Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

by Sigma

• 10-20mm ultra-wide angle lens designed exclusively for Canon digital SLR cameras
• 3 special low dispersion (SLD) glass elements to compensate for color aberration
• Hyper-Sonic Motor (HSM) produces silent, high-speed autofocus; full-time manual focus
• Multilayer lens coating reduces flare and ghost; 9.4-inch close focusing distance
• Measures 3.3 inches in diameter and 3.2 inches long; weighs 16.4 ounces

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007U00X0
• Item model number: B0007U00X0
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (388 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #97 in Camera & Photo > Lenses > Camera Lenses
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 16, 2003

Product Description

Style: Canon SLR Camera

Amazon.com

Designed exclusively for Canon digital SLR cameras, the ultra-wide-angle 10-20mm offers a view from 102.4 to 63.8 degrees, making it ideal for landscape photography and other vast applications. The lens is distinguished by its three special low dispersion (SLD) glass elements, which effectively compensate for color aberration, and its aspherical lenses, which provide maximum correction for distortion and various aberrations. As a result, the lens produces an extremely high image quality throughout the entire zoom range. The HSM-equipped models, meanwhile, produce fast autofocus (AF) speeds and quiet shooting while still letting you perform full-time manual focus. Other details include a minimum focusing distance of 9.4 inches at all focal lengths and an integral petal-type hood to block out extraneous light.

Lens Elements and Coating
The new multilayer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghost--a common problem with digital cameras--while also creating an optimal color balance throughout the entire zoom range. At the same time, the lens offers three SLD glass elements that effectively compensate for color aberration, along with a piece of glass mold and two hybrid aspherical lenses that offer excellent correction for distortion and all types of aberration.

Inner Focusing System and HSM
The lens incorporates an internal focusing system that eliminates front lens rotation, letting you use a petal-type hood to protect from additional glare. And models equipped with a Hyper-Sonic Motor (HSM) produce silent, high-speed autofocus and full-time manual focus for Sigma, Canon, and Nikon D-mount lenses.

Best Consumer Lens
The Sigma 10-20mm lens is so respected that it was named the best consumer lens in Europe (2006) by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA), a collection of 31 publications from 12 countries. According to TIPA, the 10-20mm lens offers a versatile range of wide-angle focal lengths, a good optical performance, and a budget price, making it an excellent investment for owners of DSLRs with APS-C format sensors. Its sharpness remains constant throughout the zoom range, and its compact size makes it an ideal companion for shooting travel, landscapes, or architectural subjects.

• Lens construction: 14 elements in 10 groups
• Angle of view: 102.4 to 63.8 degrees
• Number of diaphragm blades: 6
• Minimum aperture: f/22
• Minimum focusing distance: 9.4 inches
• Maximum magnification: 1:6.7
• Filter size: 77mm
• Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter and 3.2 inches long
• Weight: 16.4 ounces

Product Description

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

See all Product Description

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

294 of 300 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I didn't plan on buying this lens but I am glad I did October 21, 2006

By Craig 1959

Style Name:Nikon SLR Camera

I went into a local camera store to look at the Nikon 12-24mm wide angle zoom to eventually augment the Nikon 50mm 1.8 and 18-200mm VR I currently use on my D200. After seeing the Sigma 10-20mm, taking test shots with it and the Nikon, and then printing the shots in the store, I walked out with the Sigma lens.

I had planned to buy the 12-24mm Nikon next Spring when my budget would allow the expenditure. I have had success with Nikon optics in the past - starting with my first Nikon FM back in the seventies. The Sigma's good construction, nice finish, smooth+fast+quiet focusing and 10mm focal length convinced me to try my first non-Nikon lens in 30 years. A big factor: The Sigma lens is less than half the price of the Nikon lens here is Canada. It fit my budget, so I took the plunge.

The Sigma fits into my "sharp enough" category. In real world shooting, its sharpness is on par with my 18-200mm Nikon. Both lens are less sharp than my $100 50mm 1.8 when "test" images are blown up to 16"x20" size. I never notice any lack of sharpness in "real" pictures. I care more about color saturation, contrast and color balance anyway. In this area, the Sigma does well. Saturation and contrast are equal to both my other Nikon lens - particularly at f8 and smaller aperatures. Wide open, I find some weakening in contrast. The Sigma has a warmer color termperature than my other lens. One click toward blue in Photoshop would fix this minor variance in color. But I use my 10-20mm almost exclusively for landscapes. The warmer color is generally a good thing.

I have noticed some vignetting @ 10mm f4. Zooming to 12mm or stopping down to f5.6 elminates any artifacts in pictures I have taken thus far. I have found it's more important to avoid "thick framed" filters - and stacking filters is a no no with this lens. They cause more darkening than a wide open f-stop. BTW: I added a 72 to 77mm step-up ring to my 18-200m VR Nikon to allow me to share filters between my zoom lens.

I do miss having a manual/autofocus switch on the Sigma lens. I have accidently nudged the manual focus ring a couple of times. With that said, the incredible depth of field of this lens (or any lens at this focal length) means small focusing errors can be tolerated :)

I recommend this lens - even to people like me, who never had a non-nikon lens before.

386 of 396 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Could be 1 Star, Could be 5 Stars! Read More: February 28, 2009

By Jim Saueressig

Style Name:Samsung SLR Camera|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am rating this lens with only three stars because I am reviewing two lenses. Here is why:

When I received my lens I later realized that I did not receive the extended three year warranty card that comes with the USA versions of the lens. Instead of just sending me the extended warranty card Amazon shipped me a whole new lens. Now while I was reading reviews prior to ordering this lens I had seen many reviews where the reviewer either loved this lens or they hated it. After a while I could see why...

Some of the lenses that are being shipped are sharp all the way around while some are not sharp at all. Many claimed it was sharper at F:8 than F:4 while others said theirs was never sharp at all. Some complained about distortion and or dull or over saturated colors. I finally found a reviewer who had the opportunity to try 3-4 different lenses. They found that there seemed to be a lack of quality control all around when it came to this specific lens. Having a few days of both lenses I decided to compare them out for myself. I am glad I did.

I put my camera in the front yard on a tripod and shot numerous sets of three for each lens at 10mm, 14mm, and 20mm. The results were surprising. The original lens I had been sent first was a clear winner. The trees and anything else around the picture were sharp, The replacement lens was anything but sharp. The colors on lens two were more vibrant than lens one but one can fix that with software where a blurred image is not really fixable.

I shot numerous sets with both lenses and a few different F settings and the results remained the same. The replacement lens was the one being returned. Lucky for me the Sigma extended warranty cards have nothing on them, you enter the serial numbers yourself so I kept the card and returned the replacement lens.

I have included two photos to the gallery for this lens so you can see what I found. In the end my first lens would have received a 5 star rating because they really are excellent lenses if you can get a good copy. The replacement copy would have received a 1 star rating. Luckily I had the chance to compare the two copies side by side or I may have never known just how bad lens number two really was.

If your lens has problems like lens number two you have a poor copy of the lens, return it. Sadly from all of the reviews I have read it seems that maybe 20% of the lenses are not good copies. Many just think poor sharpness is just a general lens limitation when chances are it is just a poor copy they received.

Bottom line!

1. Get the lens out and shoot some shots, If it is not sharp around the edges return it for another copy.

2. If you do not get your extended warranty card you may have gotten a gray market lens. Return it.

Upon talking to a Sigma rep I was told they have no way to verify whether the lens is USA or Gray market (international) by the serial number, if you do not have the extended warranty card you will not get the warranty extension so buyer beware. The card is a card stock type black and red folded warranty card that specifically states that it is the extended warranty card. Don't let any dealer tell you that it has the extended warranty without it being in your hands. Sigma currently has no registration on their website. The rep told me to keep the card in a safe place and then in the event that I need service I will send it and a copy of the original sales receipt in with the lens for service.

All that being said I can tell you that this is a wonderful lens if you need a super wide angle lens and you get a good copy. They are not the fastest lenses around but for the money you cannot beat it.

Take a look at the pictures I included for the lens and hopefully they will help you determine if you were lucky on the Sigma draw and give you an idea of what you need to check for.

265 of 279 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars best value wide angle. February 9, 2006

By K. Dardashti

Style Name:Canon SLR Camera

there are currently 4 wide angle zoom choices available on the EF-S canon mount (d-rebel/xt/20d) canon 10-22, Sigma 12-24, sigma 10-20, tokina 12-24. Of these, sigma 12-24 is the only one which is usuable on a full frame sensor (canon 1d, 5d, possible future cameras). There is sizable difference in field of view between the 10 mm, and 12 mm. and the tokina is closer to 13 mm on its wide end. The sigma retails for about 2/3 the price of the canon. Optically they are very similar, with the canon having a larger maximum aperature, which is generally not important in a wide angle lens. The built construction is EX, they higher line of sigma, and it excellent. The focus motor is HSM, making it fast, and very accurate. Resolution chart show the sharpness to be very close to that of canon. The color and contrast is excellent, the flare and chromatic abberation genenrally well controlled. A fun lens to use, and excellent value.