Buy Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG IF HSM APO Macro Lens for Canon SLR CamerasSigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG IF HSM APO Macro Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Product Description:
- Floating Inner Focusing System
- It is possible to use 1.4x or 2x Sigma Apo Tele Converters
- Use of SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass
- Inner Focus
Product Description
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. Floating Inner Focusing System The Floating Inner Focus System of the APO MACRO 180mm F3.5 EX HSM provides high quality optical performance and superior handling and stability. This system moves two lens groups within the lens, so the lens? physical length remains unchanged. This technique also maintains good correction for Spherical Aberration and Astigmatism, and provides extremely high optical performance from infinity to 1:1 Macro. Full-time Manual Focus with HSM Macro photography requires precise focus adjustment. The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) feature is ideal for this purpose as it allows quick and precise manual focus, even in auto focus mode. Simply focus with HSM auto focus, then while partially depressing the shutter release, turn the manual focus ring until any desired focus adjustment is made. Then depress the shutter release fully to take the picture. It is not necessary to switch from AF to MF. When the shutter release is next depressed, the AF fun...
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Good value
By Buck R. Cash
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.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful.Highly recommended
By K. Slowe
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.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Razor sharp lens
By V. Ramchandran
I just got the lens a few days ago and loving it so far. When I first saw it the first thing that came to mind were the other reviews calling it built like a tank because its just that. Its heavy and although I was concerned that I will only be able to use it with a tripod I still got good handheld shots with a little practice. I will still recommend a tripod.Very smooth and quite AF. It fast given the range of focal lengths the elements of the must travel. There is a switch with three focus limiting settings which helps. I used it for mostly for macro work which needs to be done via Manaual focus. My lens was a Nikon mount that didnt have an AF/MF switch but manual focus was smooth. The only minor hitch with my D60 was that after manual focusing something it would try to AF once in a while so I had to switch back and forth between AF and MF in my camera. Didnt have any issue most of the time. In my opinion its a small irritant considering the optical quality. The focus ring is HUGE and that helps in fine focusing which is essential for macro.I am not a professional and dont shoot test charts. I loved the optical quality and it wowed family and friends. A few potrait shots were great too although it was a littel too sharp and I had to use GIMP to blur it a bit.The working distance with 180 mm is surprisingly small. I'm glad I didnt get a lens of a smaller focal length. This is the second sigma lens I own and am not disappointed with either.
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