Sigma105mm macro, lens hoods. ...?

[scott199]

Just a simple one (I hope)

With my sigma 105 macro I got 2 hoods, well 1hood and a extension, now it says to use the hood on FF and extension on dx.

Seems sigma went to a lot of trouble to add/give this out.

So is it really needed and should I be using the extension ?

I tend to use the hood for protection anyway.

 

[StewartR]

So is it really needed and should I be using the extension ?

Define "needed". Define "should".

What's going on here is that, like every other lens, the Sigma gives you a narrower angle of view on a DX camera than on a FX camera. So *if* you want the hood to be as deep as possible without intruding into the picture, then it can be deeper on DX. By giving you the extension piece, Sigma allow you to do that *if* you want/need to.

Whether or not it's worth doing depends on how you're using the lens, I guess. For macro work its probably too much of an encumbrance, and could cast a shadow on your subject. If you're shooting rally sport then you want the deepest hood you can get, to protect the lens from flying grit. If you're shooting something against the sun, a deeper hood should definitely give you better protection against lens flare. And do on. Horses for courses.

 

[scott199]

Thanks

Never really known if a hood was necessary or not, all my other are the petal type, so I use them for protection, no other reason.

Just never seen this type of extension + hood thing, so worked on the principle that sigma probably had a reason to include it, just couldn't work that reason out

 

[Dan_uk_mids]

I got the same lens recently, how do you find it? I'm really liking this lens. I have just used the one main hood so far, since its a PIA the carry the extension as well.

 

[scott199]

I got the same lens recently, how do you find it? I'm really liking this lens. I have just used the one main hood so far, since its a PIA the carry the extension as well.

Yes mate, love the lens and as you, just used the hood.

Just keep thinking that sigma designed this extension especially for a crop sensor, so it's needs to be used

 

[bighud]

I bought the 105 a month ago and find that it is superb for macro, although a bit on the heavy side when hand held for a reasonable time. I had a Tamron 90mm macro, without VC, before, which was very lightweight. Mounted on a tripod, the 105 gives razor sharp images. I have also used it as a mid range prime with excellent results. This is a cracking lens.
Regarding the hood, I find the extension is not necessary and just adds more length to the lens.

 

[Brachytron]

I have just bought the 150mm Sigma, and boy is it sharp so I hope the 105mm is equal to it. Anyway, it too comes with the hood extension but I only use the FF hood on my crop body. With the extension on, it adds a lot of extra length to the lens which means that your working distance (distance between the lens and the subject) is reduced, increasing the chance of the subject being disturbed. I don't like using lens protection filters as they reduce sharpness, so the FF hood offers adequate protection to the front element. With regards the need for a hood to prevent flare during macro shooting, well I have never found this to be a problem. Happy shooting and enjoy your new macro lens.