Sigma 150 F2.8 Macro First Impressions

[jbradc]

I spent some time this weekend playing around with the new lens and overall I am very pleased. Below are a few shots of the lens and my homemade macro bracket (Old stroboframe that I hacked up) and some shots taken with the lens as well. For larger images visit my website at http://shp.smugmug.com/gallery/525111

I am very impressed with build and image quality of this lens, it is my first Sigma lens so I was a little unsure when I placed the order.

http://www.sevenhillsphotography.com/shots/05072005CRW_4879_CameraLens.JPG

http://www.sevenhillsphotography.com/shots/05082005_A1Q1138_lens.JPG

http://www.sevenhillsphotography.com/shots/05082005CRW_4882_bracket.JPG

http://www.sevenhillsphotography.com/shots/05082005_A1Q1121_moth.JPG
http://www.sevenhillsphotography.com/shots/05082005_A1Q1082_FLOWER.JPG

http://www.sevenhillsphotography.com/shots/05072005_A1Q0992.JPG

http://www.sevenhillsphotography.com/shots/05072005_A1Q1008_Catapillar.JPG

http://www.sevenhillsphotography.com/shots/Rose_A1Q1027.JPG
http://www.sevenhillsphotography.com/shots/05082005_A1Q1064_butterfly.JPG

Sorry for the large post

[blinking8s]

*sigh* now i want one...

[wtfmate]

Looks pretty good!

I recently picked up the Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro, I love that thing so far, its razor sharp and the colors are great!

[condyk]

Great work. I just got the baby brother 105mm f2.8 DG. REALLY pleased with it. The world gets scary when you have one of these fella's!!

[CyberDyneSystems]

I finally got the Canon 100mm just recently... I have t admit that this Sigma appeals to me even more... I think the focal length is perfect!

[foxbat]

Those sample shots are wonderful, the sharpness and colours are exacting. Did you flash the moth? The contrast is fantastic.

[jbradc]

The last shot of the moth was without flash. It was shot at 1/500@F8, ISO 400.

[J Rabin]

Looks swell. Sharp, contrasty saturated images. Did you juice them a bit for saturation of sharpness or straight from camera?

I have always been disappointed with Sigma me-too lenses, but I think they've built a winner here that no one else has on the market. 20 cm working distance for only $650. HSM with full-time manual focus. Looks solid.
Is that a tent caterpiller?
J.

[Bodog]

Got mine yesterday, just before company arrived, so haven't had much chance to really use it. Made a few test shots and it appears very sharp. I bought it for dual purpose, a short tele and macro. Appears I'll have to work around the focusing in that respect. It seems to require a manual assist to get from close up to distance, otherwise it hunts focus a bit. ( I think any long macro will have this weakness) Definitely a keeper for me.

[Raj]

Very impressive indeed !
Congrats jbradc, you made a excellent purchase :-)

Last photo is abolutely stunning !

[jbradc]

Looks swell. Sharp, contrasty saturated images. Did you juice them a bit for saturation of sharpness or straight from camera?

I tweaked the saturation a bit in Camera Raw (Photoshop CS2). I shoot in the Adobe RGB color space and then adjust saturation during post processing.

[jbradc]

...Is that a tent caterpiller?
J.
That is a tent caterpiller, they are everywhere around here this time of year.

[TammieO]

Great sample shots. Now I want one too :p

[MrChad]

How fast is the AF, would this lens also have use as a good sports tele?

[jbradc]

How fast is the AF, would this lens also have use as a good sports tele?
The AF is very fast, on par with Canon USM lenses. It would make a nice tele for sports, etc, but you would have to use the focus limiter. My experience shows that if it has to hunt at all for focus it can take a while to go from its closest focus (0.38 meters) to infinity.
The focus limiter has 3 settings:
- Full
- 0.52 meters to infinity
- 0.38 to 0.52 meters
I have used it for some non-macro shots and am very pleased with the image quality and speed.

[felix21685]

wow nice lense man congrats !..very nice

[BlueTit]

I must have missed these first time round. Great shots, looks like is a very sharp kens. I love the catterpillar and the last moth. I like the way you hooked up the flash - clever.

[ghocking]

I bought the Sigma 180 3.5 Macro yesterday, I just hope my shots come as good. But I am the Uk and the sun does not make much of an apperance. Bought some flowers to try it out indoors.

[dpastern]

1. Autofocus is very silent, and quite fast, not quite as fast as my 70-200, but not that far behind either.

2. Lens quality is very sharp, with nice contrast.

3. It's a chunky, heavy lens, will take some getting used to from my current 50mm/tubes setup. Despite this, it's a well balanced lens.

4. Only 1:1 (I knew this). 50mm/tubes setup is around 1.5:1 or so, so missing a bit of magnifcation. I haven't tried the Sigma with tubes yet, and my Canon TC won'tl fit/work with it. I could try the TC, then the tube, then the lens though, not sure how good that'd work. I'd prefer to try and stick to around the 1.5:1 mark if I can.

5. Finish and build quality is excellent. Accessories are also nice, with a very nice padded carrying case and strap.

6. Price - excellent pricing.

Dave

[nation]

4. Only 1:1 (I knew this). 50mm/tubes setup is around 1.5:1 or so, so missing a bit of magnifcation. I haven't tried the Sigma with tubes yet, and my Canon TC won'tl fit/work with it. I could try the TC, then the tube, then the lens though, not sure how good that'd work. I'd prefer to try and stick to around the 1.5:1 mark if I can.

I thought the Sigma can be used with TCs? Or is that only Sigma TCs?

[glowie]

Jbradc...nice shots!..what flash bracket is that you using?

[SimonG]

I thought the Sigma can be used with TCs? Or is that only Sigma TCs?
It's definitely compatible with the Sigma TCs.

[S230]

This is bad news to my wallet.. Now I am itching to get one...
I have been debating for some time which one to get. Either the Tamron 90mm or the Sigma 150.

[jojohohanon]

This may be a stupid question, but how many tubes do you need to add to get the 135/2 to focus that close?

[chemicalbro]

This may be a stupid question, but how many tubes do you need to add to get the 135/2 to focus that close?

if the shots are at 1:1 you would need 135mm of extensions...... magnification is equal to length of extensions divided by focal length....

so if you took a 50mm prime and added a full set of kenko tubes (68mm)
that would give you 1.36 x lifesize on the sensor.. (a subject 1mm long would project onto 1.36mm of the sensor)

if you put a full set of kenkos on a 135mm lens that would give you 0.503x lifesize..... (the same 1mm subject would project onto half a millimetre of sensor)


jbradc... great first shots with the new lens. Sigmas macro lenses are superb
i opted for the 105 because i found that the extra working distance of the 150 was actually a dissadvantage for me.... it's easier to get a 5mm bug in the field of view from 4 inches away than it is from 8 inches..

[jojohohanon]

Thanks Chem!

I had thought that magnification was also/mostly influenced by min focussing distance... or is that part of the equation somehow built into the length of the extension tubes added?

[Juan Zas]

Welcome to the fans club !!

[Jon]

The tubes alter the minimum focussing distance. The basic formula's:
1/I+1/O = 1/F
where I= image distance (from lens to camera), O=Object distance (from lens to object) and F=focal length. So as you move the camera (hence the lens) closer to the subject, you have to move the lens close faster than the camera body. Notice your lenses getting longer as you focus closer? that's the job extension tubes take on.

[jojohohanon]

Jon,

Gotcha. thanks for the explanation.

[dpastern]

I thought the Sigma can be used with TCs? Or is that only Sigma TCs?

Sigma's page mentions only Sigma TCs and I've read on many pages that the Canon TCs do not work due to physical mating issues. A pity, since i have both Canon TCs. I wouldn't use the Sigma TCs for anything other than Macro, and I'm a bit worried about their optical quality degrading from the superb optical quality of the 150mm. I could try tubes, then then I'd be in the same boat as now! The 1.4x TC would be perfect as far as I'm concerned.

I really need to work out my current magnification with the 50mm/tubes setup, I know the maths says around 1.36x, but I suspect that it's around 2x.

Dave

[dpastern]

it's easier to get a 5mm bug in the field of view from 4 inches away than it is from 8 inches..

I definitely see what you mean here Alan. I've noticed this as well and it's a huge disadvantage for tiny insects, especially in poorer light conditions. Tried shooting sugarbag bees yesterday around 1ish in reasonably bright sunlight conditions and I had a lot of issues trying to attain focus on their eyes. Flies and bees are no problem, Ants are. I'll most probably use the 50mm/tubes combo for some shots and the Sigma for most of the others, including larger insects. I really need more time with this lens to get a better feel for it.

Dave

[nation]

Sigma's page mentions only Sigma TCs and I've read on many pages that the Canon TCs do not work due to physical mating issues. A pity, since i have both Canon TCs. I wouldn't use the Sigma TCs for anything other than Macro, and I'm a bit worried about their optical quality degrading from the superb optical quality of the 150mm. I could try tubes, then then I'd be in the same boat as now! The 1.4x TC would be perfect as far as I'm concerned.

I really need to work out my current magnification with the 50mm/tubes setup, I know the maths says around 1.36x, but I suspect that it's around 2x.

Dave
Thanks. I have read read good things about the Tamron 1.4x TCs (Kenko TC rebranded). Aparently these can be mounted to different brands of lenses and are relatively cheap. Some have said it's as good as the Canon 1.4x II. Others have said its a slight drop in quality. Only option really is to find a good store that stocks a number of TCs, see if they can be mounted and then rattle off a few tests shots. Now that's as a challenge in itself :)

[dpastern]

Thanks. I have read read good things about the Tamron 1.4x TCs (Kenko TC rebranded). Aparently these can be mounted to different brands of lenses and are relatively cheap. Some have said it's as good as the Canon 1.4x II. Others have said its a slight drop in quality. Only option really is to find a good store that stocks a number of TCs, see if they can be mounted and then rattle off a few tests shots. Now that's as a challenge in itself :)

I doubt that even the big photographic stores in Sydney would have multiple TCs from different brands in stock for me to test. I could be wrong...I'd pay through the roof for it here though, I'd never really buy any camera gear in Australia again, simply too expensive. The 2x TC is over $700 rrp...best price I was quoted was $665...

Dave

[nation]

I doubt that even the big photographic stores in Sydney would have multiple TCs from different brands in stock for me to test. I could be wrong...I'd pay through the roof for it here though, I'd never really buy any camera gear in Australia again, simply too expensive. The 2x TC is over $700 rrp...best price I was quoted was $665...

Dave

I feel for ya matey. That's why I refuse to live back in Australia even though I grew up in Sydney. Not enough range and the prices are just too damn high.:(

edit: Oh and the back breaking extortionate taxes plus GST. :evil:

[Jon]

Most Sigma lenses which can use the Sigma TC can use the Canon TCs, and most Canon lenses which can use the Canon TC can also use the Sigmas. For more details see the T-Con FAQ Sticky (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41922)

[dpastern]

Jon - I did check the TC FAQ as well as read other sites (including fredmiranda.com), the Sigma 150mm macro by all accounts does NOT work with a Canon TC. Pity :( I'll most probably stack the 1.4, then a tube, then the Sigma if I really have to, until I can afford the luxury of buying the Sigma 1.4x TC.

Nation - my reply to your has been sent to you via PM as it's a political comment and has no place on the forums main pages, and would be rightly removed by the mods.

Dave

[wizard13]

Great shots. Now like everyone else I am longing for that lens. A solid macro is on the to buy list after a large telephoto.

[dpastern]

Here's a uncropped, and 100% crop to whet your whistle. It's a very very sharp lens, with excellent contrast and colour rendition. Build quality is superb, every bit as good as a L lens if you ask me (and I own several of them).

Dave

[Jon]

Jon - I did check the TC FAQ as well as read other sites (including fredmiranda.com), the Sigma 150mm macro by all accounts does NOT work with a Canon TC. Pity :( I'll most probably stack the 1.4, then a tube, then the Sigma if I really have to, until I can afford the luxury of buying the Sigma 1.4x TC.
DaveThat's the better way to use TCs and tubes anyhow, as it uses each where they'll do the most good. Posts on here seemed tad ambiguous on Canon TC/Sigma 150.

[dpastern]

That's the better way to use TCs and tubes anyhow, as it uses each where they'll do the most good. Posts on here seemed tad ambiguous on Canon TC/Sigma 150.

Yep. I've only used the TC/tubes combo once, and that was with a monster combo of the 2x TC, 1.4x TC, and 68mm of tubes ;) Was fun but the light through the viewfinder very dull and a monster to handle. Forget about hand holding ;)

Dave