Sigma 70 mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro
1. Introduction
Instruments of focal length from 90 to 150 mm, f/2.8 aperture and the minimum focus distance of about 30 cm are considered classic macro lenses. The term ‘classic’ concerns analogue and digital photography on a 35 mm sensor. With the introduction of APS-C/DX sensors, with the focal length magnification of 1.5-1.6x ( but 1.7x for a Sigma and even 2x for an Olympus and a Panasonic), the angles of view of 90-150 mm devices decreased significantly, becoming the equivalents of 135-225 mm class lenses. Often it is too much for the needs of portrait or macro photography.
The producers’ reaction was quite fast. Since March 2005 Cannon has been offering the EF-S 2/8/60 lens, designed only for reflex cameras with APS-C sensors; it performs like a 95 mm instrument on full frame.
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We had to wait a bit longer for an answer from Sigma but finally that producer decided to follow the others’ example. In July 2006 they launched the Sigma 70 mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro which is supposed to be an equivalent of a classic 105 device on small sensors. What’s important, it is also a full frame instrument and it can be used both as a macro or a casual portrait lens.
Courtesy of the K-Consult company we were given an opportunity to check how it fares in practice. Our impressions can be found in the following chapters.
You are also invited to get acquainted with our test procedure, described in the article "How do we test lenses?" If you feel it’s still not enough, please go to our FAQ section where you can find some further explanation.
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