[warwick]

hi just warwick again , i am looking a buying a new marco len like idea's on tamron 180mm vs simga 150mm.

the pro's and com's of the two lens

my camera is nikon d3

thank you

[couplos]

hi Warwick,



I had to make the same choice some years ago (on canon),

I finally choose the tamron, very fine lens,

cons ? very slow AF, AF only works with the central AF-point, quite builky (especially with the lenshood attached)



still, I think the sigma is a more obvious choice :

-f2.8 vs f3.5 allows the use of a 2* converter

-sigma has a focus limiter

-the focal lenght keeps the flash within the flash-syncro (if the body has 1/250 flash-syncro)

the only reason that kept me away from this lens, was the fear of guetting a bad example (decenterd f.e.)



IQ-wise I guess both are very good,

this could interest you



http://www.nnplus.de/macro/Macro100E.html



kr

couplos

[mst]

Personally, I'd choose the Sigma ... even though it's a Sigma <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



Pros: very compact compared to 180mm macro lenses (only slightly longer than 105VR without hood, virtually identical with hood). Very fast AF, HSM, f/2.8. Doubles as a (long) portrait lens. Smooth bokeh (however, usually a non-issue with any macro lens, just as sharpness). Two-stage limiter switch (full, 0.52m to infinity, MFD to 0.52m). Better tripod collar, IMO. Additional, large grip tripod collar available (TS-41), but costs extra.



Cons: successor with OS already announced. Not completely free of LoCAs despite APO in its name (LoCAs very low, though). Mounts to Sigma 2x TC, however does NOT provide AF in this combination (same is true for the Sigma 180 HSM). Fully works with Sigma 1.4x TC, though. May AF with other 2x TCs, haven't tested this.



-- Markus

[Brightcolours]

Tamron 180mm pros:

* great optics

* longer focal length

* accurate AF



Cons:

* Tamron build quality

* Slow AF



Sigma 150mm pros:

* Very good optics

* Better build quality

* Silent and faster AF



Sigma 150mm cons:

* The awful Sigma finish of the barrel

* shorter focal length



Both are top macro lenses, both are the best choices for longer macro lenses for Nikon.

[popo]

I eventually went with the Sigma 150mm myself, and am generally happy with it. As mentioned before, with the Sigma 2x on it, it does NOT AF. I do debate from time to time if I should have got the 180mm for the longer working distance which from memory seems quite a bit more for the small difference in focal length.



Any reason the Sigma 180mm macro isn't also considered?



I do like the finish of the Sigma <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[couplos]

[quote name='popo' timestamp='1294497123' post='5392']

Any reason the Sigma 180mm macro isn't also considered?

[/quote]



...discontinued...

[Brightcolours]

[quote name='popo' timestamp='1294497123' post='5392']

I eventually went with the Sigma 150mm myself, and am generally happy with it. As mentioned before, with the Sigma 2x on it, it does NOT AF. I do debate from time to time if I should have got the 180mm for the longer working distance which from memory seems quite a bit more for the small difference in focal length.



Any reason the Sigma 180mm macro isn't also considered?



I do like the finish of the Sigma <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[/quote]

Not nearly as good optically as the Tamron 180mm f3.5 either.

[huffy49]

Hi warwick:



I considered the same choice a few years ago. I really liked the Sigma 150 for its slightly larger aperture and slightly shorter focal length. However, my past experience with Sigma's reliability led me to choose the Tamron, which I've been very happy with (the Canon 180 was just too many $$$$).



My first experience with Sigma was a 400mm f/5.6 Apo in EOS mount; it arrived with a very loose tripod mount and never held up very well - I soon traded it.



My second experience was a Sigma 28-70 lens (a gift), also in EOS mount, worked fine on my Canon Elan, but gave an error code on my EOS 350D. It was late in the lens' life cycle and Sigma wouldn't/couldn't re-chip it. At any rate, the front element fell off in my hands at the dinner table one evening!



I would not consider any Sigma lens in Canon mount as they have a long history of compatibility issues with newer Canon models. I've never heard of any similar complaints on Nikon, Minolta (Sony) or any other mounts.



John

[Brightcolours]

[quote name='huffy49' timestamp='1294673190' post='5405']

Hi warwick:



I considered the same choice a few years ago. I really liked the Sigma 150 for its slightly larger aperture and slightly shorter focal length. However, my past experience with Sigma's reliability led me to choose the Tamron, which I've been very happy with (the Canon 180 was just too many $$$$).



My first experience with Sigma was a 400mm f/5.6 Apo in EOS mount; it arrived with a very loose tripod mount and never held up very well - I soon traded it.



My second experience was a Sigma 28-70 lens (a gift), also in EOS mount, worked fine on my Canon Elan, but gave an error code on my EOS 350D. It was late in the lens' life cycle and Sigma wouldn't/couldn't re-chip it. At any rate, the front element fell off in my hands at the dinner table one evening!



I would not consider any Sigma lens in Canon mount as they have a long history of compatibility issues with newer Canon models. I've never heard of any similar complaints on Nikon, Minolta (Sony) or any other mounts.



John

[/quote]

They do NOT have a "long history" of compatibility issues, that is just not true.

Sigma's lenses worked on all Canon EOS camera until around the advent of the EOS 10D or so Canon made the electrical aperture operation a bit more strict in the signals it would take, and then the SIgma lenses till then started to make the cameras have a problem closing the aperture on the Sigma lenses.



That was a one time deal.



No, Sigma lenses may have a problem on the new Sony A55/A33 cameras.



For the rest, Sigma lenses can be very reliable, of course some lenses more than others. You will for instance never hear about real problems with the Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro, it is a fine lens.

[mst]

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1294674208' post='5406']

Sigma's lenses worked on all Canon EOS camera until around the advent of the EOS 10D or so

[/quote]



IIRC it was the EOS 30/33.



[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1294674208' post='5406']

That was a one time deal.

[/quote]



Not really. There was a compatibility issue with the Nikon D200: HSM lenses didn't focus with this camera when the rear AF-ON button was used. Current HSM lenses at that time needed firmware updates (including the 150 HSM).



Next issue is with the D7000: no AF in LiveView. Again, for HSM lenses only (including the 150 HSM).



-- Markus