Sigma Telephoto 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Cameras (Four Thirds System) USA

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

This lens is a great macro lens. I loved the IQ and the fast aperture. The bokeh is very natural and pleasing. The focus limiter works like intended, no complaints there.

The only downside for me is that it is manual only on my GH1, I don't know why. But I got this as a close-up lens addition to the Olympus 14-54, now my main les on the GH1.

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

I bought this as a dedicated long focus macro lens for use handheld and on tripod. The sharpness is fine. I debated getting the 150 mm Sigma instead (I shoot dragonflies), but I'm glad I got the shorter 105. Telephoto macros are very touchy to focus, and I suspect the 150 wouldn't be handholdable, at least for me.

Other reviews have mentioned problems with autofocusing, and I will say that the autofocus is not always fast or accurate. However, as a macro lens, I always focus manually, and the mechanical focus ring is a real pleasure next to the mushy focus by wire of most new lenses.

Bottom line, works fine as a dedicated macro lens, which of course is what it is.

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

This Sigma 105mm macro lens is about everything I hoped for. I wanted a fast prime with greater reach than the ZD 50 f/2 I've been shooting with for a little over a year, mainly as a short telephoto. Up to acquiring the Sigma I hadn't really explored the 50's macro capabilities. This lens admirably fits the bill as a longer telephoto and since getting it I've started shooting more macro, both with it and the 50, also using the EC 1.4 with the latter for this purpose. The 50's IQ is just phenomenal so I wondered if the Sigma could keep up and it really does - while I notice subtle differences with it from the Zukios (I also shoot with the 12-60 & 50-200 SWDs on E-30 & E-520 bodies) in no way is this Sigma's output any less pleasing. Its images do seem to have some purple fringing with the EC 1.4, so I avoid this combination. The Sigma lacks the weatherproofing of the Zukio HG lenses, but its build quality is very good. I have had no complaint with its AF performance. The lens is extremely sharp corner to corner and its colour rendition is gorgeous. As a 105mm prime it fills a gap in the Zukio lineup at an attractive price point. Based on the high performance of this one I would certainly try other Sigma lenses - this is a quality optic and I am very happy with it.

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

I own the Olympus 50mm macro, and it is an excellent optic, but I wanted more reach for live macro work. I've waited patiently 5yrs for Oly to produce the 100mm macro and finally gave up and
bought the Sigma.

I've been pretty pleased with it. As most users report it is quite sharp with good chromatic correction.

I've seen complaints about slow focus, but haven't found that to be the case. If the limit switch is understood and used properly the lens focuses very quickly at normal ranges. It's slower in the macro range of course because of the loooong extension. It's a well thought out system and I like it.

The only real gripe I have is the matte finish, and that is to some degree personal. I'd prefer a
satin finish.

I would certainly recommend this lens to anyone needing a lightweight lens with decent reach and excellent performance.

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

The lens does everything I need it to. My goal with this lens was to be able to take 1:1 macro pics of bugs at a better working distance. Switching from auto-focus to manual focus is a bit clumsy at first, there is a switch on the lens plus a barrel switch (like a shotgun) and I have to change setting in camera menu (Olympus E-600 mount)but after a while I got the hang of it. Auto-focus is a little jumpy in lower light but that might be my camera.Great macro lens for me.

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

Since I found myself shooting a lot of macro-like pictures using my superzoom, I thought I'd finally jump in and purchase a macro lens. I'm using an Olympus E-P1 with this glass. This is my first macro and I quite happy with it.

What I liked:
The lens is super sharp and allowed me to focus on subjects that are inches away from it. A typical macro feature. The large range of 105mm works rather well shooting at insects by allowing me to position myself a little farther, so not to disturb them. I've yet to fully test this as a portrait lens but from sample shots it looks to be very attractive as DOF was rather shalow, blurring the BG really well and the bokeh is rather nice.

What I didn't like:
The focus is very slow and sometimes it hunts quite a lot even in good lighting situations. I also didn't like the 2 settings for focus types, which if you wanted to switch from AF to MF, but I'm getting used to it. Another minor thing I'm not really thrilled about is the matte finish, but that's just me getting picky.

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

I use this lens for insect photography on Olympus cameras. The lens is very sharp edge to edge, sharper than my 14-54 or 12-60 Zuiko zooms. The results can be outstanding.

The lens does not need a lens cap, due to the deeply recessed front element. The working distance is perfect for insect photography: sufficient to avoid scaring the insects away, yet short enough that photography without tripod or flash is possible. The one drawback is that it is fairly slow to switch between MF and AF: you need to change a switch on the camera, a switch on the lens, and pull in/out the lens focusing ring.

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

As a macro photographer, the 105mm f/2.8 Macro Autofocus Lens is perfect. I have a 35mm Macro lens, but found that in order to get
the shot I wanted, I'd have to bend my body in unusual and uncomfortable positioning. With the 105mm, I'm able to stand back a bit, use my tripod
and get the shots I'm seeking.

I highly recommend this lens as it's weight isn't too heavy, and I can even
hand-hold it without my tripod.

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

I have really enjoyed this lens. It's sharp, easy to use, and affordable. I've used it mostly in its manual focus mode and stopped down to 11-22 and the images are needle sharp. It's a little soft on distant subjects, but that's not what I bought it for.

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

I spent a lot of time researching this purchae. I wanted a good, fixed focus telephoto lens for my Olympus E3. The reviews on the Sigma lens were all very high. In use it produces very sharp and color true images. The relatively fast 2.8 aperture is a benefit. After almost a month with the lens I am very pleased with the performance.

I find only one drawback and that is a slowness of focusing when going from telephoto to macro. The lens hunts too long to find the focus point. The lens also has settings (switches, really) for auto and manual focus in two places on the lens. And you must use them to coordinate with your cameras settings. The lens also has two setting for focus - full and limited. This is supposed to help the auto-focus by limiting the focus parameters to a close-up range and a "normal" range. Not sure it works all that well. You need to get used to these settings to get the best out of the lens.

Having said that, the performance quality makes up for the single drawback. Not to mention the price.

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

I use this product for macro photography. I had a macro 50mm 1:2 previously but this one is great. very sharp.
I have some wonderful shots of dragonflies,butterflies and frogs. very clear at close range

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

Nice focal length, not heavy.
Well damped focus ring.
Auto/Manual Focus switch pointless.

Comments about Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro Autofocus Lens for Olympus Digital Camera:

I got this to give me some distance from subjects in macroshots. AF is quick, focus is sharp. The 105mm focused atinfinity makes a nice portrait or scenery lens too.

Expertise: Hobby enthusiast

Problems Encountered: Pay attention to the Auto/Manual focus switch and ring.