Nikon 105mm vs Sigma 105mm (macro)

Badger8

Badger8

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Tim
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Good Afternoon Everyone,

I'm thinking about buying one of these lenses, but I'm 50/50 on which one to buy. The Sigma is almost half of the price of the Nikon, and I've been told that its just as good.

Can anyone who has these lenses advise?

Thank you so much....

A confused Tim
 
I have the sigma, it is very good. I am very happy with it. got one on sale but may well withdraw it as i renders such nice back ground bokeh...really make the portraits pop.

not had the nikon one. but i imagine it is on similar quality or maybe marginally better. optically I can't see how the nikon can be any more...
 
I had the Nikon 105, very nice lens to use. I got mine used, it was absoloutely mint [I know all sellers say this about their gear, but this one genuinely was] and I got it for €550 when they were going for around 700 over here at the time, used!

I sold it a while back, and not long after I missed it tbh. Got a Sigma 150mm OS because I thought I wanted more reach, for bugs and that kind of thing, but I never enjoyed using it as much as the 105. I'm trying to shift it atm, the OS is causing some issues though and trying to sell it as is will be tough. I'm hoping someone who can sort it will take it away. And if they do, I may well go for the Sigma for the price, new, in the future. Kind of hoping the announce a new 'Art' macro, but no sign yet. Because their current lenses are great.

I would imagine there is very little between end quality, and you can save around £200 buying the sigma 105 OS. That's good money to go towards another lens or macro flash :)
 
Tim

I have a Nikon 105mm VR which I use more for general photography, e.g. portraits than for Macros - it is a very well built lens that produces very good results.
The Sigma also gets good reviews.

BUT if you are thinking about using it for Macros, or more so "close up" I would read the Macro section in detail before you go ahead and spend £550 new on a 105mm Macro lens and decide what you want to use it for……… I use my 300mm + almost all the time for close ups and if (when) I get into macros I think that there are better way to achieve good results.

but as I said it is great for portraits or groups of people and similar
 
actually if you want macro and get more reach, get the cheap tubes from ebay. i got the electronic contact ones but can only use the smaller two as the large one will render the focus too close. but otherwise very good value. zero issue with IQ when used with tube
 
I've used tubes in the past, and they can be fantastic, as well as cheap! But, what they cannot do, is switch from taking macro shots, straight into taking scenics or general shots without having to fumble about taking them off - where you can miss a lot of shots. I'm not talking when you're only dedicated to getting those macros, but more casual use. I just found anytime I had the tubes on, I'd wish I had a macro lens, as something or other would catch my eye and I couldn't shoot it. Even say a butterfly, that'll land close by but be gone by the time you get close enough to use the lens with the rings attached. You got your 105 on you can at least get wider shots of it. Loose example there.

Also, macro rings are tricky enough to get used to.
 
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