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Sigma  EX DC HSM Fisheye 10mm F2.8 Review RSS Feed

Sigma EX DC HSM Fisheye 10mm F2.8

Sharpness 
 10.0
Handling 
 10.0
Reviews Views Date of last review
3 32,886 Fri January 29, 2016
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $683.00 9.67
Sigma  EX DC HSM Fisheye 10mm F2.8
supersize


Description:
Filter Size: Rear gelatin filter slot
f/Stop Range: 2.8-22
Minimum Focus Distance: 5.3" (13.5cm)
Magnification: 1:3.3
Angle of View: 180° (on digital APS-C cameras)
Groups/Elements: 7/12
Length: 3.3" (83mm)
Maximum Diameter: 3" (76mm)
Weight: 1.1 lb (475g
Buy Lens: Buy the Sigma  EX DC HSM Fisheye 10mm F2.8
Price: $649
Mount Type: Pentax KAF2/KAF (screwdrive AF)
Price History:



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Veteran Member

Registered: April, 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2,054

7 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 11, 2011 Recommended | Price: $649.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharp, fast, accurate AF
Cons: A little weighty

Since the DA 10-17 is far and away the most common fisheye lens among Pentax users, I thought I would write this review of the Sigma EX10 2.8 Fisheye to highlight the differences between the two.

I bought this lens because I used to have a DA 10-17 and wasn't entirely pleased with it. The AF hunted quite a bit and usually didn't settle on the right spot. The feel and build-quality also left a little to be desired. It's not bad per se, but it's not at the same level as the better Pentax lenses, i.e., the DA*'s and the Limiteds (or the new DFA 100WR). The biggest problem I had with the DA 10-17, though, is what most people like best about it, it's versatility. I guess to my mind, this was my fisheye lens, yet seemingly every time I used it, I would forget that you have to keep it zoomed completely out to get the full fisheye effect. I'm not sure that I ever took one photo with it that left me feeling completely satisfied. I finally just came to the conclusion that I wanted a dedicated fisheye lens that offered me better quality, both in build and image. With this Sigma, I have found that lens.

This lens is really as sharp across the frame as you can reasonably expect a fisheye to be. And at f/2.8, its also pretty fast for such a wide angle, as opposed to the 3.5 to 4.5 variability of the Pentax. AF seems to be much more reliable and accurate. While I sometimes question which lenses Sigma chooses to put HSM on, like this one, there is certainly nothing objectionable about it, except that it adds to the cost. Even so, this lens cost when new is less than $150 more than the DA 10-17, as of this review. In my opinion, it is well worth that.

This lens is a bit heavier than the Pentax, but not objectionably so. In fact, it balances very well on every full-size body since the K10. It begins to feel very slightly front-heavy on smaller bodies such as the Kx or Kr. It is about a half-inch longer, but most of that is attributable to the more substantial fixed petal-type hood, which extends further at the top and bottom. That hood also leads to perhaps the biggest quirk of the Sigma, the two-piece cap. There is a regular pinch cap, fitted to an "extender" that slides over the petal hood. You'll end up using it as one large push-on cap as the pinch-cap serves no discernible purpose. Pentax's one-piece metal cap is better, but if the Sigma's larger cap were also made of metal, it would be fairly heavy. So, even though it is made of plastic, it still feels of reasonably good quality.

Neither lens allows for the use of front filters , but the Sigma does have the ability to use slide-in rear-mounted gel filters, if you are so inclined.

Both lenses are capable of very close-focusing, though the Sigma is just a smidge closer. In fact, you can actually focus on something that is touching the front element, though I wouldn't make a habit of that.

While the Sigma has a lens-mounted AF/MF switch, it is capable of full-time manual over-ride or "quickshift", just as the Pentax is.

Build-quality is typical of Sigma's EX line, meaning quite good and definitely a step-up from the DA 10-17. It just plain looks and feels classier and more substantial.

To sum up, since a fisheye is typically not the most used lens in a photographers bag, many will feel that the DA 10-17 is all they need, and that is certainly understandable. But for those that want something that is an all-around step up, I highly recommend the Sigma EX10 2.8. I was tempted to rate it a 10, but I decided to show some restraint, something that is all too lacking in lens reviews.
   
Senior Member

Registered: April, 2011
Location: LODINGEN, Northern Norway
Posts: 275

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: December 26, 2013 Recommended | Price: $750.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp, fast, accurate AF
Cons: Why on earth did Sigma build that lens cap?


Very usable for Aurora, and I also use it a lot on landscapes and seascapes


My favorite lens for aurora

Its fast and sharp.
Autofokus is very good.
Greate built quality.
Easy to use, as long as you know pros/cons with fisheyes.
Havent tested it for lens flair yet. Its pretty dark here nowdays. (26. of dec)
Stopped down, you get the star effect on streetlights. Nice.

Have tried the DA 12-24, but i find this a lot more useful for Nothern light photography.


added: 04 01 14

Now i have been the proad owner of this lens since christmas eve. Its a joy to use. Fantastic for catching auroras, land- and seascape .
Its christal sharp.
Depth of field from the tip of my toes, to the other side of the world.
Avoiding bend horizons is easier than I had thought.
Colors are vibrant.
This is for now, used a whole lot more than the DA15 ltd.

   
Veteran Member

Registered: July, 2011
Location: Eastern Oregon
Posts: 856

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 29, 2016 Recommended | Price: $650.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Fast, sharp, good color
Cons: heavy, big
Sharpness: 10    Handling: 10    Camera Used: K5IIs, K3II   

Originally had trouble with Pentax's SR, and then really had trouble focusing with the new K-3 and K-3II. I bought the lens new in 2012. Over the Holidays in 2015 I sent it back to Sigma USA and they updated the firmware, no charge, had the lens back in under 2 weeks and now it's 100% and quite spectacular.

It focus's fast and accurately and is a very sharp lens and works fine with SR too.

Will be getting a lot of use for those "value added" creative wedding shots from now on!!

If you need a sharp fish with a wide aperture and fast focusing, this is really the only one.

I want to add that though this lens is not available from B&H, etc it still seems to be on Sigma's USA website and it seems it may be orderable through them new.
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