Sigm 10-20: Making a Believer out of a Skeptic

Let me preface this by saying I am NOT a fan of Sigma. I've foudn their products to be worthy of their bottom-dollar prices, and have gone through a few low-end and high-end models with limited satisfaction. When my fellow Nikon shooter pressured me into considering the Sigma 10-20, my collection of lenses consited of only Nikon AF-D's and a couple AF Tokinas. My original plan was to buy a Tokina 12-24 wideangle, as Tokina was always the un-disputed best 3rd party Nikon lens for me. I caved to peer pressure and bought this Sigma.

The lens itself is very heavy duty, on par with high end Nikon models. It has a professional 77mm filter and a smooth zoom ring, smoother than many Nikon lenses I own. The bayonet and AF electronics lock up tight, and the focusing motor is quiet and accurate (a BIG problem with other Sigma lenses).

Sigma has a possibly deserved stereotype of fuzzy optics. This is not so for the 10-20. Not only are the optics clear, but the lens has surprisingly little barrel distortion, less than other 12mm wideangles I've tested, and certainly less than other Sigma offerings such as the 12-24 and the 15-30. Focus seems sharp, although I have not tested it in all aspects of photography. Sharpness is best, or course, at F6 or F12, but open at F4 is still professionally useable. In this day of low-noise/high-iso cameras however, you could shoot at F6 all day and night.

If you're considereing a Tamron ultrawide, forget it. If you'd like to look at the Tokina 12-24, they just released a constant F2.8, but I would suggest you take your SLR body to a camera shop and try it out. If you can find the Sigma, however, you will be getting a sturdy and clear lens that opens wider than most comparably priced lenses on the market and produces and image with equal or greater clarity than other 3rd party offerings. I cannot compare it to Nikon's 10-17 as I've never mounted one on my camera, but I can say that I spent many years badmouthing Sigma and am quickly learing to eat my words.

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM - SA Mount

This is pretty much the only ultra-wide lens for the Sigma SD dSLR without going to the exotic fish-eye lens. The EX-series lenses are exceptionally well-built with great fit and finish and nice hefty weight. The HSM motor is very quiet and accurate. Luckily my copy has no focusing issue. Since this is a wide-angle lens, the usual issues are there: distortion, vignetting, softness towards the corner, etc. But unless you pixel-peep all the way, the results are very pleasing images. This lens is very sharp around f/8~f/11, which I believe most people will be using in this sort of lens, ie, landscape, scenery situations. Overall, this is a very good value ultra-wide angle lens (ASP-C) for the price.

Obviously, people with non-Sigma dSLR would have more options such as their own proprietary brand lens and the third party lenses such as Tokina or Tamron. In which case I would recommend the Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8, definitely a winner, in both price and performance. I use one for Nikon D300s and Fuji S5 Pro and the results are very nice, sharp and contrasty.

Enjoy!

10mm Magic!!

This is my first wide angle so I couldn't make any comparison or too much opinion on it. But i hope my first impression towards this lens might help you anyway.

The weight is quite heavy for the first thing i noticed, and of course the build is quite sturdy. The appearance just fits nice to my Nik D7000 with the lens hood on it.

The picture quality was pretty sharp overall except for the sides are abit soft when wide open. The focusing speed was so so fast. The 10mm is really the magic! you can fit so many things in 10mm without the need to stand aback.

The bad thing(perhaps it's just this copy) is it couldn't focus in live view on my D7000, so i have to relly on my eye and manual focus while taking vids.

Overall it's a fun lens with the price~ you can try this lens out!!

Nice lens

Great sigma lens.
Likes: Heavy, not chinsy plastic. sturdy construction
Crisp photos
low distortion
A polarizer and possibly another filter can be used @ 10mm
with no vinnetting!

Dislikes: Chinsy lens cap. Wont stay attached to the lens.
Autofocus a little stubborn with my D200

Overall I have been very satisfied with its performance. I love my wide lenses but not always enjoy the distortion. This was a perfect addition to my arsenal.

Sigma 10-20mm Superwide for Nikon D50

I have used this lens extensively since I purchased it for Virtual Tour photography in conjunction with my Nikon D50 camera, and the quality associated with this product is nothing less than sensational. The sharpness and color renditions are beyond my total expectations and I can not imagine that the Nikkor 12-24mm could be any better; however, costing so much more. The Sigma is a work-horse with outstanding photographic distinction.