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nickjohnson
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Registered: Sep 15, 2009
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 168
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Review Date: Sep 19, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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price / performance / build very good
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Cons:
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IQ lacks subtlety – the look is a little heavy handed
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Common to all reports
This is my attempt to give something back to the forum members who have provided this wonderful resource. I found much here that helped with my lens selection. So over the last 1 to 2 years here is what I used – all on a pair of 5D bodies. (My comments will be subjective and personal. I will try to avoid saying anything that cannot be read in the spec sheets).
17-40 L
24-105 L IS
70-200 f4 L IS
180 L Macro
400 f5.6 L
50 f1.8 mkII
Sigma 50 f2.8 Macro EX
Sigma 50 f2.8 Macro EX
Comment
I got this to replace the 50 f1.8 mkII that I broke. I wanted a Cannon 50 macro but these where unobtainable for over 6 months in the UK so I got the Sigma instead. I use the lens as a light, fixed FL walk around. It has done that job very well.
The IQ is generally good to very good. However ….. all my Canon lenses have a family look …. a light delicacy of touch … a subtle glow. In comparison this Sigma looks more immediately impressive … high impact..... but unsubtle and ponderous or heavy handed.
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 Sep 19, 2009
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fairtex
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Registered: Jun 29, 2009
Location: Germany
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Jul 6, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $280.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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sharpness, IQ, 1:1
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Cons:
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slow and noisy AF, hood
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I cannot add a lot to previews comments, just emphazise some points already mentioned:
This lens is very sharp indeed even at F 2.8. In fact, it's as sharp as some of Canon's L-zoom lenses. The 1:1 macro ability is very nice, although I find the focal length a bit awkward for insects or other small animals. But this lens is perfect for flowers, landscapes or even portraits - my favourite walk-around lens.
The only disadvantage is the autofocus, which - especially when close-focusing - is slow, loud and noisy and the hood-design (you can neither close the lens cap nor add a filter with the cap mounted due to an internal hood-threading.
Very sharp walk-around and macro lens for a very decent price.
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Jul 6, 2009
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six66
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Registered: Mar 1, 2008
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Feb 3, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $200.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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price & sharpness
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Cons:
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slow focusing in low light
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i needed a macro lens and i found one in good shape and price. tested it for a while, paid my dues and went home a happy man.
this lens is all about sharpness .. only wish it had HSM as it tends to hunt in bad lighting.
for the price i paid its a steal.
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Feb 3, 2009
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drongo92
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Registered: Aug 19, 2007
Location: Belgium
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Feb 16, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Very sharp, nice Bokeh, 1:1 Macro
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Cons:
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Some hunting in low light, lens hood / lens cap
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I use this very nice lens on a 30D. Very sharp. I needed a macro lens, but I use this lens often for portrait and indoor shooting.
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Feb 16, 2008
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LiquidKernel
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Registered: Jun 11, 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 72
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Review Date: Dec 29, 2007
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Recommend? |
Price paid: $250.00
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Pros:
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Razor Sharp, Build Quality, Price, 1:1 Macro
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Cons:
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No HSM, Hunts In Low Light
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One of the sharpest lenses I've worked with; razor sharp, even wide-open. Solid construction and a great finish. Sometimes hunts in low light, the limiter helps a bit, but I typically have it off. Optical quality is amazing, very good color saturation (makes it superb for macros) and also makes it good as a portrait lens.
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Dec 29, 2007
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ShaneEngelking
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Registered: Dec 11, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 1902
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Review Date: Nov 26, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $150.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Very sharp at apertures, great colors, great macro capabilities, cheap. APS sensor means beyond 1:1 macro.
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Cons:
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AF slow in low light, searches. not as fast as i would like a prime to be. To achieve 1:1 you have to be REALLY close to your subject.
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This lens is clinically sharp at f/4 and beyond and pretty good wide open too. I have gotten some really stunning pictures with this lens. It's images have a different feel than a Canon lens, but it is not a bad thing. They seem more scientific, for lack of a better word. All in all i really like the lens. If you don't have the special macro flash, i have found using an off shoe cord with an ettl and a diffuser to work pretty good. Worst part about the macro is that you have to be extremely close, like 2 inches away, to get full macro effect, but it is a great lens for doing ebay work and shooting insects in the garden and the occasional friendly butterfly, and a decent portrait lens on a crop sensor camera. I really wish it was a stop faster, i would use it a lot more then as a standard lens on a full frame. But over all, for what i paid for it, a heck of a good lens.
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Nov 26, 2007
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martsmith42
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Registered: Feb 25, 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 268
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Review Date: Oct 7, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Excellent image quality, very sharp, well built
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Cons:
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noisy af.
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I bought this for a job to photograph food for a new restaurant and I have been amazed at the quality of the pictures. Sharp at f2.8 and even more so past f3.5. The 1:1 aspect is great, although a tripod is needed for best results once you get really close. Overall a great lens to get into macro photography.
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Oct 7, 2007
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Peter K
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Registered: Sep 12, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 7
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Review Date: Jul 26, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $210.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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excellent 1:1 macro capability with superior image quality. solidly built. inexpensive.
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Cons:
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some focus hunting. noisy compared to canon ultrasonics. lens cap & hood incompatiblity.
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This was the first lens I bought and it is now my baseline for comparing other lenses. I've been highly spoiled by the image quality and now have a real hard time using non-primes.
People have done a great reviewing this lens, so I won't rehash other than a couple points. First, this one of the only 50mm macros around that do 1:1 macro -- Canon's does not unless the converter is attached (along with an additional cost). You can now get the EF-S 60mm but it will cost you $175 more. What you get for this lense far surpasses its $200 price tag.
If you are used to USM or HSM, you will find this lens noisy. I don't use autofocus for macros anyway, so it's not an issue.
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Jul 26, 2007
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radiodenver
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Registered: Apr 4, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 490
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Review Date: Jul 21, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $235.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Very Sharp, inexpensive
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Cons:
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none
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For the money, you can't get a better 50mm prime lens. It is solid, great sharpness, focus speed is fast, and distortion is almost nothing. I've been using this lens on my 5D and 1DsMKII and I use it more than my L lenses. On the 1DsMKII, normal landscape shots come out with critical sharpness and I've been getting prints up to 44 inches that look incredible. Can't do that with a zoom lens! If you need a 50mm prime, this is one to consider.
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Jul 21, 2007
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Ron Fischer
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Registered: Jul 5, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Jun 2, 2007
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Fred Lindsey
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Registered: May 25, 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 825
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Review Date: May 25, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sharp, Inexpensive, Well built compared to non-EX lenses, compact, 1:1 Macro
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Cons:
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Unable to attach lens hood with lens cap, AF could be faster
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Ive had this lens for my sony alpha for a while now and to be honest the results I get from it are truly astounding for the price. The lens has a focus limiter as well which comes in handy when travelling to ensure that AF is quicker. I think this lens is the cheapest dedicated macro lens on the market. However price isn't everything and I would have been willing to spend a lot more for the performance this lens gives.
This lens can't be used with sigma teleconverters however although If someone put a kenko 3x Pro 300 Dg converter on it along with a set of extension tubes It would be unbelievable the macro ratio that would come out.
If anyone has this setup could you send me a sample image at MFD.
I would recommend this lens very highly
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May 25, 2007
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Erez Katz
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Registered: Nov 9, 2006
Location: Israel
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Apr 16, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Superb optics: Sharpness, Contrast, Color, Bokeh.
Focus is very accurate (though slow).
Price
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Cons:
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Slow AF - I find it perfect otherwise
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I took down one point because it doesn't have HSM(and I actually feel guilty for doing so)
This is an incredible lens.
I also have the Sigma 150 for longer reach and other perks.
Optically this one is just as good if not a tiny bit sharper.
I use this lens as a workaround with macro option, portrait (too sharp actually for people faces) or when I want to get closer to the subject (the 150 has a 40cm minimal distance, and sometimes it is easier to get a better angle when you can get closer).
Here are a few pictures I took recently with this lens:
http://www.pbase.com/katzer/image/77263567
http://www.pbase.com/katzer/image/77263565
http://www.pbase.com/katzer/image/74290345
http://www.pbase.com/katzer/image/77263569
I cannot recommend this lens enough.
Erez Katz
http://www.pbase.com/katzer/
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Apr 16, 2007
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