{"id":24667,"date":"2020-08-03T16:47:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T15:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=24667"},"modified":"2026-03-24T13:09:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T12:09:06","slug":"review-sigma-180mm-5-6-apo-macro-mf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-sigma-180mm-5-6-apo-macro-mf\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro (MF)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h1>\n
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Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro via Novoflex C\/Y-E adapter on Sony A7rII<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many of us have been looking for a small yet capable tele lens in the ~200mm range and so far we have mostly failed. Is this often overlooked Sigma 180mm f\/5.6 macro the lens we have actually been searching for?<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/h1>\n
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Sony A7III | Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro | f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sony A7rII | Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro | f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sony A7III | Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro | f\/8.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

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Sony A7rII | Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro | f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sony A7rII | Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro | f\/8.0 | panorama from 3 images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review can be found in full resolution here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Specifications \/ Version History<\/h1>\n

There are slightly conflicting reports, but according to the Sigma UK lens history page<\/a> there has been only one 180mm f\/5.6 macro lens design that came in both, AF and MF versions, for many different camera systems in 1990.<\/p>\n

Most common are the Canon EF version (whether they work with a Sigma MC-11 or metabones adapter seems to be hit and miss) and the Nikon F version (focus rotates in the “wrong” direction) but luckily I was “fortunate” (more on that later) enough to find a very rare Contax mount MF version which has the following specifications:<\/p>\n