Obliviou$
01-09-2006, 6:41 PM
Optical Performance
There's nothing to complain about. It's edge to edge sharp, great color production and beautiful silky soft bokeh. My copy is sharp from 2.8 and up to at least f13. This is a true macro lens with a 1:1 reproduction.
105mm is a great all around macro. Good too shoot smaller fish with, without beeing nailed to the glass or sitting on the couch on the other side of the room. It will also give you some working distance out in the wild.
One con is focusing is a bit slow, and could be less noisy. But because of the focus range, most macros are slow and noisy.
Build
For the size, it's quite a heavy lens, which gives a sturdy feel. How ever, the focus ring feels a bit plasticy, but the plastic feel goes away on the lens itself, where you can feel cold metall. The focus ring is large, and well placed, very nice to handle in MF. You can pull or push the focus ring for easy MF/AF switching. At AF the ring will not rotate. It's also equipped with a LIMIT/FULL button which can limit your focus range for faster focusing.
Aperture ring is present, so yiou can use it on old cameras.
It uses a 58mm filter thread, and the glass is dug deep into the lens where it's pretty safe from scratches.
The reason why I gave it a four is the plastic feel. Rest is superb.
Technical Data
11 Elements in 10 Groups
Angle of View: 23.3 degrees
Number of Diaphragm Blades: 8 Blades
Minimum Aperture: F45
Minimum Focusing Distance: 31.3cm/12.3 in.
Maximum Magnification: 1:1
Filter Size: 58mm
Dimensions: 74mm X Length 97.5mm
2.9 in. X 3.8 in.
Weight 457g/16.1 oz.
Corresponding AF Mounts: SIGMA, CANON, NIKON (D), MINOLTA, PENTAX
Conclusion
I recommend this lens to the fullest. One of my favourites and I don't leave home without it when I'm going on trips or out nature hunting.
There's nothing to complain about. It's edge to edge sharp, great color production and beautiful silky soft bokeh. My copy is sharp from 2.8 and up to at least f13. This is a true macro lens with a 1:1 reproduction.
105mm is a great all around macro. Good too shoot smaller fish with, without beeing nailed to the glass or sitting on the couch on the other side of the room. It will also give you some working distance out in the wild.
One con is focusing is a bit slow, and could be less noisy. But because of the focus range, most macros are slow and noisy.
Build
For the size, it's quite a heavy lens, which gives a sturdy feel. How ever, the focus ring feels a bit plasticy, but the plastic feel goes away on the lens itself, where you can feel cold metall. The focus ring is large, and well placed, very nice to handle in MF. You can pull or push the focus ring for easy MF/AF switching. At AF the ring will not rotate. It's also equipped with a LIMIT/FULL button which can limit your focus range for faster focusing.
Aperture ring is present, so yiou can use it on old cameras.
It uses a 58mm filter thread, and the glass is dug deep into the lens where it's pretty safe from scratches.
The reason why I gave it a four is the plastic feel. Rest is superb.
Technical Data
11 Elements in 10 Groups
Angle of View: 23.3 degrees
Number of Diaphragm Blades: 8 Blades
Minimum Aperture: F45
Minimum Focusing Distance: 31.3cm/12.3 in.
Maximum Magnification: 1:1
Filter Size: 58mm
Dimensions: 74mm X Length 97.5mm
2.9 in. X 3.8 in.
Weight 457g/16.1 oz.
Corresponding AF Mounts: SIGMA, CANON, NIKON (D), MINOLTA, PENTAX
Conclusion
I recommend this lens to the fullest. One of my favourites and I don't leave home without it when I'm going on trips or out nature hunting.