Sigma 70-200 2.8 Macro performance

futureal33

futureal33

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Nick
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Evening all!

I am considering purchasing a Sigma 70-200 2.8 Macro as sold here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sigma-70-20...2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1306267041&sr=1-2

Sigma do quite a few versions of this lens, including some non-macro ones.

The non macro ones tend to go 2nd hand on eBay for around £350, whereas the newer macro ones are about £500

Ignoring any other differences between the two models, what is the macro performance of this lens like?
It certainly makes it more attractive if it can effectively be used for hobbyist macro work (nothing pro here guys) when desired/required.

Purely asking for macro performance of this lens :)

Thanks for any help!
 
It is not true macro Nick it is only a close up focusing feature. I have the lens in question but have yet to try out how good the close up focusing is.
 
I know your question relates specifically to the macro capabilities of this lens, but I thought I would comment as I have had this lens for about 2 months and I am very happy with the performance for some portraits, and some sports (Mainly football and rugby). I also will try and do some Macro at the weekend. I did do a lot of research before buying this lens and I regularly read that the performance of this lens for specifically Macro functionality was at best adequate.

What else would you generally use this lens for and that might help with given you some more feedback.

Hope this is of any use to you!
 
Thank you for the replies guys :-) Very helpful indeed!
I would mainly be using the lens for generic situations where my walkaround lens doesn't have the length.
I'm currently using a Canon 55-250mm for this, examples of use are trips to the zoo/safari park, local wildlife, birds and something I would like to get into would be motorsport although I have never tried that before.

I would massively appreciate any macro pics you can capture with this lens, no matter of their quality/subject - I'm just intrigued to see how close it goes.

The lens does get stellar reviews indeed

Thanks again guys
 
I have the Sigma HSM DG APO 70-200 (non macro) which i got for £200 but i have to be about 6 feet away from anything to get it to focus.
 
Hi there i use the 70 300 un edited just resized i hope this helps you
bee9.JPG

The slow worm
slow_worm_with_me_trusty_sigma_70_300.JPG
 
Yes but being macro on 70 200/300 would possibly give you some indication to macro as I stated I hope this helps if not nothing lost ;)
 
looking at the spec you will get a aprrox 1:3 reproduction ratio so you would need an object approx 71mm wide to fill the frame at MFD which is 100cm from the focal plane of the camera - the little symbol on your camera body that looks like a circle with a line through it. A true macro lens giving 1:1 would need an object approx 27mm wide to fill the frame.
 
forkie said:
Yes but being macro on 70 200/300 would possibly give you some indication to macro as I stated I hope this helps if not nothing lost ;)
Click to expand...

But again the 70-300 isn't true macro, it's just a slightly shorter min focusing distance.
 
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