(117 views/week)
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Review Date
June 27, 2008
Overall Rating
 2 of 5
Value Rating
 3 of 5
Used product for
Less than 1 month
Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1 votes
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Reviewed by
Louie Aguinaldo
, Professional
Price Paid
$0.00
Photography Experience
21+ years
, Other
Summary
Unfortunately, my experience with this lens led me to returning it within a few days. No matter what I photographed, as long as there was white in the background, there would be a severe orange glow covering a large circular area in the center. The only thing I could think of is that it was some severe lens flare. Of course, I tried all types of lighting. I even tried feathered lighting wherein no direct light hit the scene and the only source of light was a very very diffused light source far far behind me. Still the glow was there. The glow would not appear if the subject and background I was shooting was dark. But as long as there was a significant amount of white a really big orange glow would appear.
I even tried shooting the black lens cap leaning on a white illustration board and filled most of the frame with it. I only had white in the corners. Still the orange circular glow was there. So I called the Sigma dealer, they even went to my studio and checked it out. They couldn't explain it. So it went back. Plus the lens was underexposing the scene. I use a Sekonic meter to measure the ambient light, and even if I set the camera to the recommended exposure settings, the image would be significantly darker.
I may have had a bad unit that doesn't represent the whole line of these lenses, but I seem to have had a bad streak of luck with Sigma lenses. I have purchased a total of 4 Sigma lenses, I got rid of 3 of them by sending them back or selling them due to various issues. I only kept one. Apparently, there seems to be some quality control issues. So I ended up with more reliable Canon lenses instead.
Strengths
It wasn't with me long enough to discover any strength. Since it was defective, I had to send it back
Weaknesses
Severe lens flare? Or at least a severe orange glow right in the center whenever the subject or background had white.
Underexposes.
Similar Products Used
Canon 100mm macro
Customer Service
Pretty good in the sense that they came over to check the problem out, and when they didn't know what to do, they took it back.
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Review Date
January 13, 2008
Overall Rating
 4 of 5
Value Rating
 5 of 5
Used product for
Less than 1 month
Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 4 votes
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Reviewed by
hoasjoe
, Intermediate
Price Paid
$480.00
at Downtown Camera, Tor
Photography Experience
6-10 years
, Outdoor
Summary
Wanted a dedicated lens for macro instead of using a standard zoom with close-up filters.
Had a Sigma 28-70 f3.5-5.6 1:2 macro. The photo isn't bad but the lens construction was as cheap as the price paid. To do close focusing precisely often require switching off the AF. The focus knob was very loose and moved around when AF is not on.
This is the first macro lens bought and so far quite satisfied with the results. Although the lens is not an award winner as the newer Sigma 70 & the 150, it is a trade off between price, minimum focus distance & weight.
Will be trying some flower and insect pics later in the year...
Strengths
Good value for money. Compared to the higher rated Sigma 70, you pay a bit more money but you get a more working distance.
Very compact size of just 457g / 16.1oz. filter diameter 58. Easy to put in a small travel bag. The S-70 has higher rating but heavier at 525g / 18.5oz & filter size 76.
Did compare with the Nikon 105 equivalent with Vibration Reduction. You're paying almost twice the money for a heavier lens. If you use a Sony Alpha the VR feature is on the body so you wouldn't need a heavy lens. For about the same money as a N-105 you can move up to a S-150 macro which is heavier.
Good lens selections: 50, 70, 105, 150, 180. Tamron has only a 90.
Weaknesses
As expected, Sigma body finish is not as good as Nikon but otherwise not a major concern.
Mounted on Nikon D70s. Macro focus doesn't work well on AF. Faster to switch to MF.
Similar Products Used
Nikon 60 & 105, Sigma 70 & 105, Tamron 90.
Customer Service
Not required yet
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Review Date
June 30, 2007
Overall Rating
 5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
1 to 3 months
Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2 votes
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Reviewed by
Justin
, Beginner
Price Paid
$409.00
at Amazon.com
Photography Experience
0-1 years
, People
Summary
This lens is well worth the price! I decided to get this lens because of all the rave reviews I saw online. I have an Olympus E-500 so it was very tricky finding this lens in a four-thirds mount but I finally found it on amazon.com (only 3 left) and paid $409.00 for it. This lens far exceeded my expectations in every way! My mother has a 90mm Tamron macro lens that she paid $550+ for and this lens blows it out of the water! You can get incredibly sharp detail of the smallest insects and flowers. I see things in the photos that I couldn't even see with my naked eye. It is also very nice because you don't necessarily have to be right on top of whatever you want to take pictures of, you can be up to 2 feet away and still fill up the whole frame. AWESOME! Don't hesitate, but it today!
Here are some shots I took with this lens:
http://www.djphina.com/pictures/albums/2007/06-30-07_Macro/P6303875.jpg
http://www.djphina.com/pictures/albums/2007/06-22-07_Macro2/P6223639.jpg
http://www.djphina.com/pictures/albums/2007/06-30-07_Macro/P6303831.jpg
http://www.djphina.com/pictures/albums/2007/06-30-07_Macro/P6303837.jpg
http://www.djphina.com/pictures/albums/2007/06-30-07_Macro/P6303848.jpg
http://www.djphina.com/pictures/albums/2007/06-30-07_Macro/P6303855.jpg
http://www.djphina.com/pictures/albums/2007/06-30-07_Macro/P6303882.jpg
http://www.djphina.com/pictures/albums/2007/06-30-07_Macro/P6303908.jpg
http://www.djphina.com/pictures/albums/2007/06-30-07_Macro/P6303805.jpg
http://www.djphina.com/pictures/albums/2007/06-30-07_Macro/P6303871.jpg
You can also go to www.djphina.com to view more pictures.
Strengths
Unbelievably clear shots at 24" or as little as 2". Awesome magnification. Auto focus works very well at 3"+. Great price tag! I see such great detail that I see things in the photos that I don't even see with my eyes.
Weaknesses
None that I have found.
Similar Products Used
Tamron 90mm
Customer Service
No need.
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Review Date
July 5, 2006
Overall Rating
4 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
1 to 3 months
Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes
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Reviewed by
VinnyP!
, Intermediate
Price Paid
$170.00
Photography Experience
21+ years
, Outdoor
Summary
First up I am not a macro photographer, but occasionally I had wished I had a Macro lens. I looked at the reviews like you are doing here and thought this would fit the ticket in bangs per buck. I am not disappointed. It's good where it counts. Picture quality is very good, sharp across the image especially once it's stopped down. (In a macro that's where you will be anyway most of the time I'd suggest). There are upteen lens charts about taken with this you can find and it's a good performer optically. It has a good operating distance for me but the length it extends could be disconserting. It's not an HSM lens and AF can be pretty slow, it improves a lot if you lock it either in Macro or as a short tele with the body mounted switch. I wouldn't use it like that unless it was a grab whilst shooting macro. I am a fan of Sigma but this one seems a little odd, there is no AF/manual switch just pull push on the (very large) focusing ring to engage it. It does handle well and manual focus is well catered for. It is well built with the love it loath it EX finish. The lens hood is screw in, non reversible, and round. It also prevents the lens cap being in place when the hood is attched. The good news is that the hood is threaded for fiters so you can just get a 67mm cap to keep on there.
I can't compare this to any other macro lenses because it's the first one I have owned in years of photography. All I can say is any deficiencies in my pictures would not be down to the image quality. I am sure the 150 and 180 HSM lenses are better for many users, but if like me you want an occasional macro this is a good choice. Like most people with a macro I tend to pre-focus manually for the magnification I want then move back and forth until it snaps into focus. Used like this it performs very well. It would also double as short tele in a pinch but it's far from ideal for that. It's well made and comes with the odd (for Sigma) hood and a good quality pouch.
Strengths
Image quality, build quality large manual focusing ring, value for money.
Weaknesses
Auto focus, lens hood is awkward, extends a long way when focusing close up.
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Review Date
November 10, 2005
Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
1 to 3 months
Visitors rate this review
3.56 of 5, 9 votes
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Reviewed by
QDB
, Professional
Price Paid
$0.00
at KP Professional Camb
Photography Experience
21+ years
, Other
Summary
Great lens, pity about the EX finish!
To be more specific, Sigma macro lenses are very high quality. I already own the 180mm HSM macro, but its a little long for some studio work. The 105 is a useful focal legthm and F2.8 is usefully fast. Mine is an F-mount, and its used on a Kodak 14nx full-frame DSLR, plus a Kodak 760 1.3 crop DSLR.
The lens is well made, and feels solid. It's a personal thing, but I don't like Sigma's EX finish. It cheapens the lens, in my view, but it is a minor cosmetic gripe.
Results are first class. Sharp, contrasty, etc. It's not an HSM lens which is a pity, but not really an issue becsue I always focus manually in macro mode.
Its also sharp at infinity, so it is a handy all-round short telephoto lens.
Strengths
Optical quality, which is first class, as good as any "marque" lens
Weaknesses
None,but I'm not a fan of Sigma's EX finish.
Similar Products Used
Many and varied, including Tamron's non Di 90mm macro (the Sigma is slightly better on a digital camera, being "DG" designated).
Customer Service
not tried
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