Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro

Now this looks very intersting, not just for macro but for portraits (alternative to 135L).

http://www.dpreview.co​m …09/10092118sigm​a150os.asp

Very promising since the 150mm macro has been the lens of choice for many serious macro photographers. It's only shortcomings for none-macro work - slow AF and lack of IS when you compare it to using something like a 70-200 2.8 IS or 100L - seem to have been fixed now.

The AF on the original wasn't that slow if you limited the focal length range and I never found the lack of IS a problem. Here's a shot taken with the older 150 on a 30D.

1/500s f/5.6 at 150.0mm iso100

bob_r wrote in post #10948201
The AF on the original wasn't that slow if you limited the focal length range and I never found the lack of IS a problem. Here's a shot taken with the older 150 on a 30D.

Well, IS is far from a must on action scenes like you posted, since your shutterspeed has to be far beyond the minimums for handholding anyway. I don't really miss it often on my 100mm macro, but there are many times where I would really like to be able to handhold at speeds of 1/30 - 1/60th, which isn't really an option.

As for AF speed, I'm going by reputation here, but how would you say your 150 macro compares to the 135L and 200L (2.8 I assume)? Even with the focus limiter, I can't imagine it being anywhere close actually...

Ouchie... I recently bought the 180mm/3.5... Now I'll go cry in the corner

I have tried the sp90, siggy 150mm and siggy 180mm... all AF are slow but only at 1:1 macro work...

For portrait, they are just fast and definitely sharper...

Another Lens I might just have to add to the bag... Loved my old 150 Macro on my Nikon, but miss it a lot now that I have the 5D II....

Sigma seems to be getting things right these days. Let's just hope they don't take 2 years to hit the stores...

TweakMDS wrote in post #10948221
As for AF speed, I'm going by reputation here, but how would you say your 150 macro compares to the 135L and 200L (2.8 I assume)? Even with the focus limiter, I can't imagine it being anywhere close actually...

The AF speed is probably a little slower than the 135 and 200, but those are two of the fastest focusing lenses I've tried. It's speed is probably closer to the 100-400 (with the range limiter set), which is plenty fast for this type of action shot.

TweakMDS wrote in post #10948221
As for AF speed, I'm going by reputation here, but how would you say your 150 macro compares to the 135L and 200L (2.8 I assume)?

Having owned all three lenses, the 135 and 200 are noticeably faster to focus, but the 150 is no slouch.

Finally! I will swap this with my non os as soon as it gets released.. One of Sigmas best lenses.

TweakMDS wrote in post #10948221
Well, IS is far from a must on action scenes like you posted, since your shutterspeed has to be far beyond the minimums for handholding anyway. I don't really miss it often on my 100mm macro, but there are many times where I would really like to be able to handhold at speeds of 1/30 - 1/60th, which isn't really an option.

As for AF speed, I'm going by reputation here, but how would you say your 150 macro compares to the 135L and 200L (2.8 I assume)? Even with the focus limiter, I can't imagine it being anywhere close actually...

Compared to those lens the 100mm macro is rather slow also .
Maybe that's how it gets that reputation , by people who haven't used it .

Weight-TBA , wonder how much heavier it will be.

more excited about this 120-300 OS! though given sigma's recent aggressive pricing, it will not be within my range.

midget wrote in post #10950073
more excited about this 120-300 OS! though given sigma's recent aggressive pricing, it will not be within my range.

Yes , I agree . We just need the 100-300mm f/4 to have OS added to it .

So I wonder when this lens will show up . In about a year ?

Hopefully not that long away - considering that sigma have already cleared that market area by removing the 180mm macro and the fact that canon and nikon both have stabalized macro lenses on the market right now. I think that sigma realises they need to keep a foot in the door and get this onto the market as soon as possible - otherwise they risk losing far to much sales position to the other 100mm macro lenses.
The other consideration is if sigma will keep their current 150mm none-OS on the market or pull that and let the new take full dominance.

I'll be interested to see how it performs though - from what I've heard and read the current 150mm AF isn;t up to the task of some newer camera features (namely canons 7D macro focusing feature) so it will be interesting to see if along with 4 stop OS sigma has managed to improve the overall AF performance of the 150mm.

I certainly think this will be a second lens I will upgrade to when it hits the market.