I didn't plan on buying this lens but I am glad I did 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 ...

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Buy this product from Amazon
 
4.5
Publisher : Sigma Corporation
Company : Sigma
List Price: $479.00
Our Price: Too low to display


Features
  • 10-20mm ultra-wide angle lens designed exclusively for Canon digital SLR cameras
  • 3 special low dispersion (SLD) glass elements to compensate for color aberration
  • Hyper-Sonic Motor (HSM) produces silent, high-speed autofocus; full-time manual focus
  • Multilayer lens coating reduces flare and ghost; 9.4-inch close focusing distance
  • Measures 3.3 inches in diameter and 3.2 inches long; weighs 16.4 ounces

Product Description

10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM lens allows enjoyment of super wide-angle photography and it is a very powerful tool for indoor shooting and landscape photography Wide angle of view (102.4°at 10mm and 63.8°at 20mm) offers the photographer greater freedom of expression. These are special DC Seriesd Lenses designed so that the image circle matches the smaller size of the image sensor of most digital SLR cameras.Their specialized design gives these lenses the ideal properties for digital cameras, the compact and lightweight construction is anadded bonus ! including compact and lightweight construction. Three SLD glass elements are employed for effective compensation of color aberration, which is a common problem with super-wide angle lenses. One piece of glass mold and two hybrid aspherical lenses, offer excellent correction for distortion, as wellas all types of aberration. This lens is equipped with an inner focusing system, and the models which are equipped with HSM system provide quiet, high speed autofocus shooting and also offer fulltime manual focusing. It has a minimum focusing distance of 24cm (9.4") at all focal lengths. The non-rotating lens barrel perfectly suits the petal shaped lens hood. A circular polarizing filter can also be used conveniently. Please note: Vignetting will occur if the lens is used with digital cameras with image sensors larger than APS-C size or 35mm SLR cameras.

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed exclusively for Canon digital SLR cameras, the ultra-wide-angle 10-20mm offers a view from 102.4 to 63.8 degrees, making it ideal for landscape photography and other vast applications. The lens is distinguished by its three special low dispersion (SLD) glass elements, which effectively compensate for color aberration, and its aspherical lenses, which provide maximum correction for distortion and various aberrations. As a result, the lens produces an extremely high image quality throughout the entire zoom range. The HSM-equipped models, meanwhile, produce fast autofocus (AF) speeds and quiet shooting while still letting you perform full-time manual focus. Other details include a minimum focusing distance of 9.4 inches at all focal lengths and an integral petal-type hood to block out extraneous light.

Lens Elements and Coating
The new multilayer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghost--a common problem with digital cameras--while also creating an optimal color balance throughout the entire zoom range. At the same time, the lens offers three SLD glass elements that effectively compensate for color aberration, along with a piece of glass mold and two hybrid aspherical lenses that offer excellent correction for distortion and all types of aberration.

Inner Focusing System and HSM
The lens incorporates an internal focusing system that eliminates front lens rotation, letting you use a petal-type hood to protect from additional glare. And models equipped with a Hyper-Sonic Motor (HSM) produce silent, high-speed autofocus and full-time manual focus for Sigma, Canon, and Nikon D-mount lenses.

Best Consumer Lens
The Sigma 10-20mm lens is so respected that it was named the best consumer lens in Europe (2006) by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA), a collection of 31 publications from 12 countries. According to TIPA, the 10-20mm lens offers a versatile range of wide-angle focal lengths, a good optical performance, and a budget price, making it an excellent investment for owners of DSLRs with APS-C format sensors. Its sharpness remains constant throughout the zoom range, and its compact size makes it an ideal companion for shooting travel, landscapes, or architectural subjects.

  • Lens construction: 14 elements in 10 groups
  • Angle of view: 102.4 to 63.8 degrees
  • Number of diaphragm blades: 6
  • Minimum aperture: f/22
  • Minimum focusing distance: 9.4 inches
  • Maximum magnification: 1:6.7
  • Filter size: 77mm
  • Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter and 3.2 inches long
  • Weight: 16.4 ounces

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Customer reviews

I didn't plan on buying this lens but I am glad I did 5 by .. Craig 1959 (Ottawa, Canada)
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.

best value wide angle. 5 by .. K. Dardashti (los angeles usa)
there are currently 4 wide angle zoom choices available on the EF-S canon mount (d-rebel/xt/20d) canon 10-22, Sigma 12-24, sigma 10-20, tokina 12-24. Of these, sigma 12-24 is the only one which is usuable on a full frame sensor (canon 1d, 5d, possible future cameras). There is sizable difference in field of view between the 10 mm, and 12 mm. and the tokina is closer to 13 mm on its wide end. The sigma retails for about 2/3 the price of the canon. Optically they are very similar, with the canon having a larger maximum aperature, which is generally not important in a wide angle lens. The built construction is EX, they higher line of sigma, and it excellent. The focus motor is HSM, making it fast, and very accurate. Resolution chart show the sharpness to be very close to that of canon. The color and contrast is excellent, the flare and chromatic abberation genenrally well controlled. A fun lens to use, and excellent value.

Super Super Glass 5 by .. RonAnnArbor (Ann Arbor, MI United States)
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.

sigma vs. nikon 12-24 5 by .. A. Gunderson (tokyo)
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.

Very good ultra wide lens for Canon Digital SLR 300D 350D 10D 20D Rebel XT 5 by .. Youn Sung (redmond, WA)
If you are looking good quality and price ultra wide lens for APC-C senser size digital SLR, this lens is a very good choice. Canon also has an EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens. However the price is more than $700. Here is a Sigma, 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM. Sure it's little bit dark than Canon, but it's OK. Usally ultra-wide lens are used at outdoor. The photo is very sharp image and you can take a shot without cropping. And minimum focusing distance if 9.4" (24cm), you can make fun photos! Sigma also provice lens hood and carring case for free!