Sigma 150mm F/2.8 or 180mm F/3.5 Macro ?

I'm on the market for a nice Macro lenses for my 20D, digitalrev has two Sigma at the same price of £299

Sigma APO 150mm F/2.8 Macro EX DG HSM

Sigma 180mm F/3.5 APO EX DG HSM

http://www.digitalrev.​com …ducts.php?categ​ory_id=147

Any recomendations ?

There is also the

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG

for 199£ .. is it a big diference between the 105 and the 150 ?

Null

Same price? Unless physical size is an issue, get the 180 - the better working distance will be valuable for macro work!

i thought the 180 was softer compared to the 150? do a search and you'll find many members recommending the 150 (this is the one i'm after....and i'm being really really good this year - Santa?!) but yeah, the 180 will give you more working distance...

muscleflex .. you say the 180 is softer, do you know of any sites that have any comparasons ?

now

Does the DG on these lenses means it wont work on a full frameliek the new 5D ?

And last .. please excuse me, I'm still green with all Lenses terms, F/2.8 and F/3.5 // whats the diference on those values ? what does it mean ?

From user comments I've heard from many sources, the new 150 Macro f2.8 is the one to get. Research around some more.

All macro lenses are adequately sharp, so make your comparison on other features. My notes:

http://postit.rutgers.​edu …%5FWork%5FDista​nce4%2Edoc

I've tried the Sigma 150mm macro f/2.8, and next to the Canon 180mm macro f/3.5L, it may be one of the better "affordable" conventional macro lenses on the market (It's no $2,000 Leica, etc.) with longer working distance.

It is better than than Sigma's own 180mm macro (>image contrast, >image color, and >user handling). Sigma's own 105mm does not have internal focusing elements. So, the 105mm, while sharp, is not in the same handling league. In our time, it makes sense to buy internal focus macro lenses - barrels do not change length during focus (all the recent Canon). If you are only using macro occasionally, then something like a Sigma 105mm, Tamron 90, or better the newer Tokina macro) are fine. For frequent use, go internal focus like the Sigma 150mm.

If you do not photograph from a tripod, get a short macro.

My opinions FWIW. Jack

Hi Null
I just bought the 150mm sigma lens and its become one of my favorite lens to use. The built quality is excellent and the f/2.8 makes it a nice fast lens. The f/2.8 compared to the f/3.5 means that the aperature in the lens of the f/2.8 is larger , meaning better for low light. Its a great lens for portraits, my wife hates it because it picks up all the imperfections . I woulnd't hesitate to recomend it to anyone plus it also comes with a bag and lens hood as well

len

While the above may be true comparing Sigma 180 to Sigma 150, it is not generally true. The Sigma 150 is a wonderful lens, that like most macro lenses, loses two f/stops at life size 1x magnification, close focused. Thus, at close focus has an effective aperture of f/5.6.

The Canon 180mm f/3.5 is unusual because it only loses 1 1/3 stops, providing the same effective aperture as a f/2.8 lens when close focused. It is one of the Canon 180mm's excellent traits, in addition to the Canon's low diffraction sharpness loss at higher f/stops, even above f/22. The Sigma does not go above f/22.
J.

lmele wrote:
Hi Null
I just bought the 150mm sigma lens and its become one of my favorite lens to use. The built quality is excellent and the f/2.8 makes it a nice fast lens. The f/2.8 compared to the f/3.5 means that the aperature in the lens of the f/2.8 is larger , meaning better for low light. Its a great lens for portraits, my wife hates it because it picks up all the imperfections . I woulnd't hesitate to recomend it to anyone plus it also comes with a bag and lens hood as well

len

But am I right to assume that it wont work on a full frame camera like the 5D ?

No. It's a standard full-frame-covering EF-mount lens. It's Sigma's DC not DG lenses that don't cover full frame.All of Sigma's current production macros are DG, and differ only in very minor details from the previous (non-tagged) line.

That's GREAT to know

I bought a DC 180200 for my 20D .. and even so I love it and dont regret it, but no full frame, eventually I wish to move to a full frame, and dont want to have a large lens repository I cant use

thanks for the info

I decided on the 150 but payed a lot more than £299.
I know some Hong Kong companies will pay the import taxes should you get stung buy customs.
Does Digitalrev do the same ?

I see in their Auction that some items they do, ~I dont know how it works if one buys directly

but good question neither the less .. going to send them an e-mail

Null, check out this thread I started with a poll !

https://photography-on-the.net …highlight=sigma​+macro+180

One thing thats great about the new sigma 150 macro is that its compatable with there 1.4 and 2x teleconverters and can provide greater than lifesize shots.. So your working distance would stay the same with a tele attached but your magnification would be greater.