Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM - Examples and Advice needed

[Christopher E. Kincaid]

I ordered the Sigma UWA lens Friday because I couldn't get the Tokina 11-16 because nobody has any. Anyway... I am very much a novice photog and would love to see some of your examples using that lens and an would like any advice you can give.

Since this lens is "slow" is it good for dark storm shots? Will I always need my tripod?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Derek Weston]

I ordered the Sigma UWA lens Friday because I couldn't get the Tokina 11-16 because nobody has any. Anyway... I am very much a novice photog and would love to see some of your examples using that lens and an would like any advice you can give.

Since this lens is "slow" is it good for dark storm shots? Will I always need my tripod?

Thanks in advance...

No, "slow" isn't good for dark shooting conditions. (since "slow" equates to not letting as much light in) Not that f4.5 is terrible, but, yeah, in dim conditions you'll want a tripod I'd think. Of course, tripod is always ideal. If you can afford to shoot with a tripod most of the time... no worries.

I've been thinking about getting the tokina..... when I can actually find a copy. A slightly better performer than the famed canon 10-22mm. Although I'm on the fence as it is 11mm versus 10mm from sigma and canon. Love 2.8 on a wide angle, though. It'd be a big plus for my long exposure night shots. (don't have to ratchet the iso so far up = less noise)

Anyhow, your sigma takes great pictures. You'll be satisfied, I'm sure. Just browse through flickr to see what people do with it. The differences between it and, say, the canon 10-22, are negligible.

FWIW, there is a new Sigma f3.5 10-20 out. Slightly more expensive... but don't have any reviews. I want to say that the sigmas mount to fullframe cameras... so this is a plus. I might think about the 3.5 if it's a good performer.

 

[Christopher E. Kincaid]

I was just kind of hoping some of the good photogs here who use this lens would post some examples of their work or post links...

 

[Andrew Ryan]

I have the Nikon version. I love it! It's the lens that's on my camera 90% of the time when chasing. Although, it does cause problems when it is dark, it's not that big of an issue overall.

Also, Derek, it will mount to fullframe but it is designed for cropped sensor cameras.

 

[Joshua Nall]

I'm not extremely experienced with it, but you won't need a tripod all the time. Even under dark bases... just hold real still Hey sometimes it works! I use the lens for a little bit of everything, but I posted some close lightning shots a while back, post #16 at this link, 6 photos:

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21339&page=2

I love it for close lightning. These off course were taken with the aid of a tripod with exposures of several seconds, as it was near dark.

Josh

 

[Dick McGowan]

I've owned it for over 3 years now and it never leaves my Xsi when chasing. Getting close and shooting wide really brings out the detail in the supercell/tornado. I don't think I ever use anything other than 10 mm. It really isn't that slow with f/4...unless you have the money to throw around for something 2.8 or faster. Just bump up the ISO a little and you'll get a faster shutter. In the next 5 years or so, noise won't be an issue with most DSLR cameras. The technology they are coming out with now keeps getting better and better with reducing noise.

Some from 2009:

I'll probably be selling it, for cheap, in the next couple of months as I'm upgrading to a full frame and this lens won't work with it, if you're interested (and can wait that long).

 

[Chris Allington]

I also have this lens, and I love it! Haven't had any issues with darkness by just using a higher iso setting and running things through noise ninja or neat image later. Here are a few examples...

I have alot more on the site, the only issue I've ever had with this lens is sometimes it can have problems autofocusing quickly, especially under a storm, but most of the time you'll probably find your using manual anyway and its never bothered me enough to really complain about it.

 

[Jim Saueressig]

I recommend making sure you got a good copy of that lens to start with because their QC has been really lacking and then use manual focus for your storms, beyond that its a pretty good lens.





Lightning can be done but it is dangerous because to fill the screen it is leaving the clouds over your head, also you end up with very dark surroundings or blow out the shot. It takes a miracle to get a real good lightning shot in the dark. This is an example of how even shots from over your head will work but really lack in details.

 

[Christopher E. Kincaid]

Well I got my lens and I am very disappointed. I just took some pictures around the house and I think I got a bad one. Its out of focus and very noisy. I will try it some more tomorrow outside and check for sure. I hope its a bad one otherwise I gotta find a different brand.

Thanks for your advice. << This wasn't meant to be sarcastic lol.

*** Edited to make sure no one thought I was being sarcastic.

 

[Scott Weberpal]

Well I got my lens and I am very disappointed. I just took some pictures around the house and I think I got a bad one. Its out of focus and very noisy. I will try it some more tomorrow outside and check for sure. I hope its a bad one otherwise I gotta find a different brand.

Thanks for your advice.

The noise is from your ISO settings, not the lens.

 

[Ben_Jacobi]

I have had this lens for going on 1 year now. I LOVE this lens. I have used both the Canon 10-22, Nikon 12-24, and the Tamron 11-18. This Sigma is my personal favorite.

 

[Christopher E. Kincaid]

Here is an example. It is the left side of a pic (cropped) @10mm f4 1/60 iso400. I had my camera set at full auto and the flash went off. Note how out of focus the lamp is. The right side is not nearly as bad.

 

[Andrew Ryan]

Here is an example. It is the left side of a pic (cropped) @10mm f4 1/60 iso400. I had my camera set at full auto and the flash went off. Note how out of focus the lamp is. The right side is not nearly as bad.

There's your problem. You shutter speed is too slow for handheld. The image is blurry as a result, not out of focus. Well, it's hard to tell if it's out of focus but it is definitely blurry. Also, the image is overexposed. Try increasing the shutter speed and iso a bit.

 

[Ben_Jacobi]

There's your problem. You shutter speed is too slow for handheld. The image is blurry as a result, not out of focus. Well, it's hard to tell if it's out of focus but it is definitely blurry. Also, the image is overexposed. Try increasing the shutter speed and iso a bit.

At a 10mm focal length 1/60th should be plenty fast even without flash. Do you hear the focus motor turning at all? It looks like the lens is out of focus. See if you can manually get accurate focus. If not the lens could be defective, and will most likely need exchanging.

Hope that helps.

-Ben

 

[Darren Addy]

It is possible you got a bad one. Where did you buy it from? I saw Adorama selling some "new" ones on ebay. I asked them if they were new ones that had been returned by a previous buyer and got no answer to my question. If you got yours from there, then perhaps I was right.

Otherwise, hopefully you bought it somewhere that you can exchange it for another one. The lens is generally thought of as pretty darn good (see this thread:http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/84539-sigma-10-20mm-club.html for examples).

I hope to have one for my K200D shortly.