Sigma 150mm macro review posted

I'd like to thank James for posting his review of Sigma's newish 150mm macro lens. This is a lens that has appealed to me since it was announced and it is good to be able to read some stats on it (few have been available):

http://www.wetpixel.com/module-pagesetter-...-3-pid-55.phtml

I have a couple of additional questions:

1) Can this lens get to 1:1 on a full frame camera without the use of dioptres? This is the information we need to work out what it will do on our various cameras.

2) How big is it physically? In other words what port will it fit behind? My guess is a 100/105mm lens port with say a standard 1.5 inch extention ring?

Thanks again, James,

Alex

Hi Alex,

You're welcome buddy!

Based on my calcs from shooting the lens on 1.25x and 1.6x cropped cameras, in air, the lens will do 36mm field of view on a full frame camera. So yes, it will do 1:1 without diopter. Behind a flat port underwater, it will do > 1:1 on a FF camera.

The lens is internal focusing and is only slightly longer than a 100mm Canon or 105mm Nikon lens. I would guess (without trying, I'll try it tonight) that a 1" extension would do the trick, or a 1.5" if you want to use the lens with a diopter.

Cheers

James

Hi Alex, I just put the lens on a Nikon F6 (true full frame) and the answer is yes it does 1:1, I am sold out of 105 Nikkor and my own personnal one is packed up with my housing for my trip to Bermuda, but I recall putting them side by side ant the 150 is no more than a filter thickness longer than the 105 nikkor, but i am back here on the 23 and will try the 150mm in the Aquatica/ 105/ extension set-up, im convinced it fit, maybe a snug forget about close-up lens on that one tight fit!, will keep you posted, I plan on testing the lens this spring on a ecosystem survey project, sound exotic but it will be mostly marsh and wetland, with a splash of a swamp here and there, will keep you posted.

Thanks guys.

When travelling light (charter flights to the Red Sea) I often use my 105mm behiind my Subal 60mm port and 33 ext ring. With this port combo there are probably a couple of filters clearance. So I think this will be the best solution for me.

My interest in this lens is as a longer working distance for macro close to and beyond 1:1, and also as s telephoto lens (for UW use) with the D2X (where it will have an equiv focal length of nearly 240mm).

Alex

Jean does the fact you have an F6 knocking about mean that there might be an F6 Aquatica a some point?

No Alex, I work as a photo instructor in a camera Store in Montreal 5 days a week and work on my off days with Aquatica, hence my signature bears the mention Aquatica, so as not to leave any confusion to my ties, I like to keep thing's clear, like Ike, as to where my allegiance is, it also forces me in a neutral zone when answering post on WP, and I like this neutrality, the store I work for is huge (3 floors) and I have access to most of the goodies available from Nikon & Canon on hands.

interesting to know is the fact that, the F6 is built on a D2H frame and layout, so once the D2x housing is up in running, I will see if slapping a F6 and the auxiliary battery pack in it is feasable at a low cost, but to be realistic I doubt the camera will have much success u/w, who want to go back to 36 frames. yuck, caca :x

The 150mm is quite small and easy to house compared to a Canon 180 or Nikon 200. It uses a 72mm diopter though (good for Canon shooters but not for Nikon). It has HSM and full time manual focus override along with the nice f/2.8 aperture. Only downside is that it only stops down to f/22. For full frame cameras it does 1:1 without diopters and takes a 1.4x teleconverter well. For APS-C sensor cameras it's a nicer 2:1 apparent lens than the 100/105 with the 1.4x teleconverter---sharper, faster, and smaller. For full frame I'm torn between it (with the 1.4x) and the Canon 180 for supermacro. I think on the Nikon side I'd go with the Nikon 200 for super and use the 150 without the teleconverter. I really like the Nikon 200 but I think it's too much for a DX sensor camera unless you go really small.

It uses a 72mm diopter though (good for Canon shooters but not for Nikon).  

Thanks for the info, Craig. Is there any reason why I couldn't buy a Canon 72mm dioptre with it and use it on a Nikon?

Alex

The Canon 72mm diopter works fine on Nikon lenses. It's thicker and heavier of course and it's a +2. If you like using a 5T the the Canon 500D is slightly stronger but requires more housing room.