Sigma 105mm F 2.8 Ex Dg Macro User Manual
- Sigma 105mm F 2.8 Ex Dg Macro User Manual Pdf
- Sigma 105mm F/2.8 Ex Dg Macro
- Sigma 105mm F/2.8 Ex Dg Macro User Manual
- Sigma 105mm F/2.8 Ex Dg Macro Manual
- Sigma 105mm F/2.8 Ex Dg Os Hsm Macro Manual
Software, Firmware, Brochures / Manuals, FAQ. SIGMA GLOBAL VISION About SIGMA Cameras Lenses Cine Lenses Accessories Download. The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens for Canon EOS DSLR Cameras offers advanced performance of close-up photography. The OS (Optical Stabilizer) system enables handheld close-up photography. A Special Low Dispersion (SLD) lens and one high refractive index SLD lens provide excellent correction for all types of aberration and distortion.
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Lab Test Results
Blur
Chromatic Aberration
Vignetting
Geometric Distortion
Blur
Chromatic Aberration
Vignetting
Geometric Distortion
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Sigma 105mm F 2.8 Ex Dg Macro User Manual Pdf
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SLRgear Review
April 13, 2012
by Andrew Alexander
The Sigma 105mm EX DG OS HSM is an update of a venerable macro lens produced by Sigma for several years. The new lens is a complete overhaul of the design: a new layout of elements, optical stabilization and HSM focusing technology make up the large list of changes.
The Sigma 105mm EX DG OS HSM was designed as a full-frame lens, and on 'sub-frame' APS-C sensor-based camera bodies the lens provides an equivalent field of view of either 168mm (Canon) or 158mm (Nikon and others). The lens is available in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma and Sony mounts.
The lens takes 62mm filters, ships with a round lens hood, and is available now for around $950.
Sharpness
The Sigma 105mm ƒ/2.8 EX DG OS HSM provides a very sharp image even wide open at ƒ/2.8, but for maximum sharpness you need to stop down to ƒ/5.6. There are traces of corner softness at ƒ/2.8, which settle down nicely at ƒ/4, and all but disappear at ƒ/5.6. Performance at ƒ/8 is more or less the same as ƒ/5.6 (though according to the numbers, just very slightly less sharp). Diffraction limiting sets in by ƒ/11, though you don't notice any practical impact on sharpness until ƒ/16, and even then, it's still very good. At ƒ/22 we begin to see some light softness across the frame.
The previous version of the lens could stop down as far as ƒ/45, but we noted extreme softness at this or the ƒ/32 setting - probably better that Sigma just removed these settings, as they didn't provide very useful results.
Chromatic Aberration
Chromatic aberration is kept very much in check with this lens; there is some to speak of in the corners when the lens is used on a full frame body (in this case, the Canon 1Ds mk III), but it isn't by any means excessive. Peeping at 100% crops, you'll note very light magenta fringing in the corners on the full-frame sample images - but it's very light indeed.
Shading ('Vignetting')
Mounted on the sub-frame Canon 7D, the Sigma 105mm ƒ/2.8 showed very little corner shading - just 1/3 EV darker in the corners, when set to ƒ/2.8. At any other settings, there is no light falloff.
Mounted on the full-frame Canon 1Ds mk III, there was a bit more falloff - more so when used wide open at ƒ/2.8. In this case the corners are over 3/4 darker than the center. At ƒ/4, the corners are just over 1/3 darker than the center. At smaller apertures, there is no problem with light falloff.
Distortion
The Sigma 105mm ƒ/2.8 EX DG OS HSM produces no meaningful distortion whatsoever, on either the sub-frame 7D or full-frame Canon 1Ds mkIII.
Autofocus Operation
The Sigma 105mm is a welcome advancement from the previous version, with its implementation of HSM focusing. Autofocus is moderately fast and near-silent, and results can be overridden by just turning the focusing ring. It took just over a second to go through the lens' focusing range - as a macro lens, there is a lot of focus travel. The front element does not turn during focusing, making life a little easier for polarizer users.
Macro
The Sigma 105mm provides excellent macro performance, offering full 1:1 (100%) macro reproduction, with a minimum close-focusing range of 31 cm (12 inches).
Build Quality and Handling
The Sigma 105mm ƒ/2.8 EX DG OS HSM is a fairly beefy optic, made lighter by its use of plastic components (725g, 26 oz). It's finished with Sigma's matte grey texture and offers a metal mount, and plastic 62mm filter threads. The lens is noted as having a splash-proof design.
The lens is a complete redesign of the previous version: it now features 11 lens groups, with 16 elements, of which one is a Special Low Dispersion (SLD) lens, another is a high refractive index SLD lens. There are now nine rounded diaphragm blades instead of eight straight ones, to improve bokeh performance. Focusing is by way of a floating focusing system that moves two different lens groups in the optical path. And to top it all off, Sigma has thrown in optical stabilization, very useful for when you don't want to bring a tripod into the field.
The lens offers a few control surfaces of note: in addition to the focusing ring, there is a small panel on the side of the lens which features a switch to enable or disable autofocus, and a switch to enable image stabilization in mode 1 or mode 2, or disable it completely. There is also a focus limiting switch, offering options of 30cm - 45cm, 45cm - infinity, and no limit (30cm - infinity).
The lens also provides excellent scales. There is a distance scale in feet and meters, as well as reproduction ratios as the lens is focused towards its close-focusing distance. However, there are no depth-of-field indicators, nor is there an infrared index marker.
The focusing ring for the lens is very nice - over an inch wide, composed of rubber with deep ribs. Manually focusing with the ring is stiffer than usual, but this is what you want for macro work so you don't disturb a carefully focused scene. There are no hard stops at the close or infinity ends - an increase in resistance lets you know there's no point to focusing further.
Sigma's OS (Optical Stabilization) technology features in this lens, which in our testing provides 2-2.5 stops of stabilization performance. It makes a slight whirring noise when it's activated. Our testing noted some poor performance in this system when used with a shutter speed of 1/60s; otherwise, it works as advertised.
The lens ships with a round lens hood, ribbed and painted a smooth black on the interior to reduce any flare. Sigma also includes the HA 680-01 subframe hood adapter, which is intended for use when the lens is used with (obviously) sub-frame cameras such as the 7D. Without the adapter, the hood adds 2 inches to the overall length of the lens - with the adapter, that goes up to around 4.
It's worth noting that there is no compatible tripod adapter for this lens. It is compatible with Sigma's 1.4x and 2x teleconverters.
Alternatives
Sigma 105mm ƒ/2.8 EX DG Macro ~$-
Now discontinued by Sigma, the original 105mm macro is a bit sharper than the new OS HSM version: results for CA and corner shading were also slightly better, too (though there was a slight trace of distortion).
Canon EF 100mm ƒ/2.8L Macro IS USM ~$1,000
Overall, the Sigma is a hair sharper than the Canon and produces less corner shading, but the Canon is more resistant to chromatic aberration. There isn't a significant price advantage for the Sigma in this case, and the offer more or less the same feature set.
Sigma 105mm F/2.8 Ex Dg Macro
Nikon 105mm ƒ/2.8G IF-ED AF-S VR Micro ~$1,000
The Nikon 105mm Micro was one of the first lenses we tested here at SLRgear - we don't even have a full-frame test for it. Based on the results from the DX sensor of the D200, it looks like the Sigma is slightly sharper, though the Nikon does show impressively low CA and almost no distortion.
Pentax 100mm ƒ/2.8 Macro SMC P-FA ~$-
Possibly the sharpest of the macro lenses in this category, it's long since been discontinued and replaced by the P-D FA model which we have not yet tested. Results for CA, light falloff and distortion were all excellent, and also had an excellent feature set for macro work.
Sony 100mm ƒ/2.8 Macro ~$800
One of the better values in this category, the Sony offered good results for sharpness, though the Sigma is sharper at wider apertures. Stopped down, it was excellent. CA performance is all-around excellent, and it distorts very little.
Conclusion
Sigma has produced an excellent macro lens in the 105mm ƒ/2.8 EX DG OS HSM - it does away with an antiquated and confusing focusing system by using the HSM system, and offers optical stabilization. You'll want to be careful to avoid the 1/60 shutter speed when the OS system is in use, as it tends to do more harm than good.
Sigma 105mm F/2.8 Ex Dg Macro User Manual
Product Photos
Sample Photos
The VFA target should give you a good idea of sharpness in the center and corners, as well as some idea of the extent of barrel or pincushion distortion and chromatic aberration, while the Still Life subject may help in judging contrast and color. We shoot both images using the default JPEG settings and manual white balance of our test bodies, so the images should be quite consistent from lens to lens.
As appropriate, we shoot these with both full-frame and sub-frame bodies, at a range of focal lengths, and at both maximum aperture and ƒ/8. For the 'VFA' target (the viewfinder accuracy target from Imaging Resource), we also provide sample crops from the center and upper-left corner of each shot, so you can quickly get a sense of relative sharpness, without having to download and inspect the full-res images. To avoid space limitations with the layout of our review pages, indexes to the test shots launch in separate windows.
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Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro User Reviews
- 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbyRJNaylor(4 reviews)none
I've been shooting this lens for a few weeks and have pretty much left it on my second body (I was using a 50-200 or a 70-300 on it). Most people use it for macro but I really got it to extend the range of my Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS and it fills in beautifully for most things. Its low light focusing on my D7000 is fast and good. the OS is effective but you should give it a half second to settle. It is sharp at f/2.8 and really tack sharp at f/4 and good all way to f/16.
reviewed January 13th, 2014(purchased for $700)
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Lab Test Results
Blur
Chromatic Aberration
Vignetting
Geometric Distortion
Blur
Chromatic Aberration
Vignetting
Geometric Distortion
Your purchases support this site
Buy the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro
(From Sigma lens literature) This macro lens is ideal for digital SLR cameras as well as film SLR cameras. This lens is designed to reduce the influence of harmful light caused by reflections from the digital image sensor.
The Macro 105mm F2.8 EX DG lens is very suitable for taking close-up pictures and it enables the use of natural light conditions or flash. The greater working distance of this lens is very advantageous when taking pictures of flowers or insects.
Depth of field of medium telephoto macro lenses is generally very shallow; however, Sigma, Canon and Konica Minolta mounts of this lens have a minimum aperture of f/45 (f/32 for Nikon and Pentax mounts) for incredible depth of field.
A screw-in hood is included, for convenient use of circular polarizing filters. It is possible to attach an 77mm filter in front of the lens hood.
This lens also incorporates a Dual Focus (DF) system that is designed to make the lens easy to hold during auto focusing. The large focus ring offers smooth and positive action while focusing manually.
Test Notes
A (roughly) 100mm macro lens is a great choice for macro photography: The macro focusing capability lets you get up close and personal with your subjects, but the 100mm focal length gives you enough working distance to avoid getting too personal. This also seems to be a bit of a sweet spot in terms of lens makers' ability to craft high-quality optics.
The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro lens follows true to form for its class, delivering exceptional sharpness, low distortion and low chromatic aberration. On cameras with APS-C sized sensors, light falloff or vignetting is very low as well, with a maximum of about 0.1 stop of light loss wide open. It holds its own very well against the similar offerings from Canon and Nikon.
Bottom line, this is just an excellent macro lens, at a very good price, competing strongly against the major manufacturer's own offerings at a street price $100 or more lower.
Sigma 105mm F/2.8 Ex Dg Macro Manual
Full-Frame Test Notes:
The full-frame test results for the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro lens are pretty much as you'd expect from a high-quality prime lens. Maximum chromatic aberration is about the same as on an APS-C sensor camera, but the average level is slightly higher, indicating that proportionately more of the frame is showing some (minimal)) distortion. As you might expect, light falloff (vignetting) is a bit h igher at about 0.4 stop wide open, quickly decreasing to 0.1 stop or less at apertures of f/5.6 or smaller. Geometric distortion is likewise just slightly higher than on a sub-frame body.
A note about the blur plots for this lens - Astute readers will note that the optimal performance appears to be somewhat better (lower BxU numbers) on the 5D than the 20D. We consider this to be an artifact of minor differences in the two cameras' pixel dimensions and in-camera sharpening processing, magnified by the extreme sensitivity of the DxO analysis application and the fine gradations of our graphing scheme. The colors on the graphs make it easy to see variations of considerably less than 1 BxU near the lower end of the graph's range. We've scaled the results to match the performance between cameras as best as possible, but our current gain-only normalization seems to leave the 5D's results looking slightly better at the 'good' end of the scale when the 'bad' end results are more or less in-line. Given that the differences seen for the optimal conditions are tiny, fractional-BxU unit variations, they really aren't statistically significant.
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Buy the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro User Reviews
Sigma 105mm F/2.8 Ex Dg Os Hsm Macro Manual
- 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbyEnrake(5 reviews)Extends
This is a very sharp and well build lens.
reviewed April 6th, 2013(purchased for $280)
Hunts a little on Nikon D200, but works perfect on D300 and D700. Recomended.
A little gem on Nikon. No need for upgrade to the newer version. If you don´t need the OS of cource. This one is proberly sharper. (?) - 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbyCliff Beard(12 reviews)extending barrel, slow and hunting on AF
This was my first macro lens and I still kept it after buying the 150mm as it has a lot to offer.
reviewed September 28th, 2009
Ultimately the bigger lens may just have the edge on image quality but this is sharp and capable of great results. I kept it because the 105 is actually easier to use as its effective depth of field is greater (sharpness rolloff from focal plane is less severe), making focus easier and its compact and lightweight form makes it ideal to carry around all day or when travelling. I have shot some great macros abroad for this reason.
For bugs its a great reach, being a good compromise between working distance, size and the dangers of camera shake owing to effective focal length at typical shutter speeds.
It works well with extension tubes, as its weight doesn't strain the mounts.
The barrel extends, which means there is probably more possibility of mechanical wear over time and it looks a bit ungainly...a side effect is that its easy to rest it on a prop or your hand.
Fab little lens and a great intoduction to macro with reasonable price and ease of use. I would recommend it over the 150mm for a beginner as its easier to get good results. - 10 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbyYlenh(3 reviews)Non
Despite the fact that I have to focus manually because my camara's body hasn't got motor to focus, I think if I had the option I wouldn´t use it because in macro you have to focus manually.
reviewed September 11th, 2009(purchased for $561)
The quality of the images are amazing. I love the blur at the background, It´s lovely. It's very sharp and has nice colours...
The macro pictures that are in my blog are taken with this optical.
http://doneliaperez.blogspot.com - 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbyepj1906(2 reviews)Slow AF, need to use manual/AF ring
I just purchased this lens and found it to my liking. For its intended purpose (macro) it really shines.
reviewed August 1st, 2007(purchased for $378)
I found it to be the sharpest of the current crop of lenses I use. A quality lens to add to your collection indeed. - 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbyrainerknappe(24 reviews)sharp, exact colours, nice bokeh, good price and qualityAF - but no problem, because good macro-fotografers don´t use it!
A very popular lens! No wonder at all... the price-quality is top.
reviewed May 15th, 2007(purchased for $370)
But in this class they are fighting very hard - Tamron DI 90, Canon 100, Tokina 100 - very strong class!
I decided this one - I love the EX-finish at my Canon 20Da - the Canon 100 was a bit too heavy and expensive, the Tamron I am using with my Pentax K 10 and the Tokina were only to buy with Nikon-mount. So now I own the whole family - Sigma 50, 70, 105 and my 'bulldog' 150!
The best of them is the new 70mm - really outstanding picturequality, but the rest are very close - highly recommended! - Slow AF
Having used this lens a lot, all i can say its that the lens element are great, and give you excellent image quality even wide open it's good, and become very good to excelent once you stop it down a little. AS macro lens i usually stop it until f13, getting very good results. The color out of it is good, very saturated, but it may be some underexposure it provoques. The AF is very very slow, especially at macro mode 1:1, and it's noisy!
reviewed January 15th, 2007(purchased for $452)
I would recommend it as an alternative but only if have to. - 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbycvizler(10 reviews)Slow and noisy autofocus
Optical quality: Very good wide open, excellent by F4, from F5.6 seems to have higher resolution than the 6 Mp CCD of Nikon D50. The colour rendition is neutral, or slightly (pleasantly) warm. It is not prone to flare and ghosting.
reviewed January 8th, 2007(purchased for $550)
Mechanical quality: The build quality is quite good. The autofocus is slow and noisy. Manual focusing is quite pleasnant to use, better than most AF lenses I have tried. - 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbywishbone(6 reviews)SLOW and loud AF, AF hunts
I use this lens more for its macro feature than for portraits but when I use it for portraits, it is so sharp that you can see pores on skins.
reviewed January 6th, 2007(purchased for $400)
I'm glad I bought this lens instead of the Nikon version even though I do not use this often. It takes excellent sharp and contrast photos of close-up subjects. It is much cheaper than the Nikon version, although the new VR version looks nice too. However, when you are using macro mode, you should be using a tripod anyway.
My complaint is the AF is very slow, loud, and hunts. Sometimes it's better to just use manual focus or continuous focus if the subject is moving around. - 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedby_Mike_D(12 reviews)a little too tele for my taste
I initially bought this lens for macro work, but because of the great image quality, I ended up using it for everything that I could.
reviewed January 1st, 2007(purchased for $350)
I never understood the 'dual focus' mechanism, but it didn't get in the way too much.
overall I would say this is about the best lens you can get for the money.
My only complaint is that I found myself wishing it were a little more wide angle. - 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbygadgetguy(62 reviews)slow AF *but see below
I am a fan of Sigma's EX series lenses - superb build and IQ, and when equipped with HSM, fast, silent and accurate. Of all the thrid-party lens manufacturers, I think Sigma ranks up there.
reviewed December 31st, 2006
AF for this lens is slow as all 'true' macros are - and mostly due to the extended (and accurate short distance) focus range. Macro afficionados are used to this and won't mind. Casual users might. - 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbyZinger(8 reviews)Extending barrel
I have to question some of the reviewers who dramatically state that the AF is 'sooooo' slow. Did you make sure the limit switch was activated and that the clutch was disengaged from MF?
reviewed December 23rd, 2006(purchased for $380)
I have several USM and HSM lenses, and while this AF isn't as fast or quiet, I still think it is perfectly acceptable. Besides, how many people actually use AF for Macro? That's just asking for trouble.
Anyway, this is a nearly perfect optical lens. That, coupled with a price that is about 25-30% less than the Canon equivalent was enough to sway my purchasing decision.
It is a bit ugly when extended out all the way, but not that big of a deal. If you think you're going to squash a bug with it as it extends, then you *really* need to re-think your hobby/profession, because your technique is terrible.
Overall *highly* recommended. - 8 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbySolutionsetcetera(5 reviews)Extremely long focus range makes for slow focusing, focus clutch a bit clumsy.
Optically... you would be hard pressed to do better than this lens at any price. It is fast, tack sharp, and just probably the best lens I have put on either my digital or film bodies. Couple that with its $400 street price, excellent build quality, and a 4 year warranty and you have a tremendous value in both a fast tele prime and 1:1 macro with excellent working distance.
reviewed December 22nd, 2006(purchased for $420)
It is not without its faults as the focus ring clutch is a little clumsy and I am still trying to get used to Sigma's EX finish, but it is a top notch performer.
That's it as I simply have nothing bad to say about this lens. Yes HSM would be an improvement, but you could spend significantly more and not get the optical quality that this lens offers! - 8 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbysy43165(1 reviews)Slow noisy auto-focus
I've used this lens on a Nikon D70 and D200. I only use this for macro work and for that it is great since I usually focus manually. One thing that I was not aware of before I bought a macro lens is the lens manufacturers list the close focusing distance from the focal plane not the front element. Add to that the lens hood, the recessed front element and the long extension for macro work and this means that, at 1:1 magnification, the front of the lens hood is ~3-4' away from the subject. Having said that, I love the results I get with it.
reviewed December 21st, 2006(purchased for $400) - 6 out of 10 pointsand not recommendedbyMuiderburght(13 reviews)noisy; extends as much as it is long already; slow AF
I compared this lens to the Canon 100/f2.8 in the store. I was really prepared to buy a non Canon lens. But then I got it in my hand on a 30D body... :-(
reviewed December 2nd, 2006(purchased for $459)
AF was sooo slooow. Often, it didnt focus right at all. Although, for the noise it was making, it seemed to work really hard. What set me off the most, was that it extends as much as it is long already: nice bug, oops, I squashed the bug. All these shortcomings could have been compensated by good sharpness, if the lens had been dirtcheap. But it wasn't. So I saw no reason at all to even consider it.
Then the 100/f2.8. AF could be faster but still much faster than the Sigma. Internal focus, nice. USM, sssssweet. Like I said, why even consider this lens???
I gave image quality an 8 based on the input from other reviewers. Still I hope, this review was useful to you. - 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbyjulioalperi(15 reviews)None.
This is an excellent lens. Resolution is excellent from F:2,8 at center and borders, distortion is really low, no visible. Vigneting is low at F:2,8 but disappears at larger apertures. Nice bokeh. CAs are exceptionlly low. Contruction quality is very good. The limit switch feels a little weak.
reviewed November 20th, 2006(purchased for $424) - 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbyjeans(15 reviews)Hate to switch the A/F on/off
Pros:
reviewed November 17th, 2006(purchased for $500)
Image quality is exceptional - sharpness, color and contrast are great
In my opinion 105mm is a sweet spot of the macro lenses - gives you *some* working distance, but is still handholdable unlike 200mm lenses
Much cheaper than the Nikkor version (well, it's not AF-S VR either)
Being a dedicated macro lens it goes down to 1:1 life size (or even greater on the DX-format sensors)
Cons:
A/F is very slow with my D70, but then who needs A/F in a macro lens
Changing focus from A/F to M/F and vice versa requires you to changes it on the camera body *and* on the lens
It's easy to switch the lens's AF mode when taking it out of the bag
The build quality isn't great - the plastic gets scratched easily
Summary:
Great lens for the money. Its only alternative (price wise) is the great Tamron 90mm SP Di. - 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbyPowerdoc(7 reviews)Slow and noisy AF
This lens is very sharp, well build. It only lack USM.
reviewed February 16th, 2006(purchased for $450) - 9 out of 10 pointsand recommendedbycazza132(2 reviews)
Image sharpness limited by camera pixel density - sharp as. I'm using this with an eos 350D. I'm very happy with this lens. I'd challenge this site to review it in comparison to the Canon 100/2.8 macro.
reviewed January 9th, 2006(purchased for $780)
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