My workaround on the Sigma UWA lens problem

I got one that has the dreaded soft left side issue and already told the store I'm bringing it back for an exchange, but in the meantime, while I was doing more test shots I thought of ways to use it, techniques to counter the softness on the left side.

I noticed it's less pronounced when I set focus to the left or lower left focus points. With general landscape shots DOF isn't going to be an issue as long as the lens is stopped down enough to cover almost if not the whole subject. When used for closeup/portrait the subject is almost always concentrated in the middle of the frame so the edges aren't noticed much. At least not by me.

10mm center focus point
http://img.photobucket​.com …iscellaneous/IM​G_2141.jpg

20mm center focus point
http://img.photobucket​.com …iscellaneous/IM​G_2150.jpg

20mm, left most focus point
http://img.photobucket​.com …iscellaneous/IM​G_2200.jpg

random subjects
http://img.photobucket​.com …iscellaneous/IM​G_2158.jpg

Extreme angle making the softness noticeable even when not in focus, but negligible because the subject is in the middle
http://img.photobucket​.com …iscellaneous/IM​G_2171.jpg

I have yet to go out and take a wide landscape shot using the left side focus point. At any rate the softness matter really shouldn't be an issue to me if I'm not making large prints and if I'm going to do some post processing anyway, but for some it may be unacceptable.

If the store would allow it, would you consider swapping your Sigma for a 10-22 Canon?

Don't you like your 10-22? I thought that's more sought after?

MannP wrote in post #5069698
Don't you like your 10-22? I thought that's more sought after?

I liked the Canon 10-22 very much. What I meant was, will the store allow you to exchange your Sigma 10-20 for a Canon 10-22...presuming you would want to do that.

Meaty0 wrote in post #5069967
I liked the Canon 10-22 very much. What I meant was, will the store allow you to exchange your Sigma 10-20 for a Canon 10-22...presuming you would want to do that.

I'm guessing they would let me, but I'd have to shell out $300. Thet just told me they wont have any stock for a long time so offered a refund.

MannP wrote in post #5071210
I'm guessing they would let me, but I'd have to shell out $300. Thet just told me they wont have any stock for a long time so offered a refund.

Wow! You've had better luck than I have dealing with Sigma. They seem to be paranoid about warranty work.

This was an online store selling grey imports and have their own 1 year warranty. I thought about asking CRKennedy if they could have the lens calibrated but I'm sure they're gonna charge me. I'd rather get the 10-22 if that's the case.