Sigma 10-20mm Lens

[marko400d]

I'm thinking of buying a sigma 10-20mm leans for my canon 400d would you please let me know anything i should be careful about and what your experience of the lens is. many thanks

[andrewc]

I liked mine, sold it to fund something else, and now regret it!

QC seems to be a little iffy, so check pictures from it before buying,

[mattyh]

:agree:

Sigma's Quality Control is patchy to say the least AFAIK :)

[marko400d]

Sorry to be a pain, but could you explain what to look for please when you get some time, thanks for your quick responses

[wildtracks]

Hi - I have just received my 2nd copy, as the first was very soft. It is the quality control that is the issues not the lens itself.

My advice is to buy in the UK so you can return it if it seems a bit iffy. The issues others have had seem to show in one side of the lens (normally left hand side) being considerably softer than the right. Someting to do with the alignment of the optics inside.

It is not the sharpest lens I have got overall but when you apply some sharpen in PS it all looks superb. The field of view it offers is fantastic and in one fun lens to own.

HTH

[sbowler579]

Got mine from here. http://www.onestop-digital.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=130&osCsid=b932f27889741fd9cf09d10e9cee522f arrived within 3 days. Havent had time as yet to give it a proper test but does seem fine.

[robbys82]

I love my copy. When I got it I wasn't massively clued up on the quality side of things but I think its ok :-S

Great for all sorts of photos! - As stated above pixs sharpen up nicely too!

[Sheep]

Great lens lives on one of my bodies...i can cram so much in to a picture :thumbs:

[Halesowen Kid]

Love mine & no problems...:)

[marky_h]

Yep, had one on my 350D last summer and it's great fun, superwide:

http://www.deathlyveil.com/photos/bushy/uwa.jpg

[Ian T]

Some Canon ones have been known to break. The AF/MF switch breaks I think, and then the focus ring is stuck (if you're lucky, it's at infinity). If you've bought in the UK, I'm sure you'd get a warranty replacement.

As a lens though, I'd say it's excellent. I rarely use any other lens now. For the money, you're not going to get a better crop-sensor super-wide lens.

[Steep]

Had one for a year, it was great but I didn't use it enough so sold it to fund other kit. Petemc uses one a lot, you'll see examples of his shots all over the forums.

[wez130]

mine lives on my 30D, i love it :D

[petemc]

I use mine a fair bit. Highly recommended.

http://www.vanilladays.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/crw_0649-edit.jpg

http://www.vanilladays.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/img_9232_1_0.jpg

http://www.vanilladays.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/IMG_4167_9_8-2.jpg

[KIPAX]

stunning pics petemc

[dcash29]

Hey Pete fancy running a course sometime

[wez130]

Hey Pete fancy running a course sometime

he has a HDR tutorial on his website, i think it's www.vanilladays.co.uk, here's a link.....

http://www.vanilladays.co.uk/hdr-guide/

[wildtracks]

Hey! That's the website that got me all excited about HDR and wide angle. I didn't realize it was Pete here. Cool.

I think if this lens gets any more popular we should have a section just for 10-20mm images:lol:

[Canon Bob]

Reading on other forums tells me that there are a disproportionate number of these lenses that exhibit a softness on one side or the other. With that in mind, I'd head for somewhere that'll let you try before you buy rather than having the hassle of an import that isn't up to scratch.

Bob

[mattyh]

:agree: I bought mine from Jessops (price matched of course ;)) and checked the lens before buying, think I did around 20 or so test shots both in the store and out of the door... no I didn't do a runner :lol:

[KayJay]

stunning pics petemc

I second this. Those are beautiful. I can't pick a favourite out of the three. I can't wait for my lens to arrive now.

[photostar_1]

I bought mine entirely based on the brilliant pics from Pete....hoping some of his genius would rub off just by using the same lens :lol:. It hasn't :( but I still love the lens.

[fracster]

HDR just looks so false to me, sorry guys, I do not like it.

[petemc]

Its the tone mapping that creates the falseness and you can easily create realistic looking tone mapped images. The last one is tone mapped but looks realistic, as does this.

http://www.vanilladays.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/IMG_4689_90_91.jpg

[simonkit]

Definitely have this on my wish list - Petes previous shots (& these) helped convince me

simon

[marko400d]

Thank you all for your help with my question, and of course for taking time to post your images, which are fabulous. Best regards, mark

[laser_jock99]

I got a Sigma 10-20mm in the summer- seems fairly okay to me sharpness wise (and I'm quite critical!). Some example shots.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Fuji%20S5%20Pro/Dscf1537.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Fuji%20S5%20Pro/Dscf1980.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Fuji%20S5%20Pro/Dscf2330.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Fuji%20S5%20Pro/Dscf3382.jpg

[Wile E. coyote]

Always on my wishlist just never got round to buying one :thinking::bonk:. As always Pete's shot's are well nothing less than amazing, really show what the lens is capable of. I'm liking your pictures laser_jock99, especially #1 great shot :clap:

[StuartH]

Its a superb lens and one I should use more..I could never part with it though its just nice to know its in the bag....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/malc/DSC_0014-1.jpg

[marko400d]

Thanks all for your time and help, you talked me into buying it, ordered today, can't wait to use it this weekend....
my best regards to you all
mark

[antihero]

i'm another member of the fan club (even though i sold mine to fund other purchase :( )...

http://www.version8.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/abbey/abbey_pp_300dpi.jpg

[Jelster]

My Brother in Law has one and it's fab. Silly fool lent it to me when we were in Rome and I did this to him :lol:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/rome_047a.jpg

Seriously, it's a really handy lens to have in your kit bag. Another one of those things that's on the list.

[Jas]

Question to users of the lens......do / did you find you used it mostly at around 10mm or through the whole range of 10-20mm?

Reason I ask is that Sigma have recently released the 10mm 2.8 and without trying one it's hard to figure if I would use it much above 14mm and I already have range as low as 17mm 2.8 on my 17-55. Therefore, makes the 10mm 2.8 a bigger attraction.

[wildtracks]

I use mine at 10 and 20 and not much in between. I like the 20 end for not too crazy shots 9normally street scenes) and the 10 end for those more extreme ones (normally landscapes)

I wonder what size and weight the 10mm 2.8 will be?
The other thing I would question is why have 2.8 for a super wide. I rarely use mine under f8 and usually at f11 - 16.

[Jas]

The other thing I would question is why have 2.8 for a super wide. I rarely use mine under f8 and usually at f11 - 16.

A very good point, you are right, certainly for landscapes. Now and again the 2.8 might be useful for querky street photography, not something I do much of at the moment but would like to try more of.

[ScarySquirrel]

Ordered one yesterday :)

[Snake Man]

i'm another member of the fan club (even though i sold mine to fund other purchase :( )...




Yep. And now it's mine and it's great.

[arepeejee]

I borrowed this lens sometime last year, had much fun with it;

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1257/780067630_b783802121.jpg

More sensible at the 20mm end though;

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1329/780061516_9154ea7d26.jpg

[marko400d]

thanks again folks ordered one from warehouseexpress and came next day, first results are very good. when i get a pic worth posting i will! good that it comes with a lens hood and case and seems well built.

[mattyh]

:woot: Good purchase... just watch you don't get your feet in any shots ;)

[ukaskew]

Is it obvious if you've got a 'bad' one? I've never noticed anything particuarly off with mine, but I don't know if that's because I don't know what I'm looking for. I guess if I'm happy with it that's all the matters.

Marvelous lens anyway, not hugely sharp but I never made a penny from photography until I got this, but it paid for itself 5 times over within 2 months.