And the first attraction to any ultra-wide zoom lens is in fact the ultra-wide focal length range, so let's review what this focal length range looks like. In the short distance focusing category, the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 turns in average performance for this lens class.

Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM - Digital Cameras, Digital Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM - Digital Cameras, Digital

I have tested this lens on Nikon DSLR bodies D5300, D7100 and D750 – all worked great, except that with D7100 and D750 I was not able to switch-off the VR function (see more below).While f/3.5 is not what I typically consider wide/fast, the fixed maximum aperture allows a constant wide open aperture exposure setting

Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM Interchangeable Lens Review

LOVE using this lens for my real estate photography. It's rectilinear, no odd curvatures (no fisheye effect) though it certainly does stretch things as you get closer to the edges, but that's the nature of 10mm (15mm equiv on D200). Pay attention to the location of camera and angle you're shooting at and the pics come out great - samples at http://www.EdgyPhoto.com in the galleries - almost ALL of the real estate gallery shot with the 10-20. So, if you're new to wide angles, I'd suggest the Sigma, but if you're on a budget, go for the older 10-20mm f/4-5.6. It's just as good at f/8, and 77mm filters are way cheaper (I love using a grad nd with this lens). From Sigma lens literature) Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM lens allows enjoyment of super wide-angle photography and it is a very powerful tool for indoor shooting and landscape photography with APS-C size image sensors of digital SLR cameras.Also, this lens WILL flare in bright light sources (namely the sun!). You won't get a super awesome copy that doesn't flare. This lens flares. Expect it to and plan accordingly. If you take lots of shots with the sun visible or just off camera, and don't want to Post Process the flare effect out, look for a different lens. After using the F3.5 for a shoot all weekend (Local Theatre company) I must say that I am very impressed by the F3.5. These focal lengths take in a very wide angle of view - and subjects must be close or otherwise turn into a tiny spec in your frame.

Sigma 10-20mm 1:4-5.6 EX DC HSM review Sigma 10-20mm 1:4-5.6 EX DC HSM review

Cons, would be, no weather sealing, no AF motor for Pentax brands. But this may not be a con as it focuses lightening fast with screw drive. Could be brighter/faster. This ultra wide lens is usable on 1.5-crop DSLRs only. It is the widest rectlinear lens for my D200 -- 10mm vs 12mm resembles a huge difference. Also consider which focal length range you need on the lens that is mounted while using this lens (with no lens change required).

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This window is absent from the non-HSM Pentax and Sony versions, replaced by a distance scale on the (now mechanically coupled) focus ring. Now for the downside: At 10mm it gets pretty smeary around the edges. Yes, I was pixel-peeping--I admit it, and the end result in a print would probably be fine. It may depend on the subject. This shot is from Chicago: The 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM is Sigma's offering in the APS-C ultrawide zoom sector, first announced in February 2005. It was introduced amongst a flurry of announcements as manufacturers raced to provide wideangle zooms for the burgeoning APS-C format DSLR market, with similar offerings also appearing in short measure from the likes of Tamron and Tokina (not to mention all of the major camera companies). It has since become a very popular lens, due in no small part to offering the joint-widest angle of view of all the APS-C ultra-wide zooms, while being available in mounts to fit all of the major DSLR systems. Equally it's not hurt by having a very competitive price; it's notably much cheaper than the camera manufacturers' own offerings in this sector. The Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM Lens is also a good option - I especially like its extremely wide angles of view.

Sigma EX 10-20mm f/3,5 DC HSM Review - Lensora Sigma EX 10-20mm f/3,5 DC HSM Review - Lensora

If you like ultra wide perspectives and you can live with the distortion signature and the small aperture you should give it a try. 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 f-stops tested, 3.5-8. I have no lenses to compare the Sigma 10-20 to at shorter focal lengths.AF (HSM) is accurate, fast and quiet and the build quality is very good. The MF ring is well dampened and feels comparatively precise and accurate. Upgrading from the previous version of the lens really isn't necessary unless you have a dramatic need the extra light gathering ability: if you have any 77mm filters you use with the old version, you'll need to upgrade to larger 82mm filters. For shooters looking to explore the ultra-wide experience, they should find the 10-20mm ƒ/3.5 lens doesn't disappoint. sibling have the shortest focal length range aside from the Tokina 11-16, but the overall range differences are not great. Shading or "vignetting" never gets real bad at the 10mm end, but then decreases relatively slowly as you stop down or zoom towards 20mm. The worst-case light falloff in the corners is only 0.7 EV, decreasing to just over 0.5 EV one stop down from wide open, for most focal lengths. Geometric distortion is quite interesting, in that the maximum level swings from pretty severe barrel distortion (1.3%) at 10mm to slight pincushion (0.29%) at 12mm, holding more or less constant at that level over the rest of the zoom range. What's really interesting though, is that the geometric distortion is almost entirely restricted to the very corners of the frame, so the average distortion level is actually very(!) low: Along the top and bottom of the frame, and along much of the left and right sides, the image is remarkably rectilinear. Sigma's optical engineers have done a very good job of compensating for distortion in the design of this lens!