p.9 #1 · In Stock: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art ($799)
While this lens looks like a winner, I have to wonder why third party manufacturers don't go the extra step to make their lenses do 2x life size? It seems like an easy way to separate yourself from OEM, but maybe the cost is prohibitive?
p.9 #2 · In Stock: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art ($799)
scott f wrote:
While this lens looks like a winner, I have to wonder why third party manufacturers don't go the extra step to make their lenses do 2x life size? It seems like an easy way to separate yourself from OEM, but maybe the cost is prohibitive?
The Laowa 60mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro is a third party native e-mount with 2X. It is very affordable as well. So not a cost issue I think.
p.9 #3 · In Stock: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art ($799)
Karl Witt wrote:
Here is what I know so far........I really like the lens
NO it does not work at all in AF or MF on A7rIII or A9 with Sony 1.4x TC though the TC fits perfectly without interference just no electrical communications being transferred.
I am posting random around the kitchen images and a few outside all handheld or braced so yes the IBIS seems to work pretty well. Also I think the MF is pretty darn nice though some were MF here and some were AF here.
All images with standard LR settings which is 40 on sharpening. To me BG rendering is very favorable. I will say AF is slow, this lens isn't at all like the Sony 90 in focus speed.
Comments and questions welcomed, I may know the answer and I may not Oh, and images were taken before the bottle of Jim Beam was opened
p.9 #4 · In Stock: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art ($799)
My Sigma 105 macro arrived today.
First impressions are that build quality is really nice. Button and switch position and feel is fine for me. The lens is both smaller and lighter than I expected. I guess the large hood makes it look bigger in pictures that I saw on line.
I did get a chance to shoot it a little. The focus does feel like it is from an older generation design. I wish Sigma had spent the money to include a newer AF motor design. I found that it is smoother and faster in AF-C rather than AF-S. It also performs much better when you use the focus limiter switch appropriately for the distances you are shooting at. There is definitely a little noise when it racks focus. It also hunts a but sometimes. The good thing is that it is reliable in focus, and Eye-AF and other Sony focus features work fine. MF or me is fine, and I like the way the focus rings works and feels. This is a macro lens, so I anticipate shooting in MF a lot so overall the focus is not an issue for me.
Optically I would call the lens excellent in all respects at this early stage in my experimentation with it. Very sharp, super resolution, great contrast and colors. Bokeh is very pleasing. I have to take the reviewers word on CA and distortion as I have not looked specifically at those attributes yet.
I did some quick and dirty test shots this evening. I am very pleased with the shooting experience and the results. I have posted some samples below. I didn't spend much time on lighting, or editing so they are a bit rough. Still, they should give a good idea on how nice this lens is.
Note that the bokeh in the background of the bottle and portrait is affected by the the texture of a screen in the window in the background.
One of my Wife's family Xmas heirlooms. Shot, selected out, and placed on a white background like a product shot. Superb detail at full resolution
A bottle shot edited in a similar fashion
A piece of my Wife's jewelry just quick and dirty minor Lightroom processing
A bottle and with label and liquid shot at f.2.8 to test bokeh and detail wide open. Already nicely sharp at f 2.8. I also shot at f 8 and the detail is fantastic.
Finally a quick portrait. Shot like a headshot with a single light (beauty Dish), and a silver reflector like I do for many headshots. I like to stop down a little in this use case to keep detail in the hair. The bokeh is still nice.
p.9 #7 · In Stock: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art ($799)
formula4speed wrote:
I'd love to know if anyone thinks the AF speed would be adequate for portrait duty?
It's definitely sounding like it's not going to keep up with my 2 year, but for older subjects who can sit still, will it be able to pull double duty?
For portrait work it will be perfect, no issue. I tested on my Wife moving around and Eye-AF worked perfectly. Formal portraits are much less challenging. This is not a snappy lens, but it is about as quick as most lenses were a few years ago. It is just not up to speed with some of the new mirrorless lenses. I will say that focus is extremely accurate. I don't think I have had one frame where it missed focus. Granted I have been testing in AF-S and AF-C but in single/medium frame rate mode as that is how I anticipate using the lens. Maybe I should try tracking at 20 frames a second just to see how it does. I may try that on some dogs over the weekend.
This is a macro lens, not a sports action lens. Macro lenses require more travel of the focusing group of elements. This means that if you go from a very close focus to infinity, the elements have to travel a long way. If you keep the subjects in closer distance range, it is actually pretty snappy in focus. This is even better when you have set the proper limiter range for what you are shooting.
For shooting your two year old I can think of better lenses focus performance wise. But you will find that in all but the most frantic circumstances this lens will work fine even for active kids.
I tested it against my best primes. It is slower and hunts a bit more sometimes. It feels about the same in both performance and noise to my Sony/Zeiss 55mm f/1.8. Which is an older motor design, but certainly not a bad performing lens.
I tested on both my a7RIII and my a9. Works fine on both.
One thing I found that surprised me. When I shot through my family room window, all my other lenses would ignore the screen and focus on the lawn furniture or other objects in the backyard. About 1/3 of the time this Sigma would grab focus on the screen. Very accurate focus, with very fine detail. I wonder if that is due to the incredible resolving power of this lens?
p.9 #8 · In Stock: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art ($799)
1bwana1 wrote:
This is a macro lens, not a sports action lens. Macro lenses require more travel of the focusing group of elements. This means that if you go from a very close focus to infinity, the elements have to travel a long way. If you keep the subjects in closer distance range, it is actually pretty snappy in focus. This is even better when you have set the proper limiter range for what you are shooting.
I find it interesting all of the comments about focus speed. In my experience, macro lenses are never fast at auto focusing. Yes you can use it for other subjects but it’s main purpose is macro which is why it is not as snappy. Take a look at a MF macro lens and try focusing with that, you will see how much you have to move the elements.
p.9 #10 · In Stock: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art ($799)
Thanks all, I've owned too many(?), a lot(?), just the right amount(!) of macro lenses so my expectations aren't too crazy I don't think. I have the very fast focusing 85 1.8 for chasing kids but I try to carry as few lenses as possible, so if I'm not planning on chasing little people having a macro that can pull double duty for portraits is always a plus.
p.9 #11 · In Stock: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art ($799)
Ha! I noticed that too when shooting out a window. Wide open, it showed so much detail, combined with the blur, it made you wonder how you could see through the window. (There seems to be a lot of crud on mine...)
-Tim
1bwana1 wrote:
For portrait work it will be perfect, no issue. I tested on my Wife moving around and Eye-AF worked perfectly. Formal portraits are much less challenging. This is not a snappy lens, but it is about as quick as most lenses were a few years ago. It is just not up to speed with some of the new mirrorless lenses. I will say that focus is extremely accurate. I don't think I have had one frame where it missed focus. Granted I have been testing in AF-S and AF-C but in single/medium frame rate mode as that is how I anticipate using the lens. Maybe I should try tracking at 20 frames a second just to see how it does. I may try that on some dogs over the weekend.
This is a macro lens, not a sports action lens. Macro lenses require more travel of the focusing group of elements. This means that if you go from a very close focus to infinity, the elements have to travel a long way. If you keep the subjects in closer distance range, it is actually pretty snappy in focus. This is even better when you have set the proper limiter range for what you are shooting.
For shooting your two year old I can think of better lenses focus performance wise. But you will find that in all but the most frantic circumstances this lens will work fine even for active kids.
I tested it against my best primes. It is slower and hunts a bit more sometimes. It feels about the same in both performance and noise to my Sony/Zeiss 55mm f/1.8. Which is an older motor design, but certainly not a bad performing lens.
I tested on both my a7RIII and my a9. Works fine on both.
One thing I found that surprised me. When I shot through my family room window, all my other lenses would ignore the screen and focus on the lawn furniture or other objects in the backyard. About 1/3 of the time this Sigma would grab focus on the screen. Very accurate focus, with very fine detail. I wonder if that is due to the incredible resolving power of this lens?
p.9 #12 · In Stock: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art ($799)
Yep optically this is a pretty special lens. Extremely high resolution/sharpness edge to edge, even wide open. Almost zero CA, and very very little distortion. Lovely bokeh and rending. Actually, amazing performance for the low selling price.
p.9 #16 · In Stock: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art ($799)
Another test shot. The resolution this lens captures is top notch. No corrections available in Lightroom yet but at f/6.3 nothing that needed to be done in this shot anyway.
I'm really liking what I see from this lens so far.
Next something moving, and some high contrast to check CA.
I kept the size larger than I normally post so you can see the detail. You can use [cntrl] scroll wheel to size it to your screen resolution for easy viewing if you want. I really wish you could see the detail full size on my 4K BENQ monitor. It is outstanding.
p.9 #18 · In Stock: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art ($799)
This is a niche lens so will not be widely adopted quickly. Over time it will develop a reputation and a following. CV optial quality with, AF, great features, great build, and reasonable price.
images and a few outside all handheld or braced so yes the IBIS seems to work pretty well. Also I think the MF is pretty darn nice though some were MF here and some were AF here. 
Oh, and images were taken before the bottle of Jim Beam was opened
