Quite Possibly the Sexiest 180mm in Existence.

[Markw]

APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM - Macro Lenses - SigmaPhoto.com

Sigma announced their 180mm F/2.8 EX DG APO IF HSM OS. The first ever 180/2.8 1:1 Macro lens. AND it comes with OS! This has the potential to be the macro king of all macro lenses. Spectacular.

Thoughts?

Mark

 

[gsgary]

No Stigma is sexy

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Nice indeed! Wonder if it will decrease the price of the 150mm

 

[Derrel]

Looks heavy and solid. I own their 180mm f/3.5 EX HSM Apo-Macro...which is a decent lens optically, but has some problems with unprovoked focus hunting and horrific back-focusing in regular "field"use. OS would be nice in a 180mm lens. It looks like Sigma has switched to a new finish, one that is smoother and which looks more like a high-priced lens, rather than that weird Sigma crinkle finish that falls off and looks like an old Chrysler or Plymouth K-car's sun-faded paint job. What is the weight specification on this lens???

 

[Markw]

Nice indeed! Wonder if it will decrease the price of the 150mm

My guess is that the 150/2.8 OS will probably not. It will just add another incredibly expensive lens to the arsenal. But, we shall see. The original 150 will probably drop in price, though.

Looks heavy and solid. I own their 180mm f/3.5 EX HSM Apo-Macro...which is a decent lens optically, but has some problems with unprovoked focus hunting and horrific back-focusing in regular "field"use. OS would be nice in a 180mm lens. It looks like Sigma has switched to a new finish, one that is smoother and which looks more like a high-priced lens, rather than that weird Sigma crinkle finish that falls off and looks like an old Chrysler or Plymouth K-car's sun-faded paint job. What is the weight specification on this lens???

Agreed. I own their original 180/3.5 DG HSM APO IF Macro as well. Mine works beautifully. But, I, too have problems with focus hunting occasionally.

As for the finish, I absolutely love the new design. WAY better than their old EX finish. i absolutely hated that. This looks awesome. Like a rocket or something. Like a good Nikon, which is what I'm sure they were going for.

This is the only information given so far:

I can't wait to see the MTF chart and real life photos on/with this beast. They're sure to be spectacular, as with the rest of their macro lineup.

Mark

 

[Destin]

Looks heavy and solid. I own their 180mm f/3.5 EX HSM Apo-Macro...which is a decent lens optically, but has some problems with unprovoked focus hunting and horrific back-focusing in regular "field"use. OS would be nice in a 180mm lens. It looks like Sigma has switched to a new finish, one that is smoother and which looks more like a high-priced lens, rather than that weird Sigma crinkle finish that falls off and looks like an old Chrysler or Plymouth K-car's sun-faded paint job. What is the weight specification on this lens???

Agreed on the new finish. Look much nicer. The finish is really my only gripe with my 70-200, as it's starting to peel/chip off quite easily after a couple years of fading and use.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

If I recall correctly Sigma is using the new finish on most all their lenses they sell now.

 

[Markw]

If I recall correctly Sigma is using the new finish on most all their lenses they sell now.

Looks that way. I know you didn't just mean their macro lenses, though.

Mark

 

[Overread]

Far as I know the new sigma finish is coming out on all their new lenses; the old finish is gone (and good thing too, whilst it was good to hold it was strange and would so easily take marks or show up dirt and also wear away over time).

Anyone know if a weight for the lens has been published anywhere? Far as I can see solid and heavy are two things that come to mind with this lens and I'd be interested to know how much difference the new optical formula and OS feature result between the original 180mm and also the new 150mm OS macro.
I'm certain quite a few are going to be happy to see the 180mm returned to service under the Sigma name.

 

[Derrel]

86mm filter threads... oh, booo!!!

 

[Markw]

86mm filter threads is okay for me. My gripe will be the price. I'm estimating $1599-1799 depending how bold Sigma is.

Mark

 

[Derrel]

86mm threads make the lens non-compatible with the filter and accessory kits for most 180mm and 70-200/2.8 lenses, which have been 77mm for many years; 72mm is "do-able" on a 180/2.8, as witness Nikon and Tamron MF designs using 72mm threads. Things like ring lights, + diopter lenses, matte boxes, and other filter-mount accessories are going to be a ROYAL PITA with an 86mm thread size. But,my biggest "issue" here is the "Check back for price" issue, along with the missing weight specifications. WTF? Does Sigma not know how much this thing weighs? And they want to gauge reaction to the lens before setting the price? Poor form, indeed.

It seems like Sigma is doing a let's see what people think kind of game, and not announcing the MSRP of this upcoming lens. We KNOW for a fact that the management of Sigma has some true idiots in charge. Their latest D-SLR camera was introduced at $9,700; people laughed, snickered, and pointed,so Sigma dropped the price of their $1,499 camera down to a mere $6,700...good enough for Sigma to be awarded a LuLa 2011 Photo Industry Fail of The Year award...and now it looks like they are doing their same manipulative game WRT to pricing...

2011-lulas

 

[Overread]

I thing sigma is hoping that an f2.8 lens at 180mm for macro is going to trump the fact that it has such a large front filter size. I do however wonder how much of that front is glass and how many extra mm there are for waste either side of the front element (ie how with the lens barrel rim is).

I'm surprised though to see it back, the 30mm difference to the 150mm is still its only feature over the cheaper and lighter lens; and in macro that difference in working distance is already tiny. I'd honestly have expected them to go for their 70mm and 50mm macros and give them an upgrade; esp since they pulled the 180mm so long ago from production (well ok only around a year or so). I get the feeling that they pulled one lens and found that there was still a large demand and so have pushed out a lens to replace it

 

[analog.universe]

This thing looks sweet, can't wait to see how it really performs. I've been eyeing the 150 for a while, and if this is as good as it looks on paper I'd probably pick it up instead. I was always surprised that Canon's 180 macro has no IS. This has OS and it's 2/3 stop faster...

 

[Markw]

This has OS and it's 2/3 stop faster...

Even though the chances of using the lens at F/2.8 at 1:1 is very slim, it should definitely help with the light loss at 1:1 and hunting issues with the last one.

Mark