well built lens. no need to fiddle with switches to change from AF to manual focus.
very sharp
fast, silent AF, but do not expect miracles from going from infinity to macro.

AF selector switch is not well designed.
It should be bigger

worth the buy

Customer Service

slow in NZ

Similar Products Used:

nikon micro lenses

Optical and mechanical quality equals the nikon quality on all points (!) and even is better if you take the price and the HSM into account! It also comes complete with a special bag.
But I really think the optical quality is even better (200 mm Nikon and 105 mm), it feels solid as rock and is very fast when you use AF, and when the AF is switched off if also very good focusing with this lens.

None, except taht it's not an " original".

One of the best lenses available for macro. Everyone who's buying an " original" is paying too much and getting less.

Customer Service

Not needed for this one, but I needed it for my 70-200 HSM. The electronics couldn't cope with the ammount of information of the never nikon's (F100 and F80). They replaced it free of charge in half an hour!

Similar Products Used:

Macro's: Nikon 200 mm, 105 mm, 60 mm, Tamron 90 mm, Minolta 100 mm and 50 mm.

Sharp, fast HSM focus motor and full time manual focus. No incompatiblity issue with my sample and EOS3. Excellent build quality, good fit and finsih. Reversable lens hood and tripod collar included.

Focus limiter range is not usable. The 6 inch delta between .46m and .61m on the focus limiter is just too tight. I found that when shooting butterflies that I can sometimes shoot as far as 12 - 24 inches from the front element. This means that I can easily exceed the .61m of the lower limit and this left me always changing the limit setting while trying to focus on my subject. Finish color more gray than black. No grooves on the foot of the tripod collar.

Very nice lens. Very sharp and fast silent focus and FTM. All of the features of the Canon 180L, (not sure how it compares in image quality

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 105EX
Tamron 90SP

Well-made solid feel to the lens. The HSM motor is very quiet and fast and responds better than the Nikkor 200mm AF. The full-time manual focus is a distinct advantage, as you can override the AF by focusing manually without having to change any settings. Robust removable tripod collar. Accurate AF and very sharp lens. The extra working distance is a boon for butterfly shooters. Goes to 1:1 magnification without any attachments. Works great as a 252mm lens with the matching Sigma 1.4X APO teleconverter and maintains a limited AF too!

Tad too heavy for handholding for macro shooting. Tripod/monopods are almost indispensable. Large filter size (72mm)

Great lens with superb results matching the originals' (Nikon lenses) quality. Good value for money. This is a pro quality lens without the price tag.

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 105mm EX macro
Nikkor 105mm AF micro
Nikkor 70-180mm AF micro
Nikkor 200mm AF micro
Tokina ATX 100mm macro

Very sharp high quality lens,excellent HSM Motor, fast auto focusing,great manual focusing. Very well made lens.

Need tripod most of the time.

This is my favorite lens as of todate. Excellent quality.with a fantastic price compared to what you have to pay for a Nikon lens.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 35 mm,Nikon 55mm Macro, Nikon 105mm, Nikon 200mm

HSM focus, sharpness, working distance

quality build

Well, this lens is regarded as a brilliant lens for those interested in Macro photography. The best thing about this lens is the long focal length which gives you that extra working distance with your subjects.
The problem is the build quality. My lens - and I know a few other ones - had the problem that after using the lens in sunshine for more than 30min the focus - nor AF than MF - were working any more.
I've spoken with the Sigma service and they've told me that this is a known problem and it depends on too big tolerances in the production of the HSM motor. From my point of view this does not fit to a lens priced like this one!

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 105mm Macro