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08-09-2013, 04:15 PM   #1
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K5 and the Sigma 10-20 wide angle

I recently discovered that I really need to go wider in some of my shots. I have the DA* 16-50 but it's not wide enough. I have been looking at the Sigma 10-20mm in K-mount.. it comes in two flavors; a constant f/3.5 version and a less expensive f/4 - 5.6 version.

If you own either of these lenses I would like your thoughts on them. I am leaning more towards the f/3.5 version as I do a lot of low light shooting.

Thanks in advance.

08-09-2013, 04:26 PM   #2
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QuoteOriginally posted by Jim Radcliffe Quote
I recently discovered that I really need to go wider in some of my shots. I have the DA* 16-50 but it's not wide enough. I have been looking at the Sigma 10-20mm in K-mount.. it comes in two flavors; a constant f/3.5 version and a less expensive f/4 - 5.6 version.

If you own either of these lenses I would like your thoughts on them. I am leaning more towards the f/3.5 version as I do a lot of low light shooting.

Thanks in advance.
I have the f/4-5.6 version. It takes some very nice photos and there have been several comments on these forums that it's preferred over the f/3.5 (especially since it's a bit less money). I haven't tried the other so I can't give you my own comparison.
08-09-2013, 04:43 PM   #3
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I have the f3.5 version and love it. I don't have the f/4 - 5.6 so I can't compare but I do find f3.5 useful (really depends on the shooting you do).
For example doing this sort of thing: View Post | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

There are comments about it being soft in the corners and to an extent they are true. Wide open at 10mm the corners on my copy are soft, and even stopping down to f8 they are not perfect (corners are pretty good at f11 on mine). However the corners are good wide open on mine from 16mm to 20mm. On the flip side the image centre is pretty sharp f3.5 across the range, the HSM is really good (quiet), and I find f3.5 good for low light and getting a little blur in the background.
08-09-2013, 05:05 PM   #4
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I own the f4.5-5.6 version. I've enjoyed it. It is sharp at its widest (10mm) and wide open, where I tend to use it. If I'm going on a trip that provides opportunities for architectural and landscape shots, it is my go-to lens. I haven't used the f3.5, but I think as a value proposition the 4.5- 5.6 is hard to beat, particularly if you buy it used.

08-09-2013, 05:14 PM   #5
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My wife has the 4.5-5.6 version and it is second most used lens next to her 16-45. If we ever need to use a filter it is 77mm and that is the largest filter we have for our of our formats.

I think from what I have read either will do you, more than one stop faster but bigger and more expensive, or slower smaller and less expensive. All lenses are compromises.
08-09-2013, 06:00 PM   #6
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I have the 4-5.6. Very sharp lens and Ive been very happy with it. At the time when i was buying it I read some reviews. The 3.5 is tempting but the corners appear to be far from usable at 3.5, which defeated the purpose of having 3.5 for me. Plus it costs more, it is bigger, heavier and has bigger filter thread making you spend fortune on accessories. If i had to buy the lens again, I would def still go for the 4-5.6.

Edit:
Take a look at the extreme corner performance at F3.5 at 10mm
http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/467-sigma_1020_35_nikon?start=1
Here is the Sigma 4-5.6:
http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/307-sigma-af-10-20mm-f4-56-hsm-ex-dc-lab-t...review?start=1
Much better wide open!

Last edited by oxidized; 08-09-2013 at 06:38 PM.
08-09-2013, 07:26 PM   #7
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My brother use his 4-5.6 a lot and says it's as nice as the reviews say it's.

08-09-2013, 11:20 PM   #8
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I have the slower version. It is light and takes a great shot. I now have a 10mm sigma fisheye as I prefer the distortion of a fisheye compared with the stretched corner corrections of a corrected 10mm lens.

I am thinking at night unless you are close 10mm things will get lost. I suppose stitching night images together would be a very tall order.
08-10-2013, 12:41 AM   #9
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I have the f3.5 version, which is a great lens, but it has its limitations. Whilst I acknowledge that others may have experienced corner issues with theirs, I have noticed nothing similar with mine, so whether that's a QC matter for Sigma, or the fact that I tend to shoot stopped down with mine, I couldn't say. Properly used with the K-5, the advantage of the f3.5 version is the improved viewfinder definition in low light, regardless of whether or not you actually shooting wide open. Of course, that's only marginal at the wide end, but greater than one stop at the other.

Both are hefty lenses – the f4-5.6 weighs in at 865g, but I'm not sure what the f3.5 version weighs – and the f3.5 takes 82mm filters. Swings and roundabouts. I chose the f3.5 for the better viewfinder experience, and because it wasn't that much more expensive. I haven't been disappointed yet.
08-10-2013, 04:42 AM   #10
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Don't forget the 8-16mm that in considered to be the best one of the wide Sigma's by many.
08-10-2013, 06:43 AM   #11
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Thanks for all the input. Now I have to make a decision (must also refer to bank balance) and place an order in the next week or so.
08-10-2013, 11:23 AM   #12
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VisualDarkness is right ! The Sigma 8-16 is very wide and very sharp !
08-11-2013, 02:59 AM   #13
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Another vote for considering the 8-16. I have the slow 10-20 (and like it a lot), but if I should buy a rectilinear wide angle zoom today it would probably be the 8-16.

That said, I use the 15 Ltd a lot more primarily due to it being so much smaller. And due to its wonderful rendering
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