Lens review

Sigma 180 mm f/3.5 EX DG HSM Macro APO

11. Summary

Pros:

• good image quality in the front centre,
• very solid casing and high build quality,
• satisfactory level of chromatic aberration correction,
• zero distortion,
• well corrected coma,
• slight astigmatism,
• very good work against bright light,
• low vignetting,
• silent autofocus,
• rich accessory kit (hood, case, tripod ring),
• two-year-long guarantee which you can extend by next three years.

Cons:

• image resolution should have been better for this price/quality segment,
• slow and not very accurate autofocus.

From an expensive prime lens of high quality we expect mainly and above all very high image quality. It is one of main reasons plenty of amateur photographers give up much more universal zoom lenses. Unfortunately in this category the tested Sigma 180 mm f/3.5 Macro didn’t fare well. Although the number of its advantages is impressive, two serious slip-ups or shortcomings, connected with resolution and the autofocus, make us more interested in the Sigma 150 mm f/2.8 Macro, which images are exceptionally sharp and the autofocus, although not perfectly accurate, is at least quick and silent.

Sample shots:

Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 180 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/400 sec., ISO 1600 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.1 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 180 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/2500 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.9 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 180 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/250 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.7 MB
Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 180 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/400 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.7 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 180 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/1250 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.6 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 180 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/2000 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.6 MB
Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 180 mm, f/3.5, exp. 2 sec., ISO 3200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.7 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 180 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/250 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.4 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 180 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/60 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.6 MB
Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 180 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/200 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 5.6 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 180 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/200 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 5.1 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 180 mm, f/10.0, exp. 1/200 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 4.0 MB