Hands on Report wanted: Tamron 180/3.5 Macro and Sigma 150/2.8 Macro

Manfr3d

Hi there!

I want to buy a macro lens at the end of the year.
After doing some research I pretty much ruled out
the lenses from the 90-105mm league. Since I want
to use the lens (~exclusively) for macro I really want
the longer working distance and better background
blurring ability of a 150mm or 180mm lens.

Opticaly the two lenses seem to be very similar.
The price is also almost the same. In the past
Tamron had a near perfect record for producing
canon compatible lenses, much unlike Sigma.
This may be just one more aspect for me to think
about. But maybe you can help me with a comment
with your experiences with either/or both lenses?
How do they perform in the field? How is the handling?
Are they sturdy (tripod rings?) That kind of information
is hard to find. Any comment is very welcome!

pathfinder

Manfred,

I own both the Tamron 180f3.5 Di macro and the Sigma 150f2.8 macro in Canon mounts.

They are both optically very sharp. The Tamron is a little longer, but both are large heavy lenses. The Sigma probably focuses a little faster since it is f2.8 and the Tamron is almost a stop slower. But the Sigma does not focus continuously from infinity to its final near point. It has a switch for full to infinity, 0.52meters to infinity, and 0.38 meters to 0.52 meters, and if I am pretty close I find I need to stop and switch the switch from one zone to the other - this can be pretty aggravating when trying to track moving targets. In a studio situation this is not a problem at all. This contributes to faster focusing within each zone of focus, but slower over the entire range of focus for the Sigma.

The Tamron just runs the gamut from far to near. To switch from AF to Manual focus on the Tamron, you must pull or push the lens barrel, while on the Sigma there is the traditional AF switch. If you are going to focus manually these details are not deal breakers for either lens.

Both lenses come with excellent lens hoods and tripod mounts. I think the Sigma is a little warmer in image tone than the Tamron. Both take 72mm filters, so they can both accept a Canon 500D close up lens as well.

WHen it comes down to it for me, I tend to favor the Tamron over the Sigma even though it is not as fast optically. I am going to be shooting with flash for macro, so optical speed is not a big factor in my choice. The Sigma is a pretty nice 150mm telephoto, but the Tamron I rarely use as a telephoto, but prefer as a macro lens. It works nicely with Kenko extension tubes as well.

In the end, I tend to prefer the Tamron, even though it is the older of the two lenses for me.

Most of the images shot in my macro galleries have been shot with a 180 Tamron. You can check the exif data for the lens used. 180= Tamron 150=Sigma 100 = Canon

I used a 90 Tamron in the film days, before digital, and liked it quite a bit also.

Manfr3d

Just wanted to thank you for your reply and the hint
with the switch on the sigma. Fast focusing is not
so important but hitting the focus limiter because of
changed subject distance would be annoying for me.
The tamron is also 20% cheaper than the Sigma
where I live so .. I just placed my order for a
Tamron AF 180mm/3.5 Di LD [IF] SP Macro 1:1. :ivar

...

Tamron must be record holder for longest lens name.

pathfinder

Post some shots and strut your stuff

Anything that I was incorrect about, or could have explained better?

Manfr3d

pathfinder wrote:

Post some shots and strut your stuff

Anything that I was incorrect about, or could have explained better?

You were right on with the lens. Super sharp light build
and it hunts from near to far. I noticed that the tripod
ring is somewhat loose when tigtened, the camera keeps
on turning the lens when I reposition the ballhead on my
tripod - is this normal? The other thing I noticed and didn't
know before is that the lens is quite noisy much more
than my Tamron 28-75/2.8. Everything else about this
lens is really a joy. Will post some shots in the macro
section soon.

pathfinder

Manfr3d wrote:

You were right on with the lens. Super sharp light build
and it hunts from near to far. I noticed that the tripod
ring is somewhat loose when tigtened, the camera keeps
on turning the lens when I reposition the ballhead on my
tripod - is this normal? The other thing I noticed and didn't
know before is that the lens is quite noisy much more
than my Tamron 28-75/2.8. Everything else about this
lens is really a joy. Will post some shots in the macro
section soon.

I just checked on my tripod ring on the 180 macro, and it is tight as a drum - I cannot rotate the lens in the ring when the screw knob is lightly tightened by hand, so check yours and see if you have it properly engaged.

It is slow to focus, and yes, the focusing motor is not a USM motor - it is noisier than the Tammie 28-75 - bigger pieces of glass that have to be moved lots farther is how I size it up. The Sigma 150 is not really any quieter. The Canon 180 is probably a little quieter

Manfr3d

pathfinder wrote:

Post some shots and strut your stuff

I just did here:
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=727060#post727060

pathfinder

Did you sort out the tripod ring's looseness too?

Nice colorful series of macros you posted with your Tamron 180 f3.5 macro. For some real fun, try it with one or two extension tubes to get still closer.

Manfr3d

Thanks! And no the tripod ring is still loose.
I called Tamron and they offered to fix it
under warraty for me. I'll send them the
lens next week. They usualy return leses
very fast so I'm still a happy owner

Manfr3d

I like the lens so much, I just couldn't send it in until two weeks ago
Now Tamron dissapoints me with a 6 weeks turnaround. Thats 4 more
weeks to go Tamron! Common, how am I gonna be this long without my
favorite lens? :cry