Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX DG RF Aspherical Wide Angle Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras

by Sigma

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches ; 1.1 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: B00009N5IO
• Item model number: B00009N5IO
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

Style: Sigma SLR Cameras

This 20mm super-wide angle lens offers an angle of view of 94.5 and a large aperture of F1.8. It allows close-ups with a minimum focusing distance of less than 20cm and a working distance lens to subject of 6.5cm

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZINGLY SHARP AND FAST SUPER-WIDE ANGLE, May 7, 2006

By 

Canon "Rock" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX DG RF Aspherical Wide Angle Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I have used this lens extensively with the 1D and the Rebel XT. Results have been excellent. My suspicion is that the previous reviewer got a defective or damaged copy of the lens. It is incredibly sharp, even at f1.8, which I did not expect - generally you expect a lens to be a bit soft wide open, especially 1.8. The degree of sharpness of this lens is quite surprising.

I have used, for example, both the Canon 50mm f1.8 and the Canon 35mm f2.0, both of which are deservedly renowned for their sharpness and contrast. I find this lens to be sharper than either of them wide open. The lens provides images which have excellent color saturation and contrast. Of course, at f1.8, depth of field is razor thin, by design, which is great for bokeh or out of focus background, but which also requires care concerning the desired focal point being in focus. Speaking of bokeh, I find it to be very attractive compared to any other lens I have used.

Its minimum distance focusing is also quite remarkable. I think it is rated at just under 8 inches, but I routinely focus at distances which seem a good bit closer than that. The lens works well as a macro for many applications, with a relatively strong multiplication factor.

Of course, given the inherent light-gathering of a 20mm focal length lens, combined with a huge aperture of f1.8, this lens is outstanding for shooting indoors or in other low-light situations with natural light and no flash.

Canon's nearest competitor to this lens is the 20mm f2.8, which is a full stop slower in terms of light collection. I consider this lens to be an extremely good value at the retail price, new. If you can get a good copy used on-line, it will be an incredible value. You may find that you never want to take the lens off the camera because of its versatility as a walkaround lens.

This lens has been extremely well-reviewed, by and large, on lens forum sites. I encourage you to check those out. Most people rate the lens 5 out of 5. A distinct minority give it 1 out of 5. I suspect that they either have defective copies which may need repair, or they have inaccurate perceptions of the lens. Also, popular photography magazine online reviewed this lens, as well as the 24 f1.8 and the 28 f1.8, very highly.

I would highly recommend this lens to anyone who wants a fast, sharp superwide angle lens.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Indoor Lens for Your Pentax SLR !, March 28, 2008

By 

William B. Newkirk (Centralia, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX DG RF Aspherical Wide Angle Lens for Pentax and Samsung SLR Cameras (Electronics)

If you want to take indoor shots with your SLR, this lens will let in enough light to stop the action. It also will work on your film camera for those REALLY wide-angle shots. I typically use prime lenses for shooting indoor shots and this is one of the best, because of the wide angle (30mm equivalent), sharpness, and speed. No other wide lens has the speed of this one (f1.8). I have taken shots in DIM light without flash that have come out great. My best 3 lenses for indoors are this one, a Pentax 35mm F2.0, and a Pentax 50mm F1.4. I have a Sigma 28mm F1.8, but it is not as sharp or useful as this one. The only drawbacks are the size and the cost of a filter that fits this (82mm filters are NOT cheap).

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultra-wide lens with sharpest optics!, June 5, 2004

By 

Denzil Thakur (Dubai, UAE) - See all my reviews

Sigma 20mm EX is an exceptionally well made lens. Performance is extremely satisfactory. It is almost indispensable for me to go without it when I am outdoors. Takes very good wide angle shots of buildings, parks and friends and family picnicking in the park. Shots have come very sharp and crisp with edge to edge brightness and sharpness. 20mm wide angle focal length gives you a very large depth of field which is essential for taking shots of wide open outdoors, filling your frame with a large expanse of ground/sky. Fast f1.8 aperture will let you take snaps indoors in natural light and hand-held shots of lighted buildings etc. in night time. Rear focusing feature of this lens results in fast AF and also the length of the lens remains same. Macro shots of subjects will give you convex mirror type of fascinating images and one can produce far more interesting effects depending on one's creativity.

Indoor flash photography may give rise to vignetting due to ultra wide nature of the lens as most flashes cover only 28mm span. This may probably be solved by using a wide angle attachment on the flash which to my disappointment was not available for my flash (Pentax AF-280T). Also 82mm filters may prove to be expensive. But I think a filter is essential for this lens as the front element glass is very near to the filter area.

All said this is an extremely satisfying buy (most bang for bucks) which gives you great results.

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