Product Description

10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC 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.Wide angle of view (102.4 ? at 10mm and 63.8 ? at 20mm) offers the photographer greater freedom of expression. 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 well as all types of aberration.This lens is equipped with an inner focusing system. 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.

Product Details

• Brand: Sigma
• Model: B000E3WNVW
• Released on: 2006-05-04
• Dimensions: 3.30" h x 3.30" w x 3.20" l, 1.04 pounds

Features

• 10-20mm ultra-wide angle lens designed for Minolta and Sony digital SLR cameras
• 3 special low dispersion (SLD) glass elements to compensate for color aberration
• 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

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed exclusively for Minolta and Sony 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. 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
The lens incorporates an internal focusing system that eliminates front lens rotation, letting you use a petal-type hood to protect from additional glare.

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

Manufacturer Description

Designed exclusively for Minolta and Sony 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. 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
The lens incorporates an internal focusing system that eliminates front lens rotation, letting you use a petal-type hood to protect from additional glare.

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

Customer Reviews

Good lens, but has quality issue
I purchased this lens for landscape shots. The range is good, but my copy was back-focusing by over 2 inches. I tested focus accuracy in different light, but without any success. I returned it, thanks to Amazon's great return policy.

Bad lot? Auto-focus chronically back-focuses on a300
After shooting about a hundred initial photos on my a300, I noticed that the images weren't as sharp as the high reviews led me to expect. Thinking my lens had sub-par optics, I ordered a replacement from Amazon. Same story with second copy. I then set up a shoot-off between my Sony 16-105 and the two Sigma copies. Shots were of an old picket fence and a fruit basket, at 16 and 20mm with f-stops at wide open, f8 and f22. Auto focus center-weighted. Distance 1 meter. During this test, I realized that the Sony was auto-focusing to one meter, while the Sigmas read just over a meter. I double checked my distance and then manually focused the Sigmas to 1m. Pics were great. When allowed to auto-focus, the Sigmas consistently read just past 1m. Reviewing my earlier shots which seemed soft revealed this back-focusing was the true culprit.

Lastly, I compared the Sony 16-105 to my Sigma 50mm 2.8 EX macro using the same process described above. The Sigma 50mm auto-focused perfectly and is easily the most detailed lens I have. I've also used other Sony lenses, as well as a Minolta 200mm 2.8, with no auto-focus issues. Given the solid reviews of the 10-20mm, I can only assume I fell victim to a bad lot. Amazon was great to work with and refunded my money. I'll wait a few months and order another. If that lens is good, I'll amend my review. Sorry for the long post, but since I'm dinging a well reviewed lens, I thought I should be specific.

Excellent wide angle
Fantastic wide range makes this a great choice for a wide angle lens. Photos are clear and sharp with only a little barrel distortion on the outside areas. You might be able to fix that in Photoshop, but I happen to like the style it gives the image. Not fisheye or anything, but slightly in that direction.

It has a very close focus range, around 9 inches, and I was able to pack a ton of people into some shots at the local hospital ICU where a family wanted to take possibly their last family portraits with their infant son. I got 8 people in with room to spare from only a few feet away.

The only con I can think of is that it's not very fast. f/4-5.6 doesn't work great in low light conditions so be ready to break out your flash. Check out http://www.abetterbouncecard.com for a fantastic method to improve your flash photography skills in no time and for less than a dollar in materials.

Oh, one plus is that, unlike some of the other buyers here, mine came with the HSM feature. It wasn't listed on the box, but on the product info book that was in the box.