Anyone using the Sigma 10-20mm?

[Travis]

Are the wide open distortions really obvious?

[Marko]

I actually have this lens and I quite like it.
But YES the distortion is definitely noticeable wide open at different focal lengths.

[tegan]

So, I hope you are correcting the distortion in postprocessing!

Tegan

[Travis]

That was gonna be my next question....

I'm looking now to pick up a wide lens for architecture and perspective landscapes.... Post processing is the least interesting aspect in photography (too me)... so I was hoping the distortion for this lens to be nominal... or desirable... I have been reading that the distortion for this lens is hard to correct... but this is the trade off for 10mm focal..(unless you shoot canon)..

I have also seen internet blitherings that claim there are a lot of "soft" copies of this lens. I'm a purchasing at a local store that might have 2 or 3 of them... any suggestions how to cherry pick and what to look for?? I wouldn't be able to bring them home... but I would be able to take a shot with each one in or outside the store... will the onboard monitor have good enough resolution to discern any difference?

I am also considering the Tokina 12-24... and a new highly rated Tokina 11-16 that is out this June.... BUT.. the Sigmas have the internal focus motor(hSM) and the Tokina's don't.... This mean manual focusing every shot... Does this really matter with wide lens??? Aren't most shots at infinity??

[tegan]

The only lenses that solve the distortion problem are the tilt/shift lenses.
Software-wise, DXO Optics Pro has plug-ins to match particular cameras and lenses including the Sigma 10mm to 20mm and Nikons. Easy to use in that the processing button automatically does corrections for the particular camera and lens. Consider trying out a demo to see if it works for you, and is the type of thing you want.

Tegan

[Marko]

This mean manual focusing every shot... Does this really matter with wide lens??? Aren't most shots at infinity??

Manual focus is not an issue for me but it is for some people..although many wide angled shots are shot at infinity for some applications, it is not at all a rule of thumb. So you will DEFINITELY be manually focusing this lens at focal lengths less than infinity. If this is an issue for you, I'd nix the lens.

thx

Marko

[Travis]

ya... i'm not afraid to manual focus... i have a rangefinder that confirms when i'm in focus so no biggy...

especially since most subjects in the 10-20 range will be static... i'll have all the time in the world...