Sigma 20mm 1.8 at DVinfo.net

Ian VanCattenburch · June 13th, 2011, 04:38 PM

Anyone using this lens with a cropped sensor for steadicam work? If so, how do you like it?

Mark Von Lanken · June 13th, 2011, 06:58 PM

I'm not a moderator, but just a heads up...this post really belongs in one of the DSLR sections. It will probably be moved. Now to your question.

I like the Sigma 20mm 1.8 so much that after I used one at the reception I bought a second one. I shoot with Canon 60d's and it's great for handheld or glidecam, especially when it's too dark for the Tokina 11-16 2.8. It doesn't give the big wow look of the 11-16, but when shooting in low light, 1.8 blows away 2.8.

Craig Terott · June 13th, 2011, 07:14 PM

Of all the lenses in my bag (8) I feel like I got the most for my money with this lens.

Joel Peregrine · June 13th, 2011, 08:08 PM

Hi Ian,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian VanCattenburch

Anyone using this lens with a cropped sensor for steadicam work? If so, how do you like it?

I completely agree with both Mark and Craig - and I'd also like to add that the close focusing comes in very handy for detail shots. I think the distance from the sensor plane it can focus is only 7". And reviews will say its soft, but I'm very happy with the sharpness.

Mark Von Lanken · June 13th, 2011, 09:42 PM

Hi Craig,

Your post peaked my intrest. I got out the Sigma 20 1.8 and Tokina 11-16 2.8. They looked the same brightness at 2.8, but then when I took the Sigma to 1.8 it was noticeably brighter, as it should. Are you sure you had both cameras at 2.8?

Hi Joel,

I had always been impressed with the close focus abilities of the Sigma 20 1.8 as well. On my Panny HMC150 I always used the macro abilities of the lens and greatly missed it when going over to DSLR. A lot my lenses will not focus closer than 2-3 feet. For true macro I have a vintage Vivitar Series 1 28-105 that will focus at about an inch or so, but I don't use that lens too often, except for macro purposes.

I just compared the close focus capabilities of the Sigma 20 1.8 compared to the Tamron 17-50 2.8. The Sigma allowed me to get much closer, but with the Tamron at 50mm, I was able to get the exact same framing in focus. Now for moving shots, it's much easier to use the Sigma 20, but for a static shot, I was impressed that the Tamron could get the same shot when framed at 50mm.

Craig Terott · June 14th, 2011, 05:58 AM

"Your post peaked my intrest. I got out the Sigma 20 1.8 and Tokina 11-16 2.8. They looked the same brightness at 2.8, but then when I took the Sigma to 1.8 it was noticeably brighter, as it should. Are you sure you had both cameras at 2.8?"

After re-testing this, I think my error was using the Tokina lens with a more contrasty profile. Of course I should use identical profiles! My mistake.

Jeff Harper · June 14th, 2011, 07:23 AM

As food for thought, I'd like to toss in that while not as wide as the 20mm, I am very fond of my Sigma 30mm F/1.4. For reception work it is excellent. It is an odd angled lens, and a bit soft, as Sigmas tend to be, but nevertheless it's very useful.

Jeremy White · June 14th, 2011, 06:27 PM

I shoot with this lens on a glydecam all the time. The focus can be soft, but at least it's bright enough to see.

Monday Isa · June 18th, 2011, 06:37 AM

When I was using DLSR's the 20mm was my favorite lens for lowlight work. Awesome lens for that purpose! Used it on a glidecam to and it was great. Very enjoyable. Since moving to the AF100 with it's 2X crop factor I don't use this lens on the glidecam but I use it for all the dancing and wow is it sharp! Always running F1.8 ISO 1250 and 1/60 shutter. Very happy with it. When taking stills it's not a sharp lens at 1.8-3.5 apertures. Once you hit F4 it's wonderfully sharp.

Jeremy White · June 19th, 2011, 11:21 PM

Hmmm...I'll try it at 4 to see the difference...

Galen Rath · June 26th, 2011, 08:14 PM

I'm going to try the Sigma 20mm 1.8 (NIKON version) first on a Merlin/FS100 setup . I'm really happy with a Tokina 11-16/Canon 60D/Merlin setup--I never (I least I dont) adjust the focus, and everything is in focus front to back (reasonably so), so have to deal only with exposure (via aperture ring or variable ND filter).

June 13th, 2011, 04:38 PM	#1
Ian VanCattenburch Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 50	Sigma 20mm 1.8 Anyone using this lens with a cropped sensor for steadicam work? If so, how do you like it?

June 13th, 2011, 06:58 PM	#2
Mark Von Lanken Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 910	Re: Sigma 20mm 1.8 I'm not a moderator, but just a heads up...this post really belongs in one of the DSLR sections. It will probably be moved. Now to your question. I like the Sigma 20mm 1.8 so much that after I used one at the reception I bought a second one. I shoot with Canon 60d's and it's great for handheld or glidecam, especially when it's too dark for the Tokina 11-16 2.8. It doesn't give the big wow look of the 11-16, but when shooting in low light, 1.8 blows away 2.8. __________________ Mark Von Lanken www.VonWeddingFilms.com

June 13th, 2011, 07:14 PM	#3
Craig Terott Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 691	Re: Sigma 20mm 1.8 Of all the lenses in my bag (8) I feel like I got the most for my money with this lens. Last edited by Craig Terott; June 14th, 2011 at 05:52 AM.

June 13th, 2011, 09:42 PM	#5
Mark Von Lanken Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 910	Re: Sigma 20mm 1.8 Hi Craig, Your post peaked my intrest. I got out the Sigma 20 1.8 and Tokina 11-16 2.8. They looked the same brightness at 2.8, but then when I took the Sigma to 1.8 it was noticeably brighter, as it should. Are you sure you had both cameras at 2.8? Hi Joel, I had always been impressed with the close focus abilities of the Sigma 20 1.8 as well. On my Panny HMC150 I always used the macro abilities of the lens and greatly missed it when going over to DSLR. A lot my lenses will not focus closer than 2-3 feet. For true macro I have a vintage Vivitar Series 1 28-105 that will focus at about an inch or so, but I don't use that lens too often, except for macro purposes. I just compared the close focus capabilities of the Sigma 20 1.8 compared to the Tamron 17-50 2.8. The Sigma allowed me to get much closer, but with the Tamron at 50mm, I was able to get the exact same framing in focus. Now for moving shots, it's much easier to use the Sigma 20, but for a static shot, I was impressed that the Tamron could get the same shot when framed at 50mm. __________________ Mark Von Lanken www.VonWeddingFilms.com

June 14th, 2011, 05:58 AM	#6
Craig Terott Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 691	Re: Sigma 20mm 1.8 "Your post peaked my intrest. I got out the Sigma 20 1.8 and Tokina 11-16 2.8. They looked the same brightness at 2.8, but then when I took the Sigma to 1.8 it was noticeably brighter, as it should. Are you sure you had both cameras at 2.8?" After re-testing this, I think my error was using the Tokina lens with a more contrasty profile. Of course I should use identical profiles! My mistake.

June 14th, 2011, 07:23 AM	#7
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Sigma 20mm 1.8 As food for thought, I'd like to toss in that while not as wide as the 20mm, I am very fond of my Sigma 30mm F/1.4. For reception work it is excellent. It is an odd angled lens, and a bit soft, as Sigmas tend to be, but nevertheless it's very useful. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

June 14th, 2011, 06:27 PM	#8
Jeremy White Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 95	Re: Sigma 20mm 1.8 I shoot with this lens on a glydecam all the time. The focus can be soft, but at least it's bright enough to see. __________________ www.integrityproductions.tv

June 18th, 2011, 06:37 AM	#9
Monday Isa Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: College Park, Maryland Posts: 913	Re: Sigma 20mm 1.8 When I was using DLSR's the 20mm was my favorite lens for lowlight work. Awesome lens for that purpose! Used it on a glidecam to and it was great. Very enjoyable. Since moving to the AF100 with it's 2X crop factor I don't use this lens on the glidecam but I use it for all the dancing and wow is it sharp! Always running F1.8 ISO 1250 and 1/60 shutter. Very happy with it. When taking stills it's not a sharp lens at 1.8-3.5 apertures. Once you hit F4 it's wonderfully sharp.

June 19th, 2011, 11:21 PM	#10
Jeremy White Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 95	Re: Sigma 20mm 1.8 Hmmm...I'll try it at 4 to see the difference... __________________ www.integrityproductions.tv

June 26th, 2011, 08:14 PM	#11
Galen Rath Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 323	Re: Sigma 20mm 1.8 I'm going to try the Sigma 20mm 1.8 (NIKON version) first on a Merlin/FS100 setup . I'm really happy with a Tokina 11-16/Canon 60D/Merlin setup--I never (I least I dont) adjust the focus, and everything is in focus front to back (reasonably so), so have to deal only with exposure (via aperture ring or variable ND filter).

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