Picture: The Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM MACRO on a Sony 230.
Picture by Allan LEE.

We would like to be honest about this. This is our 2nd Sigma 105mm Macro. We used to have the previous version which we totally hate.
The focusing take forever and the noise from the older micro motor simply scares away every insect that we tried to shoot.
We were so pissed with that old 105mm macro that we decided to give it away.

Recently, Sigma Marketing Singapore told us that they have a new 105mm Macro lying around and would like me to put it to good use following
my review on the New Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM. So without expecting anything or telling Sigma Marketing Singapore how much we hated the previous version, I took the lens and was pleasantly shocked at what’s inside the box. The newer Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro looks totally different from the version that we use to have and hated, I dare to say that this new version is like a new lens built from scratch. First, Sigma had dumped the old lens body coating that deteriotes with time and gave us that “Sticky” feel, the new lens barrel is smooth and nice to the touch and it feels like some of the more expensive equivalents out there.

Picture: The Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM MACRO on a Sony 230.
Picture by Allan LEE.

Apart from the cosmetic overhaul, the lens now comes with HSM & OS which the previous version lacks. This unit that we gotten is for Sony Alpha A-Mount and the HSM is as fast & quiet as the Sony’s proprietory Super Sonic Motor (SSM). Shooting with it, we are happy to report that Auto focus is blazing fast and accurate. I am not exaggerating here, but having owned the previous version and now using this version, we were blown away with its performance. Photos turned out tack sharp and every details is captured as how a macro lens should be expected of and the colors are rendered very nicely – thanks to the SLD Glass among the elements group and the Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer Coating that ensures all photos are well toned and no details is lost.

The new 105mm comes with a 9 blades aperture that gives indecent creamy background blur even when stopped down to F8, this is crazy by any close-up standards and it has a good minimum focusing distance of only 30cm (although Sigma claimed 31.2cm). Let’s look at the photos loaded direct from the camera that were shot with this lens by our Sub-Editor Yu Ling.

Picture by Yu Ling using the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM MACRO on a Sony 230.

Picture by Yu Ling using the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM MACRO on a Sony 230.

Picture by Yu Ling using the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM MACRO on a Sony 230.

Picture by Yu Ling using the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM MACRO on a Sony 230.

Picture by Yu Ling using the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM MACRO on a Sony 230.

Picture by Yu Ling using the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM MACRO on a Sony 230.

Impressed with the photo? We feel that this 105mm Macro gives photographers a great alternative to the proprietory brands as well
as other 3rd party manufacturers on offer. Professional & serious photographers are likely to go for picture quality, price and lens quality
rather than be a brand fanatic. This popular macro range (from 90mm to 105mm) are very useable for many other genres apart from
shooting close-ups, for those that are new to macro lenses, this range is superb for portraitures too, and remember the 9 blades aperture?
Your bokehs will be excellent! This lens is made compact and light so it makes travelling with it a breeze and it will find a place in your
camera bag anytime. Our verdict?

We Love This Lens~!!

Some Quick Specs here:
– Focal Range 105mm (157.5mm on Nikon, Sony-Minolta, APS-C bodies & 168mm on Canon APS-C bodies)
– Filter Size 62mm
– Inside the retail box, you get the Lens, a nicely cushioned pouch, instructions, hood, APS-C Hood Adaptor & warranty papers.
– Aperture F2.8 to F22
– Magnification 1:1
– Minimum focusing distance 31.2cm.

For the full specifications and more information on this wonder-macro lens, click here.
For Purchase information and local enquiries, please click here. (Singapore & Malaysia)
For other Sigma Related Articles & Reviews click here.

Special Thanks to Sigma Marketing Singapore for allowing this review to happen.

Sigma Marketing Singapore Pte Ltd. is a subsidiary of Sigma Japan Corporation.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
** Sigma had re-organized their whole lens line into 3 category.
They are “C” Lens, “A” Lens & “S” Lens.

C Lens = Contemporary Lens Line

Featuring the very latest technology, and combining optical performance with compactness, Sigma’s high-performance Contemporary line covers a wide range of needs. Lenses in this category are Standard zoom lenses, telephoto zoom lenses, high-magnification zoom lenses.

A Lens = Art Lens Line

Designed with a focus on sophisticated optical performance and abundant expressive power, Sigma’s Art line delivers high-level artistic expression. Lenses in this category are Large-aperture prime lenses, wide-angle lenses, ultra-wide-angle lenses, macro lenses, fisheye lenses.

S Lens – Sports Lens Line

While offering sophisticated optical performance and expressiveness, Sigma Sports line lenses deliver high action-capture performance, enabling photographers to get exactly the shots they want. Lenses in this category are Telephoto lenses, telephoto zoom lenses, super telephoto lenses, super telephoto zoom lenses.

Sigma Marketing Singapore Pte Ltd. is a subsidiary of Sigma Japan Corporation.

For more information, please visit http://www.sigma-global.com