Sigma 105mm f/2.8 now in Stock in USA and Europe!
Sigma has annoucned that the Sigma Macro 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM is now available in Sony fit. The lens is right now in Stock at Amazon US (Click here) and Adorama (Click here). In Europe at Amazon DE (Click here) and Amazon FR (Click here).
Sigma Press Release
“105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Medium telephoto macro lens incorporating Sigma’s Optical Stabiliser
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce that the Sigma MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is now available in Sony AF fit.
The successor to the Sigma MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG, introduced to market in June 2004, this large aperture medium telephoto macro lens incorporates the latest optical design technology, offering advanced performance for close-up photography. A Special Low Dispersion (SLD) lens and one high refractive index SLD lens provide excellent correction for all types of aberration and distortion.
A floating focusing system moves two different lens groups in the optical path to different positions. This system compensates for astigmatic aberration and spherical aberration and provides extremely high optical performance from infinity to 1:1 Macro.
The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting, providing high contrast images. It is also possible to use this lens with Sigma’s optional APO Tele Converters. Sigma’s own proprietary OS (Optical Stabiliser) function helps with handheld close-up photography and the HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures quiet and high speed autofocus as well as full-time manual focus capability.
This lens features a splash resistant design for use in harsh conditions and a rounded 9 blade diaphragm creating a smooth blur to the out of focus areas of the image.“
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JB
2 years ago |Sony, give us a CZ macro and the classic 200mm F4 macro.
Edgars
2 years ago |150mm f2.8 macro also is very welcome.
matgay
2 years ago |how does a “double” stabilizer work? one in the lens, and one in the body. is it twice as stabilized, or do they cancel each other out?
Phil
2 years ago |The actually fight with each other. So the suggestion is to turn one of them off.
matgay
2 years ago |would like to see some tests to see which OS is better than the other. if they are not so much different than sigma is charging a lot extra for a totally uneccessary feature. it may be that sigma just got lazy, and just changed the mount on the canon and nikon versions? put paying extra for nothing???
z
2 years ago |The in lens is usually marginally better than the in body. That’s the reason why canikon insist on using in-lens. Though the in-lens IS sometimes reduce the IQ of lenses(compare the canon’s 70-200 mk.1 IS and non IS)
That said, most of my focal length wouldn’t have IS on canikon’s equivalent (14,24,35,50,85,135,16-35,24-70), so the question wouldn’t be which IS is better, but IS or no IS is better.
Edgars
2 years ago |I remember test in Russian photo journal. They compared Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR vs non VR and IQ of non VR was markedly better.
The if you doing much of handheld macro, IS is a must.
Brendon
2 years ago |Wow ! Sigma has actually priced this sensibly.
Noticeably cheaper than the Nikon 105mm f2.8 VR and the Canon 100mm f2.8 L IS with similar IQ (maybe slightly less but not very noticeable) while offering all the advantages of image stabilization, internal focusing (very few 100mm and below macro lenses have this) and silent focusing (even fewer 100mm and below macro lenses have this).
Ncguy
2 years ago |Oh wow that’s cheap for a 100mm! I have to check out the reviews on this.
Ncguy
2 years ago |Oh wait. It actually has OS?
Kelly
2 years ago |How fast does this focus? I see that they included an HSM motor, but it’s still a macro lens.
PhotoNut
2 years ago |I think that Sigma is now removing the optical stabilizer on Sony models in newly announced lenses just like Tamron. So not sure if this model still has optical stabilizer.
Seeky
2 years ago |If Sony made it, I would have bought it by now; but Sigma… nope. It has to work on the A99.
nmnm
2 years ago |model is
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro for Sony
has OS
voyager42
2 years ago |Amazon US website lists it at $769 and quotes:
“Designed for use with full frame digital SLR cameras. May also be used with smaller APS-c size sensors with a corresponding effective increase in focal length to about 150mm with most cameras
Focuses down to 1:1 magnification ratio at its closest working distance of 12.3 inches”
rikken
2 years ago |Sigma remove os for Sony when the lens is light wheight zoom lens .
Now the 105 and 150 macro , we can enjoy
OS (^O^)／
In Japan , sigma announced 112,000yen
but 105 is sold 62,800yen at cheapest
camera store as same as for canon nikon.
rikken
2 years ago |Sigma remove os for Sony when the lens is light wheight zoom lens .
Now the 105 and 150 macro , we can enjoy
OS .
In Japan , sigma announced 112,000yen
but 105 is sold 62,800yen at cheapest
camera store as same as for canon nikon.
Steve
2 years ago |So Sigma sells Sony A-mounts without O/S for the same price as a Nikon with O/S?
Nice,
Bryant
2 years ago |Nice, internal focus and HSM with OS, it’s good to replace the SONY 100mm macro
Lollo
2 years ago |Well, if it was optically better.
As usual these cheapo brands macros, are never as good as the Canikon Sony macros.
Even to well regarded among amateurs, Tamron 90mm, is inferiors to the Canikon and Sony?
Lollo
2 years ago |Well, if it was optically better.
As usual these cheapo brands macros, are never as good as the Canikon Sony macros.
Even to well regarded among amateurs, Tamron 90mm, is inferiors to the Canikon and Sony!
There is always a catch on these cheapo optics.
Plus this one is also expensive.
Brendon
2 years ago |You guys do realize that the Sigma 150mm f2.8 (and the newer OS version) is considered the best macro lens out there beating hollow Canon/Nikon equivalents.
Also the Sony macro lens is based on a decades old design. The Sigma 105mm f2.8 OS HSM is a brand new design and I will bet money it will outperform the Sony pretty easily in IQ, AF speed and working distance.
However with Sigma facing problems with Sony bodies its not a outright recommended lens.
Sky_walker
2 years ago |What do you mean by “beating hollow Canon/Nikon equivalents”? Sony, Canon, and Nikon macro lenses are as good as it gets. Even if it’s somewhat better at certain apertures – it’s mostly a difference for pixel-peepers, nothing useful as macro lenses are superb across the manufacturers.
This “decades old design” of 100mm macro from Sony is today one of the sharpest lenses you can get. Cause you see: glass doesn’t get old quickly.
“However with Sigma facing problems with Sony bodies its not a outright recommended lens.” – what problems?! You mean the compatibility with SLT? They fix it for free and only some older models were affected. There are no problems with Sigma lenses what so ever when used on Sony bodies. Don’t spread FUD, please.
Carl
2 years ago |The 150 is one of Sigma’s best ever lens designs. Still, I wouldn’t trade my Minolta 200mm macro for one, even if there was a bunch of cash in it.
Brendon
2 years ago |@ Skywalker –
I do realize I came on a bit strong in my previous post so I will take care to post only when I am more relaxed. In any case I was specifically referring to the Sigma 150mm f2.8 which is the best performing macro lens in that range. The Canon 180mm is a pretty poor performer in comparison. Nikon has no comparable lens other than the highly priced 200mm f4. I was not referring to the Canon 100mm L IS and the Nikon 105mm VR as they are a different class of macro lenses.
Also the Sony 100mm macro is not that good anymore.
In the photozone.de review – http://www.photozone.de/sony-alpha-aps-c-lens-tests/378-sony_100_28?start=1 they criticize the lens for not offering anything more than 3rd party equivalents while pricing the lens much more expensive.
In Kurt Mungers review he also says the Sony 50mm f2.8 is a sharper lens than the 100mm macro.
http://kurtmunger.com/sony_100mm_f_2_8_macroid171.html
Here is a bit of a questionable review (since they provide no data on how they did the test) but the results seem more or less acceptably accurate. – http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-macro-lens-8-tested-1041461#articleContent
In any case, macro lenses that extend during focusing are dated as they can scare insects as well as loose more light as you focus closer. IF designs (like the Canon 100mm L IS and Nikon 105mm f2.8 VR) are the future. There is very little separating the Tamron 90mm f2.8 and the Sony 100mm f2.8 in functionality or IQ (I tested both lenses) but price wise there is a HUGE difference.
Also the Sigma incompatibility is only a warning. In many countries outside the US people have faced problems fixing their Sigma lenses for the incompatibility issue so its a valid concern.
Sky_walker
2 years ago |I agree that extending of the lens might be concern (though I tend to pre-focus as much as possible – running through whole focusing range in front of the bug is dumb regardless if lens extends or not), but if you’ll take a look at Kurt’s review of the lens you will notice that on apertures you use for shooting macro this lens is razor-sharp even at the edges. Vignetting is almost non-existent and CA is quite well handled.
So even if Sigma would be close to being a mathematically perfect lens (which it’s not) – I still wouldn’t consider it highly superior to Sony’s own macro. Differences in shooting macro (not A3-sized test charts) are non-existent for anyone who doesn’t do extensive pixel-peeping. Meanwhile you can save around £80 on Sony.
So IMO: Regardless which one of these two someone chooses for his Macro lens – he should be more than satisfied as both lenses are really superb, sharp primes.
ps. I don’t own any of them, so don’t think I’m biased towards defending/accusing something simply because I spent money on it.
SonyFanBoi
2 years ago |Sorry, I know the 150mm is good, but to say it’s the best macro lens out there is just plain non-sense. If it’s the best macro at 150mm, then I agree (since there is no other). For macro purpose, there is more than a handful of better lenses out there. Besides, new design doesn’t mean better sharpness. Clearly, there are compromises to make this lens OS.
voyager42
2 years ago |I’m still confused by the new Sigma lenses having OS. I purchased the older version of the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 without OS and it worked great on my a77. Sold it on eBay when I purchased the Sony 70400G…
I see that all the new Sigma lenses for Sony have the new OS so does anyone really know how this works with the Sony incamera stablisation?
Do they actually conflict if they are both turned on?
Should you switch one of them off?
Which one should you switch off… the Camera or the Lens?
… and why?
Anybody know where this might be explained… nothing on Sigma website… they say it doesn’t matter!!!…
jack
2 years ago |Sigma specifically states that you should turn SSS off when using the lens OS.
voyager42
2 years ago |OK Jack… you got me… what is SSS? Is that the a77 camera stabilisation?…
matgay
2 years ago |more like you need to turn off Sigma’s OS when using ibis
voyager42
2 years ago |So Jack says turn off Camera SSS (Sony Steadyshot Stabilisation)and Matgay says turn off Lens OS… Hmmmm… seems I am not the only one confused.
With Nikon and Canon they don’t have camera stabilisation so it’s the same for them as their own lenses…
Checked Sigma website and I don’t see any special instructions on the Lens page… may be in their actual lens documentation but I don’t have that!!!…
As I said before, the only Sigma lens I owned was their 70200 f2.8 WITHOUT the new OS and it worked great with my a77!
Might just have to buy a Sigma lens with OS so I can test this for myself…
Camera SSS ON: Lens OS ON… conflict?.. Yes/No?
Camera SSS OFF: Lens OS ON… This should be interesting…
Camera SSS ON: Lens OS OFF… should work like regular Sony lens… Yes/No?
Thanks anyway…
Sky_walker
2 years ago |If you turn both on there won’t be any conflict, but your photos will be blurred. That’s because first lenses compensates camera movement and than body tries to compensate something that isn’t there on a picture any more as lens already done the job. So the photos might be worse even than without using any stabilization at all.
Turning off OS in lens will turn it in any regular lens.
Someone tested that in telephoto range (200mm+) Sigma OS is doing better job than SSS in camera.
Ian Scovell
2 years ago |Camera SSS ON: Lens OS ON… conflict?.. = blurry pictures big style
Camera SSS OFF: Lens OS ON… works fine, OS through the lens
Camera SSS ON: Lens OS OFF… should work like regular Sony lens… Yes, it does.
Why do Sigma produce probably the ‘ugliest’ looking lenses in the whole world?
Lollo
2 years ago |What is wrong with the Sony 100 macro, that I should buy a Sigma instead?
You got to be kidding!
I understand if this was 400 bucks, which thehighest a Sigma lenses should be priced.
Just saying….
Brendon
2 years ago |There is no comparison between the Sony 100mm macro and this lens.
The Sigma is a better lens in EVERYTHING ! IQ, AF speed, working distance. And it has optical stabilization to offer a stabilized viewfinder. What more do you want ?
The Sony macro is based on a 1986 optical design with improved electronics, curved aperture blades and coatings but otherwise will perform the same as the old Minolta 100mm f2.8 lens.
Lollino
2 years ago |You said nothing…. New coating, electronics and circular blades.
That makes a lot of difference!
Anyway, if the sigma will be better even than the old Sony I believe when I see it!
Not mentioning that before getting a “good” copy of a sigma lens, you normally need of swapping 3 to 4 copies. That I show good a sigma lens is…
Good luck with that!
Brendon
2 years ago |Forgot to mention that the Sony 100mm lens barrel extends quite a bit as you focus closer. This is an outdated design and all the good new macro lenses have interal focusing designs so the lens barrel doesn’t extend. This means that your effective working distance is more even though both lenses are around 100mm.
The Sony 100mm ideally should be priced at around $400 as I compared it with my Tamron 90mm which costs around the same and I found no difference in IQ or functionality to speak off.
Lollino
2 years ago |The tamron sucks big time!
It is not as sharp as the canikon and Sony. Close but not quite.
It delivers more ca. It has les contrast and a blue cast, more purple fringing and even some bloody blue fringe.
I know among wannabies the tamron is stellar, because it is sharper than their previous kit lenses they compre with, and of coursevis as good if not etter than the original they never owned, but in reality is less than ok lens.
Brendon
2 years ago |The new coatings, circular aperture and electronics won’t make up for older optics, extending design and slow AF.
The Sigma QC has improved quite a bit in recent times and their macro lenses at least suffer from far fewer defects.
If you check their 150mm lens on Amazon you will find all positive reviews apart from the one negative review where the AF didn’t work – http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-150mm-Macro-Nikon-Cameras/dp/B00063KO5C/ref=cm_rdp_product
In any case my point is that there isn’t one aspect where the Sigma is inferior to the Canon. All reports point it to being very close to the best in class 105mm f2.8 VR and 100mm f2.8 IS L lenses.
I am perplexed by your statments on the Tamron though. You are probably referring to the older designs. I am using the latest Di version for the last 3 years and I have yet to find anyone complaining my lens had any colour casts or it was soft. Neither have I seen any CA (except at f2.8), no blue cast whatsoever that you mention. (Nor have I seen any trusted review mention a blue cast either). So its possible you checked out a lemon or a very old lens.
Its definitely not just an OK lens and I honestly would like to see any sample where the Sony 100mm f2.8 is noticeably sharper. The Tamron 90mm has received stellar reviews wherever it has been tested and frankly none of the reviews I have seen commented on it being a ‘less than ok’ lens.
Here is a slightly questionable review comparing macro lenses.
http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-macro-lens-8-tested-1041461#articleContent
I tend to agree with the conclusions at least.
lollo
2 years ago |the tamron I tested {Nikon version}, was bought 4 years ago, and returned a week after. so it may have been the old one.
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |hope the to see the review of this lens! hope it is best in its range vs rivals
tojefajne
2 years ago |whether it is compatible with slt? or only the Canon and Nicon?
Sky_walker
2 years ago |It is. Every newly produced Sigma lens is compatible with SLT – they fixed the issue with their chips already.
nmnm
2 years ago |Sony please don’t bother making new lenses or updating old ones…even with compatibility issues at least someone is making lens selection for a-mount (and e-mount!). Sony thinks making a black copy of an existing lens or another crap SAM lens is what users want. No wonder they lose money making dumb choices. Now if Sigma would make 120-300 2.8 for Sony mount, sigh….too bad is only for Canikon. Is good reason to consider D3200 or D600. Sony jokers, make more colored bodies and lenses. You know this is what a-mount users dream of….not good quality, weather sealed, updated lenses…no, no, a-mount users don’t want those at all. Nikon sell 20 million lenses a year or some such….Sony sells how many? 10 thousand “easy choice” lenses? Come on Sony, use those big brains…figure it out already….don’t need updated camera every year, but every year needs new or updated lenses.
Mick
2 years ago |I can’t imagine how awesome a 120-300 OS HSM in Sony Alpha Mount for $2,399 street price would be. This would be the perfect lens for the back of the church shot in a wedding. I’ve got the 70-200 OS HSM with the LA-EA2 and with the face detection on the NEX-VG20 it is sweet. I use it on the side of the church or wedding venue, though.
shamb
2 years ago |Don’t really understand why a macro would need optical stabilisation: I use a ring flash and this is much more useful for clear hand held macro shots, as per my review here: http://howgreenisyourgarden.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/review-tamron-af-90f2-8-di-macro-dorr-daf-14-sony-alpha-mount/
NB – the ringflash I use is not compatible with anything more recent than the A500/550 (Sony firmware changes make it incompatible).
Mick
2 years ago |Great,
But I wish Sigma would release the 120-300 OS HSM in Sony Alpha Mount as well.
bas076
2 years ago |Even older sigma macro was sharper then sony/minolta.