El Hombre: Sigma EX 20 mm f/1.8

I didn't strictly need the Sigma 20/1.8, since I have Popeye covering that focal length pretty competently, and a couple of bright primes covering low-light more or less OK. However, I wanted it. I wanted it because it was reasonably wide and very bright -- a combination that makes for great hand-holdability and gives marvelous possibilities for available-light situational shooting. So when I saw one in a Chinatown shop in San Francisco, I couldn't resist.

I knew enough of the optic to know what to expect -- excellent performance stopped-down, and a "dreamy" or "soft-focus" look wide-open, that I had judged to be quite sufficient for my available-light needs. I wasn't disappointed, and in fact over the past six months, El Hombre has become one of my favorite lenses. It's not without its quirks, but it punches hard where it counts, and the quirks are pretty small and easy to deal with once you've discovered them.

The mission I had in mind for El Hombre was available-light situational and street shooting, with an idea that I might use it for the occasional landscape too. I haven't shot any real landscapes with it, but have taken it out on the two other tasks, and it's managed them quite well.

El Hombre in person, modeling on an EOS-650. It's a pretty big lens, and the silly hood bayonet makes it look even meaner. Not ideal for discreet situational shooting.