Thanks ArnyVee. ; Wide angle is definitely fun!
mainstreet - this was with the Tamron SP AF10-24mm F3.5-4.5 DI II LD Aspherica. ; I was shopping for a $400-500ish UWA, and was down to the Sigma 10-20 F4-5.6 or the Tamron. ; Both are good solid lenses. ; The Tokina 12-24 F2.8 receives a good share of acclaim, but wasn't available in my mount. ; Almost everyone on the photo boards recommended the Sigma 10-20, which had me just about ready to go that way...but the funniest thing is that everyone recommending the Sigma had never even touched the Tamron...it's only been out a few months while the Sigma's been on the ground for a while. ; So before pulling the trigger, I thought it best to try them both out. ; I fortunately had a friend with the Sigma, and got to try a variety of test shots. ; I then ordered the Tamron with a return policy so I could try it out and return it if I found the Sigma better. ; I went to the same test areas, and took the same shots with the Tammy, then compared the two.
The Sigma is slightly better in corner sharpness at 10-15mm with open apertures, and is overall a touch sharper at 17-20mm. ; However, the Tamron had better center sharpness at 10-15mm throughout the aperture range, and once stopped down to F6.3 or so the corner sharpness was about equal. ; And the Tamron had better distortion control to my eye (both are excellent at rendering horizontal and vertical lines, but the Sigma's horizon lines are straight right to the ends of the frame, then distort downwards strangely...the Tamron had a much straighter horizon line across the frame with just very slight curve on the end thirds - more easily correctable in post than the Sigma. ; Also, the Sigma was much more prone to flare even with the lens hood.
In the end, I decided on the Tamron, since the main purpose of the lens was going to be for the 10-14mm wide end, and that is precisely where it held most of the advantage over the Sigma. ; The Sigma was the better lens for the 17-20mm range, but I didn't intend to use that end very often...plus the extra 4mm on the Tamron could come in handy for those rare times I do need it.
I own both Sigma and Tamron lenses - both seem to me equal in build quality and glass quality - so I'd have no problems recommending either of them.
) I'll have to see which equipment is best for me to get these type of pictures.
