Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsA Macro Lens from Sigma
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2012
Just received the lens today; the order was placed on 4/14; pay $16 for two day shipping, received on 4/18, very good.
Try out 50~70 pictures: both portraits and close-ups. My immediate reacts are:
1)This is not a bad lens when shoot at distance of 3ft~10++ft outdoor: sharp image,grate color(all macro lenses will perform at least at this level), AF is slow. When shoot indoor, the lens misfucosed at 30% rate with ceiling lamp, 9 ft high with three 60w bulbs inside; it in-focus rate is at 50%, and those focuses were fast and accurate. When misfocused, the AF moved the lens back and forth several times, and went through the focal point and continued, this can be observed from the viewfinder. I think this is due to the indoor lighting condition. I don't know what is the standard lighting condition that can be used to judge the AF function. One thing that I can tell is that I used a Canon 70-300MM IS USM lens(non-L) as comparison, the AF on canon 70-300mm IS USM is faster and works little better in the same lighting condition. OS is not as effective as the Canon 70-300mm IS USM lens (non-L). sometime I felt there is no OS effectiveness at all as I really need it, sometime I felt little OS effectiveness. I even took a close-up shot, and thought the OS was on, actually OS was off and the picture was good(it just mean that the OS is not obvious).
2)When take close-ups, especially at or close to 1:1, the AF doesn't work or works in a rather confusion way. First, the AF acts the same way as it in low light condition, the motor carries lens go back and forth never find the focal point, some times passing through the focal point, other times just not find it at all. I tried focus switch, that did limit the searching range, but didn't help on focusing. The result is the same, not focused. The other times, when the lens was going back and forth, stop press the AF button on the camera, and then push the button again(short push),the AF is right focus on the target. It is very repeatable. I cannot explain why. The OS has little effectiveness at or close to 1:1. Even with this little effectiveness, I felt so grateful, and think it should perform more than that. I don't have other macro lens to do a comparison in close-up shots.
3)This lens has very high build quality. In my opinion, it is better than Canon 100mm f/2.8 IS USM L lens. I tried both lenses before I brought the Sigma, the build quality is one of the reasons. The opening box experience is so great.
4)It is heavy, but is in the controllable range.
5)My expectation and use of this lens:
a).first it should be a good macro lens, b).and then it also can be used as a good portrait lens. Since the Af and OS didn't work(at or close to 1:1), or didn't work to my satisfactory, I think my main goal is not achieved. It looks like a good portrait lens, but I have other alternatives.
6)Noises. Both AF and OS make noises. The noise from AF sounds like a motor turning in very high frequency, thus reasonable; but the noise from OS sounds like frog, goo goo goo. Always three sounds. so half way press shutter you hear goo goo goo, release the shutter and wait for 1~2 second, then you hear goo goo goo again. I think this is abnormal cuz I didn't hear the same sound from the same lens in a local store. It also sounds like an inner tube being dragged by a cable and was moving not even, so one side is lean against the outer tube, thus makes the noise. It matches the description of the OS system being a floating part inside the lens. The Canon 70-300mm F/4.0-5.6 IS USM (non-L) makes the noises as well. AF is louder than the Sigma, but the IS noise is better than OS (simply lower db).
7)Other observation. When the lens is point down straight while holding the AF button, more moving noise is heard. It rattles.
Overall:
image quality:4
AF:3
OS:2
Build:4,mainly because of #7
average: 13/4 = 3.25
I might change the opinion when more tests are done. I will come back to do updates when more results and discoveries are available. Any suggestion is welcomed.
Update(04-19-2012):Call customer support at Sigma today, and spoke to Rep. Mark. I told him what I found, and here is his reply:
1)The AF should work in full range of the lens. (make sure when do close up shots, don't get too close to the object, it might cause AF failure if the distance is shorter than 0.39m)
2)The OS should work and gives 4 stop slow shutter capibility.
(1 and 2 basically are the same as the the product introduce statement from the company.)
3)The low contrast and the flat surface of the object can cause the AF failure
4)The low light condition can cause the AF failure
5)The AF should not be slow
6)The rep himself uses the lens for sport shooting as well.
7)The noise is normal, even with pointing down have more noise
8)The rep also asked the type of camera that I used to do the test, and pointed out that the AF type used is important. I actually tried all the type of AF points that 7D provides, and found that single AF point is the worse, and the 19 AF points are the best, but not enough to make the AF issue go away.
So, based on the reply, I think there were some integration issues of the AF and OS to the lens. Each lens could show different level of the issues.
Took more shots in sunny day today, and felt that the light definitly is the main fact the AF is affected. Also felt that the lens produces very nice images at >1.5ft and f>3.2. F2.8 at 1.24ft is difficult with all those AF especially the OS issues, sometimes just becase the DOF at f2.8 is too thin to make a good image.
So, I think that it is up to everyone else's luck of how does the AF and OS of your lens perform on top of a nice basic macro lens. If the copy you have integrates AF and OS correctly, then you have a very good Sigma 150mm AF OS macro lens; if the integration is not done properly, then you will have all kinds of problems in AF and OS area at least (or use a nice macro without AF and OS), like me.
I don't know how does Canon's 100mm L macro perform. 100mm doesn't provide enough working distance. After I tried Sigma 150mm OS HUM, I think 150mm is the min that I can take.
Good luck!
Update(05-02-2012):Received a replacement on 04/24/2012 while I was out of town. The UPS delivery dropped the lens at doorstep, and sent me an email after one hour of the delivery. I had to dispatch a person to save the lens for me at that afternoon after the lens being there for several hours. Two issues of this shipping: 1) I told the Amazon Rep that I will be out of town the week of 4/23~4/27, and specifically told the Rep don't deliver the lens until I get back. 2)I asked the Rep to pack six sides of the box which contains the lens before put it into an outer box, the package came with only one side had a air pad in an outer box.
I tried the lens out. This time it was really good. It is excellent! All the issues that I encountered (see my comments above) earlier on the first shipment are all gone.
I am very satisfied on this second shipment. That is what the lens ought to be!
Let me summarize:
1)The AF works on full range of working distances, 1.24ft and up
2)The OS works on full range of working distances even at 1.24ft!
3)AF and OS noises are low.
4)Image quality is good. I shoot almost all at f2.8 (all hand held)and very satisfied! More shots needed to give a precise comments on image quality.
5)Very good build quality.
I should give it a 5-star rating, but don't know how to change it.
I definitely recommend this lens to any one who is looking for a macro lens.
Update(07-18-2012):The new copy of the lens is so wonderful that I love it so much. I took a lot of images between these updates, and just loved it! I am changing the rating from four star to five star just based on the facts. I couldn't let it stay on four star from my heart! Thanks Sigma!
