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

by Sigma

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: B0007U00XK
• Item model number: B0007U00XK
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (118 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #57 in Camera & Photo > Lenses > Camera Lenses
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 16, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed exclusively for Nikon digital SLR cameras capable of wide-angle photography, the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 lens is a powerful tool for landscape photography and other wide-angle applications. The lens offers an ultra-wide angle of view of 94.5 to 56.8 degrees, with three special low dispersion (SLD) glass elements and three aspherical lenses providing optimum image quality throughout the entire zoom range. The lens also incorporates a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) to ensure quiet, high-speed autofocusing in addition to full-time manual focusing. Other features include a close focusing distance of 9.4 inches, a non-rotating lens barrel that perfectly suits the petal-shaped lens hood (included), and a one-year warranty.

Specifications

• Focal length: 10-20mm
• Maximum aperture: f/4-5.6
• Lens construction: 14 elements in 10 groups
• Angle of view: 94.5 to 56.8 degrees
• Number of diaphragm blades: 6
• Minimum aperture: f/22
• Minimum focusing distance: 9.4 inches
• Maximum magnification: 1:6.7
• Mount: Nikon
• Filter size: 77mm
• Filter size: Petal-type hood
• Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter and 3.4 inches long
• Weight: 17.5 ounces
• Warranty: 1 year

Product Description

Sigma provides the new ultra-wide angle zoom lens from 15mm and this lens is the first of its kind in the world. It can be useful for images of landscapes, large buildings, group photographs or even more. The perspective that changes with the angle-of-view gives picture an extraordinary feeling. Delicate compositions can be adjusted by lens zooming and this is helpful for close-up photography. Provides deep depth of field with its short focal length for amazing photographic expressions. This ultra-wide zoom lens covers a large wide-angle range from 15 mm to 30 mm. With a minimum focusing distance of 30 cm(11.8 inches) throughout the entire zoom range, it is an ideal lens for Digital SLR Cameras. It incorporates hybrid aspherical lens in the front lens group to minimize distortion and astigmatism, and molded glass aspherical lens in the rear lens group to minimize spherical aberration. Minimization of the distortion is a most important issue for zoom lens, but Sigma has succeeded, to provide image quality with minimal distortion by employing aspherical lenses. This lens in corporates an internal focusing system, which eliminates front lens rotation. Since focusing do not change its overall length, this lens is easy to hold and use. Also it is allowing the use of a Petal-type Hood. The lens also incorporates Dual-Focus (DF) mechanism. It is easy to hold the lens, since the focusing ring does not rotate during auto-focus, yet it provides adequate focusing torque of the focusing ring during manual focusing of the lens.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

253 of 259 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 "RAV Fan" (Ottawa, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (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.

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sigma vs. nikon 12-24, August 14, 2006

By 

A. Gunderson (tokyo) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Camera)

I have been shooting for about eight months now. i was torn between the sigma and the nikon. I read several reviews and wnet to a camera store and tested both lens and enlarged them in photoshop. I love the sigma. It is wider, less CA and seems like less barrell. It is as sharp as the nikon, the only downside is that there is light fall off when the lens is wide open at 10mm. It is very noticable, so i just stop down to 7.1 or 8 and the problem is fixed. The sharpness is clear through the whole picture. For the price it can not be beat. I would rate this lens equal with the nikon 12-24. I see no advantage to going with the nikon over the sigma unless you like the constant 4 and minor light fall off when wide open, easily fixable.

86 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super Super Glass, June 30, 2006

By 

RonAnnArbor (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Camera)

Having purchased both the Nikon 12+ and the Sigma 10+ before returning the Nikkor and keeping this Sigma, I can honestly say that I can not be happier with this lens. The photos are super sharp, the lens works perfectly, it feels good on my D200, and it has become the only other lens I carry along with my 18-200 VR. I can't recommend this lens more.