Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX DG : Specifications and Opinions

Reviews

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Timk2

sent on 08 Maggio 2014

Pros: Unique spec, closest focus, fastest in class

Cons: 82mm filters, odd push-pull AF/MF selector, old style focus, Expensive - for its quality. Overshadowed by new Nikkor G 20mm f1.8

Opinion: This lens has two separate uses for me: Street capture - use at f2 and take off the hip. Great for wideangle industrial documentary style shots. The lens is sharp in the centre at f2, the edges much less so, which is often OK for this style of shooting. Landscapes - stop down to f4 and beyond and then it's as sharp as the competition and performs much more evenly across the frame. Distortion is low. Big 82mm filters make polarisers expensive. Handling and balance on the camera is good though the odd push/pull MF/AF selector is a nuisance. The lens also uses old Sigma AF technology, screw-driven and not HSM, but in the field for street stuff, it works OK on my D700 and D7000. The close focus might seem a gimmick but a really useful one - see my snowdrops entry. Recommended? Probably not - and only then for FX full-frame; it is expensive and quite big - Nikon's 20mm D f2.8 is pocket-sized and uses only 62mm filters. However, its unique spec is certainly intriguing and the performance isn't always the disaster it might be made out to be, if used within its limitations. Those with the money will have to sacrifice slight angle of view and splash out for the Nikkor G 24mm f1.4, to get the best quality. And now, (edit) the brand new Nikkor G 20mm f1.8 which has obviously copied the this Sigma's specification. My score 8/10

The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Stefano Banda

sent on 22 Luglio 2021

Pros: Very bright, interesting bokeh, good color rendering, sturdy construction

Cons: Not very clear at f/1.8, autofocus that must be calibrated with care, uncomfortable and anachronistic AF/MF selection, availability of the hood

Opinion: Purchased used (Pentax-K mount) at an attractive price, it lends itself well to environments with low light and in general for somewhat "creative" shots, as long as you do not expect a stratospheric image quality, especially at the most open apertures. At full aperture the sharpness is discreet in the center but really poor at the edges, to get good results on the whole frame you have to close at f / 8. It must be said that diaphragm already at f/2 in the center improves a lot. I often use it between f/2 and f/2.8, and taking advantage of the minimum focus distance of about 20 cm, you can get very special photos, also thanks to a soft and gradual bokeh. Surely the large aperture requires you to calibrate the autofocus carefully through the fine adjustment "in-camera", otherwise focusing on the wrong point is a moment. Still on the subject of autofocus I emphasize, in addition to a certain slowness, the inconvenience of the AF / MF passage, which betrays the age of the lens. The large diameter of the front lens (82 mm) means that you have to spend a lot on a basic set of filters, luckily I already had those for the Pentax 24-70 f/2.8, which has the same diameter. Finally I point out that I was sold without a hood, and that this is really difficult to find. You can fix it with that for the 24-70 f/2.8 of Sigma, but of course you have to know... Rating 7

Fabio Cammalleri

sent on 04 Giugno 2021

Pros: Street, events, portraits, interiors.

Cons: Poor sharpness already in the center, even worse at the edges.

Opinion: Bought new with Pentax frame, to do multi-evening installations, via Lattea and similar, however landscape in general, at a really ridiculous price, I put it to the test to diaphragms between f5.6 and f11 just to keep it nice sharp on my K-1 that in detail pulls out a lot, in the village of Bobbio, in the afternoon and at the blue hour. Needless to say, for what I was doing, it was not good and I resold it the next day at 20€ less so much the shame of proposing such a poor optics ... at least to make landscapes. Its opening can be useful indoors: birthdays, parties, events, nothing more. Maybe in crop on apsc it definitely goes better, no on full-frame.

Fangoman

sent on 28 Dicembre 2018

Pros: Realisation, sharpness, F 1.8

Cons: AF not always accurate, dual selection for AF/MF

Opinion: Now I have this lens for a year, I find it a spectacular travel companion: the diameter of the filter holder 82mm allows you to use the systems 100mm without reductions. Also I find that it is very sharp and the F 1.8 together with the minimum focus of 20cm from huge photographic possibilities. The only flaw is the AF being a technology not just first coat is inaccurate and slow and sometimes fails to focus, at the beginning I found laborious the selection of the focus mode but once used not by problems. I use it on both Canon and Sony with excellent results.

Schmau

sent on 14 Settembre 2016

Pros: Minimum focusing distance 200mm, precise and fast AF with normal sharpness especially light in the center that helps in some ways blurred.

Cons: Filters a bit 'expensive.

Opinion: Valid for use 20mm x street / documentaries and views, not bad in ravvicinati.rnCon excellent portraits of focusing distance, about 20cm. you may also have fine details in partial immagine.rnSi use comfortably in both FF formats APS-C.rnA my humble opinion, a good compromise if used within its limits (which however also have other wide angle). well built I would say, in use you'll immediately notice that it is not plasticky and yet that feeling solid. In well-built complex, I would definitely recommend giving it a rating of 9/10.

Tessi

sent on 20 Giugno 2013

Pros: 20mm, f1.8, minimum focusing distance of 20 cm.

Cons: Sharpen the edges unacceptable and generally rather poor.

Opinion: I was looking for a bright wide-angle to photograph the night sky. The focal length of 20 mm is ideal for this type of photo, and in addition the opening of f1.8 is very good, so on paper the Sigma 20mm f1.8 was exactly what I needed, so I decided to buy it . rnHo made several pictures with this lens and I must say that in the end are not so bad, but if one goes to look at the details out of the middle of the field, will be blurred and lack nitidezza.rnPer conclude, especially in the photo to the starry sky, you note particularly the stars on the sideline for the aberrations and the lack of sharpness. rnSi appreciate this lens the minimum focus distance (20 cm) and brightness, for those who like to disconnect the subject in the foreground from the background or vice versa by means of the selective focus. rnrnSarebbe Sigma desirable to revise this view and it would redraw the diagram, correcting aberrations and improving the resolution, since a 20 mm f1.8 for FF does not exist on the market and is ideal for photos at the sky notturno.rnrn