Lens Guides

The Sigma 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens for Close-up Work

The Sigma 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro lens is the biggest, longest macro lens in the Sigma lens catalog. This telephoto lens offers true life-sized reproduction with a 1:1 maximum magnification ratio. Incredible sharpness—thanks to its state of the art optical design—Optical Stabilizer, and a three-zone focus limiter make this a serious lens for advanced macro photographers.

The Sigma 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro lens.
The Sigma 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro lens.

This is a lens with serious presence. At 3.7 x 8.0 inches and 57.8 ounces, it’s a touch bigger and heavier than the 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens. 19 elements in 14 groups, including three FLD elements, ensure incredible real-world image sharpness as demonstrated in the MTF chart.

The Sigma 180mm F2.8 lens can capture detail at 1:1 magnification at its closest focus distance of 18.5 inches from the focal plane. At this focal length and close-focusing distance, depth of field is incredibly shallow, even when stopped down. This image of a US 25 cent piece featuring Mississippi on the reverse was captured at F/11. A studio strobe with a shoot-through umbrella lit the scene, captured at 1/200 F/11 ISO 100 on a Rebel T3i (288mm effective focal distance on this APS-C camera.)
The Sigma 180mm F2.8 lens can capture detail at 1:1 magnification at its closest focus distance of 18.5 inches from the focal plane. At this focal length and close-focusing distance, depth of field is incredibly shallow, even when stopped down. This image of a US 25 cent piece featuring Mississippi on the reverse was captured at F/11. A studio strobe with a shoot-through umbrella lit the scene, captured at 1/200 F/11 ISO 100 on a Rebel T3i (288mm effective focal distance on this APS-C camera.)
The MTF Chart for the Sigma 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro lens illustrates its exceptional sharpness.
The MTF Chart for the Sigma 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro lens illustrates its exceptional sharpness.

This is a lens for experienced macro photographers who want a longer focal length and greater working distance for specialized applications. And while it is a big and weighty lens, internal focusing and Optical Stabilizer mean, respectively, that the lens barrel remains the same length at all focal distances, and that it can be used in the field without a tripod at slower shutter speeds, both of which are really nice touches.

Even with these great features, this probably isn’t the exact right lens for the complete macro newbie looking for the first life-size prime macro to add to the bag. The 105mm or 150mm F2.8 Macros both also offer internal focusing and OS, and are a bit easier to manage for the beginner looking to move up from the lower-magnification macro ratios offered on a number of Sigma zoom lenses.

Here's the same coin atop a stack at a greater distance for a lower overall magnification ratio. For images of small things with big impact, this lens is a serious tool for the serious photographer. 1/200 F/7.1 ISO 400, again on the Rebel T3i with studio strobe.
Here’s the same coin atop a stack at a greater distance for a lower overall magnification ratio. For images of small things with big impact, this lens is a serious tool for the serious photographer. 1/200 F/7.1 ISO 400, again on the Rebel T3i with studio strobe.

The close-up images this lens can help create are simply stunning. Macro photography is so fascinating because it brings to our eyes details of objects hidden in plain sight simply by sense of scale. There is a beauty in everyday objects that can be revealed through the macro lens.

I used a Santoku knife to slice a cucumber as thin as possible, and placed it atop a lightbox to intensify the translucency. This cucumber is 1 7/8 inch in diameter and it nearly fills the frame at about 1:3 magnification. 1/200 F6/3 ISO 400.
I used a Santoku knife to slice a cucumber as thin as possible, and placed it atop a lightbox to intensify the translucency. This cucumber is 1 7/8 inch in diameter and it nearly fills the frame at about 1:3 magnification. 1/200 F6/3 ISO 400.

For studio work, especially when the lens is pointed downwards, a heavy-duty tripod and head are necessary. Even when using the supplied tripod collar to keep the center of gravity balanced, I had to trade out my usual pistol-grip studio ballhead for a heavy-duty gimbal head and legs I normally use for supertele wildlife to be able to shoot downwards for tabletop photography.

The securely aim the 180mm F2.8 Macro at the tabletop lightbox, I needed to swap out my normal heavy-duty pistol grip ballhead for me even heavier-duty gimbal head to make the above shot. Notice the distance from the lens to the cucumber slice on the center of the lightbox. Even at this distance, it is just about two inches top-to-bottom captured to the sensor. (This photo was captured through the Sigma 19mm F2.8 DN | A lens on an Olympus E-PL2.)
To securely aim the 180mm F2.8 Macro at the tabletop lightbox, I needed to swap out my normal heavy-duty pistol grip ballhead for me even heavier-duty gimbal head to make the above shot. Notice the distance from the lens to the cucumber slice on the center of the lightbox. Even at this distance, it is just about two inches top-to-bottom captured to the sensor. (This photo was captured through the Sigma 19mm F2.8 DN | A lens on an Olympus E-PL2.)

Cucumbers are generally sedentary and not really all that dangerous; but for macro photographers looking to capture wildlife of the toothed, clawed, venomous, or just generally skittish variety, this level of magnification at a longer working distance can be exceptionally useful to help keep both photographer and wild subject free from harm.

Here is a spice blend captured near maximum magnification. To give a sense of scale, coriander seeds (one is top right, with a hole in it) are between 3 and five millmeters in diameter. 1/200 F/11 ISO 400 on the Rebel T3i. This lens can capture serious levels of detail!
Here is a spice blend captured near maximum magnification. To give a sense of scale, coriander seeds (one is top right, with a hole in it) are between three and five millimeters in diameter. 1/200 F/11 ISO 400 on the Rebel T3i. This lens can capture serious levels of detail!

In the hand, the lens feels very well-balanced, and the focus ring is well-damped for manual focusing. All three switches, OS, AF, and Focus Limiter click decisively into the selected setting. Optical Stabilizer is handy for minimizing camera shake at slower shutter speeds when handheld, which is amplified at very close focus distances. Obviously, OS cannot do anything about external forces, such as a slight breeze outdoors, which can cause a branch or flower to sway in and out of the focal plane. And with such high magnification and shallow depth of field, the slightest changes matter. But the internal focusing powered by the Hypersonic motor, and paired with wise use of the Focus Limiter can often help keep up with moving subjects.

Employing the focus limiter to keep the Autofocus range strictly in the high magnification zone (0.47m-0.67m) can help ensure swift, accurate AF, even as the subject sways in the breeze, like this snow-covered evergreen branch. 1/1250 F4.5 ISO 200.
Employing the focus limiter to keep the Autofocus range strictly in the high magnification zone (0.47m-0.67m) can help ensure swift, responsive AF, even as the subject sways in the breeze, like this snow-covered evergreen branch. 1/1250 F4.5 ISO 200.

Focus Limiters work by shortening the arc the focusing group must travel before reversing. This is useful both in extreme close-up and also long-reach photographic situations. For example, when you are focusing at a nearby object for close-up photography, you do not want or need the lens to search all the way out to infinity and back. Take a look at that snowy branch. No matter how much it danced in the breeze, it was never going to be more than a foot or so in front of my lens, so searching out to the horizon and back simply wastes time and leads to missed shots. Used wisely, Focus Limiter is one of most powerful tools available on a lens to speed AF response time.

Repetition can help make for interesting close-up images. Here, snow piling on a railing was captured as a study of lighting, tones and textures. 1/500 F13 ISO 200. Direct shoe-mount flash with diffuser screen down lit this shot.
Repetition can help make for interesting close-up images. Here, snow piling on a railing was captured as a study of lighting, tones and textures. 1/500 F13 ISO 200. Direct shoe-mount flash with diffuser screen down lit this shot.

The view is nice and bright through the lens, thanks to that fast F2.8 aperture, and pinpoint focus confirmation is easy to confirm both through the Optical Viewfinder and or LCD screen in live-view mode when desired or necessary. I was very thankful to have the LCD preview as an option for several of the images showcased here!

Here's a pretty little spring sunflower, misted with a spritzer to give it some "pop!" captured from a few feet away. 1/200 F5.6.
Here’s a pretty little spring sunflower, misted with a spritzer to give it some “pop!” captured from a few feet away. 1/200 F5.6. I used a single studio strobe and shoot-through umbrella to light this scene.
And now here we focused just on the droplets of water on the edge of the top petals, at higher, but not maximum magnification. This lens has some serious detail-pulling power! Again at 1/200 F5.6.
And now here we focused just on the droplets of water on the edge of the top petal, at higher, but not maximum magnification. This lens has some serious detail-pulling power! Again at 1/200 F5.6.
The intertwined spirals at the center of this white daisy nearly fill the frame in this image. Flowers, shells, pretty much anything, can make for gorgeous macro photos!
The intertwined spirals at the center of this white daisy nearly fill the frame in this image. We stopped down to F/9 for more depth of field on the center of the spiral. Flowers, shells, pretty much anything, can make for gorgeous macro photos!
Here we are focused right on the curve of this stargazer lily bloom. 1/200 F7.1 ISO 400. We are close-up, but not even close to maximum magnification yet.
Here we are focused right on the curve of this stargazer lily bloom. 1/200 F7.1 ISO 400. We are close-up, but not even close to maximum magnification yet.
Here, we are focused solely on a couple of anthers of this lily. This is close to maximum magnification. I used focusing rails to more easily get the frame focused and composed. 1/200 F7.1.
Here, we are focused solely on a couple of anthers of this lily. This is close to maximum magnification. I used focusing rails to more easily get the frame focused and composed. 1/200 F7.1.
And this more abstract shot is focused solely on a few specks of pollen that have fallen onto the lily leaf, a much more abstract macro composition in pinks, yellows, and oranges.
And this more abstract shot is focused solely on a few specks of pollen that have fallen onto the lily leaf, a much more abstract macro composition in pinks, yellows, and oranges.

The Sigma 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro is a fantastic prime lens capable of capturing close-up images with incredible detail. For photographers who are serious about macro capture and need telephoto reach, it has a lot to offer. This is still the world’s only 180mm F2.8 macro lens with life-sized reproduction (1:1 magnification ratio).

Purple roses as seen through the Sigma 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro. This lens is capable of creating gorgeous macro imagery. 1/200 F7.1 ISO 400 on the Rebel T3i.
Purple roses as seen through the Sigma 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro. This lens is capable of creating gorgeous macro imagery. 1/200 F7.1 ISO 400 on the Rebel T3i.

And everything in the feature set that makes this a fantastic telephoto macro lens, including Optical Stabilizer, internal focusing, and focus limiter also mean it is equally adept as a fast telephoto prime for portraiture, sports and wildlife capture. We’ll tackle this side of the focus limiter settings in a follow-up blog posting.

 

 View the Tech Specs of the 180mm F2.8 Macro

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