Review Sigma 180mm F28 Ex Apo Dg Hsm Os Macro

The Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG Os HSM ($1,699 direct)($1,175.02 at Amazon United kingdom) is an impressive macro lens with a rather long focal length, fast aperture, and i:ane magnification. It'south available for Catechism, Nikon, Sigma, and Sony/Minolta cameras, and can exist used on both full-frame and APS-C bodies. Information technology's a bit more expensive than Sigma'due south older 150mm F2.8 EX DG Bone HSM APO Macro($1,175.02 at Amazon Great britain), a lens that impressed usa when we tested it, only we feel that the actress sharpness information technology delivers makes it worthy of our Editors' Selection award.

Information technology's a big lens. It measures 8 by 3.7 inches (HD) and if you'd like to use a filter y'all'll have to reach for one with an 86mm thread to fit into its huge forepart element. It's also heavy—just about iii.half-dozen pounds. The reason for its size is its close focus capability; you can discover standard lenses in this focal range that are smaller and lighter, but they won't focus on objects as close as xviii.5 inches from your photographic camera'due south epitome sensor. That allows for ane:1 magnification—when the lens is focused on objects that close, the image projected onto your camera'southward paradigm sensor matches the real life object exactly in size. That's typical for a lens of this grade; the Catechism EF 180mm Macro f/3.5L USM($1,175.02 at Amazon Britain) is capable of 1:1 magnification as well. It'due south smaller at vii.3 by 3.three inches and lighter at 2.4 pounds, but it doesn't feature optical stabilization.

Our Experts Have Tested 83 Products in the Cameras Category in the Past Yr

Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help y'all brand meliorate buying decisions. (See how we test.)

Most macro lenses that are 100mm or longer deliver 1:1 magnification, only having one this long allows you to piece of work further abroad from your subjects. There are pluses and minuses to this. On the plus side, working a little farther away helps if you don't want to bandage a shadow on a flower or insect in the wild. On the minus side, you'll probable want to stop down your lens when working very shut, depending on how much depth of field you want to get, and doing so with a longer lens requires a shorter shutter speed to get a crisp shot. If you think you'll prefer a shorter macro lens, consider the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* two/100($1,175.02 at Amazon UK) or Makro-Planar T* 2/l($1,175.02 at Amazon UK). Both are excellent lenses and can open upwardly to f/2, simply continue in heed they are manual focus only and only deliver ane:2 magnification. In that location are plenty of autofocus 1:two macro lenses available in the l to 60mm focal range, but none that nosotros've still had a gamble to review.

Sigma supplies a tripod collar, two lens hoods (i for full-frame, ane for APS-C), and a carrying case with the lens, along with the standard front and rear caps. If you're planning on using the lens on a tripod or a monopod, it'south a practiced idea to employ the collar. It helps to better heart the weight, which volition pb to steadier shots. There are a couple of command switches on the lens itself. You can control the optical stabilization organisation via the Bone switch. Information technology has 3 settings—Off, 1, and 2. Turning it off is recommended when using a tripod, mode 1 is for standard shooting situations, and mode 2 is for those times when you program on panning your photographic camera to the left or right during a shot. There'due south also a switch to change between automatic and transmission focus, and a focus limiter control. That lets you limit the distance over which the autofocus system will hunt; you lot can set up information technology for the total range of the lens, from 0.67 meters to infinity, or from 0.47 meters to 0.67 meters.

Similar Products

I used Imatest to check the sharpness of the lens when mounted on the 36-megapixel Nikon D800($ane,175.02 at Amazon Great britain). It'southward impeccably sharp. At f/2.8 it manages 2,956 lines per picture height, well in backlog of the one,800 lines we require of a abrupt photograph, and information technology performs well from edge to edge. Stopping down to f/4 delivers a slight comeback to 2,978 lines, and you'll become the best resolution at f/5.six—3,552 lines. Baloney is a negligible 0.ii percent, which is irrelevant in field conditions. Sigma's older 150mm Macro only managed i,843 lines on the D800 at f/2.8, and did its all-time at f/8, notching just shy of 3,000 lines.

If you lot're in the market for a macro lens and want one with a longer focal length, y'all should give strong consideration to the Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM. It'south extremely sharp, is optically stabilized, and the focus limiter function allows it to focus quickly enough to double equally a standard telephoto optic. We like it better than the Canon EF 180mm Macro f/3.5L USM, which is priced in the same ballpark but lacks image stabilization. If you're on a upkeep you might want to look at the Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro; it's not as sharp at its maximum aperture, only improves when stopped down. It also offers stabilization, and sells for about $600 less. Merely our Editors' Choice honour is for exemplary products and, even though the 180mm is a bit on the pricey side, we feel the extra sharpness it delivers is worth the cost.

Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG Bone HSM

Cons

The Lesser Line

The Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG Bone HSM is an extremely abrupt macro lens. It's expensive, but its performance earns it our Editors' Choice award.

Similar What You're Reading?

Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox.

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Utilize and Privacy Policy. Yous may unsubscribe from the newsletters at whatever time.

fowleryousiolind.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/sigma-apo-macro-180mm-f28-ex-dg-os-hsm

Share this post