Sigma 70mm F/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
- Special Low Dispersion (SLD) lens and two high refractive index SLD lenses provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations
- Super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting
- Floating focus system provides extremely high optical performance from infinity to 1:1 Macro
- Equivalent field of view to 105mm macro lens when used on a digital SLR camera with an APS-C size image sensor
This medium telephoto macro lens is ideal for both digital SLR cameras and 35mm film SLR cameras. The 70mm focal length gives an equivalent field of view as our popular 105mm macro lens when used on digital SLR cameras with an APS-C size image sensor. The design of this lens makes it suitable for taking pictures in all situations from infinity to 1:1 macro, both with natural light conditions or flash. A Special Low Dispersion (SLD) lens and two high refractive index SLD lenses provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations and produce an exceptional level of optical performance. Sigma..s super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting, and helps create a natural color balance. The floating focus system provides extremely high optical performance from infinity to 1:1 Macro. A “Focus Limiter Switch” in incorporated on the lens, improving the speed and accuracy of autofocus by limiting the focus range. A screw-in lens hood is included for convenient use of circula
List Price: $ 670.00
Price: $ 499.00
Canon EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM AutoFocus Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
- 180mm macro lens with f/3.5 maximum aperture for Canon SLR cameras
- 3 UD glass elements and internal floating system combine to minimize aberrations
- Advanced ultra-sonic monitor (USM) for high-speed, quiet autofocusing
- Focusing distance range of 1.57 feet to infinity; supports EF Extender 1.4x and 2x
- Measures 3.2 inches in diameter and 7.3 inches long; weighs 2.4 pounds; 1-year warranty
A telephoto macro lens with a maximum magnification of 1x. Life-size close-ups can be taken from a farther distance without disturbing the subject (insects, etc.). The internal floating system minimizes fluctuations in aberrations caused by changes in the focusing distance. Optical performance is outstanding from 1x to infinity. Start Search Link CANON_OPTICAL_STORE1 canonstoreoptic1 Canon-Digital-Store Canon-Optical-Store End Search LinkBring small things into full-sized view with the Canon EF 180mm macro USM lens. Macro lenses can uncover detail that would be impossible to detect by the eye and give new perspective to extremely minute subjects such as insects or the petals of a small flower, and this lens is no exception. The 180mm lens offers such features as three UD glass elements and an internal floating system, which combine to minimize aberrations caused by changes in the focusing distance; an advanced ultra-sonic monitor (USM) for high-speed, quiet autofocusing; full-time m
List Price: $ 2,500.00
Price: $ 1,499.00
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Canon’s Best Macro Lens,
I spend most of my time as a photographer taking macro photographs of flowers and other small things in nature. I chose this lens over Canon’s 50mm macro and 100mm macro for two reasons: (1) it is constructed with higher quality UD glass, so it has great color and contrast, and it’s incredibly sharp at all f/stops, and (2) at 180mm, it allows you to stay farther away from your subjects and still focus to 1:1. This makes it easier take photographs without disturbing your subjects and it allows you to have a smaller, more blurry area in the background so that the background doesn’t compete with the subject for attention. The lens also comes with a tripod color, which allows you conveniently change from vertical to horizontal, and it adds stability with your lens better balanced on your tripod.
The lens has an ultrasonic motor, so it’s fast and quiet when focusing, though I highly recommend setting the focus limiter 1.5m-infinity when not shooting macro photography. It will speed up the time it takes for the lens to focus. The only drawback I can find with the lens is that it is constructed with only an 8 blade aperture diaphram. Theoretically, with a higher number of blades, it would allow more natural blurs, but I can say I’ve never noticed a problem in my photographs.
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Nevermind macro, one of the best Canon lenses period.,
May I introduce you to one of the least know and yet most superb lenses Canon makes. You probably even stumbled on to this page by accident, looking for another Canon lens, looking at various macros, or even just intrigued by this higher-priced lens you’ve probably never even considered.
Let me just say this about this lens: Ultra sharp. Ultra colorful. Ultra contrast. Ultra solid.
Like everybody else, I initially bought this lens for its macro. The 60mm and 100mm options were a lot cheaper, but my collection is entirely L-class and I’d learned to trust putting gobs of money into the lenses with the red ring. So I put my money where my L-faith is and went with this lens. Needless to say, my faith was rewarded again.
Yeah, sure it’s got the 1.0x macro capability, and this is important. But what I wasn’t expecting was the image quality. It is unbelievably good. Now I’m not somebody who’s taking his first trip into L land and comparing this lens to the $300 run-of-the-mill glass. I’ve used six L-class lenses significantly and I’m comparing this lens’ image quality to THOSE.
You will find yourself using this lens as much as its 180mm focal length and f/3.5 aperture dictates. The lens is versatile both as a super-fine telephoto and as a 1.0x macro.
The macro capability is the main feature. 1.0x macro literally means that a 35mm wide object will completely fill a 35mm frame. Basically, it’s a small microscope. If you dare to dial in the aperture to the wide-open f/3.5, the DOF is approximately that of the thickness of two sheets of writing paper at 1.0x. Needless to say, you’ll need a tripod, preferably with macro rails that slide forwards and rearwards for ultimate control.
(For those of you new to macro, focusing the lens changes the magnification factor. So as one focuses the object, the object’s size in the viewfinder changes. This is why I mention the macro rails, they allow you to achieve focus and physically move the lens/camera in and out to reachieve the desired composition.)
As a telephoto, due to this lens’ superb image quality, it actually produces images of a much greater quality than the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. (I know firsthand, as I own it too) The difference is in the 70-200mm’s versatility. If the light drops too low, the f/2.8 and the IS bests the f/3.5 quite rapidly. If the distance of subjects change quickly or you are unable to move your feet to frame images, the 180mm will be too constricting and the zoom will win. But under conditions where the 180mm f/3.5 can perform unhindered (such as at an airshow or out flower hunting), it will consistantly produce brighter, more saturated, and sharper images than the 70-200mm F/2.8 IS.
There is a complaint that circulates about the slow speed at which this lens autofocuses, expecially annoying when trying to be used as a telephoto. This is actually incorrect. The lens’ autofocus drive does infact move very quickly, but it must traverse all the way from infinity to about 4″ in front of the lens to find the subject. This is where the wait time comes into effect. Here’s the solution: utilizing the AF limiter switch allows you to limit the AF search to only between infinity and about 5′ in front of the lens. Consequently, this range is about 10% of the focus range (the other 90% is in between that 5′ and the 4″). I no longer experience AF “hunting” problems when trying to use the 180mm as a telephoto.
Some other info about this lens:
The front objective element is actually concave. I think this is the only L lens Canon makes with a concave front element. It’s probablyexpensive to replace if an accident should occur, so utilize a UV filter (72mm filter size). I recommend only the B+W or Hoya Multi-coated brands. (Yes they’re pricey, but worth it)
The hood for this lens is actually a little too small in my opnion. If shooting a backlit object, I sometimes get the heavy orange glow in the viewfinder soI am forced to use my hand as a “hood extender” and block the sunlight.
For its size, this lens is relatively lightweight. It is much lighter than the 70-200mm F/2.8L IS and easily handholdable for extended periods of time.
This lens is compatible with Canon’s extenders. I have personally used it with the 1.4x extender. The results are excellent. While CA and sharpness degrade noticeably on the 70-200mm, this lens shows barely a difference in image quality, except for the change in designation to a 252mm F/5, of course. And add to the fact that the macro capability is now gone from 1.0x to 1.4x, a big bonus.
So for whom does this lens apply?
-Those who neither have a macro or a telephoto prime who desire a single piece that can handle both aspects with excellent results.
-Those who plan on performing professional product photography.
-Those that are looking into serious…
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Great Lens at a great price,
I’ve never been a big fan of Sigma Zoom lenses, but their prime lenses are top notch. I’ve been using the Sigma 105mm and 50mm macro primes on my Canon full frame bodies so I decided to pick this lens up for my Nikon D300 to give me a 105mm equiv lens for that system.
In a nutshell, this lens is fantastic. It is very sharp corner-to-corner on my Nikon D300. It is sharp wide open at f/2.8 and stays sharp up until about f/11, where it starts to soften just a bit. Lens construction is very sturdy and typical of the top-end sigma primes. Autofocus speed is adequate but not as fast as the best Nikon lenses. It also makes a little more noise when focusing. Manual focusing is excellent with a very smooth and precise feel. I really like this lens and it may be one of the sharpest prime lenses on the market. I highly recommend it.
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