Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX IF HSM Macro Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

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Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B0000501QC
• Item model number: 103-101
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Sigma's 180mm F3.5 EX IF HSM macro lens lets you take life-size, 1:1 images without the use of accessories. When shooting at this magnification, you can be a full 18.1 inches from your subject, ideal when your subject may be easily disturbed. In addition to the life-size images, this lens also uses the silent HSM (hyper-sonic motor) so you can truly capture those hard-to-get images without disturbing your surroundings or subject.

The apochromatic design of the optics, combined with two SLD (special low dispersion) glass elements, plus a floating inner-focus system, help control chromatic and spherical aberrations as well as astigmatism, optical problems that often effect the quality of your images. This effect gives you high-quality performance across the entire focusing range. This model is dedicated to Canon AF SLR cameras.

Product Description

Taking picture of small animals and insects can be difficult, because they often run or fly away, or can be dangerous or become aggressive if you approach them. Therefore it is advantageous to have a greater working distance between the camera and such subjects. Longer focal length lens can provide this greater distance, but most long lens do not focus close enough to provide a large image of small subjects. The tele-macro type lens solves this problem by producing a large, high quality image, up to life-size, while maintaining a long working distance. This can enable you to capture on film the world of photomicrography, without disturbing the subjects. The 180mm F3.5 APO MACRO lens has a very narrow field of view, and can allow very narrow depth-of-field for selective focus and less distracting backgrounds. This lens is most desirable for photographers who are serious about producing high quality images both of macro subjects at life-size reproduction, as well as normal telephotography.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent lens, equivalent to Canon, March 2, 2005

By	Jurek R. Zarzycki "Jurek Ogorek" (Fremont, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I hope no one takes John B. Stafford's word here. Research the web for reviews on this lens and see the samples of what it can deliver. Most pros agree that this lens is not only extremely well build but it delivers very sharp and contrasty images on par with anything that Canon lenses can do, if not better.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best telephoto macro lenses in its class, July 23, 2005

By	John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I read an enthusiastic review of this lens in Shutterbug magazine about a year ago, in which its performance was compared favorably with similar lenses made by Canon and others. Without question, this lens has both the optical and mechanical performance one expects from first class premium lenses made by Canon and Nikon. I was especially impressed to see superb photographs taken by this lens for both closeup and nature photography. Unless one truly has a compelling reason for the Canon 180mm macro lens - and the only ones I can think of is that maybe its autofocusing is quieter with slightly better optical performance - then I suspect that the typical user of Canon 35mm autofocus SLRs will be quite satisfied with this lens. Without a doubt, this is one of the finest lenses being offered by a distinguished third party lens manufacturer.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic lens for all occassions, May 16, 2005

By	Gregory S. Combs "Greg Combs" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've had this lens in my bag for almost five years and have used it countless times with my EOS 3. I use it both for macro and for normal photography due to its extreme clarity as well as it's fast focus motor. While in macro, depending on your composition, it may have do some motor searching in order to obtain focus, but outside of macro the focus is very fast. I often use it with the automatic eye focus on the EOS 3 and this lens performs beautifully. The *extra* 80mm gives you some valuable distance from potentially nasty subjects, (i.e. bees), and yields more camera position versatility over the Canon 100mm macro model, contradicting a previous reviewers post. The glass is very clear and sharp. If I have to pack light, this lens is the one lens going in my small shoulder bag. It's well worth the money, believe me.