Sigma 70mm f/2.8 EX DG Auto Focus Macro Lens for Nikon AF Cameras

2013-10-07T21:00:00

No, it's not but close. This lens has a superb focus distance for portrait but you have to blur the edges because they are too sharp:) The bokeh is as creamy as it gets. Your subject is as clear as your camera's sensor is capable of and is steady/stabilized. Had it for 2 years and no dust issues. It is loud and focus search takes a while if not prepared. It spends a lot of time on my K-5

Joel G.

2013-09-30T21:00:00

This lens spends a lot of time on my camera (Canon 40D)....It's more than a good quality macro lens, I've also used it as a portrait lens.. it works great... and if you have the nerve to get close it's a great street photo lens. At f2.8 it is great in low light. Buy it you won't be sorry.

Coop505

2013-09-09T21:00:00

Back in the days of Pentax screw mount lenses, my favorite lens was the Super Takumar 105mm /f2.8. It was perfect for a general use lens and for portraits, especially in crowds. I loved that lens enough to purchase the screw to K mount conversion ring; for my K1000. By the time things became electronic, howesver, with a ZX5N using the old all-but-manual Super Takumar was clunky at best,. By then zoom lenses were popular. Zoom lenses, hpowever, made me ar lazy photograqpher. I pined for my old 105 but not enough to drag it out. And being lazy, I just couldn't justify purchasing a fixed mm lens at approximately $700.. The Sigma 70mm at 2/3rds that price is - to me at least - affordable. In myt Pentax K 5 DSLR it functions as a 105mm lens! It is a macro lens which the old Super Takumar and modern Pentax 70mm lenses lack. It's also much, much lighter than my Pentax 100 mm macro lens. Perfect field of view, perfect macro cababilities, perfect weight for arthritic shoulder and/or neck bones. I could not ask for more. And I'm sure lens will make me a much less lazy, if perhpas no better, photgrapher. I bought it with the lens kit which even with the kit is the same price as the lens alone. Most of the kit duplicated what I already had, but the 62mm UV filter. being exactly the same size as that onb my Tamron 289-300 zoom means I can now be just a little lazy and not have to switch filters along with the lens swap.

KERMIT K.

2013-08-28T21:00:00

I was looking for the best duality in a macro lens that would also be extremely good for portrait and landscapes. With the ability selection built in, I can shoot macro of rings flip a switch on the lens and move immediately to portrait. On my Sony A77 with it's APS-C sensor, I have a 105mm focal length that captures tack sharp eyes.

Joseph F.

2013-05-28T21:00:00

I shoot nature from a wheel chair now, but have shot macro photos for over forty years with a variety of equipment, the Sigma 70mm Macro tops all I have used. Tack sharp, pleasing backgrounds, and, though I focus manually the focus limiter does its job. Owned for two days and in excess of one hundred photos with various subjects and conditions I am glad I waited for the backorder. Will readily recommend and buy again if lost.

LAWRENCE J.

2012-08-22T21:00:00

This lens is not designed to be a sports/action type lens so if you use it in the manner in which it was designed to be used you will not be disappointed. I own the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 and now this 70mm f/2.8 and I would not hesitate to recommend either lens.

RICHARD M.

2012-05-12T21:00:00

This lens has the sharpest focus of any lens I have tried in this range. It is fast focusing in either manual or auto focus. Used an array of different types of photography is has performed flawless. If there was one thing that is a draw back to this lens it would be that if you use the auto focus at the highest macro settings the motor hunts focus. This is the only fault I have had with this lens, but I use the manual focus most of the time so it not a deal breaker for me. Beautiful finnish and heavy duty construction make this lens one of my favorite lens to use for macro and portrait work.

Benny B.

2012-02-22T19:00:00

Bought this at Adorama with the lens outfit (Tiffen). This lens is highly recommended at photozone.de vs the Canon 100L the only advantage of which is being weather sealed but this Sigma 70mm EX DG outperforms the Canon L as being sharper and lighter and produces wonderful bokeh. I bought all my lenses (4 last count) from Adorama and all of them have met or exceeded my expectations. Plus they include the UV, color warming and polarizing lens outfit which sweetens the deal even more.

LAURENCE D.

2011-10-04T21:00:00

This is my sharpest lens hands down...and the standard by which I currently compare all other lenses for sharpness. Primarily I use this as a normal lens for portraits and product photography, but it excels as a 1:1 macro lens for tiny objects. The blurry background is especially nice at the close-up range used for macro (in fact the depth of field is remarkably slim at widest open aperture). My one complaint would be this lens' tendency to occasionally have trouble auto-focusing, which means it will take awhile to cycle all the way to one end of it's focus range, and then back again (there is a focus-range limiter switch on the lens which can help mitigate this to a certain degree). This only happens if the subject matter isn't presenting a definite edge or contrast area for the autofocus to lock onto, and is not a deal-breaker at all. The nicer the auto focus module of the camera body, the less of an issue this is. For example, I used to use a Nikon D200 with this Sigma 70mm, and it was prone to having trouble autofocusing. With my D7000, the autofocus unit of the camera is much better, and the lens behaves much more dependably. Keep in mind that I am talking only about using auto-focus, which for macro work is a non-issue if you're using manual focus. I just happen to have ended up using the lens for more non-macro types of work, which is not what this lens was specifically designed for. In short, this is a marvelous lens which I can highly recommend, having used it continuously for the past three years, especially for true macro close-up work where sharpness counts.

MARTIN C.

2011-03-13T21:00:00

One of the sharpest macro lenses I have used. Focal lenght is great for portraiture also. If you are shooting insect its a little short on focal lenght, however it doesn't stop you. The lens is very well made amd I would definately recommend it.

Ren

2010-01-24T19:00:00

It's very sharp even wide open and the focal length is surprisingly handy (105mm equivalent on my K10D). I can get close and personal without being close and personal. Perfect for portraits and macro - everything I was hoping to get. Quality for the price is excellent. Physically, the finish feels good in my hand and the manual focus is smooth. It feels like a quality product. The AF is quick enough but definitely use the limiter if not wanting macro for snappy focus. One observation is some purple fringing on highlights when wide open, indoors. Haven't seen it otherwise. Easy enough to fix and not enough to worry for this excellent lens.

andyseye

2009-06-07T21:00:00

This lense is on my camera most of the time and is an old reliable fave. Excellent color rendition and bokeh. May not work well in tight spaces since you have to stand 12' away to get morr in the frame. Macro shots let you get real close @1:1. [...]

Joe

2009-04-22T21:00:00

I use the Sigma 70mm Macro on my Sigma SD-14 to take product shots for use on our website and [...]. The lens is tack sharp at all apertures! Also very contrasty, which is good. The lens is made very well and the focus snaps into place very easily. The auto-focus could have been better with a hypersonic motor, but it still focuses quick enough and accurately. I really like this lens and it seems to do a little better than 1:1 which is a bonus. You can literally press the front glass right on top the subject and still be in focus. Not much working distance so I am probably going to compliment this lens with the 150mm macro as well. Sigma didn't have such a great reputation about 10 years ago, some of their lenses were good but mostly bad. They have sure turned that around with real good glass and designs and they are making some very fine lenses now that are better than Nikon and Canon's. The build quality is also much better. The coatings are also far improved over the older lenses. This is a fantastic lens that I highly recommend. I mostly shoot Leica, but for my business I use the Sigma products and I have been very happy with them.

Leica J.

2008-12-28T19:00:00

Was a little hesitant about buying this lens, but all reviews I had read were very positive. After using this lens for a month or so, I am glad I purchased it! Tack sharp in macro, super for portraits. Will not disappoint.

fototker d.

2008-11-16T19:00:00

I was looking for a full frame 70mm Macro prime lens and as all of my lenses are Canon L glass, I was disappointed that Canon did not make a full frame prime 70mm f/2.8 lens. For this reason only, I looked at the Sigma 70mm f/2.8 EX DG macro. The results I am getting from this lens are exceptional. The focus is very accurate, even in dim light and corner sharpness even at f/2.8 is very good. I am very pleased with my purchase. The only small complaint I have with this lens is that you have to manually switch to manual focus should you need to. I use this lens for product and wedding photography.

Farmer H.

2008-01-22T19:00:00

This is an excellent mid-length lens at a fantastic price that works beautifully on my Canon film and digital bodies. Having the optics of a macro and clarity of a non-zoom it is great for macro work (obviously) but also for a general purpose/portrait lens. It has great colour rendition and really well handled depth-of field. It's an easy lens to handle, with the Limit/Full and AF/MF switches in easy reach and a nice sized barrel that sits well in the hand. The only gripes are that the the lens hood is a strange beast that screws into the front element but is a larger diameter than the lens cap so when it's on, you can't put on the cap. Also, the Auto focus in macro mode is quite slow ... but then again, do you really want to be using AF in Macro mode? Overall, this is an excellent lens that is useful for a wide range of macro subjects as well as general purpose and portrait work.

Peppergroyne

2007-09-30T21:00:00

Is an excelent choice! Great 1:1 Macro lens

Marcovnz

2007-06-27T21:00:00

Nice, clear, sharp lens. Get focal length for portrait work and a nice macro, too boot. As with most Macros, focus can be slow...but in manual focus it's very smooth and easy. It's a bit heavy, but built like a tank.

Misterlion

2007-05-07T21:00:00

Really nice sharp lens. Construction and craftsmanship 9.5 out of 10. Focus response, fast and accurate.

joez

2007-05-07T21:00:00

Really nice sharp lens. Construction and craftsmanship 9.5 out of 10. Focus response, fast and accurate.

joez

2007-05-07T21:00:00

This lens performs, looks, & handles as if it was manufactured by one of top name-brand lens makers.

Ray S.

2007-04-18T21:00:00

Good product for the price

Mack