Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM review

A relatively old design from Sigma’s stable, this lens maintains a constant attraction

(Image: © Future)

Digital Camera World Verdict

It may be a few years old, but the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM is still a solid wide-angle zoom and represents some truly excellent value for money. Sophisticated internal optics control well for barrel distortion and colour fringing, producing images that are clean and sharp. It’s a hefty lens, with a massive front element and 82mm filter thread, but if you don’t mind the weight and the bulk you’ll find a lot to like here.

Pros

  • +

    Great optical quality

  • +

    Affordably priced

Cons

  • -

    Some corner sharpness issues

  • -

    Large and heavy

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Nearly ten years old, the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM zoom lens predates Sigma’s ‘Global Vision’ line-up of Art, Contemporary and Sport lenses. It’s nevertheless a revamp of the company’s original 10-20mm lens for APS-C format cameras. One of the biggest upgrades is the swap from a variable to a constant aperture rating, meaning its widest available aperture of f/3.5 remains throughout the zoom range.

Unlike Sigma’s ultra-wide 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM lens, there are no FLD elements in the optical path of the 10-20mm, but there are two ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) elements and one SLD (Special Low Dispersion) element in the mix. Build quality feels as good as in the 8-16mm lens but with the same lack of weather-seals.

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.