Test driving a sigma 105 f/2.8 Macro

[dapettit]

I've been kicking around the idea of adding a second macro lens to my arsenal. I currently have 55mm f/2.8 Nikkor I bought in the 1980's. These were shot with my Nikon D80.

I really like the Sigma lens even though it tends to get soft after f/22.

Here are some shots. These were taken under several different lighting conditions to get a feel for what the lens can do.

Under 2 X 54W URI 420NM Actinics:

 

[dapettit]

My wife’s' softie tanks 300W PC:

 

[dapettit]

Under 2 X 250W MH SPS:

 

[BlueCorn]

I really like the Sigma lens even though it tends to get soft after f/22.

I agree that the Sigma is a nice lens. Much of the softness at narrow apertures comes from diffraction. Diffraction is a fact of life and starts to occur, regardless of the lens, at roughly f/11 on cropped sensors and f/13 on full frame. It's physics and there isn't anyway around it.

 

[dapettit]

More under 2 X 250W MH SPS:

And 1 artsy: