was not so bright as to apppear in uncorrected 8×10 prints. Also it was quite easy to reduce the fringing to a non-issue with CA correction using Adobe CS4. Auto focus was accurate. Overall I’m quite pleased with this lens and I’d say it outperforms my expectations for sharpness and vignetting but I wish the CA was better controlled. I will keep this lens, however the older version (f4-5. 6) is reported to be as good or perhaps better in some respects so I’d recommend the f3. 5 lens only if the constant aperature is of interest to you.
Rating: 5 / 5
Bought this lens with the idea that if it didn’t perform to a professional standard, I’d return it. I LOVE the security I get from Amazon with the 30 day return policy.
Long story short, I’ve shot about 200 floral shots close up and macro equivalent. Virtually all are keepers–and I’ve already committed a number to gallery wrap canvas in 16×24 prints from Mpix. Got them today and they are, in short, phenomenal.
I am still debating the Nikon 12-24 2. 8 as I use both a D90 and D700 to maximize my focal lengths given I have 20 or so Nikon lenses ranging in age from 2009 vintage to 1975 glass.
All are great and I have three other Sigma lenses as well–none is as fun and accurate as this one. When time permits and budget allows, I’ll do a comparison of the Nikon 12-24 but let’s face it–it cost three times as much and is generally considered Nikon’s tour de force.
If you buy this f3. 5 Sigma, I cannot imagine you will be anything but happy.
Good luck–I will be looking for additional feedback.
Rating: 5 / 5