What a great, no-nonsense review! Thank you for posting. I've recently been given one of these lenses and a 180mm f3.5 sigma. This video has inspired me to get out and use them. I like the fact that you demonstrated the versatility of the 105mm.
Thanks for the walk through of the lens. You saved me he experimenting I’d have done otherwise. I just got one in perfect exterior condition for £95 -the drawback being a tiny amount of fungal growth on the front element but nothing affecting image quality so far. At that price I’ll take an educated gamble. 😊
I have the older DG version of this lens. I was wondering if I should get the EX. But the DG has apperature setting on the lens. you set it to max apperature for the camera to have control but you can set it when shooting manual or shutter priority. Glad I have the lens.
Thanks for sharing your experience with great results & comments....I am considering buying this lens to use on my D500 so it was helpful to watch your video... cheers from Australia 😀
Grt video thanks for posting. I just bought one of these for macro and you've inspired me to get working with it. I was a bit puzzled by the macro switch, but not anymore... Grt photos too thanks for sharing..👍
I got mine used like new. Love it. Question, what lighting are you using for your insects? I noticed a number of images were above the typical flash sync-speeds bu5 you still got good light at around 400 iso.
Excellent video and sample shots. Just found one for $130. Non-functioning autofocus but I've very rarely used it before so hoping it won't hinder me too much.
Great video, thanks. I just ordered one off Ebay and I'm looking forward to having a play with it. I used to have a Nikon 55mm f2.8 macro, the one with the rabbit ears. I got some amazing shots with that.
You sold me. I may even pickup,an old cheap DSLR. Someone said it but a no nonsense review. I can’t stand the comic routines. Should I buy a FTZ or FTZii? I read the original FTZ may get in the way of an L bracket? Thx
The ftz 1 and 2 function the same. And are the same price. I'd get the 2 just for better ergonomics. Neither shouldn't block an L plate. The 2 is just more comfortable with a camera grip. And thanks! I try to keep everything simple and honest.
@MannsWoodlandPerspective thank you! I know people would say buy the nikon macro z lens but I'm more than happy to buy this lens second hand :) Great videos BTW! I've subscribed :)
I've had this lens for over a year now. I've shot my share of macro shots, but I'd like to know how I can shoot better macro shots. I'd like to know how I can get close up insect shots like you did. I was told I could use a Raynox DCR-250 with it too.
Burst mode, lots of time, and get them used to you hovering around them. I might take 250 photos and 1/2 might be great to keep. And shoot around f/16-f/18. Helps to start practicing around the house in the bushes. I wouldn't use a raynox clip on lens.
Great review....i been considering buying a macro lens....usually use my canon 28-105 with raynox dcr 250......heads been spinning over choice watched many review vids....this one, however, seals the deal.....sigma 105....get in my shopping basket....cheers man.
Thank you for the review--I particularly liked the results this lens delivered for your photographs. I just purchased this lens this past winter and now that it's spring I'm just taking it out for a test drive. Can you expand on why this lens, when shooting Macro, cannot open higher than a F 3.5 on my Nikon D7500. I've been trying to get the narrowest depth of field by opening the lens to it's fastest aperture of 2..8. It's something basic that I'm not understanding completely.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed. The elements move away from the aperture the closer you focus. As it does this the effective aperture lowers and the camera reads this to you to assist with exposure. No different than a telephoto lens like the 150-600. At 150mm it's f/5. As you zoom out, the glass moves away from the aperture. So at 600mm the aperture is further away so the effective aperture is f/6.3. If you want to read down the rabbit hole, search effective aperture for macro photography.
I have one and use it on my Canon EOS 90D. Not only for macro though, I tend to take it along on city trips as well, it's a terrific moderate telephoto lens and it renders beautiful details on buildings etc. It also is very usable for product photography... Beautiful example images! I also have the 150-600C + Sigma TC 1.4, but that is another story. Excellent lens for moon photography.
0@@MannsWoodlandPerspective On a crop sensor camera like the 90D it might be better to get a 60mm f/2.8 macro, however, I'll not be trading it in as I love the image quality. It outbeats my Canon L-glass on the 90D, the Canon glass didn't have enough resolution for the new sensor, not even my 70-200 mil f/4 L mk. I which is a terrific lens for the 70D crop sensor... So now I've switched over to Sigma (18-35 mm F/1.8, 105mm f/2.8 and 150-600 mm f/5 - f6.3 C, and a Tokina 14-20mm f/2.0 which is also a very sharp and, frankly, stunning lens. A pity for Canon's lenses, but hey, they don't care, they only develop new RF lenses for their R-series system camera's. See if I care :)
I recently bought this lens, at under £300 it seemed rude not to! I didn't know what I might use it for, I'm usually using a 500 f4! This has inspired me to just go for a walk in pursuit of small things! I know there's a rare flower that appears locally in early April but it might be a week or two too early for that.
I just bought this lens because of the pretty good reviews, and the price, for my Nikon d5600. I tried it a couple of days and I'm a bit disappointed by the results. As it is fairly heavy, compared to nikon lens I have, i find it hard to be stable enough when holding it, even when OS is on. Compared to the same kind of shots with my nikon 70-300, images are not as sharp. Maybe it's because of the 1/2 sec delay, when the focus is done, for the shutter to be released. When shooting insects, it's a lot of time and it gets out of focus. As you mentioned, the OS doesn't really help for close-ups. Looks like the tripod is necessary, but with birds and insects, it's not optimum.
Looks like the tripod is necessary, but with birds and insects, it's not optimum. For close-ups, image quality is great when shooting on a tripod, but not when hand held.
It's really not an action lens. To get sharper images you need to stop down the aperture and have a faster shutter speed and it's ok. It's also very dependant on what camera you're on. The D5xxx isn't know for great AF performance. The Nikon equipment equivalent are more expensive and probably newer. The Sigma EX series of lenses are older than their current line up. But price to performance nothing really comes close to this lens. A 70-300 lens is also not a macro lens so it's not a great comparison for bugs ect. For macro you will always need a tripod when first learning how to do it. This lens is probably the sharpest lens I own, even using it on the Nikon Z7ii for macro work on bugs and flowers. Bugs need to be stopped down to f15-20 to get enough of the insect in focus in one image. If you want the entire bug in focus at once, you need to take several dozen photos at different focus areas (focus stacking) and combine them in Photoshop. Macro photography takes an entire new skill set to learn to make it work well.
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective Thanks Manns. I guess I was kind of expecting to be a more versatile plug and play lens. I'll try a bit more shots respecting it's limits and see if it's woth keeping.
I am really thinking between the Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 and this one. I would use that 100-105mm focal length for street stuff. I know it isn't the most suitable solution, but as I saw that range can really help to "blend in and spy". Both has roughly the same price here in my country. The extra brightness and faster AF is really appealin on the Canon, but the stabilizer on the Sigma also sounds good, and I bet it is much more suitable to manual focusing if you want to switch, I heard the Canon isn't really strong in that regard. Also, I have a feeling this Sigma is sharper. Can anyone confirm that?
Sadly I've never shot digital Canon so I wouldn't know how their lens stacks up to this Sigma. But you can probably find some graphs/data on DPR Review's website for lens comparisons for sharpness. www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=canon_100_2p0&products=sigma_105_2p8_os And also DXO Mark www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/Canon-EF-100mm-F2-USM-on-Canon-EOS-5DS-R-versus-Sigma-105mm-F28-EX-DG-OS-HSM-Macro-Sony-on-Sony-SLT-Alpha-99-II__798_1009_987_1120
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective Thank you! I bought one for my EOS RP. Very good so far except one thing. When I focus further than a couple of meters, then cutdowns appear in the 4 corners, and a bright ring which almost touch the 4 edges also appear on the screen and the image. Is it possible that I have to buy a dockring and calibrate the damn thing? I thought mirrorless systems prevent things like this.
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective I don't have lightroom :D yes it isn't truly a cutdown, rather an extremely hard vignette, because the picture behind it is visible. Pretty even, rounded black corners. Feels like some kind misalignment? Maybe I will buy a dockring, calibrating and/or firmware may help, but this is completely weird, since I mounted it to a mirrorless body.
Great review, just picked this lens up for £200, stunning quality and great OS, very fast focus on my Z6, I had the Nikon 105mm (non VR) a few years ago, this Sigma is way sharper. Cheers
got a used one today, im liking it. 320.00
Absolute steal!
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective my 3rd macro lens, tamron 90mm no vr. nikon 105D didnt like it, and now sigma. so far so good.
I got it yesterday and I am really enjoying shooting with it. It's so sharp.
@@robertjohnson3980 i also have old Tamron 90, without VR , want to buy sigma 105 os version. What is your impression, sigma is better?
Let's do a price war..... I just got a brand new one boxed on Ebay for $200.00 bucks .....a nice piece of glass ....
great review! Just ordered mine, I can't wait to try it out.
Thank you! Best of luck out there.
What a great, no-nonsense review! Thank you for posting. I've recently been given one of these lenses and a 180mm f3.5 sigma. This video has inspired me to get out and use them. I like the fact that you demonstrated the versatility of the 105mm.
Hey Thanks. That's what I was going for. To try and show its not just a lower lens.
Thats such a wonderful review! All the best mate.
Appreciate the kind words 😊
Thanks for the walk through of the lens. You saved me he experimenting I’d have done otherwise.
I just got one in perfect exterior condition for £95 -the drawback being a tiny amount of fungal growth on the front element but nothing affecting image quality so far. At that price I’ll take an educated gamble. 😊
Be sure to keep that lens far away from your other lenses and equipment. Fungus can migrate very easily.
I bought this a few months ago. I can't take it off my camera, the lens is amazing. Very good for portraits also
Yes!
It punches well above its weight.
I have the older DG version of this lens. I was wondering if I should get the EX. But the DG has apperature setting on the lens. you set it to max apperature for the camera to have control but you can set it when shooting manual or shutter priority. Glad I have the lens.
The DG is a nice lens. Wish there was a Sigma version for Nikon Z.
Thanks for sharing your experience with great results & comments....I am considering buying this lens to use on my D500 so it was helpful to watch your video... cheers from Australia 😀
Glad it was helpful! I'm sure you'll enjoy it for the price.
Great video. Love that caterpillar feeding.
The best!
Great video. You should do more.
Just ordered one.
Thanks! I'm trying to get other companies to send me lenses to review
Great video I cannot wait to go out today and start shooting with this lens..thanks for all the great tips
Grt video thanks for posting. I just bought one of these for macro and you've inspired me to get working with it. I was a bit puzzled by the macro switch, but not anymore... Grt photos too thanks for sharing..👍
Glad I could help.
There is a second video on this lens as well, but its about a wildlife reserve.
Please hit that subscription button!
This is my all time favorite lens
Its soo good i might never replace it.
What kind of a diffuser you using?
And some pictures look like they are 2:1 not 1:1…
Great shots 😁
No diffuser used.
I crop in a lot on images 😂
Great shots 😊
I got mine used like new. Love it. Question, what lighting are you using for your insects? I noticed a number of images were above the typical flash sync-speeds bu5 you still got good light at around 400 iso.
Just typical sunlight on blue sky days or at sunset. Iv never really used a flash or anything.
cheers mate great review im gonna buy it due to your great review will link you in
Thanks man! Really appreciate that.
Subscription on IG. I'd like to see what you capture with it.
Great review! Is there any chance for Sigma to make a newer version of this lens for z mount? I saw they made a new version for Canon RF
Thank you!
Honestly that's a hard guess.
But Tamron just said in an interview they wish to have their entire E mount lineup on Z.
Love your portable small led tripod light. Where can it be obtained please?
Thanks!
Off the top of my head, this is the closest thing I can find.
amzn.to/47o8acg
Thank you! I just purchased this lens!
Excellent video and sample shots. Just found one for $130. Non-functioning autofocus but I've very rarely used it before so hoping it won't hinder me too much.
Thank you! Best of luck with your diamond in the rough lens find!
Hi good informative video do you think it’s possible to fit a teleconverter on this lense?
Per Sigma's website " By using SIGMA’s APO Tele Converter, it is possible to take photos at greater than 1:1 magnification."
Thank you for so such of good video, very well explain. I learned a lot. thank you again
Thank you, and welcome!
Thanks for explaining this. I'm going straight to buy it now on Amazon
Best of luck! Happy shooting.
Even with a 77D, i'm seeing exquisite stuff with it :o Amazing craft
@@lokthalas7540 so good!
Great test! Thanks
Thank you ☺️
What is the distance between the camera and the subject in telephoto shots? I have a nikon d7500
For the rodeo? Probably 100-150 feet.
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective Will this lens be used to take long-distance photos at events such as weddings?
Great video review of a fine, almost “must-have” 105mm lens. I enjoy mine. Thanks.
So good 😊
Great video, thanks. I just ordered one off Ebay and I'm looking forward to having a play with it. I used to have a Nikon 55mm f2.8 macro, the one with the rabbit ears. I got some amazing shots with that.
Best of luck! You'll love the upgrade over Non AI lens.
Beautiful photos!
Thanks 😀
Just purchased one and looking to get out and use it at a local skate park for some action shots
Best of luck, just remember it's not a fast focuser 🤞
You sold me. I may even pickup,an old cheap DSLR. Someone said it but a no nonsense review. I can’t stand the comic routines. Should I buy a FTZ or FTZii? I read the original FTZ may get in the way of an L bracket? Thx
The ftz 1 and 2 function the same. And are the same price. I'd get the 2 just for better ergonomics.
Neither shouldn't block an L plate. The 2 is just more comfortable with a camera grip.
And thanks! I try to keep everything simple and honest.
Thank you for the review, and for the shaking part, i was thinking is broken lol
Welcome! It's a very common thought 😅
Would this lens be compatible with a Nikon Z9 with the ftz adapter of course? Sorry if its a silly question
Absolutely! I use it on a Z9 now. There is another video I did semi recently with this same setup.
th-cam.com/video/H5Qpt1q-Owc/w-d-xo.html
@MannsWoodlandPerspective thank you! I know people would say buy the nikon macro z lens but I'm more than happy to buy this lens second hand :)
Great videos BTW! I've subscribed :)
I've had this lens for over a year now. I've shot my share of macro shots, but I'd like to know how I can shoot better macro shots. I'd like to know how I can get close up insect shots like you did. I was told I could use a Raynox DCR-250 with it too.
Burst mode, lots of time, and get them used to you hovering around them. I might take 250 photos and 1/2 might be great to keep. And shoot around f/16-f/18.
Helps to start practicing around the house in the bushes.
I wouldn't use a raynox clip on lens.
Great review....i been considering buying a macro lens....usually use my canon 28-105 with raynox dcr 250......heads been spinning over choice watched many review vids....this one, however, seals the deal.....sigma 105....get in my shopping basket....cheers man.
Glad I helped you choose 😊
I wonder how a raynox would look on a macro lens 🤔
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective Be interested to see myself, not sure it would be effective on a dedicated macro lens
Got one just over a month ago, ruddy great lens. Cool video, thanks for posting.
Welcome! Good luck!
Thank you for the review--I particularly liked the results this lens delivered for your photographs. I just purchased this lens this past winter and now that it's spring I'm just taking it out for a test drive. Can you expand on why this lens, when shooting Macro, cannot open higher than a F 3.5 on my Nikon D7500. I've been trying to get the narrowest depth of field by opening the lens to it's fastest aperture of 2..8. It's something basic that I'm not understanding completely.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed.
The elements move away from the aperture the closer you focus. As it does this the effective aperture lowers and the camera reads this to you to assist with exposure.
No different than a telephoto lens like the 150-600.
At 150mm it's f/5. As you zoom out, the glass moves away from the aperture. So at 600mm the aperture is further away so the effective aperture is f/6.3.
If you want to read down the rabbit hole, search effective aperture for macro photography.
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective Thanks so much, very enlightening. This is a whole new world for me Macro.
Is this lens adaptable to a full frame Camera ?? TIA
Yes. It is a full frame lens.
I have one and use it on my Canon EOS 90D. Not only for macro though, I tend to take it along on city trips as well, it's a terrific moderate telephoto lens and it renders beautiful details on buildings etc. It also is very usable for product photography...
Beautiful example images!
I also have the 150-600C + Sigma TC 1.4, but that is another story. Excellent lens for moon photography.
Such a great isn't it!
I'll be selling this one soon ish. Time to upgrade to Nikon 105mm MC macro.
0@@MannsWoodlandPerspective On a crop sensor camera like the 90D it might be better to get a 60mm f/2.8 macro, however, I'll not be trading it in as I love the image quality. It outbeats my Canon L-glass on the 90D, the Canon glass didn't have enough resolution for the new sensor, not even my 70-200 mil f/4 L mk. I which is a terrific lens for the 70D crop sensor... So now I've switched over to Sigma (18-35 mm F/1.8, 105mm f/2.8 and 150-600 mm f/5 - f6.3 C, and a Tokina 14-20mm f/2.0 which is also a very sharp and, frankly, stunning lens. A pity for Canon's lenses, but hey, they don't care, they only develop new RF lenses for their R-series system camera's. See if I care :)
Got this lens on my canon M50 with the adapter hoping to Road test it soon . Great video, thank you,.
Thank you! And best of luck. You will enjoy it once you get some practice going.
Very good pictured and videos.
Thank you 😊
Nice review! Very neutral and helpful, thank you 👌
@@MY-mr5yt thank you!
I recently bought this lens, at under £300 it seemed rude not to! I didn't know what I might use it for, I'm usually using a 500 f4! This has inspired me to just go for a walk in pursuit of small things! I know there's a rare flower that appears locally in early April but it might be a week or two too early for that.
Good luck on finding it!
This lens will really help you enjoy and remember the cycles of insects and flowers through the year.
Just subbed great video, how good in your opinion would you rate it for images of coins.
I'm sure it would work great for coins. No worries!
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective thanks very much. Happy Christmas.
Happy Christmas!
Good review thanks
Thank you 😁
I just bought this lens because of the pretty good reviews, and the price, for my Nikon d5600. I tried it a couple of days and I'm a bit disappointed by the results. As it is fairly heavy, compared to nikon lens I have, i find it hard to be stable enough when holding it, even when OS is on. Compared to the same kind of shots with my nikon 70-300, images are not as sharp. Maybe it's because of the 1/2 sec delay, when the focus is done, for the shutter to be released. When shooting insects, it's a lot of time and it gets out of focus. As you mentioned, the OS doesn't really help for close-ups. Looks like the tripod is necessary, but with birds and insects, it's not optimum.
Looks like the tripod is necessary, but with birds and insects, it's not optimum. For close-ups, image quality is great when shooting on a tripod, but not when hand held.
It's really not an action lens. To get sharper images you need to stop down the aperture and have a faster shutter speed and it's ok. It's also very dependant on what camera you're on. The D5xxx isn't know for great AF performance.
The Nikon equipment equivalent are more expensive and probably newer. The Sigma EX series of lenses are older than their current line up. But price to performance nothing really comes close to this lens.
A 70-300 lens is also not a macro lens so it's not a great comparison for bugs ect.
For macro you will always need a tripod when first learning how to do it.
This lens is probably the sharpest lens I own, even using it on the Nikon Z7ii for macro work on bugs and flowers.
Bugs need to be stopped down to f15-20 to get enough of the insect in focus in one image.
If you want the entire bug in focus at once, you need to take several dozen photos at different focus areas (focus stacking) and combine them in Photoshop.
Macro photography takes an entire new skill set to learn to make it work well.
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective Thanks Manns. I guess I was kind of expecting to be a more versatile plug and play lens. I'll try a bit more shots respecting it's limits and see if it's woth keeping.
@@joss1videos flic.kr/p/2nkek2V
Absolutely worth it.
I am really thinking between the Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 and this one. I would use that 100-105mm focal length for street stuff. I know it isn't the most suitable solution, but as I saw that range can really help to "blend in and spy". Both has roughly the same price here in my country. The extra brightness and faster AF is really appealin on the Canon, but the stabilizer on the Sigma also sounds good, and I bet it is much more suitable to manual focusing if you want to switch, I heard the Canon isn't really strong in that regard. Also, I have a feeling this Sigma is sharper. Can anyone confirm that?
Sadly I've never shot digital Canon so I wouldn't know how their lens stacks up to this Sigma. But you can probably find some graphs/data on DPR Review's website for lens comparisons for sharpness.
www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=canon_100_2p0&products=sigma_105_2p8_os
And also DXO Mark
www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/Canon-EF-100mm-F2-USM-on-Canon-EOS-5DS-R-versus-Sigma-105mm-F28-EX-DG-OS-HSM-Macro-Sony-on-Sony-SLT-Alpha-99-II__798_1009_987_1120
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective Thank you! I bought one for my EOS RP. Very good so far except one thing. When I focus further than a couple of meters, then cutdowns appear in the 4 corners, and a bright ring which almost touch the 4 edges also appear on the screen and the image. Is it possible that I have to buy a dockring and calibrate the damn thing? I thought mirrorless systems prevent things like this.
@@staLkerhu I'm unsure exactly what you're experiencing, it sounds like vignetting. Does the lens profile in lightroom correct the images?
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective I don't have lightroom :D yes it isn't truly a cutdown, rather an extremely hard vignette, because the picture behind it is visible. Pretty even, rounded black corners. Feels like some kind misalignment? Maybe I will buy a dockring, calibrating and/or firmware may help, but this is completely weird, since I mounted it to a mirrorless body.
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective here is an example: pinkbike.com/photo/22796668/
Great review, just picked this lens up for £200, stunning quality and great OS, very fast focus on my Z6, I had the Nikon 105mm (non VR) a few years ago, this Sigma is way sharper. Cheers
Oh yes, worlds better than the older Nikon 105mm. Speaking of 105mm, I sure hope Nikon brings the 105 1.4 portrait lens over to Z though.
@@MannsWoodlandPerspective yes but I doubt it will be cheap, $£2k+
Sound is a little poor
What are you watching on? Poor as in what way?
It sounds plenty loud and clear on my end with a Samsung S20FE, Roku TV and a MacBook Air.
Just got this lens ..described as Excellent and boxed for £110....Bargain!!!
Holy moley!
Volume is far too low.
Yeah I use a higher volume when exporting content now.