| Author: | | New Member Registered: July, 2013 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: November 6, 2023 | Not Recommended | Price: $260.00
| Rating: 6 |
| Pros: | Quiet autofocus, relatively inexpensive | | Cons: | Color rendition, overexposure, heavy | | Sharpness: 7
Handling: 5
Value: 6
Camera Used: K-70
Autofocus: 9
New Or Used: Used
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So far, unimpressed with this lens. Build quality is excellent, the HSM autofocus is quiet and instantaneous, but initial images are not great. Most reviews cite the corner softness, which I was not overly concerned about, but overall, the contrast and color rendering are flat. Not what you want for a landscape tool. Even my run of the mill Pentax glass like the 28-70 f4 FA produces much better results, including center sharpness. The Sigma also overexposes by about a stop when the camera is left to meter the shot.
Not sure I'm going to keep this one.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2019 Posts: 12
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 26, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Good built quality, HSM autofocus | | Cons: | (Very) limited usage scenario | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 7
Value: 7
Camera Used: Pentax K1 MkII
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: New
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This is a very narrow use-case lens. It is a bit large, and not that luminous. But it is one a the few very-wide lens that you can buy for APS-C, allowing you to take really wide shots in the wild or, more importantly, inside of buildings in average light conditions. At 20mm on APS-C, it is a 35mm-FF equivalent and rather interesting for common wide-angle shots without too much distortion. the HSM autofocus is quite good.
It instantaneously lose a lot of its appeal when used with a full frame camera like the K1. The vignetting is pretty hard at 20mm and not usable below that. The only think I still use it for is astrophotography, where vignetting is less of an issue and the 20mm and ok-ish aperture come handy.
You likely cannot find it new anymore (because Sigma stopped making Pentax lenses), but if you own only a APS-C body and you need something wide for interior shots it can maybe help you.
The milky way at 20mm on the K1
At 20mm on the K1 the vignetting is pretty noticeable! (with in body vignetting correction, no post-processing)
 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Posts: 1,852
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 22, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Wide, Solid Construction, depth of field | | Cons: | CA on edges, 82mm front end!, learning curve | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K5IIs - K3-iii
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: Used
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I've been eyeing this lens for a while, and found a used one for a good price at KEH
My other option was a Samyang 10/2.8
First impression was that the lens is heavy, and the front element is huge (82mm)!
Construction is solid, feels nice in the camera, smooth zoom and focusing rings
I liked the AF/M switch in the lens
The view angle is equivalent to a 17mm in 35mm; just for kicks I tried the lens in a MESuper and there is heavy vignetting at 10mm covering almost 180mm and is gone by 14mm. I will try to find my Super Program to use the lens and make samples.
On the K5iis AF was fast and precise, manual focusing is difficult at 10mm due to the distorsion but the AF indicator works well. I think that at f/8 it could go hyperfocal at 10mm but there are no marks
Distorsions are not bad for a 10mm, a little barrel at 10, almost none at 14 and pincushion after 17mm
The images are soft at the corners and have some pronounced chromatic aberrations (purple), especially towards the edge.
Given the focal I didn't expect much bokeh, and at 10mm there is almost none and at f/8 is all but gone.
The use of a graduated ND filter for landscape is very helpful to tame the sky, I used a cokin P filter (84mm) and I'd recommend a 100mm wide filter
But all things considered for a UWA it is pretty good, and allows for some dramatic images I was not able to get any other way. While I'm testing the images lack "punch" but maybe it just needs some processing
I think that as long as you know the weaknesses of the lens you can get really good use of it.
Purple fringing example
PS in the K3-iii CA is even more pronounced, however with astrotracer this lens is wonderful for milky way and other panoramic astro
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2020 Posts: 2
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 11, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Well built, good autofocus | | Cons: | Lack of sharpness | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: K70
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: New
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It is a lens that I hesitated a long time to buy because I wanted a wide angle or an uwa, and I had the choice between a fixed focal length (the 15mm of Pentax), the 10-24mm of Tamron, the 12- 24 of Pentax ... Finally I started for the Sigma, preferring a priori the flexibility of a zoom ... I tried several times to make good shots with the Sigma, but I am not convinced .. . by myself ! You have to choose your subject and composition very well, with a prominent foreground, otherwise the image is very flat. That said, the image is good overall, but it may lack sharpness, dynamism. No autofocus problem on my side. It's a good goal without doubt, but I need to master it better to really be able to judge it.
This one is 14mm focal length.
https://www.amazon.fr/photos/share/1kpjB7FnCYCKX3vjaqzmnGUM2u54W2m8K5cu5aVBKNn
https://www.amazon.fr/photos/share/SJqJ8FuwjFIjSVzQdCtbjvHSdNu20vKP6yMzoPBcnWs
 | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2019 Posts: 2,009 | | Review Date: January 8, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Autofocus, build | | Cons: | Lack of contrast due to flare | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 10
Value: 7
Camera Used: Pentax K-S2
Autofocus: 9
New Or Used: New
| |
This lens is well-build. Heavy, sure, but it's a aperture-constant zoom. It feels professional. Its autofocus system is the second best (after the 55-300 PLM) I have seen in my lenses : moderately fast, silent, quick-shift like, scale under a window, AF/MF button. Only small problem I could say about build is the fact that the zoom ring has a tendency to make a high-pichted noise, like if something was rusty. But in reality this is barely noticeable, and does not take away full score for build quality.
The lens seems sharper at 20mm than at 10mm, when pictures may look a bit bland, compared to the DA 10-17, but there are much fewer chromatic aberrations than the fisheye.
The main problem with this lens is the fact it is prone to flare, which manifest to lack of contrast and sometimes rainbow colored lines if sun is on a corner (but it happened to me only once).
I still recommend this lens, it's a must have, even if I expected more from such a costly lens.
| | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2007 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 20 | | Review Date: December 9, 2019 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | wide | | Cons: | soft edges | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 6
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: KS-2
Autofocus: 9
New Or Used: New
| |
A very fun lens to use. My photographer friends all loved this lens and its super wide-angle capabilities!
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: June, 2014 Posts: 58
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 29, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $245.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp centre, low distortion, fast max. aperture, good autofocus | | Cons: | Soft on the edges, heavy | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-S1
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: Used
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This lens is a light (1/2 weight) and affordable (1/4 price) alternative to modern monster lenses.
Central sharpness is excellent at all apertures and focal lengths. Edges are generally sharp indoors and soft outdoors, which makes it better lens for interiors than for landscapes. However, if you stop it down to F8-13 and compose your photos carefully to make sure there is nothing important on the edges, this lens can produce stunning landscapes.
The autofocus is fast, accurate and silent. Distortion is surprisingly low for such a wide lens. CA are strong but correctable. It is a heavy lens for a small camera like K-S1, but it's short and doesn't feel imbalanced. Build quality is very good.
Overall very nice lens, highly recommended.
 | | | | | Seeker of Knowledge Registered: August, 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Posts: 24,581 | | Review Date: February 3, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | seems well made, sharp | | Cons: | none at this time | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K 3
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: Used
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yes it is heavy but so are some of my other lenses
no problem for me to hand hold
haven't had much time to use it yet, but I like it
no chance to examine bokeh yet
purchased via forum's market place
it is my widest lens
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: January, 2017 Posts: 61
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 9, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $220.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, autofocus | | Cons: | Heavy | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-S2
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: Used
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Purchased used, I find this lens an excellent value. Handles very well, with crisp autofocus and clarity (especially in the center). There is some slight distortion at the corners when shooting wide, but it's not a big issue. I found that learning to compose my shots with it took some time. I am typically shooting at 15-18mm and there is not much I can't address regarding the edges in post; when below 15mm it's better stopped down. The lens is constructed very well and is heavier but have gotten used to it (also have a 17-50mm f2.8 so its comparable in that regard). Overall as a super-wide that is not a fisheye, I really recommend this lens. It has provided me with some excellent landscape shots and I trust it to nail the focus and with sharpness.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: December, 2013 Posts: 796
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 23, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Wide, silent focus | | Cons: | Bulky, distorsion | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 7
Value: 9
Camera Used: KP, K-30
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: New
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This lens is a well rounded ultrawide zoom. The lens is sharp and has a decent IQ. The barell distorsion at the wide and is a little annoying, a rectilinear ultra wide angle lens should be well corrected. The build quality is good. I should note that, the Sigma lenses has a reversed zoom and focus ring, I don't really mind, but some has to get familiar to the unusual directions.
The constant wide aperture makes the lens able to shoot events too. I'am not a great fun of ultrawide, but it's a useful lens in my kit occasionally.
Here are some images:
 IMG160120_0048 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG160120_0005 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG160129_0154 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG160129_0119 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG161031_0008 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG161031_0002 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG160820_0011 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG160619_0014 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2016 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: February 16, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $380.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Construction, well controled distorsion | | Cons: | Extreme angles sharpnes, cromatic aberrations | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K3II
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: New
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After about 100 photos shot with this lens I can say:
-AF worked very bad, inaccurate, slow, sometimes it did not respond ... After cleaning the contacts seemed to be the same but magically began to respond perfectly, being slower than most of my screw lenses.
-The sharpnes is very good in the center even at 3.5 but the extreme angles are never very sharp, neither at f16 nor at f22 where definition is lost in the whole image.
-The management and construction are very good, not as good as those of the ART range but very good.
-The distortion is very well controlled, I think I like much more in the 17-20 range than the Tamron 17-50 2.8.
-CHROMATIC ABERRATIONS are remarkable and are reduced by closing the diaphragm but they never disappear, although this is common in glasses that are so narrow
Once I read that EX was excellent or excellent and Sigma stayed far away with this goal, I would have called it OK
EDIT: It seems that the K3II and the 10-20 dialogue each time better, the HSM is rare. It is the second lens that I tested on HSM and the previous lens (Sigma 50-150) I returned it because the focus was a horror, but I like this lens more and more
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: August, 2014 Location: Italia Posts: 354
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 4, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $540.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Solid build, sharpness, AF,low distortion,contrast, costant aperture | | Cons: | none for this price target. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: New
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Very honest lens. It delivers a lot for the price.
Feels solid and the AF on my copy is excellent without the need of any adjustment. AF is also extremely accurate. MF is possible in any moment but the MF ring hasn't infinity stop.
Distortion is low;my copy doesn't suffer of CA. There's some vignetting at 10 mm to 14 mm at wide apertures. This lens is sharp.
10 mm of FL are for people who know to use them . Otherwise the 15 limited + 21 limited are a better choice (for double the price) . It takes 82 mm filters but if you're used to square filters, Lee or Nisi holders could be used. A side note: the 24 mm FL is useful so people comparing this lens to Da 12-24 have to consider if it's better the 10 to 12 end towards 20 to 24 zoom end. I don't own Da 12-24 but sigma strenghs are low Ca, low distortion and AF (silent and accurate).
I never used it on a 24 mpx sensor but I suppose this lens would perform fine.EDIT: on 24 mm it seems someway softer.
I really don't understand the critics about bokeh.... guys this is a 10 mm lens....this means all is in focus...but if you want some bokeh, the close focus distance means you can apply some out of focus to the background, but the bokeh is nervous, for my taste.
To sum up:I'm satisfied by this lens and I hve no regrets.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2015 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 49 | | Review Date: January 10, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $450.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Very sharp | | Cons: | Still exploring | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-30
Autofocus: 9
New Or Used: New
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I just purchased this lens (12/29/16) but so far I really enjoy using it. I have found it to be very sharp. I don't expect much bokeh on this type of lens which is fine.
It focuses very quietly and fast on my older K-30. I took both low light (sunset/blue hour), full daylight and interior shots and found it worked very well in all three situations.
I didn't detect much drop-off in sharpness when wide open in the situations in which I used it.
I expect to have a lot of fun with this lens :-)
 | | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2009 Location: Varese, Italy Posts: 11
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 7, 2017 | Not Recommended | Price: $370.00
| Rating: 5 |
| Pros: | well built | | Cons: | not sharp, 82 mm filters are expensive | | Sharpness: 5
Aberrations: 4
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 9
Value: 5
Camera Used: Pentax K-7
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: New
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After reading many good reviews I decided to buy this but even from the first test shots all the pictures looked already rather soft on the camera's LCD. I tried different focal lengths and apertures, from wide open to fully stopped down, but the results were all more or less disappointing.
I tested it against my 18-55 Pentax kit lens. With the same focal length, aperture, speed, and guess what? The unassuming 18-55 was consistently sharper. I know that Pentax has the best kit lenses but this is ridiculous, I was expecting more from this Sigma.
I really wanted to like the 10-20, but I eventually had to return it. I could have asked to replace it with another copy but there was no guarantee that a second lens would have been better so I think I will keep saving money and buy the Pentax 16-50 or the 15 mm limited.
The only good thing that I can about this lens is that it feels really solid and well built. Unfortunatley the image quality was not what I was hoping for.
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2015 Location: Paris Posts: 2 | | Review Date: March 22, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $700.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Image quality, Very low-distortion, | | Cons: | you can't use inside flash | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K20D
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: New
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The better wide angle i use
no distortion in corners
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