Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro

BillN_33

BillN_33

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Bill
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does anyone have this lens

I am still searching for a "long" macro to shoot Dragonflies and Butterflies and have read a few good review of this lens
although one review said this:

"An optically great lens will not show its strength if it delivers an out of focus image. Unfortunately, I had a lot of mis-autofocused results from this lens - far more than could have been my fault. Sigma's internal HSM(Hypersonic Motor) autofocusing is very nice - quiet with FTM (Full Time Manual) focusing. But it is only moderately fast and it showed inconsistent accuracy in both one-shot and AI Servo AF modes. The Sigma 150 focuses even more slowly in low light. A 3-position focus limiter switch (seen above) helps with the speed issue - it prevents long distance hunting. On a macro lens, focusing from very close to infinity or reverse takes some time even on the fastest focusing lens. You can limit the Sigma 150's focus distance range to between 15" and 20" (.38m and .52m), 20" (.52m) and infinity - or the full range can be allowed"

"This is far from the slowest or most-inconsistent autofocusing lens I've used but definitely is not the best in this regard. Fortunately, most macro photography is done using manual focusing which makes any autofocus inconsistencies and speeds irrelevant. This is a really nice 150mm telephoto lens that could be even better for general purpose and sports use if it had fast and accurate AF."

The only other "long" Macro I can find is the Nikon 200mm

Great to hear a few of your views
 
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Does anyone know if you can use this lens with the Nikon TC's
 
Thats a disappointing read i had this lens on my want list to replace there old 105mm,i do use auto focus for macro and the old screw system is slow, was hoping for better.
 
mikew said:
Thats a disappointing read i had this lens on my want list to replace there old 105mm,i do use auto focus for macro and the old screw system is slow, was hoping for better.
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I wear eye glasses and close up especially I am never quite sure of my abilities to focus
It look like you can use TC's with it …… although it only states "with Sigma extenders"

It is quite an expensive lens, which will have a low resale value if you need to sell it ……. but what else is there out there?

Full article here

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-150mm-f-2.8-EX-DG-HSM-Macro-Lens-Review.aspx
 
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Thats the conclusion i came to,need to work fairly upright as i start to wobble ;) in some of the positions i used to work in.
 
I had even been considering daft solutions for butterfly and dragonfly type subjects,ie the highest macro magnification 70-300 and dropping a small tube in as i feel the D7100 would still manage auto focus.
 
When comparing lens reviews, check that it's exactly the same lens you're looking at. Over the years, there have been numerous versions with the same headline spec, but actually completely different lenses. They sometime look very similar too.

For example, on the link to TheDigitalPicture above, that lens is not the current OS version, and I have a hunch that the quote in the OP is not referring to the current lens either. In the comparison table on TDP showing Minimum Working Distances, several of the examples there are not current image stabilised versions.

Edit: I reviewed all the currently available 150-180mm macros in the May 2014 edition of Digital SLR Photography magazine (Nikon 200mm macro is discontinued, though still available). Sigma 150 OS was best buy - very sharp, fast focusing, good image stabilisation, and well priced. Back issues from their website http://subscribe.digitalslrphoto.com/contact-us/ Suggest contact the Peterborough office.

Edit edit: Nikon 200mm macro is still listed by Nikon, so doesn't appear to be discontinued? But Nikon UK said it was and that's why they couldn't provide a sample for review! Strange...
 
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I have the 150mm OS, and also have a Nikon TC 1.4x that I use for my 300mm. I can tell you, that the TC will work when attached, but it behaves erratically, unreliable at best. It jutters about for a couple of seconds, but does eventually lock focus and will allow the shot. You need a Sigma TC to work best for this lens.

Great lens btw, an under-used by me and that needs sorting!
 
BillN_33 said:
Thanks Richard, sorry I misled …….. back on the list

Sigma 150 mm F2 8 APO Macro EX DG OS HSM Lens review

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-150mm-f-2.8-EX-DG-OS-HSM-Macro-Lens-Review.aspx

and

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/667-sigma150f28oseos

Amazon are selling them for £699 - do you reckon that they still rate as good value for money

but I want to be sure that any I buy will be as easy to use for me as say my 300mm Nikon
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£699 is a good price, but it's a completely different animal to 300mm. You need to try them for yourself. A telecon might be an option to increase working distance.
 
I thought about the 180 OS when buying the 150, checked many reviews, and only difference between the 2 seemed to be just the length [and of course, price] - and since I don't really do flying bugs, jusst basic casual macro, the 150 is ideal. The 180 would be better if dragonflies are your thing though for sure.
 
Cagey75 said:
I thought about the 180 OS when buying the 150, checked many reviews, and only difference between the 2 seemed to be just the length [and of course, price] - and since I don't really do flying bugs, jusst basic casual macro, the 150 is ideal. The 180 would be better if dragonflies are your thing though for sure.
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or the Nikon 200mm which, I believe, takes Nikon TC's
 
Looked at that one too, but it's pretty old school now. Slower AF and looks a bit clunky to use. Of course if you're manually focusing for macro the AF doesn't matter so much, but I like to use the 150 for portraits and other stuff too. It's the most flexible outside the standard 105's
 
I want a good lens for taking images of Dragonflies and Butterflies, for record purposes, but I want the images to be good to very good …… not fantastic or marvellous ……. I certainly do not want to crawl around in the grass or get down on my hands and knees …. my knees wouldn't come anyway …. I'd probably never get back up.

90% of the time I use a tripod

My hesitancy in spending up to £1,000 on a macro or micro lens is that I do not think that such in my hands would take any better images than I do with my Nikon 300mm f4 or 300mm f2.8 VR with or without the TC14Ell and TC20lll
 
Cagey75 said:
I thought about the 180 OS when buying the 150, checked many reviews, and only difference between the 2 seemed to be just the length [and of course, price] - and since I don't really do flying bugs, jusst basic casual macro, the 150 is ideal. The 180 would be better if dragonflies are your thing though for sure.
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Differences between the Sigma 150 and 180 2.8 OS lenses is a) the 180 is very, very sharp, right from f/2.8. One of the sharpest lenses overall I've ever tested, b) it is also very heavy, weighs the same as a 70-200/2.8, c) MWD at 1:1 is 22cm vs 18cm for the 150, d) it's expensive.
 
I use both the Sigma 150mm Os and the Canon 300mm f4 IS for my dragonfly shots. The 300mm is coupled with a 25mm extension tube to reduce the minimum focus to 1.2m. This combo is perfect for dragonflies, but not quite as good for damselflies. I use the 150mm with a Sigma 1.4 tc for damselflies. The Sigma is fantastically sharp even with the tc. I am not bothered by AF speed because I rarely use it for macro. Both lenses go on a monpod for maximum flexibility.
 
BillN_33 said:
I want a good lens for taking images of Dragonflies and Butterflies, for record purposes, but I want the images to be good to very good …… not fantastic or marvellous ……. I certainly do not want to crawl around in the grass or get down on my hands and knees …. my knees wouldn't come anyway …. I'd probably never get back up.

90% of the time I use a tripod

My hesitancy in spending up to £1,000 on a macro or micro lens is that I do not think that such in my hands would take any better images than I do with my Nikon 300mm f4 or 300mm f2.8 VR with or without the TC14Ell and TC20lll
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Bill - if record shots are what you are after and you want the most convenient solution, I'd stick with the 300mm, perhaps with a tube and / or a tc. Macro lenses can be challenging to use until you master then effectively, and spending upwards of £1k is a serious decision to make.
 
Bill, just to echo what Mark said, I was out with just my crop body 300mm f4 and 1.4x the other day when I came across a dragonfly. I was surprised to find I had to take a few steps back from the minimum focus distance to actually get it all in the frame. Perhaps you don't need a macro lens.
 
I'd agree with Mark and Dan.

I'm a bit obsessed with macro and really want to persuade you to buy a macro lens.

From the way you've described your needs though, a 300mm and short extension tube will almost certainly do the job.
 
chrism_scotland said:
I've been looking at one of these too actually partly for macro but also to use for non-macro work mainly landscapes - would it work for both purposes?
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Why not?

I had the non os version and loved it the only downsides being bulk and weight and as is sometimes the case with macro lenses the focus speed wasn't as fast as some other non macro lenses.

If those nit picks are also true of the os version all any potential buyer should be sure of is that the bulk and weight aren't an issue for them and that they don't mind the slightly slow focus speed.
 
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It's not a heavy or bulky lens though. I've used my 300mm for landscape here and there. No reason why not. Obviously, you're getting different results than you would with a wide angle, in some cases longer lenses produce nicer results.
 
woof woof said:
Why not?

I had the non os version and loved it the only downsides being bulk and weight and as is sometimes the case with macro lenses the focus speed wasn't as fast as some other non macro lenses.

If those nit picks are also true of the os version all any potential buyer should be sure of is that the bulk and weight aren't an issue for them and that they don't mind the slightly slow focus speed.
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If the Sigma 105mm works with the Sigma x 1.4TC ……. the cost of these would be slightly below the 150mm Sigma - OK you would lose a stop of light but that's not a big deal.

The Sigma 105mm is reported to be slightly sharper than the 150mm - they are both very very sharpe, so the TC should not degrade the image much

The 105mm is much lighter and good on it's own for hand held stuff and that combo may give you the best of both worlds
 
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Cagey75 said:
It's not a heavy or bulky lens though. I've used my 300mm for landscape here and there. No reason why not. Obviously, you're getting different results than you would with a wide angle, in some cases longer lenses produce nicer results.
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All things are relative. Compared to a 300mm I expect that the Sigma will feel like a lightweight but compared to your average 50-85mm prime then yes, the Sigma is bigger and heavier.

I do understand the need for clarity and accuracy at all times on the net :D so what i can say is that my non os version was the biggest and heaviest lens that i've ever owned or used.
 
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Maybe I'm just used to heavy-ish lenses, my old 24-70 was almost as heavy. And the Sigma 35 1.4 feels not all that much lighter than the 150. [it's 2/3 the weight, surprisingly!]

It is just over the 1kg mark, but it's neat and tidy and balanced for that.

I think if you're used to any 70-200 with OS/VC/VR you'll not think it's heavy at all ;)

I almost bought the non OS version - as OS isn't all that useful for macro. There was going on a used site for really good price, but I ended going for the OS version new as I knew I'd use it for other types of shoot outside macro. Mine is actually quite 'jiggly' - think there's something amiss with the OS - but it still works fine. Had a guy come to look at it, interested in buying, but he was unsure about the noise and movement of parts .... so I'm stuck with it :D
 
Cagey75 said:
Maybe I'm just used to heavy-ish lenses, my old 24-70 was almost as heavy. And the Sigma 35 1.4 feels not all that much lighter than the 150. [it's 2/3 the weight, surprisingly!]

It is just over the 1kg mark, but it's neat and tidy and balanced for that.

I think if you're used to any 70-200 with OS/VC/VR you'll not think it's heavy at all ;)

I almost bought the non OS version - as OS isn't all that useful for macro. There was going on a used site for really good price, but I ended going for the OS version new as I knew I'd use it for other types of shoot outside macro. Mine is actually quite 'jiggly' - think there's something amiss with the OS - but it still works fine. Had a guy come to look at it, interested in buying, but he was unsure about the noise and movement of parts .... so I'm stuck with it :D
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I've noticed mine has a funny Jiggly Sound too, I think it could be the OS not locking the element back into place after being active. I do wonder if it's an issue or not but I assume it's normal, never had it happen before though with a lens.
 
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