new sigma 150mm macro lens?

[nikkilouise]

A couple of weeks ago my new Canon 40D arrived, which is an amazing step up from my 350D..i'm still finding new things!
Also a couple of months ago I purchased the Bigma which has been excellent

Now all I'm after is a good macro lens.
I am getting a £500 bursary from my university in a few days and instead of going on a massive spree [tempting!] I've decided to invest in a decent macro lens.

I have been looking at the sigma 150mm macro lens.
I have looked at reviews of the lens and so far have been pleased with the reactions and opinions people have given, and the cheapest I have found is £419, which I thought was pretty good

I was just wondering whether anyone knew of any more lenses that would do just as good of a job [possibly better?] for the £500 i have to spend.

--- If the Sigma would be best for me to go for, would anyone know of any cheaper places or whether a student discount is possible anywhere?

Thanks!

[tristanba]

If you want a longer macro lens the Sigma 150mm seems to be a great choice - ideal for reptiles and insects which don't allow close approach. However a shorter lens will be more general purpose, good for most insects and flowers and more importantly lighter and easier to handhold, especially if you are adding in a bracket and off-camera flash which you may want to later on. I have the Tamron 90mm which is extremely sharp and I find I can get close enough to most things I want; most people here use the similar Sigma 105mm which is also excellent - there is little to choose between them. The Canon 100mm is superior in that it is USM and focuses internally, but it is relatively heavy and also considerably moe expensive.

Hope this is helpful

Cheers
Tristan

[NJP87]

From what i've read the sigma is an excellent lens, but i've not used it so can't comment personally.

Depending on how close you want to get you could look at the canon MPE 65 mm/f2.8 which goes to 5x Magnification

[nikkilouise]

i read about the canon MPE 65mm lens..but its being able to get that close the the animal.

so the only thing i've noticed that's different between the sigma 105mm and the sigma 150mm is the SLD glass and the longer length...is there a great deal of difference in image quality?

if i can get the 105mm for £300 then that will leave me £200 spare for other equipment..but if paying the extra hundred would actually mean a great difference in the quality of the lenses then i wont mind spending the extra

[tristanba]

I wouldn't consider the MPE 65mm until you are well used to a standard macro lens, this is a very specialised piece of kit for extremely small subjects.

I don't think there is a huge amount of difference in IQ between the Sigma 105mm and 150mm. The difference is mainly about weight, working distance and ease of hand-holding. If I had £500 to spend I would get a Tamron 90mm or Sigma 105mm and spend the £200 on a decent flash, something like the Canon 430EX if you don't already have one.

[glsammy]

I've got both the Sigma 150mm and the Canon MP-e65mm. For a general purpose macro lens the Sigma 150mm is hard to beat. Superb image quality,I use mine mostly with a Kenko pro 300mm 1/4X TC, which works really well. You will not be disappointed with that lens should you go for it. It's the one lens I wouldn't swap for any other.

The MP-e65mm is a different beast altogether. Flash only, and the closest working distance is only 0.243m @ 5X . Even @ 1:1 you've still got to be extremely close. Very rewarding when you get it right, but not an easy lens to use.

[nikkilouise]

Hmm..I invested in a decent flash gun last year or perhaps the year before..not sure when, but it's a good one ...not that I use it often but I have it for when I need it

I'm just not too sure, I'm always told to buy what i can afford and to not compromise on quality for price...as I definitely want something that I will use over and over and will last me a long time

I don't mind about the cost, as if i wasn't buying a lens it would only be wasted on other pointless things anyway
oh tough decisions

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by tristanba

The Canon 100mm is superior in that it is USM and focuses internally

The Sigma 150mm also focuses internally - a must if you want to use lens mounted flashes.

Most of the macro shots in my Gallery were taken with the Sigma 150 and I reckon it's the sharpest lens in my bag. I got to use it as a bird lens yesterday too when I was photographing some fungi and a robin came to see what I was up to...



Dave P.

[nikkilouise]

Originally Posted by glsammy

I've got both the Sigma 150mm and the Canon MP-e65mm. For a general purpose macro lens the Sigma 150mm is hard to beat. Superb image quality,I use mine mostly with a Kenko pro 300mm 1/4X TC, which works really well. You will not be disappointed with that lens should you go for it. It's the one lens I wouldn't swap for any other.

The MP-e65mm is a different beast altogether. Flash only, and the closest working distance is only 0.243m @ 5X . Even @ 1:1 you've still got to be extremely close. Very rewarding when you get it right, but not an easy lens to use.

I think the MP-e65mm is a bit out of my league at the moment..and a bit out of my price range!
Its nice to know your personal opinion on the Sigma...so would you reckon I'd be better off just paying a little extra for that added quality and the glass?
As i don't know what I would use the extra £200 on anyway if I were to get the 105mm

[nikkilouise]

Originally Posted by pressld2

Most of the macro shots in my Gallery were taken with the Sigma 150 and I reckon it's the sharpest lens in my bag. I got to use it as a bird lens yesterday too when I was photographing some fungi and a robin came to see what I was up to...



Dave P.

thats a superb image =]