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

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

I saw a mint 24 1.8 sell for $225 last week. That is close to half the price of new.

Oct 04, 2009 at 12:24 PM

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

Yes I am using a 5D, today I took some more pics with the 20mm, I really really like the lens.
The AF is not the greatest but I didn't have problems so far, the only thing that bugs me a little is the dual MF/AF switch... what is it for? Why have the clutch mechanism and the standard switch (and you need to change both...)?

Anyway here are some 100% edge crops of the pics from the first post:

http://img3.abload.de/img/gatesfjh.jpg

http://img3.abload.de/img/jungleautumnyd6y.jpg

(I think there was some slight vibration in this one due to the water rushing on one of my tripod legs.)

I'll be posting more pics soon.

Oct 04, 2009 at 12:55 PM

Anden
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

Nice ones! I had one that was not so great in the corners on my 5D. I would love one that performes like this though.

A

Oct 04, 2009 at 01:27 PM

Astragony
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

Here is a quick snap from today:

wideopen
http://www.abload.de/img/dozerecu0.jpg

and here is a center crop of the focus area @1.8
http://www.abload.de/img/dozerjf97.jpg

To me this is sharp, I really don't get all the fuss about wide open performance, maybe I was just lucky and got a good copy...

EDIT: another pic wideopen from yesterday:

http://www.abload.de/img/pumanifestanteqdh6.jpg

I totally love the rendering of the lens, really smooth bokeh too

Oct 04, 2009 at 01:49 PM

dave chilvers
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

Some time back I raved over my sigma 20 1.8 and was sort of pooh pood. Mine has never given any problems with Af. I don`t use it wide open so can`t say on that but at f8/11 it`s a great lens for the money.

OK, I now have a Contax 21 but when I first got it I was using a idsmk2 and to be perfectly honest the Sigma held it`s own very well against the Contax. When I moved up to 21 million pixels the Contax did show it`s legs more and justified the cost but the Sigma is stored and I will never sell it. Lets face it, mostly we use this focal length for effect and the sigma brings home the bacon every time.

Great shots BTW.

Oct 04, 2009 at 06:24 PM

eosslr
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

Astragony wrote:
Here is a quick snap from today:

EDIT: another pic wideopen from yesterday:

I totally love the rendering of the lens, really smooth bokeh too

too much blue tint in the last shot (eyes area) - did you overplayed in photoshop or is this unadjusted from the camera?

Oct 04, 2009 at 06:30 PM

EltonTeng
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

This series was shot with 1D2N + Sigma 20/1.8:

http://jegnet.smugmug.com/Travel/Portland-OR-Lan-Su-Garden-June/3353107_PSsHs/1/186949912_bZfc2

One of the photos @ F 6.3:

http://jegnet.smugmug.com/photos/186949912_bZfc2-L.jpg

Nothing wide open or anything. Lens is fun if used properly.

Oct 04, 2009 at 08:17 PM

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

For it's price the Sigma is a descent lens
http://www.pbase.com/larsjohnsson/image/29124047/original.jpg

Oct 05, 2009 at 11:41 AM

Astragony
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

eosslr wrote:
too much blue tint in the last shot (eyes area) - did you overplayed in photoshop or is this unadjusted from the camera?

photoshop, going for a vintage cross processing look

Lars Johnsson wrote:
For it's price the Sigma is a descent lens
http://www.pbase.com/larsjohnsson/image/29124047/original.jpg

Awesome pic Lars!

Oct 05, 2009 at 02:05 PM

nycandre
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Sigma 20mm f1.8: what an underrated lens!

Quite agree - this is a little gem of a lens. Most reviews do pan it, and I noticed that none of the pros highlighted in Sigma's own gallery have any shot with it. They seem to like the 10-20 and 70-200. Maybe they suffer from the 'sharpness syndrome' malady. As for me, I find that it is sharp enough in the centre, does have issues with bokeh wide open, and flare in extreme situations - but then it focuses fast enough on my D700, is maneuverable and not that heavy, and most important gets the shot.

Pretty lady in red an black, street shot
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/5014622844/
Exif: 1/1250 f/5.6 ISO 800
This is about 1/2 crop from the original; more detail, unsharpened
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/5016183451/
I's say this is plenty sharp.

Great for macros. But really busy bokeh, at least when shot at f2/0, and extreme case - Note the flower is very close, maybe a few inches - its diameter is about the size of two quarters
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/5016914598/
Exif: f/2.0 1/2500 ISO 800

It does flare when shot right into the sun - Notice the cool small green sphere, totally an artifact of the lens. You probably won't get that with a Zeiss. Then again I sort of like that imperfect personality
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/5016270909/
Exif: 1/640 f/5.6 ISO 800

Getting back to basics - it gets the shot !
Impromptu grab shot, barely had time to shoot from the hip, letting the autofocus work its thing. I'd say it did a great job - getting the shot is what it's all about in the end. And I 'd say it is plenty sharp enough.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/5016863534/
Exif: 1/125 f/5.6 ISO 800

Sep 23, 2010 at 12:46 AM

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