Nikkor 105 vs Sigma 105

[Graham.J]

I've been thinking lately about getting myself a macro lens (I say lately, it was ever since Mr Carter posted up the pictures he'd taken with his new macro lens).

I'd be doing a similar thing and importing the lens from Hong Kong but I can't decide which I should look more seriously at.

Both lenses are relatively similar (although according to WarehouseExpress, the Nikkor has been discontinued).

They're both AF 105mm f/2.8 macro lenses but the Nikkor is £349 inc shipping & insurance, and assuming shipping insurance is the same for the Sigma, it would be £236 inc shipping. The Sigma has two more elements in one more group than the Nikkor. Would there be a noticeable difference in that?

Is the Nikkor £100 'better' than the Sigma in terms of usability and quality or are you just paying £100 for the name? Also, is there anything else I should know?

Nikkor

Sigma

Thanks in advance,

Graham

>> Edited by Graham.J on Friday 10th March 18:28

[poah]

nikon seems very very cheap. is it not about 800 in the uk

[grimston barr]

1 vote here for the Sigma lens. I bought mine about 4 years ago and whilst I think Nikkor optics are superb, every review I read at the time rated the Sigma 105 macro as performing better, and obviously much better value compared to the Nikon at RRP. If I had to choose again I'd still go for the Sigma - it's been faultless so far and also doubles up as an excellent portrait lens.

GB

[Graham.J]

poah said:

nikon seems very very cheap. is it not about 800 in the uk

Yup, for the discontinued one, WarehouseExpress were charging £639. Comparatively, it's £278 for the Sigma over here.

[Graham.J]

grimston barr said:

1 vote here for the Sigma lens. I bought mine about 4 years ago and whilst I think Nikkor optics are superb, every review I read at the time rated the Sigma 105 macro as performing better, and obviously much better value compared to the Nikon at RRP. If I had to choose again I'd still go for the Sigma - it's been faultless so far and also doubles up as an excellent portrait lens. GB

Fantastic, that's what I'm hoping to get more into (as well as macro stuff). Sounds trivial but I prefer the finish on the Sigma lens too

[GetCarter]

Can't comment on the Sigma/Nikkor as I've not tried the Sigma.

I thought I'd chuck in a spanner ('cos I can)... just to say the Nikkor 105 macro is REALLY tricky to use (in macro mode) as the DOF is as thin as a Rizla paper. That's a green, not red paper. And how often will you use it?

But:
It's also a good general 105 short telephoto.
And:
When you do go macro... you can get right in there with a 105!

You might also consider the shorter (65?) Nikkor Macro that Simpo uses - easier to use I believe ..(or, of course the Sigma equiv).

Mr Carter

edited to add... of course there will soon be: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=250878&f=109&h=0

>> Edited by GetCarter on Friday 10th March 19:27

[Graham.J]

GetCarter said:

Can't comment on the Sigma/Nikkor as I've not tried the Sigma. I thought I'd chuck in a spanner ('cos I can)... just to say the Nikkor 105 macro is REALLY tricky to use (in macro mode) as the DOF is as thin as a Rizla paper. That's a green, not red paper. And how often will you use it? But: It's also a good general 105 short telephoto. And: When you do go macro... you can get right in there with a 105! You might also consider the shorter (65?) Nikkor Macro that Simpo uses - easier to use I believe ..(or, of course the Sigma equiv). Mr Carter edited to add... of course there will soon be: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=250878&f=109&h=0

I'm not particularly fussed about the DOF issues as I think most of my macro shots will be in 'studio' conditions so I can fanny about getting the DOF right.

I've got a 50mm 1.8 for some portraiture shots so would the 65mm not be too similar to that?

I'm ignoring the VR, that'll all start to get expensive

[Hankscorpio]

Inspired by Steve's comments I've had a play on here www.zknives.com/dp/dofcalc.shtml and we get the following:

Subject at 30cm with a 65mm lens on a 1.5 crop camera f2.8 - DoF = 0.21cm
Subject at 30cm with a 105mm lens on a 1.5 crop camera f2.8 - DoF = 0.07cm

Subject at 30cm with a 65mm lens on a 1.5 crop camera f5.6 - DoF = 0.41cm
Subject at 30cm with a 105mm lens on a 1.5 crop camera f5.6 - DoF = 0.13cm

Subject at 30cm with a 65mm lens on a 1.5 crop camera f11 - DoF = 0.81cm
Subject at 30cm with a 105mm lens on a 1.5 crop camera f11 - DoF = 0.26cm

Doesn't add much to thread I know but I do like playing with numbers

(and 0.07cm can't be much more than a fag paper!)

I do reckon that VR one will be a great one for candid portraits tho. I got some really nice stuff with my 70-200 2.8 when I had it.
Hitting the calc again shows that 5m subject on f2.8 with 105mm gives 27cm DoF. ( )


>> Edited by Hankscorpio on Friday 10th March 21:07

[simpo two]

GetCarter said:

You might also consider the shorter (65?) Nikkor Macro that Simpo uses - easier to use I believe ..(or, of course the Sigma equiv).

60mm f2.8. And that's quite hard enough to get good results from; seems like the 105mm has even less DOF. So whilst you have a longer working distance, you'll be pulling lower shutter speeds = tripod etc.