Hi! My next lens project will be the Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX. I am hoping someone has already experienced using this lens (or even has this lens and would want to sell it to me). I am drawn to the wide focal length and fast aperture. Another draw to me is the minimum focusing distance of 7" which, on paper, will result to a lot of super thin DOF.

Hoping to get some interesting responses for or against this lens.

hi jong, got myself one before. caveat: it was a nikon mount and i might have gotten a bad copy. though now im thinking what could've happened had i sent it to JT for repair/upgrade*.

for me it was only usable stopped down from f/3.2 onwards. so, i suggest you check the one you'll get first.

i'm also suggesting a review from www.prime-junta.net



*slightly OT:
[last dec, i sent a (old non-hsm) 17-35 / 2.8-4 to jt due to horrible backfocus. it was off by about a foot or so. had it back in 2 weeks and it was sparkling at 17mm f/2.8 - excellent job by JTPhoto (af-chip replaced/upgraded). unfortunately, i sold it because of an emergency.

im due to write an online review of that repair and will do so soon. kudos to jtphoto and jerome.]

hi jong, got myself one before. caveat: it was a nikon mount and i might have gotten a bad copy. though now im thinking what could've happened had i sent it to JT for repair/upgrade*.

for me it was only usable stopped down from f/3.2 onwards. so, i suggest you check the one you'll get first.

i'm also suggesting a review from www.prime-junta.net



*slightly OT:
[last dec, i sent a (old non-hsm) 17-35 / 2.8-4 to jt due to horrible backfocus. it was off by about a foot or so. had it back in 2 weeks and it was sparkling at 17mm f/2.8 - excellent job by JTPhoto (af-chip replaced/upgraded). unfortunately, i sold it because of an emergency.

im due to write an online review of that repair and will do so soon. kudos to jtphoto and jerome.]
Wow a 17mm f/2.8 would be cool though I am more inclined to the primes. I just hope I get to snag a 2nd hand one. Brand new, according to JT, is 22.5k which is way, way over my budget! Maybe you can ask the person you sold it to to sell it to me.

jong, nikon mount ka na ba? :D

here's the prime-junta review:
http://www.prime-junta.net/pont/Reviews/a_Sigma_20_f1-8/a_Sigma_20_mm_f-1.8.html

Hi, Aris. I am Canon mount.

hi guys,

silly question - will it be practical to buy this if I already have a 17-50mm 2.8/f lens? I'm looking for a nice wide prime and this one seems to fare pretty well.

Other than this, would you guys suggest any other wide angle primes out there?

Thanks.

hi guys,

silly question - will it be practical to buy this if I already have a 17-50mm 2.8/f lens? I'm looking for a nice wide prime and this one seems to fare pretty well.

Other than this, would you guys suggest any other wide angle primes out there?

Thanks.
Hi, Cedric. Based from my experience, try out the normal 50mm (normal) and 85mm (portrait) lens first before the more unique focal lengths. My progression started from the 50mm f/1.8 then upgraded to the 50mm f/1.4 before going 30mm f/1.4. The 20mm f/1.8 is a very unique wide-open focal length, more artsy than most would be accustomed to.

Hi, Cedric. Based from my experience, try out the normal 50mm (normal) and 85mm (portrait) lens first before the more unique focal lengths. My progression started from the 50mm f/1.8 then upgraded to the 50mm f/1.4 before going 30mm f/1.4. The 20mm f/1.8 is a very unique wide-open focal length, more artsy than most would be accustomed to.

thanks jong!

i'm actually pretty comfortable shooting wide (or normal, depending on what i'm shooting). i can kind of see the limitations of the current range i have and i really would like to take wide angle shots with slight distortions. :)

would you say the 20mm f/1.8 can be used as a wide lens? i'm afraid that other than it being able to go down to f/1.8, the range is already covered by my current lens.

thanks jong!

i'm actually pretty comfortable shooting wide (or normal, depending on what i'm shooting). i can kind of see the limitations of the current range i have and i really would like to take wide angle shots with slight distortions. :)

would you say the 20mm f/1.8 can be used as a wide lens? i'm afraid that other than it being able to go down to f/1.8, the range is already covered by my current lens.
The f/1.8 is a whole new perspective on things. A lot of the things in the frame will be extremely soft. The cool thing about the 20mm is its minimum focusing distance. Coupled with the wide opening, shots will be really different with your normal wides. That's the reason why I am really looking to get one as well.

good stuff! thanks, man!

I think i'll look more into this as well. Kind of interesting.

hi guys,

silly question - will it be practical to buy this if I already have a 17-50mm 2.8/f lens? I'm looking for a nice wide prime and this one seems to fare pretty well.

Other than this, would you guys suggest any other wide angle primes out there?

Thanks.

I too am in a look-out for a great wide prime. I first saw the Sigma 20mm on a magazine way back in 2004. It had generally good reviews: sharp centers, reasonable corners, good flare and linear distortion control. The sample pics on the mag really show the unique perspective distortion on faces and objects when shot at the lens' minimum focusing distance. It didn't show, however, its poor performance when the aperture is opened up. Internet reviews are more polarized: you either love it or hate it. A big minus for me is the Sigma's bulk and humongous filter size (CPLs will be terribly expensive).

For almost the same price, one can get the Canon version. Slow-ish, but more compact and generally usable wide open. However, the Canon too receives mixed reviews. Most glaring weaknesses are: vignetting till f/5.6, purple/bluish cast, corners not too good when used wide open (more evident when using FF).

The most consistently favored wide prime is the relatively cheap and slow-ish Canon 24mm f/2.8. Small, light, 58mm filter thread, great corners even on FF cameras, but it's of older 80s design. When used on a cropper, it will be about 38mm, so it's not particularly wide.

I too am in a look-out for a great wide prime. I first saw the Sigma 20mm on a magazine way back in 2004. It had generally good reviews: sharp centers, reasonable corners, good flare and linear distortion control. The sample pics on the mag really show the unique perspective distortion on faces and objects when shot at the lens' minimum focusing distance. It didn't show, however, its poor performance when the aperture is opened up. Internet reviews are more polarized: you either love it or hate it. A big minus for me is the Sigma's bulk and humongous filter size (CPLs will be terribly expensive).

For almost the same price, one can get the Canon version. Slow-ish, but more compact and generally usable wide open. However, the Canon too receives mixed reviews. Most glaring weaknesses are: vignetting till f/5.6, purple/bluish cast, corners not too good when used wide open (more evident when using FF).

The most consistently favored wide prime is the relatively cheap and slow-ish Canon 24mm f/2.8. Small, light, 58mm filter thread, great corners even on FF cameras, but it's of older 80s design. When used on a cropper, it will be about 38mm, so it's not particularly wide.
I agree with you on the performance of the Sigma at wide open. This is usually the case in most lenses anyway, being sharp/useable only at a few stops down. Good thing that I am looking for that softness/unsharpness that lesser performing lens provide.

The Canon 24mm f/2.8 is a cheap, light and good performing prime, but with the prevalence of the 24-70mm f/2.8L, I think that prime has lost its market. The holy grail of the wide primes I think will be the Canon 24mm f/1.4L. Especially on FF cams, one cannot go wrong with that lens. Super performace, but super price as well :)

I agree with you on the performance of the Sigma at wide open. This is usually the case in most lenses anyway, being sharp/useable only at a few stops down. Good thing that I am looking for that softness/unsharpness that lesser performing lens provide.

The Canon 24mm f/2.8 is a cheap, light and good performing prime, but with the prevalence of the 24-70mm f/2.8L, I think that prime has lost its market. The holy grail of the wide primes I think will be the Canon 24mm f/1.4L. Especially on FF cams, one cannot go wrong with that lens. Super performace, but super price as well :)

I believe the Sigma 20mm shot @ f/1.8 is somewhat like the Canon 50mm shot @ f/1.4. (Although the Siggy has more of that dreamy soft look.) I too like the concept of a fast wide prime on a cropped camera. I hope Canon and/or Sigma develop this focal length more for us prime purists... and I hope its not an EF-S or DC design.

Yup, the Canon L Zooms have cannibalized the sales of the 24mm f/2.8. This is clearly evident in the dearth of photos posted in PBASE and FLICKR. However, the 24mm f/2.8 is small and more maneuverable. The 24L is bulky; the 24-70L @ 24mm is long.

I believe the Sigma 20mm shot @ f/1.8 is somewhat like the Canon 50mm shot @ f/1.4. (Although the Siggy has more of that dreamy soft look.) I too like the concept of a fast wide prime on a cropped camera. I hope Canon and/or Sigma develop this focal length more for us prime purists... and I hope its not an EF-S or DC design.

Yup, the Canon L Zooms have cannibalized the sales of the 24mm f/2.8. This is clearly evident in the dearth of photos posted in PBASE and FLICKR. However, the 24mm f/2.8 is small and more maneuverable. The 24L is bulky; the 24-70L @ 24mm is long.
A major draw for me is that not too many has discovered the wide prime Sigma. Without EXIF data, I think a lot of people will struggle to recreate the look of its shot without post processing.

The uniqueness is also a big problem because I can't seem to find a second hand one!

I'm still looking for this lens preferrable second hand!

Hi! I am reviving this thread in the hopes of having people who have used this lens to post samples. I'm presently in the hunt for a 2nd-hand of this lens (still!).

So post away :)

I was shock with the price adjustment of JT from 22k to 28k!

later I hope the deal would push through I might be able to get this baby

finally got my Sigma 20mm F1.8! :) I'll post some pics later I am surprised on how close it can focus! ala macro

Sample shot of my Sigma 20mm F1.8
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3282977733_ece236523d.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/3283792702_2e49260cd7.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/3282927075_9e37089caa.jpg

another one Rosaries

@Jong

here are some more samples on DOF with it's minimum focusing distance

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3340111191_1f17b2240b.jpg

and some other shots

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3315/3340939228_6076d687b1.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3595/3340939212_e0e3c73f53.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/3340111175_41f00558c6.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3340939132_b1116ed755.jpg

Bokeh :D it is so easy to create bokeh shots with this lens
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/3340111115_834bf18d1e.jpg

Reviving this thread again more samples of this wonderful lens I hope I could acquire an FF camera someday to maximize the 20mm focal length

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