Sigma MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG: Review

Posted to Lenses 2009-05-31

Sigma Macro 105mm F2.8 EX DG Review:

This Sigma Macro 105mm F2.8 EX DG is a high performance medium telephoto macro lens and was created to allow for greater distance between the subject and the lens. This lens can be used in digital SLR cameras as well as 35mm SLR's. The new lens power layout and SML coating create outstanding optical performance while reducing the opportunities for flare and ghosting.

This lens includes a 58mm screw-in hood, making it easy to use circular polarizing filters. You can also attach a 77mm filter in front of the lens hood. This lens incorporates a Dual Focus (DF) system that makes the lens easy to hold onto during auto-focusing. Manual focusing is smooth and convenient because of the large focusing ring.

Rating:

3.8 out of 5

Features

This is a DG designated lens, which is optimized for digital SLR cameras. It contains a new 11-element, 10-group design, created to improve correction for lateral chromatic aberration and distortion. Sigma has included a Super Multi Layer (SML) coating designed to reduce ghosting and the reflections from the digital sensors. It also contains an f/45 aperture setting for Canon, Minolta and Sigma mount lenses.

Performance

This lens is about average size and weight for a 105mm macro lens. The scales are easy to read, being produced in white-on-black except for the orange manual focus magnification scale. The manual focus band is 1.5 inches wide, which turns easily and smoothly. The lens auto focuses quickly and efficiently, with just about average noise. There is only one aperture (f/32) listed on the distance-ring cover glass, which isn't very helpful. There is a focus limiter on the non-DG, which includes both close and normal focus ranges. This feature improved the speed and accuracy of the auto focusing. This is a great feature and very useful. When tested, the lens performed very well. There was very minimal pincushion distortion and the center sharpness tested between acceptable and good at different settings. Corner sharpness was acceptable to excellent.

Summary

The Sigma Macro 105mm F2.8 EX DG is an excellent telephoto macro lens. It delivers images at normal focusing ranges that are crisp and clear and of high image quality. It also creates realistic images at life-size magnification. This lens is a high performance lens, optimized for digital SLR's but suitable for 35mm SLR's as well. This is a quality Sigma product that would be a great addition to your photographic equipment collection.

Pros

High performance medium telephoto macro lens
Optimized for Digital and 35mm SLR cameras
Life-size 1:1 macro magnification
Dual focusing system
SML coating to reduce ghosting

Cons

There are no cons for this product