Sigma macro lenses.

[John M]

Hi folks,

I am about to invest in a Sigma macro lens, and would like your opinions on whether to get a 150mm f2.8 or the 180mm f3.5.
Both are roughly the same price.
Does anyone use either one of these ?
Would you have a preference if you were going to buy one ?
I will be using it with a Canon 20D.

Thanks,
John.

[compa]

If it is to be your first macro lens, definitely the 150mm (or shorter!). Remember the 20D's 1.6x multiplication factor. I'm very happy with my Canon 100mm lens. It is super sharp and when I need longer, I use a teleconverter on it. http://www.jbs-blog.com/?p=72

[Geoff Brown]

Just to confuse I have the 180mm which is a first class lens also. I cannot speak for the 150 mm as I have never used it.

[pete schofield]

The 150 is the later incarnation of this lens, depending on what camera you want to use it on the 180 is an older lens and would need checking with sigma if it is to go on a digital camera.

The 150 should have no problems.

Pete

[Gwynn]

The 150 is the later incarnation of this lens, depending on what camera you want to use it on the 180 is an older lens and would need checking with sigma if it is to go on a digital camera.

The 150 should have no problems.

Pete

both are DG lens and therefore should be OK with a digital camera

http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/macro/macro.htm

[John M]

Thanks for your advice everyone, it was greatly appreciated.

I have ordered a 150 from digitalrev and it should arrive next week. I found a couple of mentions about this lens in Outdoor Photography, and opted to go for it, as the price from digtalrev seems to be a good bargain.

Thanks again.
John.

[Nigel G]

Thanks for your advice everyone, it was greatly appreciated.

I have ordered a 150 from digitalrev and it should arrive next week. I found a couple of mentions about this lens in Outdoor Photography, and opted to go for it, as the price from digtalrev seems to be a good bargain.

Thanks again.
John.


Hope you enjoy your lens - make sure you declare it to customs and get Digitalrev to reimburse the import tax/vat if you want your International warranty to be valid in this country. Sigma UK won't honour it unless you can prove import tax and VAT have been paid.

[Pavel_D]

Well a bit late now but I wanted to mention that sigma4less.com has pretty much the best prices I've seen on both of these.
I personaly would go for the 150 as well. While both are stellar and the extra reach of the 180 is a nice advantage I'd rather go for the significantly more compact size and lesser weight of the 150. I've seen shots from it and was very impressed with the quality and the lenses seeming suitability for a second role as a portrait lens.

Let us know how you like it. I'm currently switching over to Nikon at a glacial pace - though I'm keeping one 1D and three lenses (just for the heck of it). I've got the canon 50 macro - excellent glass though cheaply made but waay too short for any macro work for anything that moves. I'm looking between these two as well then - and interested to hear what you think of the 150 as I am likely to get it soon.