Sigma 70-300mm Macro vs 105mm Macro

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Can anyone show me, or at least direct me to some comparison photos of the Nikon D200 with a sigma 70-300mm macro vs the Sigma 105mm macro lens?

I've taken the advice on board regarding the best focal length for the 70-300 when using macro but I'm still not happy with the sharpness, and the limited dof.

Here are is an example of before and after processing with the 70-300mm:

RAW_Before_PP.jpg


After_PP.jpg


Can I do any better with this lens, is my inexperience the problem (shooting and pp) or am I better off with getting the Sigma 105mm macro?
 
I have a the Sigma 70-300 for my Canons. I like the lens and it performs quite well but it is limited in its ability. As a macro it is ok but not great and I think that the Sigma 105 macro will be a much better option.
Just as an aside, don't forget to clone out the sensor dust when you PP (it's in the top right quarter of your shot).
 
michaelgreen78 said:
Just as an aside, don't forget to clone out the sensor dust when you PP (it's in the top right quarter of your shot).
Click to expand...

Oooerrr, didn't see that, how did that get there? I've only just bought the camera! :thinking: Can you readily get rid of sensor dust or is it a case of clone clone clone?
 
You're entering a whole different debate there!! New cameras are just as likely to have sensor dust as older ones unfortunately. Mine had when I bought them. Cloning is the simple answer for now but you can have a go at sensor cleaning but it is a **very** delicate job. A blast with a bulb blower may shift it but probably not. A wet clean is the best method but you have to follow the instructions to the T and is not for the faint hearted!! Look up Copper Hill sensor cleaning or sensor swabs for more info.

Also, your shot is at f11 which will show dust more readily than wider apertures. It's not a problem and I have dust on my sensors, just don't forget to check when processing.
 
Dont canon offer a free service within the first year to clean the sensor? Or am i dreaming lol.
 
nikon d200, not sure canon will ;)
 
Just coming back to topic a bit, anyone else able to input Re: the sigma 70-300?

As a side thought, I've read that the sigma 105mm lens, when put in AP you have to manually turn the aperture ring on the lens... is that correct?

Whats the going rate for the macro? I've seen £248 is that a good deal?

I'm more than likely going to get the dedicated macro but I just wanted to check that its worth the investment and that I'm not just needing more practice!
 
The 70-300mm is a good all round lens, though won't do either very near or very far well... but it's passable... some examples...

Macro (I had to shoot these from about 3 feet away with this lens on macro!)

2351454903_4b7e81e315.jpg


2351927979_e5b1cba143.jpg



and distance shooting...

2333354106_e714f78b43.jpg


2332526775_663509f68b.jpg


Well worth the £100 I spent on it. :thumbs:
 
I had the 70-300 APO and now have the 105 f2.8 EX. The 105 is so much sharper than the 70-300 and of course is a true 1:1 macro so you can get super close shots. But, dont underestimate the 70-300, it is really sharp if you use it about 200 to 230mm on macro.
Allan
 
But, dont underestimate the 70-300, it is really sharp if you use it about 200 to 230mm on macro.
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Thats why I can't understand that every picture I take looks so fuzzy. Sure I can get some degree of sharpness but the overall effect just looks so off compared to the beautiful flower pictures I've been seeing on here over the last few days. :suspect:

I'm sure its something I must be doing, either not enough lighting or not yet finding the right focal length and best AP for sharpness. :shrug: Either that or digital isn't what I thought.

Its making me feel just a tad unsure of myself. My little compact seems to take better pictures!

I don't want to waste my money getting the 105mm macro only to get the same results whether its me or digital. But then again it must be me as I've seen such good work from others :bonk:

Back to the drawing board :coat:
 
One more thought, I was told this in another thread regarding the 70-300mm.

The D200 has a smaller sensor than a 35mm frame and this will give your lenses a narrower field of view (also called a "Crop Factor"), on the Nikon Dx sensor, this will be 1.5x so your 70-300 (on the D200) will have the same field of view as a 105-450 lens would on your F80 and the 28-80 will have the FoV of a 32-120. So, you'll lose out at the wide end but you'll gain at the long end.

Does this apply to the sigma 105mm macro? If so can I still use it handheld and if this is the case would I be better with a 70mm? Is this 1.5x affect the 70-300 a reason why my images are not the best?
 
Boo - I had the Sigma 70-300 on a D70s
and i was frustrated with the quality of the shots - in anything other than bright conditions the sigma was crap, with bright conditions the pictures looked like they were taken with a different lens.

The EXIF data on the example shot shows a relatively slow shutter speed for the focal length used did you hand hold ?

As for the aperture ring on the 105mm you set it to f32 this then allows the camera to use full auto.
 
Boo said:
One more thought, I was told this in another thread regarding the 70-300mm.

The D200 has a smaller sensor than a 35mm frame and this will give your lenses a narrower field of view (also called a "Crop Factor"), on the Nikon Dx sensor, this will be 1.5x so your 70-300 (on the D200) will have the same field of view as a 105-450 lens would on your F80 and the 28-80 will have the FoV of a 32-120. So, you'll lose out at the wide end but you'll gain at the long end.

Does this apply to the sigma 105mm macro? If so can I still use it handheld and if this is the case would I be better with a 70mm? Is this 1.5x affect the 70-300 a reason why my images are not the best?
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The crop factor will have little impact on the results from the 70-300 lens.

The 105mm and 70mm are both fine on a crop sensor although the 70mm gives a fov on a crop similar to that of the 105mm on a full frame and was designed with this crop factor in mind, I think. Both will be fine for flower photography but if you are after insects the 105mm lens may suit a little more as it has a longer working distance from the subject.
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
Boo - I had the Sigma 70-300 on a D70s
and i was frustrated with the quality of the shots - in anything other than bright conditions the sigma was crap, with bright conditions the pictures looked like they were taken with a different lens.

The EXIF data on the example shot shows a relatively slow shutter speed for the focal length used did you hand hold ?

As for the aperture ring on the 105mm you set it to f32 this then allows the camera to use full auto.
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No, I used it on a tripod with the mirror-up. Your experience with this lens sounds like mine. I've not got the best lighting at the mo. (only on light and 25w halogen) but I still expected more. Maybe this lens will be better suited outdoors.

Thanks for the info on the 105mm :thumbs:

Both will be fine for flower photography but if you are after insects the 105mm lens may suit a little more as it has a longer working distance from the subject.
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It sounds like the 105mm is more suited. I love flowers but I like the bugs that crawl on them as well ;)
 
andrewc said:
The Sigma 70-300 isn't really a true macro it can only go to half life size.
Click to expand...

Correct.

A good, cheap (£50) macro solution is to get a Raynox strap-on lens, but you have to have a steady hand or get used to using a tri or mono pod :thumbs:
 
Boo said:
Thats why I can't understand that every picture I take looks so fuzzy. Sure I can get some degree of sharpness but the overall effect just looks so off compared to the beautiful flower pictures I've been seeing on here over the last few days. :suspect:

I'm sure its something I must be doing, either not enough lighting or not yet finding the right focal length and best AP for sharpness. :shrug: Either that or digital isn't what I thought.
Click to expand...

It may be your aperture. You say you also have a very shallow depth of field which seems to suggest the aperture is too wide. Try setting it to around f9 to f11 in good light and a relatively fast shutter speed and seeing what the results are.

I took this with a D200 with the lens on macro at 300mm. 1/100 @ f10 and hand held. Not the best photo, but its not fuzzy. Just a little sharpening added, nothing else.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/2654024390_fca25b8fa5_b.jpg

Allan
 
Dogfish_magnet, you have just made me order a 105mm lens! :D I couldn't resist, especially with your photos its amazing!
 
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