Sigma 150mm macro lens

This is a lens I have been considering since it was announced last year. Although I can't afford it at the moment (still recovering from D2x purchase!).

Specifically I am interested in how sharp people find it. More than anything else.

How sharp is it at 100% compared to Canon/Nikon 100/105mm macro lenses?

And how sharp is it compared to Canon/Nikon/Sigma 50/60mm macro lenses?

I am less interested in hearing about how it autofocuses or how useable it is underwater.

Thanks

Alex

1) Why not the 200micro? With a diopter I this is an awesome lens. I just find it too $$$ to hack off the tripod ring, but I'm working up my nerve.

2) Or how about a 60mm + 2X TC as an alternative? If we believe the 60 vs 105 article we all read yesterday - ultimate sharpness may not be significantly compromised by a TC.

3) Have you tried the 70-180. I used it a couple times with my Aquatica and didn't like it at all. I just ordered a focus ring and intend to give it another whirl on my F100.

Unsharpened 100% crop:

I'd say it's as sharp as the 105. It's not as sharp as the 60.

With a diopter, you are basically shooting >2:1 on the D2x with this lens - and at f2.8!

Cheers

James

Cheers

James

It is very sharp.

Even though I allways use the 150 with a 500D diopter, it is still sharper than the canon 100 was without a diopter.

The canon 100 does win over the 150+500D in terms of contrast though.

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8051

100% crop. No post processing.

I haven't shot the lens underwater without a TC or diopters, so my samples are noticably less sharp than those two. I have been very happy with it sharpness in air.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I will take my camera into the shop sometime soon and do some tests against the 105mm. Might leave my credit card at home to avoid temptation!

Alex

I haven't shot the lens underwater without a TC or diopters, so my samples are noticably less sharp than those two.  I have been very happy with it sharpness in air.

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What diopter are are you using? The example I posted was with the canon 500D Diopter.

Anyone care to comment about 150mm vs nikkor 70-180mm?

I am very curious! With 70-180mm, I probably use the zoom range around 130-140mm more often than not. While I like the flexibility of the zoom range, AF is a little slow.

So 70-180mm will do 1:1.3, add 5T or 6T diopter and 1.5x cropped sensor, on paper, how much magnification can I get? Would it be very similar to the 150mm?

I am going to Lembeh Strait in the near future but definitely don't want to do the 105mm with teleconverter for pgymy seahorse and was planning on using the 70-180mm with 6T diopter.

I've used both lenses underwater, the 70-180 with and without diopter, and the 150mm with diopter.

I don't have any measurements, but I'd say that the 150mm with diopter provides higher magnification than the 70-180 with diopter. The 70-180 is varifocal so at 180mm it acts pretty much like a 90mm fixed lens.

The 150 has a very long working distance and is probably not very good to use w/o the diopter, unless you're doing fish tele work aka Dr. Mustard.

Cheers

James

James, thanks for the input. I think I will try the 70-180mm with 6T in July in Lembeh. If the result is not satisfactory then I'll be back in Lembeh again in September with the Sigma

I got an ok shot of a rather big pgymy seahorse in the Phillippines with 70-180mm, 5T diopter in addition to Nexus wetmount diopter. However the biggest Nexus wetmount diopter would not fit my new Subal port for the 70-180mm which is a shame. How is AF on the 150mm, I assume it should be faster than the 70-180mm.

The AF is painfull. You can read my experience here.

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8051

Thanks for the link. I do have the Fisheye halogen light that I plan to use with my setup. Hopefully the D2X might help some with focusing. Since it is Sunday, I went to local Sigma dealer and they do have it in stock, just have to figure out what I would need as far as ports and stuff. Not sure if it would fit in the 70-180 port/extension ring yet but I think it might.

The tricky part now seems to be that none of the Canon dealer here seem to have the 500D diopter! They suggest that instead of getting close up lens, I should consider macro lens instead. Well, that was no help Well, at least B&H will ship to Thailand.

Good to read all about this lens. Maybe I will think about getting one for my trips to Bali and Cayman in September?

Thanks for the feedback on AF performance. Although it is always hard to judge because of the capabilities of different cameras.

James, thanks for the input. I think I will try the 70-180mm with 6T in July in Lembeh. If the result is not satisfactory then I'll be back in Lembeh again in September with the Sigma

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I find pygmies easiest with a simple 105mm and +4. Full frame no problem and a much smaller rig than a 70-180mm. I'm not sure the longer lenses are a help - as it is not a problem to get close to pygmies. What I find helps is shooting them without using a focus torch (so that they don't turn away) and not touching the fan so that the polyps stay out. I think both are easier with shorter faster lenses.

http://www.amustard.com/images/bali3.jpg

Good tip, William, about getting the Canon 500D dioptre with the Sigma - even for us Nikon shooters!

Alex

The 500D is an excellent multi element diopter. It's also very "long" so keep that in mind when sizing your port. You don't want to grind out a circle in your port glass!

From talking w/ Craig, I think the 500D is about a +2 diopter.

In case this slipped by, I did some test photos w/ the 150mm:

http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/sigma-150mm-f28-apo-dg-ex/ Check it out.

Just as an aside, the 70-180 is not meant to be a high-magnification macro lens. It's more valuable for it's zoom capabilities. You can shoot anything from as big as a frogfish down to a small nudibranch on the same dive - that's it's strength. Seems like a perfect lens for Bali.

Cheers

James

Good to read all about this lens. Maybe I will think about getting one for my trips to Bali and Cayman in September?

 

Thanks for the feedback on AF performance. Although it is always hard to judge because of the capabilities of different cameras.

I find pygmies easiest with a simple 105mm and +4. Full frame no problem and a much smaller rig than a 70-180mm. I'm not sure the longer lenses are a help - as it is not a problem to get close to pygmies. What I find helps is shooting them without using a focus torch (so that they don't turn away) and not touching the fan so that the polyps stay out. I think both are easier with shorter faster lenses.

http://www.amustard.com/images/bali3.jpg

 

Good tip, William, about getting the Canon 500D dioptre with the Sigma - even for us Nikon shooters!

 

Alex

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I agree that it is not difficult getting close to the pgymy seahorse but often it is not always in the peripheral of the seafan so I want a little working distance. I plan on giving the focus light to the diveguide and have the diveguide shine the light from the back of the seafan, with any luck, the seahorse should be facing me

I will try out the 105mm with 4+ diopter as well. Thanks

Alex, I did a comparison of the Sigma 150 and the Nikon 105 above water at full 1:1,..... the 105 was much sharper in the fine detail. I do like the fast quiet internal focusing of the Sigma though.

Dave

I agree that it is not difficult getting close to the pgymy seahorse but often it is not always in the peripheral of the seafan so I want a little working distance. I plan on giving the focus light to the diveguide and have the diveguide shine the light from the back of the seafan, with any luck, the seahorse should be facing me

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Good points. I would add that the 60mm macro lens is a much more suitable for Lembeh than the 105mm. Most critters are much more in the 60mm size range than the 105mm.

Alex, I did a comparison of the Sigma 150 and the Nikon 105 above water at full 1:1,..... the 105 was much sharper in the fine detail. I do like the fast quiet internal focusing of the Sigma though.

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Thanks Dave. That is what I needed, and my bank manager wanted, to hear. The IF makes housing it easier - although this big Canon dioptre may mean it requires the extention ring.

Alex

Good points. I would add that the 60mm macro lens is a much more suitable for Lembeh than the 105mm. Most critters are much more in the 60mm size range than the 105mm.

 

Alex

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Please dont confuse me more with lens choices

Actually I find 60mm lens quite difficult to use since I have to get very very close.

On a nudibranch which won't run away, strobe placement becomes tricky and often there just is not enough room to get the front of the port and 2 strobes that close to the subject (although I imagine that Lembeh being mostly sandy stuff, manuever 2 big strobes and a big housing close to a subject won't be too difficult).

When I used to use double macro lens on Oly C5050, I used to concentrate so much on the LCD monitor and kept moving in, not realizing that the lens squished those poor nudibranches so now I try to give myself a little room

I think that's why I like the 70-180mm very much and am very comfortable with working distance of the lens and the versatility of the zoom. Just need to be able to get it a bit closer to those tiny tiny pgymies!

Sorry. I was just making the point that there is far more than pygmies in Lembeh. And 60mm much better for normal seahorses, GPF, large nudis, scorp fish, froggies, octopus, eels etc. Alex