The range of L-Mount lenses seems to grow weekly. And this particular week we are treated to a superb 105mm macro prime with a maximum aperture of f/2.8. It’s a lot of lens for a reasonable price tag of £700, including tax.
Sigma’s offering is an extension of the Art line and, in common with the recently introduced 85mm version, has been designed specifically for mirrorless cameras. it is not as bulky as an equivalent lens originally built to complement DSLRs.
The 105mm is claimed to provide superb optical and autofocus performance. The build quality is claimed to be excellent and the lens is dust- and splash-proof. In addition to the L-Mount version, the lens is available in E-Mount.
The new lens can be used with either of Sigma’s focus extenders, with the 1.4x version producing a focal length of 158mm and the 2x adaptor extending the lens to 210mm.
Click here to check out the new Macfilos L-Mount lens database for details and prices of all lenses
For full details, see Sigma’s press release below.
PRESS RELEASE
The SIGMA 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO | Art is a high-performance, mid-telephoto macro lens designed from the ground-up for mirrorless cameras. Available in E-mount and L-Mount, this impressive optic offers superb image quality, fast AF and an impressive feature-set. It is equally well-suited to close-up macro work and a range of other photo and video applications including portraiture and weddings. The quality, functionality and versatility of this lens make it a must-own option for mirrorless photographers.
This all-new 105mm lens is first Art line macro lens designed specifically for mirrorless cameras, and brings to the table a range of advanced functionality including an aperture ring with de-click and lock functions, a customisable AFL button, dust- and splash-proof construction and a focus limiter switch. Its optical performance goes far beyond what one might expect of a mid-telephoto macro lens. The SIGMA 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO | Art will be available globally from 23 October 2020 and has an SRP of £699 in the UK.
Key features
1. Incredible optical performance
SIGMA prioritises optical performance above all else in its Art lens line-up, and it’s no different for the new 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO | Art. The lens gives an outstanding rendering performance from the centre of the frame all the way to the edges, and it is able to minimise ghosting and flare very effectively, even in backlit conditions. The all-new optical design of the 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO | Art ensures exceptional sharpness at all shooting distances, from extreme close-up all the way to infinity. The lens produces clear, punchy results free of color bleeding and with delicate rendering.
The lens’ sophisticated optical design means chromatic aberration is handled extremely effectively, and there has been a particular focus on longitudinal chromatic aberration, which cannot be easily dealt with by in-camera aberration correction. Sigma’s lens designers have worked hard to ensure the 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO | Art has exceptionally attractive bokeh, with beautiful bokeh circles, and smooth, natural-looking out-of-focus rendering in both the background and foreground. This is extremely important for both macro and portrait shooting.
2. Class-leading functionality
The 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO | Art features a range of advanced functionality that opens up a range of new shooting possibilities for both photographers and film makers. The lens has an aperture ring that allows users the option of controlling their aperture setting either via the camera or the lens. The dial can be de-clicked using a switch on the lens barrel, which allows film makers to tweak aperture during movie shooting without stepped changes to exposure, and this also allows quieter operation which can be very useful when shooting close-up subjects. An aperture ring lock button eliminates the risk of accidentally knocking the aperture ring from auto to manual or vice versa.
Also on the lens barrel is a Focus Limiter Switch that allows users to limit the lens’ focusing range, resulting in faster overall AF performance. There are three settings: 0.295m-0.5m, 0.5m-infinity, or FULL. Adjacent to the Focus Limiter Switch is an AFL button1, to which users can assign a particular function via the camera menu. This button sits in a convenient position to be controlled by the thumb, and is useful for focusing control.
When equipped with the TC-1411 (1.4x) or TC-2011 (2.0x), SIGMA’s latest teleconverters designed exclusively for use with L-Mount lenses, photographers can shoot macro at even higher magnifications while keeping the same working distance.
3. Superb build quality
Typical of the exceptional build quality of Sigma’s Global Vision lens line-up, the 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO has a dust- and splash-proof structure which is built to handle a wide range of shooting conditions. The focus and aperture rings have a very smooth action and the switches are ergonomically designed and durable. With levels of user-friendliness, adaptability to the environment and smoothness of operation that are designed for professional use, the 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO | Art pushes the boundaries for photographers and gives them wider creative possibilities.
4. Superb AF performance
The lens is optimised for the latest face/eye detection AF, and incorporates a powerful Hyper-Sonic Motor (HSM) in its focus motor system to achieve high-precision, quiet autofocus operation. All of these elements are brought to life using advanced production technology at the Aizu Factory, SIGMA’s only production site, giving the 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO | Art the highest levels of performance.
Additional features
- Lens construction: 17 elements in 12 groups, with 1 SLD element
- Compatible with high-speed autofocus
- Compatible with lens-based optical correction
* Function available on supported cameras only. Available corrections may vary depending on the camera model.
- Dust- and splash-proof
- Water- and oil-repellent coating
- Super Multi-Layer Coating
- Aperture ring
- Aperture ring click switch
- Aperture ring lock switch
* When turned ON at position A, the aperture ring is locked at A. When turned ON at a position other than A, it is locked to manual aperture selection.
- Customisable AFL button
- Focus limiter switch
- Focus Mode Switch
- Lens hood
- Compatible with SIGMA TELECONVERTER TC-1411, TC-2011 (sold separately, for L-Mount only)
- Compatible with SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 (sold separately, for L-Mount only)
- Designed to minimise flare and ghosting
- The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor)
- Supports DMF, AF+MF
- Every single lens undergoes SIGMA’s proprietary MTF measuring system ‘A1’
- 9-blade rounded diaphragm
- High-precision, durable brass bayonet mount
- ‘Made in Japan’ craftsmanship
To learn more about SIGMA’s craftsmanship, please visit SIGMA website at
https://www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses
Key specifications
The figures below are for L-mount.
- Lens construction: 12 groups, 17 elements (1 SLD lens)
- Angle of view: 23.3°｜Number of diaphragm blades: 9 (rounded diaphragm)
- Minimum aperture: F22｜Minimum focusing distance: 29.5cm / 11.6in
- Maximum magnification ratio: 1:1｜Filter size:φ62mm
- Maximum dimensions x length: φ74mm×133.6mm / φ2.9×5.3in
- Weight: 715g / 25.2oz.
Barcode
L-Mount: 0085126 260699; Sony E-mount: 0085126 260651
Supplied accessories
Name of product / barcode
Lens Hood (LH653-01): 0085126 938598
Optional accessories
Name of product / barcode:
SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-1411 L-Mount：0085126 825690
SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-2011 L-Mount：0085126 826697
SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 L-Mount：0085126 878696
SIGMA WR PROTECTOR 62mm：0085126 930936
SIGMA PROTECTOR 62mm：0085126 931063
SIGMA WR UV FILTER 62mm：0085126 930677
SIGMA WR CIRCULAR PL FILTER 62mm：0085126 930806
ELECTRONIC FLASH MACRO EM-140 DG SA-STTL*：0085126 922641
*for SIGMA fp only
Information
Product information | https://www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses/cas/product/art/a020_105_28
#SIGMA105mmArtMACRO #SIGMAArt #SIGMA #SIGMAArtPrime #SIGMADGDN #SIGMAMACRO
Read more on Sigma
Read more on the L-Mount Alliance
- Limited to compatible cameras. Also, the functions depend on the camera ↩
Hello Mike and your readers.
I’ve just received my own SIGMA 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO Art, which has been on order from Park Cameras for about 3 weeks, together with the SIGMA TC-2011 2x teleconverter. Having spent a few hours indoors trying it out on my Leica SL, there are a few early comments I’d like to make:
* It’s a really well-built piece of kit, with very smooth controls.
* It balances really well on the SL – though I generally use Voigtlanders which are tiny (and featherweight) by comparison
* Autofocus is very fast, though accuracy took some sorting out – it doesn’t seem to like single-point focus and the focal length button seems more of a nuisance than a benefit. Switch the lens to manual and use back button aouto focus – with manual fine-tuning using the wonderful in-camera focus peaking. Macro distance is just beyond the lens hood @ 1:1 (I believe).
* Using it ‘normally’ – particularly for portraiture – is going to be dreamy (once I’ve got used to the autofocus). But adding the 2x TC turns it into a very accurate telephoto – albeit with loos of the widest aperture stop. No matter, it’s far more easy to use at this length than my venerable R 70-200 f4.5 manual lens.
So, first acquaintance has been really positive. I’m very impressed with the Sigma brand which offers good quality and value, compared to equivalent ‘mainstream’ L-mount lenses. But I’ll have to get used to the extra carry weight and space take up. Still, as I’m in a locality about to go into Tier 3, I expect I’ll be staying indoors much longer and will need to set up a macro table. My winter hobby!
Thanks, Stephen, for this valuable insight into the new lens. I am also impressed with the build quality of the various Sigma lenses I have handled and used. If you care to write a review of the lens, with some sample shots, we could make an article, I am sure. Mike
A few more f/2, f/2.8 primes and f/4 zooms and there will be a reasonably complete l mount system. Of course, if one wants a bazooka to impress people at the camera club, there is the Sigma 105 f/1.4. Yea, we are getting lots of choice.