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Archive 2009 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125

  
 
MichaD
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


I recently acquired a Sigma 150/2.8 Macro. Mainly because of the tripod collar which the Voigtländer 125/2.5 Macro sadly lacks.
Having heard so much good about the Sigma I was quite disappointed. While I didn't expect it to match the Voigtländer, which is in all regards a stellar lens, I was expecting a much closer gap. I double and triple checked the focus with 10x live view on these but the results stayed the same:

Full frame:


CV at f/2.5

Slightly surprised to see some very faint purple fringing there.

Sigma at f/2.8

This is... err ugly.

CV at optimum aperture (f/5.6)


Sigma at optimum aperture (f/8)


The sigma result are hardly horrible stopped down but I expected much better wider open.
On closer focusing the Sigma catches up a bit slightly stopped down but remains worlds apart fully open.

Is this one of those infamous bad copies from Sigma or is this representative of the lens and I'm just expecting too much in comparison with the CV?



Mar 22, 2009 at 09:22 AM
weekh
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


I can't really comment on the sharpness of the Sigma.
But since u have both lenses, check out the CA. I'm very sure that the CV will really shine!



Mar 22, 2009 at 09:33 AM
runamuck
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


I can't say that I have bought a lens based on the fact that is has a tripod collar. It seems other factors are be far more important.


Mar 22, 2009 at 09:44 AM
mawz
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


runamuck wrote:
I can't say that I have bought a lens based on the fact that is has a tripod collar. It seems other factors are be far more important.


The Siggy 150 has a reputation as being one of the best AF macro lenses available for reasonable cost. I'd have expected better performance from it than shown here, although I'm not surprised that the APO-Lanthar is better.



Mar 22, 2009 at 09:48 AM
MichaD
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


Hehe, of course I didn't just get it for the tripod collar. But sometimes I miss one on the CV and so far I heard nothing but praise about the Sigma 150.

Most macro shots I do are stopped down anyway so it's not the end of the world. But the CV also gets some portraiture use in a pinch wide open which the Sigma won't cater then (granted I prefer the Sigma 105 for that task anyway)



Mar 22, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Smiert Spionam
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


Something's wrong. My 150/2.8 rivals my sharpest lenses -- easily on par with my 85/1.4, actually better than the 180/2.8. It's nearly at its best from wide open, too.


Mar 22, 2009 at 01:54 PM
pdmphoto
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


+1

There's something wrong with the Sigma image. I had one and it was sharp from wide open. Even with a 1.4x TC it was much sharper than what you are getting. You have a very bad copy or it wan't focused properly. At f8 the sharpness should be very obvious.

I feel the same way about tripod collars for macro lenses. Any macro over 100mm should have one. They are required for the best result at certain shutter speeds.


Smiert Spionam wrote:
Something's wrong. My 150/2.8 rivals my sharpest lenses -- easily on par with my 85/1.4, actually better than the 180/2.8. It's nearly at its best from wide open, too.



Edited on Mar 23, 2009 at 02:38 AM · View previous versions



Mar 22, 2009 at 02:24 PM
gasrocks
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


I agree, something wrong there. Sigma 150 macro is a wonderful lens. Sharp and probably the best bokeh of any macro lens I have used (ok, I do not have a Leica macro lens.)


Mar 22, 2009 at 05:16 PM
helimat
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


There must be some serious copy to copy variation on even the Sigma 150, which is disappointing considering it is regarded as one of their best lenses. I am extremely happy with mine, it's wide open sharpness is as good as many Canon L's I have seen, and it gets even better stopped down. However I was surprised to see it was mentioned more than a few times in the 'Worst lens ever' thread over on the Canon board.
Is Sigma's QC getting worse?



Mar 22, 2009 at 09:16 PM
IDURITA
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


Yes, must be a bad copy. I love mine.

The following shot is actually wide open, but combinded with a Sigma 1.4 Extender.

http://i.pbase.com/o6/44/535144/1/73000698.SDtpSgVB.9129RedwhiskeredBulbul.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/rudiknust/birds



Edited on Mar 22, 2009 at 09:52 PM · View previous versions



Mar 22, 2009 at 09:51 PM
Gary Clennan
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


I suggest you get it checked out.... My 150mm is razor sharp.


Mar 22, 2009 at 09:51 PM
wayne seltzer
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


I guess photozone.de must have had a bad copy of the Siggy too then, as their tests show it soft wide open, taking until f5.6 to become competitive with the CV 125.


Mar 23, 2009 at 02:15 AM
Jman13
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


They mention in their review that their 150 had a decentered element, and to look at the Nikon review to see the real performance.


Mar 23, 2009 at 05:51 AM
hubsand
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


wayne seltzer wrote:
I guess photozone.de must have had a bad copy of the Siggy too then, as their tests show it soft wide open, taking until f5.6 to become competitive with the CV 125.


You're right: they admit it was a bad copy. It was convincingly bettered by the Voigtlander which record figures of 1940/1830 wide open, compared to the Sigma's 1720/1670. However, when they tested a healthy sample in Nikon mount, the lens resolved 2077/2023 wide open. It isn't possible to make cross-platform comparisons directly with Photozone's data, but in Nikon mount, the Sigma compares very favourably at all apertures with the 90mm Apo Lanthar.



Mar 23, 2009 at 06:04 AM
wayne seltzer
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


Wow, looks like the sample variation of this lens is ridiculous.
Even the better performing Nikon mount version they tested "suffered a bit from a slight centering defect which shifted the quality center a little below the geometrical image center".
Sigma = Do-Your-Own-QC or Align-Your-Elements



Mar 23, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Smiert Spionam
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


I don't have any controlled test shots wide open right at hand, but here's a quick snap at f/2.8 with this lens, minimally processed and no sharpening.

http://mkackman.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p1058471966-4.jpg

and at 100% (looks like the focus point is closer to the ear than the eye):

http://mkackman.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p610079688.jpg

And a link to the full-size full-frame shot:

Sigma 150/2.8



Mar 23, 2009 at 01:21 PM
MichaD
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


OK, thanks to all. I guess the lens is making a trip to Sigma then.

Edit:
Though looking at the other samples, especially the cat one you can see the slightly low micro-contrast and there really isn't that much fine detail there. Even at the plane of sharpest focus.

I'm going to call Sigma tomorrow and see what they say.



Mar 23, 2009 at 01:33 PM
Smiert Spionam
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


Keep in mind that's handheld, on a 3-dimensional cat-shaped object, with zero sharpening. Here it is with a quick light LR2 treatment (36/.7, no output sharpening) -- it's as sharp as any lens I've ever owned.

In any case, definitely send it in.

http://mkackman.zenfolio.com/img/v8/p658287036.jpg



Mar 23, 2009 at 03:42 PM
Silentlight
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


MichaD,

Is it possible that your Sigma is slightly backfocusing, like my 24-60 does?



Mar 23, 2009 at 04:13 PM
MichaD
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Sigma 150 vs. CV 125


As I've said this was focused via live view and I triple checked for focus issues.
As a side note I could tell you the amount of focus throw is in the sub-mm range to archive really proper focus wide open on the Sigma at this distance (roughly 6.5m). I highly doubt that AF would have gotten proper results for any lens.
Though I never really trusted Canon's AF anyway.

Edit: correct distance


Edited on Mar 23, 2009 at 06:30 PM · View previous versions



Mar 23, 2009 at 06:06 PM
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