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rbart
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Registered: Oct 7, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Jun 6, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $455.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Super wide, sturdy build, hood and case, quiet HSM motor, cheaper than canon, pretty sharp even wide open
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Cons:
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Sometimes Soft Right side
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I felt that the standard wide angle APS-C 18mm just wasn't wide enough for me indoors or at my favorite local water falls (Pattison State Park, WI). I opted for a cheap alternative and bought a MC Zenitar 16mm f2.8 fisheye. Although the Zenitar was quite sharp when stopped down a little, I felt limited by the manual focus and aperture and I couldn't use front filters. The zenitar also overexposed when it was wide open and it would under expose when stopped down past f8 and I never seemed to get a handle on how much exposure correction I needed. I decided that I should consider either the canon 10-22mm or the sigma 10-20mm. After much consideration, I couldn't bring myself to paying $200 more for the canon and still not get a hood. The sigma also provides a better build and a carrying case. I've taken about 300 shots with my new sigma. Out of those, I've found about 10 with a soft right hand side. I haven't discovered a pattern to it. I don't know if there is a loose element that shifts if you lean to one direction or what. Here is a sample shot taken with this lens and two stacked ND Cokin filters: (Amnicon Falls, WI) - http://www.bobbarthen.com/photos/view_photo.php?set_albumName=AmniconFalls&id=upperfalls1
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 Jun 6, 2006
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neilcuk05
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Registered: May 14, 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Jun 4, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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fast, silent focus; very wide angle; limited distortion for an UWA; sharp pictures; great colours; priced well below competition
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Cons:
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shame it's APS-C only
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I was a little hesitant at first, particularly after reading on the forums about the notorious "soft right hand side" issue. However, I didn't want to spend nearly double on Canon's lens, which in my opinion didn't feel nearly as solid as the Sigma when I handled the two lenses before buying.
However, it goes to show that many users only complain when there's something wrong, and won't create a fuss when the lens is as described! I'm very happy with my copy, and don't notice any real softness at the sides at all.
It's a shame that there's such a big difference between 10mm and 12mm and that there are no 10mm full frame compatible lenses available so these 10-xx lenses aren't totally future proof, but they're well worth the fun to be had for a good few years yet
The lens is very solidly built, focuses quickly and without any problems, and comes with a padded case and petal hood. It focuses internally, and the lens doesn't change much in size when zooming. Overall, it's a very well built lens and doesn't unbalance the camera at all
The pictures are sharp, and the colours are great. There's no more to say - the lens is fantastic, and if you take into the account the saving to be had over the Canon equivilent, it becomes even better
Highly recommended - don't let the horror stories put you off!
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Jun 4, 2006
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RichWiller
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Registered: May 17, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 8
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Review Date: May 30, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $499.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Unbelievable field of view and depth of field compaired to Kit lens, no flare with hood even in full sun. Gathers plenty of light at dusk and in shadows. Looks and feels of solid quality. Fast and accurate focus. Great closeup detail.
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Cons:
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Skip the lens cap and use UV filter with the hood. Composition of shots gets to be a full time job due to lens limits and width extent. Must shoot perpendicular to edges and lines unless you like convergence, almost a fish eye.
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Compaired to the kit lens that came with the Rebel XT this glass knocked my socks off, maybe just a little too wide for the squeemish. We shot 200 pics of down town streets, bridges, tracks, cobblestone and horse & carrage venues just to get a feel for this lens. Be prepaired to step in to the scene to camera crop a full frameof your subject or you will get a lot of garbage cans and porta potties on the edges that you never had to worry about before. Vanishing point perspectives are down right surreal and crisp. The focus system is fast and easy to tweak with a smooth touch of the easy to find ring. This lens is down right scarry and fun to shoot with. Seems to do just fine outside in low light and shadows, the detail explodes in the recorded image even if the view finder seemed dark. Yes I will keep this, but a "Canon 24-105 4L IS" delivers tomorrow to give me a little more reach and crop, and a little rest from the wicked demands of the "wide one!"
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May 30, 2006
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Psilonaught
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Registered: Jan 3, 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 17
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Review Date: May 26, 2006
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Recommend? no |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 5
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Pros:
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Cost and Size, nothing else really.
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Cons:
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not sharp, lacking in detail. Blurred right hand side on all images.
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I bought this instead of the Canon 10-22mm to save some money but boy was i disappointed! Pictures produced with this lens were very soft, and the lack if detail at 100% was shocking. The right hand side of all photos was very blurry as well.
I would not recommend this lens. I ended up buying the Canon 10-22 in the US, saving £100 and it's superb, way way sharper than the Sigma.
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May 26, 2006
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toyotasera.co.
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Registered: Sep 25, 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3
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Review Date: May 21, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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build quality feels very good, image quality (in my novice view) is very good as well. Fast accurate focussing and silent motor
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Cons:
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None
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I bought this to supplement the 18-55 kit lens as a true wide angle lens for my Canon 350D. It spent a long weekend on my camera for a trip to Amsterdam and I don't regret the purchase at all.
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May 21, 2006
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susslaps
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Registered: Jul 14, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 234
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Review Date: May 11, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Reliable color rendition
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Cons:
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Some flatness around edges, loose lens cap
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I don't think the clarity is as good as the canon 10-22mm lens but it is good for price. Handles interior shots very well (with assitance of photoshop lens distortion filter), ie, no color problems near edges. Also, great outdoor beach/water shots with polarizer. Finally, surprisingly good portraits, especially chldren.
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May 11, 2006
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platypus
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Registered: Oct 29, 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 0
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Review Date: May 8, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Well built, sharp, 3 year guarantee (in UK), HSM focusing.
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Cons:
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A bit heavy, slightly inconsistent across frame, focus problems 10-14mm.
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Finally orderded this lens a few weeks ago after reading most of the web reviews. Could not afford the Canon efs 10-22mm.
First copy exhibited poor flatness of field between 10-14mm unless stopped down to f11 and beyond- the right 25% was blurred. So I sent it back to the retailer who duly swpped it for another.
Same problem on repalcement so I sent it to Sigma UK who sent out a (tested) replacement.
I was pretty perplexed to discover this third sample had the same problem so investigated manually focusing between 10-14mm. Problem is mainly solved by the workaround of setting manual focus on infinity at these focal lengths. Now I get nice sharp images side to side at F5.6 onwards (though there is slight falloff in sharpness at edges at 10mm as you would expect)
It seems that my 300D front focuses rather on big depth of field setting at these focal lengths and this accentuates a slight problem of decentring. Maybe the internal focusing group of lenses is a little loose and is knocked out of skew by the autofocus action (that's my theory anyway).
But I would recommend this lens - Manual focusing doesn't really slow me down because at wide settings the lens has to be used with care anyway.
Build quality is as impressive as any Sigma I've seen, and the HSM focusing, above mentioned problems aside, is pretty good.
And did I mention what fun an ultrawide is to use? Great for architecture and interiors!
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May 8, 2006
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kevindar
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Registered: May 6, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 3838
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Review Date: May 8, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $350.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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fast accurate focusing, nice build, works on 10d, and I have even tried it on ff camera.
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Cons:
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not sharp in the corners wide open, CA
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I dont do a lot of wide angle shots, but love the ones I have taken. The borders from 10-14 are soft wide open, but improve some by stopping down. it works on full frame, covering the field completely from 17-200, an usuble (of course after doing some cropping) from 10-17. built quality and focusing is excellent.
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May 8, 2006
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Petrus
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Registered: Feb 17, 2005
Location: Poland
Posts: 160
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Review Date: May 6, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $550.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Good image quality, good build quality, fast focus, good price, very good colours, constant results, unbelivable sharp at 20mm .....AND IT'S WIDEEEEEE!!!!!!.... MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER NEED!!!
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Cons:
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Front lens cup is cheap... and can't be attached when hood is on... thats all..... great lens !!!
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I happened to post a sharpnes test of this lens at FM just after I got one of the first glass that reachad my country in August 2005.
As a wideangle maniac I just love it. 2mm between 12 and 10 do counts for me... I like constant results this lens gives... just go and buy it... WIDE IS BETTER!!!
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May 6, 2006
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cdryall
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Registered: Mar 19, 2005
Location: South Africa
Posts: 0
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Review Date: May 4, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $400.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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2nd Copy I have is stellar - just continues to amaze me - would have been a 10 rating if not that first copy had the common right defocussing issue - Sigma has to get its QC issues corrected! Still - get a goodie and you will NOT be disappointed. Excllent build, value and side to side resolution....
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Cons:
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QC????? thats almost all............
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May 4, 2006
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MARTHIN
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Registered: Apr 18, 2005
Location: Brazil
Posts: 0
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Review Date: May 2, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Very sharp, fast and fantastic colors.
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Cons:
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nobe
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This lens is really just the best bang for buck out there at the moment. I couldn't imagine parting with my lens and will probably keep it for a very, very long time. On my Canon XT it is exteremly wide and sometimes I almost think it is to wide for general use, however this lens will always be in my bag it is just to darn useful. On a 1.6 crop I believe this lens would be close to perfect for general photography.
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May 2, 2006
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onder
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Registered: Nov 2, 2005
Location: Turkey
Posts: 50
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Review Date: May 1, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $450.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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10 is wide, there is a huge different than 12. Sharp.
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Cons:
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loose back caps and front cap but not a real problem.
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I think this is one of the best ultra-wide zoom ever for Nikon. Thank Sigma.
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May 1, 2006
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Leeuwen
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Registered: Feb 24, 2006
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Apr 30, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Build, zoom range
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Cons:
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Impossible to get Lenscap of when the hood is on.
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Bought it before a vacation to Nepal.
It had an absolute beating there but it survived graciously.
None of the mentioned problems with unsharp/unfocussed images on my Canon EOS 350 (Rebel xt)
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Apr 30, 2006
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mlade10
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Registered: Oct 7, 2005
Location: Serbia & Montenegro
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Apr 14, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 5
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Pros:
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Sigma EX standard qualities ( if you like them ):solid build and style, fast and quiet HMS, relatively light and small, included lens bag and hood, price
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Cons:
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at 10mm right third of the image unacceptable( soft, blurred, defocused )
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Till now enjoyed Sigma's EX product line.
My copy of 10-20 leaves me with the mixed feeling.Obvious problem with right 20-25% part of the image at 10mm ( ridiculously soft, blurred, defocused ). Rest of the image clear and sharp.
At 20mm good to excellent in all aspects.
Obvious quality control issue.
Try to test this lens before buying, if possible. If no, alternative is to send it back to local Sigma center (if 'defocused'), but following Sigma's 'guarantee therms and conditions', customer pays for 'in and out' sending costs, so it adds to the price.
If good copy, then great value for many.
Anyhow mine goes back to Sigma Benelux for repair. Hopefully happy, when it's back.
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Apr 14, 2006
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Georg Dittié
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Registered: Dec 14, 2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 37
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Review Date: Apr 12, 2006
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Recommend? no |
Price paid: $450.00
| Rating: 5
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Pros:
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really ultrawide for APS-C sensor cameras
amazingly low distortion
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Cons:
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zoom lens, a 10 mm prime would be better
very bad (no ?) quality check after manufacturing
plastic barrel with large tolerances
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This lens makes me feel very ambivalent. It is the only ultra wide with no distortion for the Canon 10D, which cannot use EF-S lenses, but the image and particular the build quality are the worst I've ever seen from Sigma.
My copy is useless with full aperture at 10 mm. The right quarter of the image is not only soft, its defocused. The overall focus is allways to short, I have to focus it beyond the infinity mark to get usable images. I assume to large manufacturing tolerances of the plastic barrel of the lens.
The situation is less severe for 15mm and longer. With 20 mm the lens delivers nice and crisp images despite the focussing issue.
I don't expect perfect images from such an extreme retrofocus zoom lens, but I expect symmetrical images and nor a decentered and defocussed lens.
But there is a workaround: Switch the AF off. Stop the lens down at least to 8.0 Fix the focus ring with tape to the focus position which delivers the best image and use the lens as a fix focus design: The depth of field is incredible large at 10mm / 8.0 Focussing is not neccessary.
With theese settings the lens delivers an image quality which can be use up o 6*9" prints. CA ist visible, but not disturbing, same for vignetting (which is an principal issue for ultra wides !). The distortion ist amazingly low.
Since I lost the guarantee card and throw away the original box, I have no chance to return it, I have to live with the limitations.
I can't recommend this lens, to design a zoom lens in combination with an extreme retrofocus desing as an ultra wide is in my opinion still beyond our optical skills. A prime with better mechanics and a trace of quality check before delivery would be preferable.
The better alternative is to use the Sigma 15/2.8 fisheye with a defishing software afterwards. The 15/2.8 fisheye is a really decent lens and tack sharp from corner to corner, not to speak about the additional 3 stops !
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Apr 12, 2006
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teglis
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Registered: Aug 31, 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 1094
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Review Date: Apr 10, 2006
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Recommend? no |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 3
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Pros:
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Price, field-of-view at 10mm
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Cons:
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Focus, soft
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Since switching from film to digital SLRs in 2003, and buying a number of lenses, this is probably the worst. In the store I tested it against the Canon 10-22 by shooting pictures of the building across the street. The two appeared to peform similarly. Unfortunately, those were the best pictures I got out of this lens; it's been downhill ever since, even though I purchased the copy I tested with.
Pictures are consistently soft and lack the oomph of a good crisp super wide angle image. I suspect this is due to the lens's inability to focus consistently (on a Canon 20D). Each time you press the button, the HSM hunts for a focus point--even if you're still shooting exactly the same scene. I could not trust it to produce a decent shot.
The lens produces moustache distortion--harder to correct than the barrel distortion of many other lenses. Fortunately it's not that obvious in most real world shooting situations.
In the 18-20mm range that overlaps the Sigma 18-125, the latter consistently produces better results, even though it doesn't have HSM and is not an EX lens.
Since getting the FF Canon 5D, which makes wide angle lenses wide angle again, the Sigma 10-20 has sat on a shelf. I eventually sold it, even though I still use the 20D.
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Apr 10, 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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