Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF

[11 of 12 customers found this review helpful]

Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF Review

Better than I ever expected it to be

"This lens let me take a picture of an ordinary flower so close up it looks like an alien land scape !! Very cool lens to take out of the ordinary photos."

Funky Flower

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Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF Review

Best glass I've bought to date

Great Customer Photo

"This lens in one day alone has put all of my previous macro work to shame. Takes amazing macro photos in bright and dim conditions. When paired with a close-up glass filter this lens can really put you extremely close to subjects you never thought possible!"

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[4 of 4 customers found this review helpful]

Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF Review

Great macro lens

"I use this lens primarily for nature-based macros.

The 1:1 macro ability is fantastic. However, note that you only have about an inch of space to work with when doing a full 1:1 macro. If you are not able to get that close to your subject, you won't be able to take full advantage of the macro abilities of the lens.



Very fast lens, but it does slow down as you focus closer from infinity. At 1:1, the maximum aperture is only f/5. It's usually not a problem, though. Just remember that to do serious macros with low light, or a fast/shaky subject, you will probably need a tripod and/or flash.



It has a lovely bokeh- a must for a macro.



The autofocus is slow and cumbersome, but generally in macro work, manual focus is preferred anyways. Really, I look at is as a bonus feature- there and functional if you need it.





As a non-macro lens, it still performs decently. The speed and bokeh are again excellent. The main flaw for this use would be the slow autofocus and, more seriously, the difficulty to fine-tune the focus at longer distances. This was designed to be a macro lens definitely-- close-range the focus can be adjusted to the most minute detail. Farther away, moving the focus a few millimeters changes it from a few feet away to infinity. Definitely better used just for macros, though it may be adequate in a pinch or for stationary subjects/studio photography.



The lens bares excellent sharpness, contrast, and colors. It has more flaring issues than I would prefer, but that as well usually isn't too much an issue, so long as you're using it for macro purposes.



For this price, you cannot go wrong. It is a great lens."

[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]

Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF Review

Very impressed

"I'm very impressed with this lens. I have used many different lenses, including some genuine high-end Nikkors, and this Sigma will rank right there near the top. In optical quality alone it seems to be pretty hard to improve on. There might be a slight bit of CA discernible at 100% magnification on some shots with extreme color/brightness transitions, but in most cases one will have to look really hard to find any fault with the image quality, -- so it is just plain nit-picking. It is sharp straight from f2.8. The bokeh is very creamy, and the color transitions and tones are very natural and just beautiful. The contrast is very good too. I haven't noticed any flare either. On a camera with a DX sensor this lens becomes also a 75mm portrait lens in addition to being a macro. The AF speed is very reasonable for a macro lens, and there is a focus limiter. The lens is compact and gives an impression of being very solidly built, -- there is nothing in the construction or materials that feels cheap to me. I have one minor design gripe: the lens hood is a screw-in type, and when it is on, one can't use the supplied 55mm lens cap. So, if you don't want to hassle with screwing and unscrewing the hood all the time just to put on the front cap, -- get a 72mm lens cap, -- it fits perfectly on the hood. The copy of the lens I got required a moderate AF fine tune adjustment (-6) to get AF perfectly on target. I can imagine that if I had a camera without the AF fine tune feature I could be very disappointed in this lens, -- as it is this is a non-issue for me, so I'm not going to deduct any points for this. Overall, I'm VERY pleased with this lens, and if you also factor in a very moderate price, it is really a gem hard to pass."

[5 of 5 customers found this review helpful]

Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF Review

A Quality Lens at Minimal Cost!

"I use this product on my Nikon D200. It is a fast lens that is quite versatile. Images taken with it have all turned out sharp with excellant detail. I highly recommend this professional quality lens available at a very reasonable price. The lens lives up to the review given-(by Popular Photography Magazine the latter part of 2006). This lens and my Nikon 18-200 VR are all I carry for most image shoots! Really-all I need 90% of the time."