Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras by Sigma Corporation
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Digital camera reviews of Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Digital camera Review: I remember when Sigma meant cheap and just barely OK
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a fine lens for superwide applications, and I endorse it.
I just wish I could get a 10mm single focal length to carry. I almost always find myself shooting at the extreme ends of a zoom's focal length, the wide end in this case, and the Sigma 10-20 is bulky.
Digital camera Review: fun.
Summary: 4 Stars
likes:
very very wide, without fisheye'ing. quiet. focus is dead on, which is a worry for 3rd party lenses.
dislikes:
some images look a bit flat, but its still a new lens to me. while it doesn't fisheye, the rectilinear corrections do very strange things to people. at 10mm people have huge heads, and small bodies. when taking of the non-human pictures, i don't think anyone would notice the distortions.
should be obvious, but if you buy there is no reason to open up the aperture beyond 7'ish.
Digital camera Review: Great lens for the price
Summary: 5 Stars
I use this lens for taking photos for a newspaper.
It is plenty sharp for my needs and allows for interesting shots.
It fits all three of my Nikon cameras.
Would recommend it to anyone wanting a new perspective in their photographs!
Bob Turner
Digital camera Review: Awesome Landscape Lens - Careful with People, Though!
Summary: 4 Stars
If you're shooting landscape, this lens is an absolute must have -- stick it on a tripod, set it at f/8 and you're golden. Auto-focus is fast and accurate and doesn't have an issue focusing on objects that are close up.
That being said, when it comes to people, it's a little more problematic. Even at 16-17mm, you get distortion at the edges, so if you're shooting groups, they will be stretched/elongated. The good news is that, at 20mm, it's fairly unnoticeable. So, if you're shooting more formal pictures, rack the lens out to 20mm and move your body or tripod. If you're shooting something more action oriented like urban, extreme sports -- snowboarding/skateboarding, etc, then the distortion might actually add to the photos.
Digital camera Review: It's good - for what it is
Summary: 4 Stars
First, this is not my first UWA lens. When it comes to ultra-wides, I've had my share. From the Tokina 11-16/2.8 (sold cause the range was too limited), two copies (one Nikon, one Canon) of the Tokina 12-24/4 and the Tokina 10-17 fisheye, I've tried most of them out there. (Sorry, I'll not spend a dime on a EF-S lens again. Thus, I've never had the cheapo Canon 10-22)
This is my replacement to the motorless Nikon-mount Tokina 12-24/4 (version 1 - version 2 has an internal focus motor). I was very skeptical of this lens for a number of reasons. Sigma has had troubles lately, I'm not a fan of variable aperture lenses and it's a "third party" lens. I've owned lots of them, but I usually end up being happier with Canon or Nikon lenses. As this does replace one of the top-rated (and personal fav of mine) 12-24, it has a lot to live up to. It doesn't disappoint.
Honestly, you're spending about half (or less) than any Nikon branded lens in the range (and right now - that would be one: 10-24). So expecting perfection or even close is certainly a path to unhappiness. I expected to send it back - but I haven't.
Pros: 10mm on the short end. Fixable distortion. Reasonable CA. You get good colors and contrast. Fast focus, given the focal length.
Cons: CA, soft at the edges.
Really, for the money and for the way that most of us print, you'll find little, if any, difference between this and any other UWA. Nope, it doesn't have a fixed 2.8 - so if isolating your subject is important - pick the Tokina 11-16. Although I'm not sure that's the focus of this type of lens, anyway.
Anyone who will be really unhappy with this lens will fall into two camps: pixel-peepers and pros. Pros, most likely, won't be shooting DX anyway. Pixel-peepers are seldom, if ever, really happy. Everyone else is going to find what most reviewers say, it's a great lens. Had I not seen the edge-to-edge sharpness of the 11-16 or incredible colors of the 12-24, I probably couldn't find fault with it either.
Buy it, use it, love it. Keep it off brick walls and use something else for your 20"x30" posters and you'll find it's a keeper.