Canon announces EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens
Canon today has also introduced
the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Zoom lens. With an equivalent focal
length of 29-320mm, the lens offers 11x zoom range. It also features a
16 element, 12 group construction including UD and aspherical lens
elements and a 4-stop optical Image Stabilizer. This lens has answered…
Nikon Wins European Professional Lens with 2 lenses
Both the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm and Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 G ED lenses have won the EISA Professional lens for 2008-2009.
Description
This
pair of Nikkor zooms represents the ideal optical partnership to equip
Nikon’s professional full frame cameras. Covering a broad focal range
at f/2.8, and delivering very high optical…
Phase One introduces 3.5/45 mm Tilt / Shift lens
Phase One today have launched the 3.5/45 mm Tilt/Shift lens. Specially designed for the professional
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studio applications. It offers up to 12 mm shift and 8 degrees tilt for
maximum flexibility. When used with the Phase One 645 camera…
Tamron announces three Di Full-Size Format lenses
Tamron today have announced the availability dates of three new Di lens series in
Full-Size Format. The Tamron SP AF90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO for Nikon is a
high-performance macro lens but also as a medium telephoto lens
suitable for all photographic applications including landscape and
portraiture. (The lens is already available…
Tamron announces new Di lenses for Canon and Nikon
Tamron today have announced two new Di lenses designed for exclusive use on Canon and Nikon (with Built-in AF Motor) small sensor DSLR cameras The SP AF10-24mm Di II, the first-ever ultra wide-angle lens for digital SLRs, features a focal length range with the 16mm ultra wide-angle to 37mm…
Nikon release the AF-S DX 18-105mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR
The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR is a new lens designed to partner Nikons
D90 DSLR. The Nikkor 18-105mm lens offers a focal length equivalent to
27 to 157.5mm in 35mm format, built-in Vibration Reduction and Silent
Wave Motor, and…
The super wide-angle capability of the 10-20mm zoom makes it a very powerful tool for both indoor and landscape photography. It is specifically designed to optimise results with digital SLR cameras encorporating APS-C size image sensors or smaller. Aspherical lenses provide maximum correction for distortion and various aberrations; high image quality is displayed throughout the entire zoom range. The HSM equipped models makes fast AF speeds and quiet shooting a reality, and it is also capable of full-time manual focus. It has a minimum focusing distance of 24cm (9.4”) at all focal lengths. It is also equipped with an integral Petal-type hood to block out extraneous light.
- - --
10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM lens allows enjoyment of super wide-angle photography making it a very powerful tool for indoor and landscape photography with APS-C size image sensors of digital SLR cameras. Offering an ultra-wide Angle of view 102.4 - 63.8 degrees ( when used with a Sigma SD camera)
Most Appropriate Coating for Digital SLR Cameras
The new multi-layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghosting, a common problem with digital cameras and also creates an optimum colour balance through the entire zoom range.
SLD and Aspherical lens elements
Three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements ensure ulta-high Resolution and sharpness. One glass mold and two hybrid aspherical lenses offer excellent correction for distortion, as well as all types of optical and colour aberrations.
Inner Focus System
This lens incorporates an Internal Focusing system, which eliminates front lens rotation, allowing the use of a petal-type hood and also minimize fluctuation of Aberration caused by focusing system.
HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor)
The HSM equipped models ensure a silent, high-speed AF function as well as Full-time manual focusing capability for Sigma, Canon, and Nikon-D mount lenses.
Minimum focusing distance of 24cm (9.4”) at all focal lengths
This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 24cm (9.4”) throughout the entire zoom range.
Despite costing less than half the price of the Nikon and having sharp and excellent Contrast, the Sigma feels robust and has silent HSM autofocus. The Sigma 10-20mm is particularly good at tackling the Chromatic aberration problems that beset this sort of lens, keeping colour fringing to a minimum. Optically, this lens is very impressive, producing consistently sharp and crisp results which betray its focal range and price tag. Designed for SLRs with APS-C-sized sensors, rather than full frame, the 10-20mm is available in Canon, Nikon, Sony/Minolta, Pentax and Sigma. Overall, it's one of the best specific purpose lenses for APS-C format digital SLRs,'Solid build quality, great autofocus and a rock bottom price all make the Sigma 10-20mm a desirable lens.'
Why should you care what I think?
My relationship with this item: Editor review Where did you buy this item?: May 08 Price paid: 350 When did you buy this item?: Focus
Conclusions at a glance
Would you recommend this Item: Yes Pros: Price, build quality Cons: give slight chromatic aberration on the corners
Last updated: Wednesday, 18 June 2008
User Lens Reviews
Average user rating from: 59 user(s)
Overall rating (weighted)
4.3
Sharpness
4.3
Build Quality
4.3
AF Speed
4.4
Value for Money
4.4
Add new review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
one of the best ultra wide angle lens for 1.6x cro, Tuesday, 02 September 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
the build quality of this Sigma lens is very solid. the HSM(Hyper Sonic Motor) focus extremely fast. to believe it or not, i actually use this lens to photography a lot of full body portrait, and the results are very sharp. at f8-f11, it is very sharp! i own a lot of lens, and i could say this is one of the lenses i use the most. this Sigma 10-20 is great for outside landscape, and works very well for indoor as well. i use it at 10mm w/ F4 when photograph people indoor, and for event photography, because i do not have to backup too much to get a lot of people in the frame. make sure you keep the person in center of the frame, though, because it distorts the image pretty strong at the corners. when my 16-35 2.8L II is not wide enough on my 40D, i would def. switch to this lens
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
returned, Friday, 29 August 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
1.3
Sharpness
1.0
Build Quality
1.0
AF Speed
1.0
Value for Money
2.0
I returned the lens today. Tried it extensively on a Rebel XSi. Maybe I had one of the bad copies. The sharpness was barely acceptable in the center. The corner sharpness was terrible. The images from the "cheap" 18-55 IS kit lens included with the XSi blow the ones taken with the Sigma flat out of the water. I will not take the chance and get another. Too much hassle and frustration. In my opinion it is not acceptable for a company like Sigma to have such sloppy quality control.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
Wide Angle Lense, Sunday, 24 August 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
For the price this is a great lense. Yes some on the market are better but they cost a lot more! I love my lense.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
I am Impressed, Monday, 04 August 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
I have only just received this lens so I will be giving you my first impressions. I will follow up in a couple of weeks with an in depth review.
First impression is BIG. The lens is big, physically, and it's a WIDE view after using my Canon 18-55mm. It feels solid, well built with everything moving very smoothly and no noise. It locks on to my Canon 300D and 400D XTi solidly with no slop and responds to all commands, AF, Av, Tv, etc.
I have taken half a dozen shots and they have all been clear and sharp without enlarging or in depth investigation. Distortion is typical of what you would expect in this focal length, exaggerating all the mid range distortions. I did manage to get some very respectable non-distorted images by carefully controlling the angles of the POV.
The last observation is that it looks good. I mean it's dressed up a little with the gold band and ribbing.
I am very happy with this lens so far. I will update this review after I play with it a little more in depth.
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Solid, but Fuzzy, Sunday, 03 August 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
2.3
Sharpness
3.0
Build Quality
1.0
AF Speed
2.0
Value for Money
3.0
I have taken nearly one thousand pictures with this camera, anything from architecture to nature. While my initial assessment of the camera was good, after having it for some time, I feel that the fuzziness of the pictures is unacceptable. I guess I felt as though it was my initial settings, or maybe becuase of the wide angle of the lens this was something that was par for the course. I have since read about softness on right or left side with this leans, but my experience is clarity is no good accross the entire frame, in EVERY situation. I will either send back for repair or get rid of it for the cannon 10-22 lens.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
Better sharpness, Brightness and color saturation , Sunday, 27 July 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
I just did some test shots comparing the Sigma 10-20mm and the Canon 10-22mm. The Sigma beat the Canon hands down on sharpness, brightness and color saturation without question. I've owned the Canon 10-22mm for almost a year and have never been satisfied with the softness of the images it produces. I've even sent it to the factory 3 times for adjustment. The tests I did today show the Sigma to be surprisingly the better lens hands down. It may be that I purchased a bad Canon lens, but after 3 trips to the factory for adjustment, I would think it would have been spotted. I'm constantly being told by reps how good the Canon 10-22mm is as it has the super UD glass and is supposed to be similar to L series quality. I've never seen this on my 40D and I'm now ecstatic to have found the Sigma to replace it. This is a great lens for a very nice price.
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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
bad......bad sharpness......., Friday, 20 June 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
1.8
Sharpness
2.0
Build Quality
2.0
AF Speed
1.0
Value for Money
2.0
I used this lens for 1 week and took over a 200 photos in various shutter speed/aperture combinations; all of them turned out so-so to no good. The center sharpness is ok, but the sharpness and distortion of the image becomes unacceptable, starting about half-way to the image edge.
I don't believe I received a bad copy of this lens as a previous reviewer had as I didn't find one side of the image to be better or worse than the other and the autofocus seemed to be on target.
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
SAVE SOME CASH, Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
3.8
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
3.0
Value for Money
3.0
SAVE A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS, GET THIS INSTEAD OF THE 10-22 BY CANON, CANON IS THE BETTER OF THE TWO, BUT, NOT FOR THE MONEY, IF YOU HAVE LENS FEVER! THANKS, SIGMA.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Great wide angle!, Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
4.0
I bought this lens because it was cheaper than the Canon version, and won an award in europe for the best consumer lens of it's kind. I use it with my Canon 30D digital SLR. It's very sharp, and feels great when shooting. Great Wide angle is you don't have one. Please note that this lens will ONLY work with a corresponding DIGITAL SLR.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
fantastic, Sunday, 01 June 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
This is my first "real lens". the Sigma EX line is a good place to start getting into quality glass. I was looking for something of a fisheye (maybe not that extreme) but definitely something wiiiiide.
This fits the bill very well. It is not the most extreme angle of view (about 102 degrees) but it really captures depth and creates an interesting look. You'll learn to be aware of your entire environment as the wide angle can capture things on the extreme periphery. It makes scenes more lively, i had my sister shoot with this lens at a wedding reception with some very entertaining results.
Anyway, the whole things works like a dream. Buy it and a UV filter and go have fun!
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
fantastic, Sunday, 01 June 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
4.0
This is my first "real lens". the Sigma EX line is a good place to start getting into quality glass. I was looking for something of a fisheye (maybe not that extreme) but definitely something wiiiiide.
This fits the bill very well. It is not the most extreme angle but it really captures depth/space in the frame and creates an interesting look. You'll learn to be aware of your entire environment as the wide angle can capture things on the extreme periphery. It makes scenes more lively, i had my sister shoot with this lens at a wedding reception with some very entertaining results.
Only concern is that this is an f4 lens compared to Canon's L series wide lenses that hover around f2.8. But then you'll spend over twice as much!
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
Nice price for a great lens, Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
Sigma continues to impress me. My one pricey Canon-brand lens (28-70 f/2.8 L) has color-fringe problems, and my two Sigmas (this one and the very sweet APO 70-200 f/2.8 EX DG HSM) are dead-on correct and free of chromatic aberration. My chief complaints about this lens are fairly irrelevant since they center around its inherent design:
1) variable aperture (makes you have to change your flash settings if you shoot manual) 2) it's not a f/2.8 lens
I was aware of these design specifications (not issues or surprises) before buying and am pleased with it despite them. That's the tradeoff you get for a great price.
It's nice to have a true wide-angle lens back in my arsenal, since the 28-70 combines with my 1.6x sensor size factor to become a 45-112, hardly wide.
To anyone considering buying the lens, just be aware that it's not for full-frame cameras. If you don't know what this means, or aren't sure what yours is, read the manual.
The field of view is an immense 102° side-to-side, and it focuses down to about 6" from the subject at 10mm.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Overall, a great value., Monday, 26 May 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
I bought this instead of the Canon 10-22, and never looked back. Reviews seemed to indicate they were fairly comparable, with no clear "winner" in Amazon user reviews or in the trades, but I was on a strict budget and had 2 lenses to buy: this was the one that went cheap.
In use it is very good. When wide open at the 10mm end there's Vignetting and some chromatic aberration is visible (the dreaded "purple fringe" variety) at wide apertures. Start tightening up the view, though, and it gets much better pretty quick, say by about 12mm@f/8.
At the 20MM end it is sharp, clean, and lovely. I've done portraits with it - pretty pleased with the outcomes.
But what I bought it for was that big, nasty 10mm wide angle
