Excellent build quality, sharp results, great color. Auto focus limiting switch helpful. Manual focusing ring is nicely dampened.

The same AF/MF clutch system on my Sigma 20mm f/1.8 (I'm getting used to it). I believe this system is designed to save the motor, so I'm expecting it to be worthwhile.

What a great lens! I've used this lens mainly for macro work on flowers and garden statuary and have been very impressed. I've also hand-held this lens for distance shots wide open and had great results. As with my other Sigma EX lens (20mm f/1.8), this one has the same excellent build quality, provides very nice color rendition, and is very sharp at all apertures; all this for a price that fits into a non-sponsored regular guy budget!

Customer Service

I'm perplexed by the compatibility of Sigma's various teleconverters with their various lenses. I'm currently waiting for a response.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX, Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4, various Sigma zooms.

Good in sharpness. Good working distance

Handling is very poor for moving between AF to MF. I hate two step swith over AF is very bad. Manual focus ring is not quit smooth and makes little bit noise moving the focus ring in auto focus.

I have been looking for macro lens for a while and drill down to Sigma 105mm, 180mm and Tamron SP 90mm. After reading all the review I opted 105mm for macro as well as portrait. The lens is excellent with respect glass, and it allows reasonable working distance compared to Tamron. I found the following and moved to Tamron: · The handling and AF performance is poor compared to Tamron. · Color reproduction it’s too saturated, may be its problem of film. I always got burnt short of colors. · Manual focusing is not as smooth as Tamron · 105mm needs longer distance compared to 90mm for portrait. · 90mm becomes to 135mm on future up gradation to digital. Both Tamron and Sigma are good in reproduction of detail, I love the sigma for macro and Tamron for portrait but I could not afford both of them and selected Tamron for all other advantages.

Customer Service

No expereince

Similar Products Used:

Tamron SP 90mm macro.

Optics: corner to corner sharp and contrasty w/excellent color. Very very low distortion. Flare well controlled. Mechanics: AF reasonably swift MF has very good feel Dual Focus mechanism helpful. Metal body.

None.

Exellent optical and mechanical performance at a fair price.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Medium format telephoto lenses. Sigma 70-200 f2.8 APO EX HSM.

Solid construction, included lens hood, good images when used at no smaller of an aperture than f/22.

Focus motor- slow and noisy; 2 step changing from MF to AF; no IF- lens gets LONG when going to 1:1

My experience with this lens appears to differ from others, in that I can''t use the lens @ f/45. It''s just too soft. F/22 seems to be the best F stop for jewelry. I was disappointed, because I chose this lens over the Canon specifically for the extra stop on the small end (f/32 on Canon vrs f/45 on Sigma. As stated by others, the auto focus borders on the rediculous, it takes literally seconds for it to travel the full length, and if you turn on the limiter on while wandering around in the field taking insect shots, it seems that you always end up wishing that you were in the other end of the range. They could have just made this lens a manual focusing only lens; auto focus on a 1:1 macro lens is just stupid (This includes Canon as well, but Canon''s new macro is IF and USM ((I believe)), so this probably helps a little). Another bone of contention for me is the fact that it requires 2 steps to change from AF to MF, and I always seem to pull the lens ring by accident, (which partially switches it from AF to MF, when I''m really not meaning to change modes). I believe this lens is best suited for studio work, where there is no opportunity to change modes accidently, and one can manual focus on the subject (staying away from that stupid (and noisy) autofocus motor. Oh, and being sure to never set the aperture beyond F/22.

Customer Service

none so far

Similar Products Used:

Canon 100mm f/2.8 (old model) sharp as hell!

Robust, Fast aperture, very sharp, 1:1 macro, good handling and cheap. Attractive finish too. F45 for superb depth of field close up!!!

Slowish and noisy AF.

Bought this for a scientific project on lizard patterns which, in the end, had to be shelved. Still, the lens is great. Very well built (the canon is very plasticy), very sharp and great value. The AF is a little slow and noisy (a HSM version would be a welcome addition) and thats on an EOS3. Of course for close up work this is inconsiquential as manual is the order of the day. The manual focusing ring is smooth and ergonomic. Overall a great lens, I will try more Sigma EX series now instead of Canon.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 50 (55?) mm Macro, Canon 100mm Macro

Optically seem superb and light.

Thought the Sigma have finally come out with a product that is build to last. However, I am proofed wrong again.

Bought this lens for about a week to shoot some product for a customer. During the first test shot everything came out well. But on the actual day shoot the aperture is lock on the to the minimum setting. I could adjust the aperture ring, but the shutter remain at the minimum setting. Very embarassing situation with the customer around. Ended up having to use the extension tube with my Tamron 35-105 F2.8 lens for the entire shoot.

Customer Service

Will return it to the shop today.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon, Tamron, Tokina lense

Sharpness, contrasty. Solid built.

Slow autofocus.

The best macro lens I have ever used. Picture is sharp, contrast and colour is excellent. Have to return lens to Sigma for a chip upgrade before I can use it on my ELAN 7E, I was amazed after the first roll of film. The lens is so sharp that you may need to use a softening filter if you use it for potrait. The autofocus is slow but I use manual when taking closeups so this is not a real concern.

Customer Service

Send it back for chip upgrade. Slow but job well done. Service is reasonable in Australia.

Similar Products Used:

Tamron SP90mm (manual focus). Canon FD 50mm macro.

1:1, sharp, contrasty, light, compact, well-built. comes with hood and case.

no if, af sucks (but mf focus ring is nice enough)

a great lens. suprisingly, not only are macro and landscape slides nice, but black and white photos are super too. a leica owning friend of mine was so impressed he bought an old nikon body just so he could use this lens. sharp from f2.8 on.

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

None

Optical Quality Sturdy Manual Focus is nice Nice finish

Slow AF

This is a superbly sharp lens, I have taken lots of my best pictures with it viewable at http://dreamphotos.tripod.com I must admit autofocus is a little slow (I use an EOS3 & 5) slower than Canon''s own macro but then again for close work I have always manual focused anyway. The sigma feels a lot studier than the Canon and it is a lot cheaper so I recomend this lens to anyone with an interest in Macro.

Customer Service

Jessops: 10/10

Similar Products Used:

Canon 100 Macro

Fit and finish are outstanding.Pictures are tack sharp,and 2.8 speed is a boon for low-light shooting. Range limiter is usefull. Lensohood is deep enough todispense with filter at many times,and keeps flair and rain away.

None!

My third Sigma lense,and the best. Originally got this formacro work,but find myself using it for alot more-portraits, landscape,and wildlife.

Customer Service

Haven't had to!

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 105;Sigma 50.