Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | Leica & Alternative Gear | Join Upload & Sell

2 end

Archive 2009 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

Astragony
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

I just got my sigma 20mm f1.8 cause I couldn't find a cheap zuiko 21mm f2...
Well, it's one of the most impressive lens I ever tried (and I tried/owned lots of good glass...).
I don't know about quality check but I got a very very sharp copy used in mint condition for really cheap.
The lens is already really sharp at f1.8 in the center, ok the edges wide open are kind of muddy but why would you need sharp edges at 1.8?

Stopped down around f11 the lens is edge to edge razor sharp! It's incredible!

Also the mfd is insane, pretty much touching the lens.

The only thing I would like is the lens to be a little smaller but it's not really that bad, it's more or less the size and weight of the 24L.

Here are a few samples:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2653/3975648618_b73bbabf58_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2456/3971289797_f610d75f1e_o.jpg

http://img5.abload.de/img/jungleautumne7a8.jpg

http://img5.abload.de/img/mawabbitbjht.jpg

Oct 02, 2009 at 05:46 PM

inthemoment
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

What camera are you using?

Oct 02, 2009 at 05:57 PM

Tariq Gibran
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

Yes, full frame or cropped sensor? I have gone back and forth between getting one of the wide angle Sigma 1.8's. Both the 24 and the 28 appear to be great lenses as well, particularly given their speed and price.

Oct 02, 2009 at 06:12 PM

davenfl
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

Great shots and that is a really well kept secret of a lens, enjoy. He is using a 5D2.

Dave

Oct 02, 2009 at 06:13 PM

ulrikft
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

I use my sigma 20 1.8 on the d700, and I love it

It is a tad big though!

Oct 02, 2009 at 06:13 PM

jcolwell
Online
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

A quick look with Opanda IEXIF 2 shows Astragony is using it on a 5DII.

Oct 02, 2009 at 06:26 PM

Tariq Gibran
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

A Sigma 20mm that offers corner to corner sharpness on a 5DII? That is impressive.

Oct 02, 2009 at 06:28 PM

Sam Bennett
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

The lens is very impressive optically, assuming you can get your subject in proper focus. The death knell of that lens is its inability to do so on a regular basis.

Oct 02, 2009 at 07:38 PM

DubiousDrewski
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

I remember when people used to turn their noses up at Sigma.

Is it just my perception, or has Sigma become more respected and popular in recent years?

20mm at f1.8 looks like alot of fun. Hmm. Let me go see if it's made in K-Mount...

Oct 02, 2009 at 08:16 PM

gcrimmins
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

Sam, do tell. Are there autofocus problems with this lens? Or what's the concern with getting images in focus with it? It seems to produce nice images when it is in focus.

--Geoff

Oct 02, 2009 at 08:21 PM

bluetsunami
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

DubiousDrewski wrote:
I remember when people used to turn their noses up at Sigma.

Is it just my perception, or has Sigma become more respected and popular in recent years?

20mm at f1.8 looks like alot of fun. Hmm. Let me go see if it's made in K-Mount...

They still get their chops busted due to QC issues (which if anything is probably keeping them from becoming even more respected). The new 50/1.4 has definitely created a new following though.

Oct 02, 2009 at 08:29 PM

Sam Bennett
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

Yes, the 20mm's AF just isn't very consistent on top of the mechanism being slow and awkward moving between AF and MF. I really loved the Sigma 20mm while I was shooting Canon but when I got the 24-70L my keeper ratio skyrocketed simply because of the AF accuracy. When I look back at my 20mm shots, I sometimes just cringe at how out the focus is.

I'm a believer in Sigma, they absolutely have gotten better. But they still have QA issues, and AF is still the biggest problem. The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 renders beautiful bokeh with exceptionally sharp images with a minimum of vignetting on FX. But the darned thing just couldn't focus reliably. I just worked around it using the D700's manual adjustment, but when I sold it to a friend I discovered that adjustment didn't work well at longer distances - awkward. I have two 70-200's, and I've noticed over time that one just seems to focus more reliably than the other.

So... In summary... Sigma can produce some sharp, contrasty lenses with minimal CA and beautiful bokeh. But watch your focus if you want those results on a consistent basis.

Oct 02, 2009 at 09:30 PM

Tariq Gibran
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

It seems I read a lot about Sigma focus issues with the Canon mount in particular. Perhaps I will give it a go on the Sony/Minolta mount.

Oct 02, 2009 at 09:39 PM

Sam Bennett
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

I'm shooting Nikon now, fwiw. My experience with the 50mm f/1.4 and the 70-200's are on my D700's. I think the reason you see more complaints from Canon owners is a combination of there being more of them, and they're being more prone to complain.

Oct 02, 2009 at 09:55 PM

CKrueger
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

I never had any AF problems with my 20/1.8 on my 300D, 350D, 40D, or 5D. It was bulletproof in its accuracy, and worked very well in low light. On the 5D the corners were a bit mushy wide open, but were decent at f/2.8, good enough for all but huge prints at f/4, and excellent at f/8.

I eventually sold mine along with my 5D, but I agree, it's a great lens in every respect, except perhaps AF noise and size.

FWIW, I've had four Sigma lenses so far, and all of them have had perfect AF and have been good optical performers. On the other hand, I've had four sub-par Canon lenses. My first 17-40 in particular was horrid even at f/8.

Oct 02, 2009 at 10:46 PM

inthemoment
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

i'm looking for a wide angle prime. What would the gallery recommend..sigma 20 1.8, sigma 24 1.8 , canon 24 2.8 or some other....this would be going on a canon 1ds2.

Oct 02, 2009 at 10:56 PM

gasrocks
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

The review at Photozone.de is not favorable but they mention perhaps a bad copy. The Digital Picture also pans it. Can anyone direct me to a favorable review?

Oct 04, 2009 at 09:45 AM

TWoK
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

I think the only real valid complaint about this lens aside from its size is the hard to correct distortion, but that doesn't mater to a lot of us.

Oct 04, 2009 at 10:13 AM

Navyblue
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

I have the 20/1.8 too and it's my favorite lens. When I was using cropped body it sort of rendered useless by the 17-55IS and I wanted to sell it. Now with only FF body I am so glad that I didn't manage to sell it.

Focus wise it is perfect, so is my 150/2.8 (this one I am less sure). But I can't say the same for the 24-70, 10-20 and 18-125 (all front focused at wide end), the cheapo 70-300 I had was fine though.

If I want an AF 24 or 28 it'd likely be the Sigma. Very under rated indeed.

Oct 04, 2009 at 10:30 AM

dfresh
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

OP, how much did you pay if you don't mind me asking? Just curious what the fast Sigmas go for on the used market...

Oct 04, 2009 at 12:01 PM

1 2 end
FM Forums \| Leica & Alternative Gear \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 end

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.