Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM ELD SLD Aspherical Super Wide Angle Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM ELD SLD Aspherical Super Wide Angle Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

from: SIGMA List Price: $950.00 Amazon.com's Price: $649.00 You Save: $301.00 (32%) as of 11/23/2009 23:51 EST Third Party New Price: $639.99 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Binding: Electronics Brand: Sigma EAN: 0085126202552 Item Dimensions:350340114340 Label: SIGMA Manufacturer: SIGMA Maximum Focal Length: 20 millimeters Minimum Focal Length: 10 millimeters Model: 10-20mm f/2.5 EX Nikon MPN: 10-20mm f/2.5 EX Nikon Publisher: SIGMA Studio: SIGMA Features: Super-Wide: 10-20 with maximum aperture of F3.5 throughout entire zoom range Includes: Petal-type Hood supplied Filter Size: 82mm Accessories: Opteka OPT UV 82mm 82mm High Definition II UV 0 Ultra Violet Haze Multi-Coated Glass Filter Tiffen 8247B 82mm 47B Filter (Blue) Tiffen 82mm Circular Polarizer Tiffen 82mm UV Protection Filter B+W 65-023233 82mm UVA HazeSlim Filter #010 Related Items: Tiffen 82mm UV Protection Filter Sigma EX DG 82mm Multi-Coated UV Filter Nikon EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery for D200, D300, D700 and D80 Digital SLR Cameras, Part 25334 Tiffen 77mm UV Protection Filter Nikon D300s 12MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) see more Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display Editorial Review: Product Description: Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM. This super-wide angle lens has a maximum aperture of F3.5 throughout the entire zoom range. With its wide angle view from 102.4 degrees it can produce striking images with exaggerated perspective. The maximum aperture of F3.5 is ideal for indoor shooting and it enables photographers to emphasize the subject. Two ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass elements and a SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass element provide excellent correction of color aberration. Four aspherical lenses provide correction for distortion and allow compact and lightweight construction. The Super Multi-Layer coating reduces flare and ghosting. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. The incorporation of HSM (Hyper-Sonic Motor) ensures a quiet and high-speed auto focus as well as full-time manual focusing capability. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 9.4 inches (24cm) throughout the entire zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:6.6. The lens design incorporates an inner focusing system which eliminates front lens rotation, making the lens particularly suitable for using the Petal-type hood and polarizing Customer Reviews Average Rating: Rating: - Best 10-2x lens I have used Just picked up this lens on a Canon mount, and boy what a sweet lens. I find it to be just as sharp if not more so as the Canon version, yet costs much less. Focus is silent and fast (and spot on). Using my Canon 7D's spot focus, the lens nails it every time, even in the edges at 10mm. I will be picking up another to keep in my back up bag. Rating: - Sigma 10-20 f/3.5 vs Nikon 16-85 3.5-5.6 VR II I compared performance and test images taken with the Sigma 10-20 f/3.5 against my Nikon 16-85 VRII, which I consider to be my sharpest lens. The photos were taken with a Nikon D5000, tripod mounted, no digital sharpening, of fixed targets on my living room wall at about six feet. The targets consisted of newspaper at the corners and a large US map in the center, with a variety of detail and some color. Illumination was provided by house lamps and a photo flood light. The photos were compared side by side at 200% enlargement. The Sigma 10-20 was not as sharp as the Nikon 16-85 in the very center of the image at comparable focal lengths (16mm and 20mm) and apertures, although was very close by f/5 and nearly the same at f/8. At the edges of the image however, the Sigma 10-20 was as sharp or sharper and had better contrast at all f-stops tested (3.5-8). I have no lens to compare the Sigma 10-20 to at shorter focal lengths but Imaging Resource tests indicate good to very good sharpness, similar to the older Sigma 10-20. Focus speed with the Sigma 10-20 is very fast and quiet, similar to the Nikon 16-85. There is some variation in auto focus reproducibility but seems to be within a reasonable margin of error and will likely not be noticable in most photographs. The zoom action of the Sigma is smoother than the Nikon. The lens is somewhat larger and heavier than the Nikon. Chromatic aberration/color fringing has been reported as being an issue with many wide angle lenses, including this lens. I will comment on this after shooting some high contrast scenes outdoors if I feel it is significant. This is my second copy of the lens. The first copy appeared to have a slight back focus problem at 10mm at short focal distances as indicated by variations in auto focus performance vs manual focus to achieve optimal sharpness. Optically, the first copy appeared as sharp as this one and likely would have been acceptable to most users. First edit 9-30-09: Outdoor shots posted in the gallery. The lens performed well in the field yielding good color and contrast. Flaring is visible as the lens is tilted towards the sun. I used my baseball cap to shade the lens and would also recommend the lens hood in most situations. At 10mm, sharpness is acceptable at f3.5 in the center and quite soft at the edges. Sharpness at the edges seems fairly good by f4.5. Color fringing is quite evident in high contrast areas near the edges of the image however it was not so bright as to apppear in uncorrected 8x10 prints. Also it was quite easy to reduce the fringing to a non-issue with CA correction using Adobe CS4. Auto focus was accurate. Overall I'm quite pleased with this lens and I'd say it outperforms my expectations for sharpness and vignetting but I wish the CA was better controlled. I will keep this lens, however the older version (f4-5.6) is reported to be as good or perhaps better in some respects so I'd recommend the f3.5 lens only if the constant aperature is of interest to you. Rating: - The lens I have long been waiting for A lens can be judged only in connection with a specific camera body as it may perform differently with different sensors. So, I can speak about it together with the Nikon D300. From the specifications, it seemed to be a better lens in comparison with equivalent range lenses of other brands including the new Nikon 10-24. I was long tempted by the new Tokina 12-24 DXII but I wanted to start with a 10 mm rather than a 12 mm in order to justify the gain by the new purchase over the 16-85 mm Nikon lens which I already had. Also, I both tested the new Tokina and Nikon at a professional fair and from the few indoor shots that I took I was a bit disappointed, not as sharp as I would expect and unacceptable chromatic aberrations showed up, although distorsion compensation was OK. So I thought it was worth waiting for the new sigma. That Sigma is able to provide good lenses I had already proof with the 70 mm f2.8 macro, excellent one. Thus, in the end I dared to buy this as soon as it came out even before reading any reviews. I wish I could read at least one though to feel a bit surer. For this reason I want to share soon my experience with those who are wondering as I did, hoping to be of some help. So, briefly put, I have no regret. This is the lens I have long waiting for. Image quality is the most important factor for me and I am not disappointed. Sharp, excellent correction of chromatic aberrations, reduction of flare. Slightly soft edges especially at large apertures, but since I typically use a tripod then I can use higher F stops and low iso even in low light conditions and then image quality is superb. It's not the fixed 3.5, which I don't need much, to make the real difference over other lenses but the combination of glasses, I believe. If you want to see some images that I took with this lense, although not at full resolution, visit my website: [...] (look at the gallery under the category new, the wide angle images have been taken with the Sigma 10-20 f3.5, the close up ones with the Sigma 70mm f2.8) Mario Rating: - Didn't Believe It Til I Saw IT Bought this lens with the idea that if it didn't perform to a professional standard, I'd return it. I LOVE the security I get from Amazon with the 30 day return policy. Long story short, I've shot about 200 floral shots close up and macro equivalent. Virtually all are keepers--and I've already committed a number to gallery wrap canvas in 16x24 prints from Mpix. Got them today and they are, in short, phenomenal. I am still debating the Nikon 12-24 2.8 as I use both a D90 and D700 to maximize my focal lengths given I have 20 or so Nikon lenses ranging in age from 2009 vintage to 1975 glass. All are great and I have three other Sigma lenses as well--none is as fun and accurate as this one. When time permits and budget allows, I'll do a comparison of the Nikon 12-24 but let's face it--it cost three times as much and is generally considered Nikon's tour de force. If you buy this f3.5 Sigma, I cannot imagine you will be anything but happy. Good luck--I will be looking for additional feedback. Rating: - Outstanding lens When I bought the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras 14 months ago, I didn't know what to expect. I never used a 3rd party lens or an ultra wide-angle, but I quickly learned to love the lens and the opportunities it created. Having said goodbye to the lens a week ago (still kicking), I decided to give this new slightly faster model for a spin. Currently reviews or even sample photos are sparse, and even some details seem elusive, so lets start in the beginning: * Like the predecessor, this model features HSM, so all Nikon DSLR users can benefit from this lens (D700, D3, and D3x users will only get a cropped view) * Also like its predecessor, its a hefty well-built lens that's made in Japan * It's comparable in size and weight to the original, but the 82mm front threads take some getting used to * While the older model did not extend at 10mm and extended barely at the "long" end, the new one is flush from 16-13mm, and extends slightly at both the wide and the long end. * the EX finish is a tad more refined, and it now features an AF/MF switch (full time override is available in AF). The focus ring is somewhat stiff, but has a nice movement to it. AF is blazing! * Sigma seems to have revised the rear element a bit with an added piece of plastic to minimize reflections * You also get an extra aperture blade for better bokeh and much better sunstars * Just in case you are wondering, this lens works just like a Nikon lens with full functionality I'll post photos, but in general its the equal or better to the earlier lens. At the wide end the extra 1/3 stop is barely worth mentioning, but at the wide end, you get 1 1/3 stop more light. The changes do go beyond that, as there now is ELD glass as well as SLD (in the previous version), and there is more aspheric glass. If this doesn't mean anything to you, just know this all helps it be a great lens! This is a very challenging focal length to design for, especially if cost and size are a concern, so there is no perfect lens in this range. That being said, Sigma seemed to have used their experience with a previous 10-20mm to create a highly refined and very capable lens. If shooting at f/3.5 you will see some softness in the corners, but frankly it's not that limiting. Stopping down to f/5.6 helps a lot with gains in between, and it peeks at f/8-11 (maybe f/13 on a 6mp sensor). Coming from an 18-## zoom? You'll get a whole new perspective, an opportunity to explore a new world of photography, and get to work with a lens of much better construction than a kit lens. Coming from another ultra-wide angle? It may not be worth the switch (I sold my other one for a variety of reasons), but you almost get the speed of the Tokina AT-X116PRDXN AT-X PRO DX 11-16mm Ultra-wide Angle Lens for Nikon and you get a faster aperture and more useful zoom range than first gen ultra-wides such as the Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF Autofocus DX Nikkor Zoom Lens or Tokina AT-XAF124DXN 12-24mm Wide-Angle Lens for Nikon.