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retrofocus
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Registered: Apr 19, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 10163
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Review Date: Apr 19, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $467.24
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Very nice and well built super-wide/wide angle lens. Delivers sharp photos throughout the photo section. Fair price for the quality.
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Cons:
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Front cap was pretty loose sitting on the lens. Luckily I had an older Sigma lens with the same outer lens diameter which had a cap perfectly fitting onto the new lens and vice versa.
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It is my favorite lens for landscape and sometimes indoor photography. With the Rebel XT D-SLR camera it leads to a focal length between 16 and 32mm. At 16mm, the picture section is huge! At the borders straight lines of objects will be bent a bit, unavoidable at the super-wide focal lengths of this type of lenses. I recommend using the freeware program "ShiftN" to get rid of bent lines when revising the photos on the PC.
The autofocus is working fine, too. Normally I use a medium to higher f-number with this lens. But even at smaller f-numbers the photo was sharp in the center and the borders.
Some people reported decentered copies of this lens. To test your copy, I recommend mounting the camera onto a tripod in front of a brick wall. The borders of the picture should be as sharp as the center at different apertures and focal lengths.
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 Apr 19, 2007
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Hitendra
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Registered: Feb 15, 2007
Location: India
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Apr 16, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $539.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Superb image quality at bargain price.
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Cons:
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77 filter size.
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Apr 16, 2007
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tjloeb
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Registered: Jun 19, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Apr 9, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $450.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Excellent build quality. Fast and quite focusing. Great image quality. It has rapidly become my "always on" lens.
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Cons:
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Lens cap
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I was looking for an additional wide angle lens to supplement my EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS USM. The extra 7mm makes a major difference at the wide end.
I have a Sigma APO MACRO 150mm F2.8 EX DG HSM whose build and image quality were as good or better than any of the Canon equivalents.
So adding another Sigma EX lens was an easy choice.
I have found the 10-20 to meet my needs perfectly. The images are sharp for a lens of this focal length. Focus is fast and accurate. The build quality is top notch.
You do need to be careful to keep the lens level to avoid distortion unless that is your artistic goal.
I share the common complaint about the lens cap. It is odd that a company like Sigma can build such a suburb product with such a poorly designed lens cap. A minor gripe given how easy it is to fix.
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Apr 9, 2007
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Simon Hickie
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Registered: Mar 2, 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Mar 23, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Outstanding central sharpness, even wide open! Contrast very good. Focusing very quiet and accurate. Zoom action smooth. Seems to render an image with much more depth than my Nikkor 18-70mm so things can seem more 3D-like. Resists flare well.
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Cons:
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Not quite so sharp into the edges, but still better than my 18-70. Some vignetting wide-open, but fairly easily fixable. Lens cap & lens hood do not work well together - need to replace it with one of those new Nikon style centre pinch ones. Some horizon line distortions at the edges.
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I was a little sceptical about buying one of these after a bad experience with a Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 EX some years ago. However, I seem to have a good one. It's not perfect - note some of the negative comments above. However, taking the lens as a package, it delivers outstanding value for money. It also has a three year guarantee, unlike Nikon who only offer one year here in the UK.
As with all ultra wides, they have to be used appropriately. By pointing the camera up or down from horizontal you will get converging or diverging verticals. This is normal and not a lens fault. Also, parts of the image at the edges will also appear more 'spread out'. Again this is a normal optical effect with wide-angle lenses and not a feature of this particular lens.
At a hundred pounds less than the Tokina 12-24mm, four hundred pounds less than the 12-24mm Nikkor and an extra couple of mm at the wide end, it seems like an excellent deal. Time will tell though if it the build is up to the mark, but I tend to treat my gear carefully.
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Mar 23, 2007
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Brikwall
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Registered: Jul 2, 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 3
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Review Date: Mar 16, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 7
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Pros:
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Price (in relation to Canon EF-S 10-22mm), build, hood and case included.
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Cons:
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Soft, poor lens cap design, slow (aperture).
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I briefly tested a Canon-mount version of this lens. I was looking for something cheaper than Canon's EF-S 10-22mm and wider than either the 17-40 f/4L or the 16-35 f/2.8L.
The build quality seems good, much better than Canon's consumer lenses, including the under-built and over-priced EF-S 10-22mm. Like others, I don't like the lens cap design but that can be easily and cheaply remedied. It's nice that Sigma includes both a hood and a soft pouch. Lens extension during zooming is minimal, and internal focus is a great feature. Controls were smooth and responsive. AF was fast on my Rebel XT/350D. Distortion, in my opinion, was acceptable.
Unfortunately, the test photos I took told another story. Images were soft at all focal lengths, even at f/8 and f/16. Although I know I am not comparing apples to apples, I was amazed to see that this lens was softer at f/8 and f/16 than either my EF 24-70 or EF 70-200 are at f/2.8. That just isn't right, even for a consumer-grade lens. I have read many of the complaints in this and other forums about softness and quality-control issues with lens. I don't know about the quality control, but the softness is definitely real and definitely an issue.
I'd like to conduct more tests, if possible, just to be sure that my initial findings were correct. However, from what I've seen so far, I'd be hesitant to buy this lens unless I was guaranteed a sharp copy. And that's too bad because, otherwise, I think this would make a great lens.
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Mar 16, 2007
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Ian Miller
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Registered: Mar 15, 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5
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Review Date: Mar 16, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $280.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sharp, quick focusing,nice warm colouration.
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Cons:
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None
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I have been using this lens for several months now and it rarely leaves the front of my camera. Sharp at maximum apeture and ultra sharp by f8 - f11. It need careful use with images with staight lines close to the edge of the image as it will cause distortion. All in all an excellent lens for a budget price. (280 UK pounds)
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Mar 16, 2007
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Mono
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Registered: Oct 5, 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 70
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Review Date: Mar 10, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Amazing wide angle view
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Cons:
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None
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This lens spends more time on my camera than any other. I just love the wide angle offer such impact to an otherwise normal shot. Here's an example of :- http://www.pixalo.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/5185/cat/500/ppuser/164
Remember also vs 12mm lenses, the 10mm end offers extra 10 degrees view
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Mar 10, 2007
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redouane
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Registered: Jul 7, 2006
Location: N/A
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Feb 7, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $645.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Price is good, good image quality and sharpness - rivals 17-40L at 17mm and 20mm, fast, accurate and silent AF.
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Cons:
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Some distortion (obviously) at 10mm, sharpest of course when stopped down, typical Sigma lens cap annoys me.
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I like it a lot. It's WIDE and it's fun. Not everyone can afford a faster alternative, but under the right lighting and circumstances the Sigma 10-20 is a high performer. I've taken a lot of similar pics with this and the 17-40L at same apertures and is having a tough time telling them apart.
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Feb 7, 2007
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m3rocket
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Registered: Feb 25, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 946
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Review Date: Jan 31, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $459.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Value (hood and case included); nice solid build; quiet and quick focusing; impressive sharpness; very little to no CA; great warranty.
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Cons:
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Quality control--first lens focus hunted, and was de-centered, which resulted in a sharp side and a soft side. Lousy lens caps.
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Took some weeks to research the UWA options for use with a Canon 20D. Since I have a 17-40L, I wanted to go as wide as possible, which ruled out the Tamron and Tokina. Played with in-law's Canon EF-S, and thought it was good, but too expensive--it would have cost more than the 17-40L, and you would still need to purchase the hood for the EF-S!
First copy of the lens was bad (SN starts with 102)--it would focus hunt even in bright conditions with center focus. The hood was slightly tight fitting. The images were fine in the middle, but one of the sides was always quite soft, and has worse CA. All indications were that it was a de-centered lens. I returned it for another.
The second lens I received (SN starts with 103) is excellent. The hood now goes on smoothly, and the focus speed is fast and silent; no focus hunting! Sharpness is very good to excellent. Colors are very slightly Sigma-warm compared to the typical Canon-cool, but I shoot RAW mostly, so not a big deal to correct in post if desired.
CA is minimal to non-existent. Distortion at 10mm is okay and adjustable with PTLens, but admittedly, my in-law's EF-S shows less distortion. Vignetting is noticable wide open, but again easily corrected when necessary in post. It also seems to handle flare well.
The build is very good--I like the EX finish and I think it feels better than the Canon EF-S equivalent. Zoom and focus rings are smooth and well-damped. The included front lens cap is useless when the hood is on (I replaced it with a Tamron center-pinch). The rear cap is blah, although no less effective than the Canon equivalent.
Overall, it is a fantastic value compared to the Canon EF-S. Best of all, I'm having fun again with the wide FOV! UWA's are not for everyone--the wide DOF, distortion and FOV pose quite a compositional challenge for most amateurs. But a little bit of patience and experimentation will go a long way. And thanks to Sigma, we can spend less and get equivalent quality to an OEM lens.
Unhesitatingly recommended, provided you get it from a place that will allow exchanges due to QC.
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Jan 31, 2007
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rich schinkel
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Registered: Sep 24, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 49
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Review Date: Jan 17, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $400.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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great image quality, high speed focusing, beefy build
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Cons:
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none what so ever
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I started with the Canon 10-22mm and was not really impressed with the picture quality or the price.
After using a friends Sigma 10-20mm and compared the two I was coinvinced the Sigma was the way to go with over $200 less in price.
This is a Great lens. I find it on my camera more often than my Sigma 17-70mm (which is aslo fantastic, it replaced my 17-40L).
The pictures below aren't great (i'm still learning after 40 yrs. of photography) but they will give you an idea of the Sigma's potential.
http://picasaweb.google.com/nightshooter28/Sigma1020mm
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Jan 17, 2007
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rodgling
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Registered: Nov 11, 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 12
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Review Date: Jan 11, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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build, image quality, hsm (fast, quiet focusing)
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Cons:
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can't remove lens cap with hood on; somewhat front-heavy on a 350D
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10-20mm is a very fun length on a crop body. Focus speed is very fast, quiet, no hunting. Build is excellent, very solid. Reversible hood & pouch are useful extras.
Image quality seems basically excellent, pretty sharp with good colours.
Only real problem is that you can't really get the lens cap on & off with the hood on. I got a center-pinch cap, but it seemed to be touching the front element (barely). Problem finally solved by putting a UV filter on the front, then the center-pinch cap goes on without any danger of touching the filter (because it's flat) or the front element.
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Jan 11, 2007
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Erik Hanson
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Registered: Oct 9, 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 16
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Review Date: Dec 31, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $400.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Small, light, very wide, makes for very interesting pictures, always sharp on my copy.
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Cons:
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hood doesn't fit as well as i would like.
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After debating between this and the Canon model, I went with this after having good luck with my Sigma 70-200. I would rate this as a novelty lens as it's not my prime lens, but it makes for fun shooting and perspectives. Still quite happy with it, and bought for the purpose of taking pictures of the grand canyon by helicopter. Would buy again.
Cheers,
Erik
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Dec 31, 2006
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andyuk
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Registered: Apr 1, 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3
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Review Date: Dec 30, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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price construction weight sharp WIDE quiet
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Cons:
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silly front cap
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very sharp images at 10mm right up to 20mm extreamly sharp at f5 and above.
I was very impressed by the speed and quality of focusing even though wide open it is only f4 compared with the canon f3.5... for the price it is a very useable piece of glass that seems to be attached to to my 20D most of the time...
the very silly lens cap when used with the hood could be improved and then it would score a perfect 10.
all in all the best super wide lens at twice the price.........
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Dec 30, 2006
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MX5NC
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Registered: Dec 27, 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 76
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Review Date: Dec 27, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Well built. Sharp
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Cons:
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The lens cap. Nice case but don't use it.
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I managed to get the ever helpful Jessops to allow me to compare the Sigma 10-20 with the Canon 10-22. Oh and do some free CF printing.
I found the Sigma felt better built and in the 30mins of testing the Sigma also yielded better (sharper) prints. So I purchased the Sigma.
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Dec 27, 2006
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Yiannis L
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Registered: Nov 20, 2006
Location: Cyprus
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Nov 20, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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fast & silent AF, solid build, sharp, goes all the way to 10mm, excelent for its price, quality pictures
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Cons:
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incredibly stupit; once you attach the lens hood, you cant take off the lens cap. Rear cap's worse
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I can say that this is the only 3rd party lens I have- after testing it with its much expensier Nikkor 12-24mm and Tokina 12-24mm.
Fast focusing, silent focusing, immidiate response!
It is not as sharp as the Nikkor -but is still extremely sharp!
It wont reveal that except when you use aperture f/8 - f/16
Other pros are that its the widest of all zoom lenses of its category and I found those extra 2mm very very handy some times, especially if you are shooting buildings and objects from which you cant go very far away.
Distortion is "fair" between 10-12mm, colour rendition is more than great! It gives slightly warm results, that I prefer anyway.
I've read many reviews before buying it - refering to some poor quality or smooth lenses - in store I asked 3 of these lenses and tested them all before buying one of 'em.
In my surprise - all were excelent!
Despite all these, when you buy this lens, remember to throw away its lousy caps and spend some £4 for a new front lens cap, because the one its supplied with, can be really annoying when trying to put on or remove from lens with the hood attached.
(at least it comes with a hood)
Finally, for half the Nikkor's price, it is a top deal and if you're looking for an ultra wide angle lens, you cant go wrong with this.
Wide angle photography is the most fun of all, and it comes cheap!
I strongly recommend this lens, but be very thorough testing it before buying, as you should with any lens, not just Sigma.
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Nov 20, 2006
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woodburyb
Offline
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Registered: Jun 23, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 5
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Review Date: Nov 9, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $450.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Solid build, quick & quiet focus, DOF, good sharpness, Sigma service
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Cons:
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Distortion at wide end, soft and de-centered at first, Sigma QC.
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I would rate this 9 overall, except my copy at first produced soft images and had the infamous de-centered issue, I had to send it twice to Sigma for correction; once the softness issue was resolved, the de-centering became evident To Sigma's credit, the turn around time was about two weeks both times and they fixed the problems.
That said I think this is a very good WA lens, though I rarely use this lens, I just returned from a Thailand/Hong Kong trip and took numerous pictures with it. It performed very well, the group I was with was jealous of my ability to get such wide shots in a frame. Sharpness is good, wide open, but better stopped down, then made better yet with a little USM in Photoshop.
The DOF is really the strong point of this lens, most of my pictures were taken at f8 with manual focus set at 3', the images are in focus from front to back.
It's versatile and easy to use, my only complaint is the (expected) distortion at 10mm, I guess there are shooting perspectives that can diminish that, I just don't know how to do it.
Great lens, highly recommended.
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Nov 9, 2006
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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170
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432093
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Nov 5, 2017
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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84% of reviewers
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$468.72
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Build Quality Rating
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Price Rating
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Overall Rating
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8.89
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8.90
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8.4
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