Sigma APO Macro Lens 180 MM F/2.8 EX DG OS HSM
| November 16, 2012 | Posted by admin under Sigma Lenses |
A long-awaited fast, stabilized macro finally arrives
It succeeds the company’s 180mm f/3.5, released a little more than 12 years ago, and bests it with plenty of improvements.
This is a true macro lens, and the world’s first 180mm f/2.8 with a 1:1 magnification ratio, says Sigma. That maximum aperture, combined with Sigma’s Optical Stabilization system, should help keep your subjects sharp, despite its telephoto length.
Inside, there are three FLD low-dispersion elements to cut down on chromatic aberration, and the glass boasts Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer Coating to minimize flare and ghosting.
Its quiet, speedy HSM motor is a nice feature on a lens like this, especially when getting close to insects or small animals. And since it focuses internally, the front element stays put and won’t startle even the tiniest of subjects.
Pros
- 1x without getting too close to a subject
- Optical Stabilizer allows for hand held photography
- Three large low-dispersion elements
- Wide aperture and stabilizer
- Tripod mounting collar
- Internal focusing minimizes aberrations
- Super Multi-Layer coating
- Rounded aperture for a pleasing bokeh
Cons
- Large and heavy
- Will probably be expensive
Suitable for full-frame and small-sensor DSLRs, this new lens offers close focusing to 47 cm for 1:1 reproduction to render a small subject life-size. The wide f/2.8 aperture allows for extremely shallow depth of field and for convenient manual focusing in low light.
Super fast Hypersonic AF with manual focus override is also available. The optical formula includes three FLD elements that should provide exceptional image quality.
