Customer Reviews

Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM ELD SLD Aspherical Super Wide Angle Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've owned this lens since February and it is my favorite lens for hiking. Using an ultra wide angle lens is a unique experience that comes with a steeper learning curve then most other ranges. The biggest concept to grasp is scale, at 10mm an object 1 foot from your lens will look like its 5 feet away through the viewfinder, so composition and corner to corner attention to detail is crucial to getting a good image.

Distortion at its widest is reasonable and expected.

It is incredibly sharp in center to mid frame wide open, but it can get a little soft on the edges. I own the Canon 70-200mm 2.8 IS USM II , so I know what sharp looks like and I have no gripes with this sigma.

Focus is quick and the rings have just the right amount of tension allowing for precise setting. Try laying on the ground and have a friend jump over you, ultra wide angle lens have incredibly large depths of field and it's hard for this lens to miss focus. Also the minimum focusing distance is inches from the front element, so watch those cactus needle in the desert.

The color reproduction is wonderful, and flare is controlled very well by design. The hood is ample, although when shooting wide the sun always seems to find its way into frame.

Chromatic Aberration can occur towards the sides of the frames, but due to the previously mentioned scaling effect, you would have to crop into the image to notice it.

The case is great, although I never knew how awkward working a cube into my camera bag would be. I eventually started leaving the case at home as it just took up to much room in my bag.

Ultimately I do not regret this purchase one bit. Compared to other ultra wides, I couldn't tell you, all I can tell you as this is my go to lens when I'm feeling creative and it hasn't let me down yet. I'll post sample pics to illustrate my points.

This is the first short zoom that I've owned, so I can't compare it to any of its competition. I bought the f3.5 model to shoot in low-light because the built-in flash on my D60 casts a shadow with large caliber lenses. It's a quirky lens, for sure; but one well worth its price, overall. Is the Nikon version worth the extra $250? I'll never know. Those wanting a cheaper entry point would do well looking at the Tamron. Of all my lenses, I use this one most of all, with rave reviews. If I had to do it again, I'd have to go with the Sigma 8-16mm.

Update:
I have shot hundreds of photos with this lens over the ensuing months of ownership. My single complaint is vignetting, although it is only a problem with available-light indoor photography.

While this lens shines when used outdoors for architectural photos, it also does a fantastic job indoors at weddings and parties, when you need to get the full table or dance shot but can't back up enough to frame it with a normal zoom. It's simply perfect for crowded street festivals and flea markets as well. I took mine to Queen's Day in Amsterdam and came back with beautifully framed street scenes in the midst of the mob.

In retrospect, this lens is so useful that it is hard for me to believe that I had ever managed without it. I find myself using it with much greater frequency -- and with more impressive results -- than my 70-300mm zoom lens. With a little imagination you too will discover just how versatile a photographic tool the short zoom can be.

Unless you spend a lot of time taking shots of birds or stadium sports, forget the long zoom and commit to the short zoom. Just buy it and start discovering this new perspective for yourself. You will never look back.

I found this to be a very helpful lens added to my collection. It's great being able to take very wide angle shots without having to stand at a long distance away. The far edges of images can be somewhat soft and suffers from chromatic aberration, but I think any lens at this price level will also be the same; in most images, though, these imperfections do nothing to distract from the overall image, so I find it an acceptable trade-off for the new capabilities it opens up. I haven't yet had a chance to explore the full range of its qualities (like making panoramas and complete 360 domes), but I expect that these should work well with a program like Hugin. I have used Hugin's exposure fusion feature (like HDR+tone mapping in one step), though, and have been very pleased with the dramatic architectural photos which are possible.

Superb condition, great result. Unlike other Sigma lenses in lower segment made for Canon cams, this one gives much superior colour production and detailing. Vignetting is minimal compared to others and distortion is pleasant. Flare is a bit of issue but tricky, one may handle it smarly.

I've gotten into shooting time lapse with my Canon 7D. I got this lens because it seemed good and I figured it was time to take a chance on a sigma lens. So far, I haven't been disappointed. Here's a link to a time lapse I shot with it the day I got it.

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I think that pretty much says it all....

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.

great product and even better for the price at least for what I was looking around for. sigma is always good quality, the company did great job in shipping and no issues.

I would recommend this lens based on quality and cost. It is a good value and solidly built. One must realize that for landscape photography this lens is perfect. It is not used for portraits. Landscapes shots are usually studied and shot while on a tripod and with a cable release - so f3.5 is not a problem. Your exposures will be of such a length that the camera can't be hand held. (I am assuming that you will take a landscape picture during the "golden" hours of the day.) The preferred ISO will be 100. You should be shooting, if you want sharp focus, at approximatley f16 - or the middle range for your lens - or higher. Manual focus is preferred and generally you pick an object to set focus on about 1/3 into your picture. Wide angles such at this give excellent depth of field and you can keep near as well as far objects in focus. Hope this helps....

It's a good chunk of change at 649.00 but the quality of build and along with 3.5 makes this lens a good deal. I use it on a canon 40D. Used it on the coast of Maine...the landscape shots were very good, to my surprise the shots of people and animals were good to very good as well. The lens adds action to your pics without unwanted distortion.

This lens is incredible. Colors are better than my L 24-105 by far. I am sold on Sigma for sure. Real happy with everything about this lens. Clouds come out so nice.