Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG IF HSM APO Macro Lens for Canon SLR Cameras from Digital Camera Showroom

Taking picture of small animals and insects can be difficult, because they often run or fly away, or can be dangerous or become aggressive if you approach them. Therefore it is advantageous to have a greater working distance between the camera and such subjects. Longer focal length lens can provide this greater distance, but most long lens do not focus close enough to provide a large image of small subjects. The tele-macro type lens solves this problem by producing a large, high quality image, up to life-size, while maintaining a long working distance. This can enable you to capture on film the world of photomicrography, without disturbing the subjects. The 180mm F3.5 APO MACRO lens has a very narrow field of view, and can allow very narrow depth-of-field for selective focus and less distracting backgrounds. This lens is most desirable for photographers who are serious about producing high quality images both of macro subjects at life-size reproduction, as well as normal telephotography.

Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG IF HSM ...- User Rating:
Summary for Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG IF HSM ...- Good value
Notes on Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG IF HSM ...- After a couple of weeks with this lens on my Canon 40D, I like it more all the time. I've found that the sweet spot on mine, aperture-wise, is about f/22. That gives me the most DOF and clarity combination for 1:1 macro shots. I would have loved to be able to use it at it's full f/32, but my test shots with it show that 1:1 shots at that aperture lack the clarity I'm trying to achieve in my macros.

Extra light is a must if you want any DOF to speak of, so if you don't have a ring light or other ways to deal with it yet, you'll want to keep in mind that there's a cost associated with that aspect of this as well.

As a 180mm prime lens, it performs well outside of the macro range too. I'm getting good, crisp shots throughout, and the AF works pretty fast.

It must be compared to the Canon 180mm macro lens, as that's really what it replaces. For that, all I can do is point to the many reviews on the net, as I don't have the Canon. I bought this after slogging through those reviews and finding most all of them favorable towards this lens as a great alternative to save money and still get a great shot - Maybe not as great as the Canon, but not generally enough difference to matter.

---

Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG IF HSM ...- User Rating:
Summary for Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG IF HSM ...- Highly recommended
Notes on Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG IF HSM ...- I've only had this lens for a few days, but I am happy with it so far. Could even capture two ants attached to the wing of a butterfly. Getting close, as in the 18" minimum distance, works as described. Auto-focus does hunt a little when close to object, had to manual focus. Great lens for the money.

---