Which sigma should I get for my Pentax K100D Super?

[Nicola Main]

I would really like a new macro lens for my Pentax and have narrowed it down to either the Sigma 105mm, 150mm or 180mm. Which do you think would be the best for insect and wildflower close-ups? Thanks in advance, Nicola.

[Ollie]

Hi Nicola.

Image quality wise you won't go wrong with any of the three Sigmas. It all depends if you are going to hand hold or use a tripod. Obviously the 180mm would need a tripod being the heaviest of the three. The 150mm you might get away with hand holding but I think your best results would come from using a tripod or monopod at least. The 105, well I know a few people who very successfully hand hold this one.

Working distance. The 180mm will obviously give you the greatest reach meaning you don't have to get quite as close to skittish insects but is it worth the extra weight and money. I can't say. I use the Sigma 150mm and have always been totally satisfied with it in all aspects although I do use a tripod with it.

Hope this helps.

[Geoff F]

I'm usually glad of that extra bit of distance with the 180 mm but it does come at a cost; both financial and physical.

It is a heavy lens and tripod only, as Ollie recommended, and a strong tripod at that.

The 105 is fine for flowers and the 150 is a good compromise. But I think it will probably come down to exactly what do you want to photograph and how close do you expect to get?

With a 150 mm I would probably get about 50% or less of good keepable shots and even the 180 normally needs quite a lot of image cropping. I usually take a first shot at a reasonable distance, so that I have something in the camera; then try to slide forwards for something better. And it is difficult to slide a tripod through brambles!

Skittish hoverflies and bees, etc, can be difficult to approach so the 180 works well. But lazy spiders or butterflies would work just as well with a 150 mm.

[nutmeg]

I've been using the 105 for quite a while now and it suits me. Easy to hand hold and I've rarely had problems approaching insects.

[DavyG]

I own the both the Sigma 105mm and the 150mm.

Both are very good lenses but I find the working distance of the 150mm suits me better.

If I had to choose one of the two, it would be the 150mm.

I hope this helps.

Dave

[Ukwildlifeo]

One problem (which I encountered) is at the moment sigma dont do the 150mm in Pentax mount! (although there are rumours its on its way with SDM (HSM)) That said Ive done fine with 100mm pentax macro, and my friend with is 105mm sigma macro so far with bugs, beetles and butterflies but then Ive only used it on 2 dragonflies so far.

[Nicola Main]

Thanks so much for your replies Ollie, Geoff, nutmeg, Dave and Ukwildlifeo. I would be using handheld so I've decided to go for the 105mm. I've been doing some browsing and the cheapest seems to be a £276 one from Panamoz. That's about the price limit I had in mind anyway so all good

P.S. Nutmeg I've had a little look at your Flickr site and I must say your photos are beautiful! If I get some looking like that then I will be very happy have bookmarked it to have a longer look later on.

[nutmeg]

Thanks Nicola - and I'm sure you'll have fun using the 105mm