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Announced at PMA 2009, the Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM Canon wide-angle zoom lens features a constant f/3.5 maximum aperture (EX) and is equipped with a hypersonic motor (HSM).

This lens was specially designed for APS-C-format cameras. Three of its four aspherical lenses are made of low-dispersion glass elements — specifically, 2 ELD (extraordinary low dispersion) lenses and 1 SLD (special low dispersion) lens.
Its minimum focus distance is 24cm, regardless of focal length, and the maximum reproduction ratio is 1: 6.5.

Tests and reviews

Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM Canon on a Canon EOS 7D camera

What we liked:

• Good distortion correction (especially for a wide-angle zoom).
• Very reasonable vignetting at maximum aperture.
• Excellent resolution for this type of lens.

What we didn’t like:

• Significant chromatic aberrations.
• The weight.

Comparison

Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM Canon vs Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM vs Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED on a Canon EOS 7D and on a Nikon D7000

For this selection, Sigma ends up in second place behind the Nikon with a DxOMark score of 12 points vs 13 points, respectively. (Keep in mind that the Nikon was announced one month after the Sigma.)
As for the Canon, it takes third place on the podium with a DxOMark score of only 9 points. (In fairness, the Canon is more than five years old.)

The Sigma’s strong points compared to its competitors:

• Excellent transmission that does not vary with changes in focal length.
• Weak vignetting at maximum aperture and across all focal lengths.

The Sigma’s weak points compared to its competitors:

• More chromatic aberrations than the Canon.
• More distortion than the Canon.

Full measurements for the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Full measurements for the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED