What macro lens?

Slime101 · 7 Jan 2007 at 14:50

I've got a Nikon D200, and until royal mail broke it, a Sigma EX 105mm macro.

As they are going to be paying me £300ish for a replacement i'm wondering what i should replace it with, should i get another sigma EX 105mm, or go for the 150/180 possibly (Mum's got the 180mm and its excellent).

Maybe i should consider the tamron alternatives, whatever they are, or even a Nikon??

HELP!

Colin_da_Killer · 7 Jan 2007 at 15:30

I've got the Sigma 150mm Macro, it's amazing!

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 7 Jan 2007 at 16:17

I have the 105 and if I was to buy again I would either get the Canon 100 or the sigma 150 as the external focus ring really bothers me.

dod · 7 Jan 2007 at 16:53

sigma 150mm looks to be a great performer. I've been considering changing my canon 100mm for it for ages.

Slime101 · 7 Jan 2007 at 17:26

Hmm, the 150 seems to be a good bet then. I know the 105 was excellent quality, and the 180 certainly is.

Colin_da_Killer · 7 Jan 2007 at 19:31

here is a 100% crop of a 1p coin jsut to show you the sharpness.

Snapshot · 7 Jan 2007 at 21:35

I'm sure I had a Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro several years ago so it probably wasn't the same version that you're all discussing. The performance was certainly excellent but I sold it because it was too heavy. I was lucky to find a used 105mm AF-D Micro-Nikkor that was much more what I wanted. I still have it but haven't used it for some time.

Jonathan

Spuds · 7 Jan 2007 at 22:21

Sigma released a 70mm f2.8 macro not that long ago which I've been thinking of getting myself, when you take the 1.5x crop factor into account this makes it a perfect 105mm

Slime101 · 7 Jan 2007 at 22:32

I think the 70mm is far to short for "normal" use outside of a studio, youd have to be very close to a lot of subjects which rules out anything alive!

yak.h'cir · 8 Jan 2007 at 04:26

I've always heard great things about the sigma 150mm, but I use the canon 100 + tubes which wont be much use to you.

This thread reminds me I havent taken any macros for ages! I think I might just have to go play tomorrow

FranchiseJuan · 8 Jan 2007 at 09:53

I would go for the Sigma 150 just for HSM and tripod colar, and the bonous is that is seems to be a great lens. Quite compact and light for a lens like that, but then I don't consider the Canon 135 F2 large or heavy either.

Slime101 · 8 Jan 2007 at 13:39

There is of course the new Nikon 105mm VR, the only macro lens with vibration reduction (or IS for you canon lot)....i think it might be a bit pricey tho!

Wile E. Coyote · 8 Jan 2007 at 14:02

Slime101 said:
There is of course the new Nikon 105mm VR, the only macro lens with vibration reduction (or IS for you canon lot)....i think it might be a bit pricey tho!

About £500ish I think, but they are hard to get hold of at the mo