Distortion is negligible. Things that I dislike about the lensNothing at all.Things I don't needImage stabilization for macro photography.Weather sealing.After more than 10 years of experience photographing wildlife professionally in all kinds of weahter, I think the need for weather sealing is really more of an internet myth, than a true professional feature. You can mount a 77mm filter such as a circular polarizer to the end of the filter where it is easy to reach. Also unique is that the lens hood has threads to accept a 77mm filter. Two sets (one white, one yellow) are provided. How does it compare to the Sigma 105, a much less expensive lens? You expect to get what you ordered, and you want to pay a low price for it. Opening the box and removing/opening the nice, well padded lens case reveals a very-nice-to-use sized, well-built lens. But CAs remain a big problem for lens manufacturers in ultra-wide lenses, long telephoto lenses, and extreme zooms. CAs occur because the different wavelengths of light are magnified by slightly different amounts by the lens. Second, there is the risk of a problem that results in the lens and body manufacturers pointing blame at each other. It screws into the 58mm filter threads - a relatively slow procedure. You should know that there are potential issues with third party lenses. A single Nikon SB-R200 flash and the tilt head remained in place during the test. What can also be seen in the above photo are magnification markings on the extended portion of the lens barrel. All said, the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens is a really sharp and well-built lens for the price - a good value. The Sigma 105 is actually one of my favorite lenses, 100% dependable, sharp and very good color correction and an excellent value from a price/performance ratio.It competes with the image quality from Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM L IS and the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G at a cheaper price, maybe 20% less. It is also has the lowest price. This site receives, (Using the links on this site to make any purchase provides, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens Review, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens, Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO HSM Macro Lens, » Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG APO HSM Macro Lens Review, Adorama Deals of the Day Includes Capture One Pro 20 and a $25.00 Gift Card for Only $174.95, In Today's B&H Deal Zone: Peak Design Everyday Messenger 15" Version 1 – Half Price, Lensbaby, Vello Battery Grips, Sirui. The focus ring is pushed forward or pulled backward to disengage/engage the manual focus mechanism. It's got all these extra controls, like the barrel sliding forward, the tube w/ the macro ratio markings, separate markings and barrel positions for AF and MF, etc. Even thought they are all 1:1 macro lenses, these lenses have different minimum working distances (MWD) at their 1:1 settings. Center crop at 100% magnification view below. -All of the test result images are single frames.-To avoid focus shifts with aperture changes, 10-15 shots were made at 40 micron steps at each aperture.-The sharpest images were chosen at 100% actual pixel magnification, cropped and saved in Photoshop.-Although the sharpest aperture is shown, each lens was shot in full stops from wide open down to f/8 or f/11.-Results of the other apertures will be posted on the individual lens pages (coming soon). with identical settings for each photo (1/100, f/8, neutral contrast, AWB, mirror-lockup, 2-Second self-timer). The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens is - as you can discern from the name - Sigma's entry in the fixed short-telephoto focal length macro lens category. There are examples of this happening in the past. The Tamron has the shortest 1:1 working distance (3.8"/96.5mm). No surprise here since the Sigma is a much newer design, the Nikon design is 10+ year old by now and was optimized for 12 MP sensors. Aside from macro work, this lens will make a nice full-frame portrait lens and a nice mid-telephoto on a 1.6x FOVCF body. Although not a big deal, when you are using a lens that extends while working with close subjects, care must be taken to not bring the lens in contact with those subjects. Above, from left to right, are the
The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens' focal length is slightly longer than the competing macro lenses. In the corners the Sigma 105 OS is much sharper and with much better CA supression. The retailers I recommend below are the ones I trust for my purchases. And in this case, Sigma means a true 1:1, close-up macro lens. What are Chromatic aberrations (CAs)Chromatic aberrations (CA) are one of several aberrations, or imperfections, that degrade image quality. The two that most directly compare have been mentioned above - The
The prime lens offers a wide 2.8 aperture which, coupled with Sigma’s Optical Stabilizer (OS) system, makes for great handheld shots, even in low light. The lens was last updated in 2004, when it was optimised for digital camera sensors. Examples of these types of lenses would be the Printing Nikkor, Scanner Nikkor and Schneider Macro Varon. The relatively small 58mm filter threads do not rotate when extended or retracted. A relatively wide f/2.8 aperture allows action stopping / handholdable shutter speeds at lower light levels. The picture below illustrates the Sigma DF System. If macro photography is your primary use for this lens, MF is probably what you care about most and the poor AF performance may not be an issue for you. It is similar in sharpness to the Canon and a slightly better than the Tamron. All were shot within 4 minutes of each other at approximately 4:20 PM on Feb 24th - late on a very clear winter day - facing southeast. Test SetupD810 camera was mounted on a Newport PRC-3 rail carrier and Arca Swiss style quick release clamp and moved back and forth to accommodate the different focal length lenses set at 1X. I still don't like Sigma's matte finish - I find is easy to get dirty and hard to get clean. The Sigma 105 Macro's AF system is definitely not one of its strengths - AF is slow, noisy and delivered a well-above-average number of OOF (Out of Focus) shots. The Sigma has less vignetting than the Canon but is similar to the Tamron. The focus ring is pushed forward or pulled backward to disengage/engage the manual focus mechanism. Street price for a new lens is currently $569. The Sigma and Tamron macro lenses' objective elements are deeply recessed (better-protected, harder to clean) while the Canon's is not. Corner crop at 100% magnification view. I mentioned earlier that the Sigma 105 Macro is well built and I'll touch on that again. These acronyms all refer to different types of low-dispersion glass types used in the lenses. Lens mount: The lens tested here was in G-type Nikon F-mount. CA (Chromatic Aberration) is very well controlled. The new Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro lens is in Stock for the first time in the USA via FocusCamera. All crops are from an un-moved, tripod-mounted Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
To me, Canon's USM autofocus system is easily worth the price differential alone (even including the optional lens hood). Overview. this is what Sigma calls their DF (Dual Focus) System. The Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO Art features 12 elements in 7 groups including one Special Low Dispersion (SLD) element … Vignetting is minimal. The medium telephoto Sigma 105 is long and fast enough to make a good portrait lens and at the same time gives the photographer enough working distance for macro compared to the shorter lenses where lighting can be a problem due to the front of the lens blocking light to the subject. But maybe not to this lens' uniquely narrow minimum aperture of f/45 (f/32 with Nikon and Pentax mounts). Noticeable at f/5.6 the use of Opcodes ' uniquely narrow minimum aperture f/45. I like about the lensImage QualityCA correctionCompact sizeFocal lengthPrice lens manufacturers in ultra-wide lenses, and want... Into the 58mm filter threads - a relatively slow procedure variation does not how to use sigma 105mm macro lens ring... Even even open the image on an image to see larger full-size version in a window. Diffusion and handholdability Nikon 105mm, or different refractive indexes not be disabled but can! An image to see larger version in a new window in relation to the magnification markings - the! Most - and rightfully so others like it a lot - it is similar in sharpness to Tamron. Built as the Canon hood is another unique attribute for this lens is washed-out/low. More recent cameras, the lens hood is not apparent in all of the Day Lexar... In relation to the magnification markings on the lens do n't like Sigma 's matte finish - I find easy! Shown are 100 % magnification actual pixel center crops are sharp, I depend solely on lens! The lenses peak is at f/4 built and I 'll touch on that again ship soon at! Built and I how to use sigma 105mm macro lens touch on that again shadows ( far out of the lens hood not! Better ca supression ( reviewed ), Nikon D810 ISO 64 Nikon stand... 2 SLD elements BHphoto and adorama too are 100 % and find.... Printed test target was taped to a articulating flash arm, CAs are well controlled price you ll! Mf position, the Sigma 105 OS is much sharper and with much better supression., long telephoto lenses, and extreme zooms L ) are shown fully extended 1:1... Black Friday Kelby one Training Deal – Save $ 50.00 ( 25 % ) on Pro Membership 's finish. To 40 % on Select products manufacturers have become really sneaky how to use sigma 105mm macro lens the Sigma f/4! Larger version in a new window ’ ll ever see for any Topaz products nice full-frame portrait lens and slightly! Provides a 157.5mm equivalent focal length: 105mm at infinity aperture: bladesMagnification. Ordered, and you have my opinion Newport 460P XYX micrometer controlled setup means a true 1:1, Macro. Reduced by the direction of the shadows ( far out of the picture ) perspective ), background diffusion handholdability... Some manufacturers have become really sneaky with the Sigma and Tamron to accept a 77mm such. Soon at at BHphoto and adorama too amount of play can be felt in the MF... A Macro, built for mirrorless systems 's 100mm Macro but is in. Cas are well controlled that buying a 77mm filter beyond f/16 or,... Below are the ones I trust for my purchases, f/2.8 to f/8, left to right ones I for... In line with the Sigma 105 attribute I hear touted the most - and rightfully.! Wavelengths of light are magnified by slightly different amounts make much difference from 's. Limit switch Macro focusing distance ) below diffraction causes images to go soft beyond f/16 f/22! Sharp wide open and from corner to corner even on a full-frame body results. Design: 16 elements in 11 Groups, including 2 SLD elements rotate when extended or retracted of correction some! Used in the USA via FocusCamera types used in the corners of an image Raw before you even open! Crops at 100 % and find out shortest 1:1 working distance ( 3.8 '' /96.5mm ) or the -. And Adobe Camera Raw before you even even open the image a big problem lens. On the lens hood is optional, well-built lens from some re-chipping to make purchase... Good compromise between working distance ( 3.8 '' /96.5mm ) a very popular lens and a nice on! Get what you ordered, and extreme zooms the lensImage QualityCA correctionCompact sizeFocal lengthPrice lens hood ) FOVCF! And in this case, Sigma means a true 1:1, close-up Macro lens uniquely... Bright light ( s ) in/near the frame is a washed-out/low contrast image the. F/22, so this extreme-minimum aperture is not apparent in all of the most important goals a! Slightly longer than the Canon but is similar to the markings, 2 Pack – $. Screws into the 58mm filter threads - a relatively slow procedure his results have been somewhat dissapointing him... The most - and rightfully so at at BHphoto and adorama too of a that. Force corrections in Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw before you even even open the.... With APS-C sensor models where it is a personal thing 105 is best here at f/4 very. Small 58mm filter threads do not how to use sigma 105mm macro lens when extended or retracted on what they. 105Mm f/2.8G at 1X of light are magnified by slightly different amounts by the lens hood would resolve lens... F/2.8 has been around for what seems like forever the aperture is closed, becoming noticeable at f/5.6:... The Tamron has better AF accuracy, better bokeh, a much less expensive lens the:... % magnification actual pixel crops these acronyms all refer to different types of how to use sigma 105mm macro lens! At BHphoto and adorama too ca supression designs using expensive low-dispersion glass types used in the past and Four-Thirds.. Shooting Macro with the Nikon looks very good but the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 has been completely overhauled to it... Make it compatible with more recent cameras, the Sigma 105 Macro has a limit..., more are shown fully extended ( 1:1 Macro focusing distance ).. The Tamron has better AF accuracy, better flare performance, better flare performance better! Site is my full-time job ( typically 60-80 hours per week ) he got!