Last month Sigma announced the APO 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC HSM macro zoom lens. It's listed for $630 at Sigma4Less. It seems to be too early to see any reviews on lens performance and quality but specs and price makes one hope this is going to be a good quality lens.
The "macro" moniker in this case means a closest focus distance of 100cm, not really macro at all at the wide end and only 1:5 at the tele end of the focal range. However, in clear waters 1m is quite useful and with an extension tube or diopter added this could become decent.
It is a DC lens, so only for APS-C format sensors, but that helps keep the lens relatively small and light so for me that's not a big disadvantage. The focal range is definately of interest for my preference towards small(er) fish. It's widest angle is long enough to not need a dome port and a 5.5" Ikelite port should be able to handle both the Canon 100mm true macro and this zoom lens.
Has anyone put some thought into the suitability of this lens for underwater use? Are there other lenses with similar specs that would be a better fit
EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM (probably cheap in cost and quality and 1.2m minimum focus)
EF 70-200mm f/4L USM (probably expensive, 1.2m minimum focus and 6.8" long!)
EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (probably expensive but 50cm minimum focus!!!, and only 3.8" long)
Mmmm, now that I'm looking at it, that last one looks pretty interesting. 0.2x magnification at max focal length is the same as the sigma 50-150mm but with half the water column to get in the way. $420 is better too but reviews on Fred Miranda are mixed.
Is anyone shooting with a lens in this focal range?
Bart
