{"id":42550,"date":"2023-08-02T07:51:56","date_gmt":"2023-08-02T06:51:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=42550"},"modified":"2025-08-19T09:07:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T08:07:30","slug":"review-sigma-105mm-12-8-dg-os-macro-hsm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-sigma-105mm-12-8-dg-os-macro-hsm\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG OS Macro HSM"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG OS Macro HSM, a full frame lens with image stabilization, was released in 2011 and is a little bit old by now but is still in production and can be bought brand new and it has a good reputation. Worth to note that Nikon\u2019s equivalent for F-mount (Nikon AF-S Micro Nikkor 105\/2.8G) is five years older than this Sigma. Being macro lenses, they can give you good magnification (1:1 in this case) and at the same time they can also be used as portrait lenses. But of course, they also are good for compressed landscape images and candid photography. Because of its age it can be bought relatively cheap used, which makes it good value for money, if it appears to be good of course. Let\u2019s see how good it is.
\nThe sample images are taken with Nikon Z6 (FF, 24Mp) and Nikon D7200 (APS-C, 24Mp).<\/span><\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG Macro HSM | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sigma
Nikon Z6 | Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG Macro HSM | f\/8 (stacked, 42 images, 65% crop)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG OS Macro HSM | f\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"Sigma
Nikon Z6 | Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG OS Macro HSM | f\/3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sigma
Nikon Z6 | Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG OS Macro HSM | f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sigma
Nikon Z6 | Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG OS Macro HSM | f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sigma
Nikon D7200 | Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG OS Macro HSM | f\/11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sigma
Nikon Z6 | Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG OS Macro HSM | f\/3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sigma
Nikon D7200 | Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG OS Macro HSM | f\/8 (100% Crop)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Specifications<\/span><\/h2>\n

Focal Length<\/b>: 105mm<\/span>
\n<\/span>Aperture Range<\/b>: 2.8 – 22<\/span>
\n<\/span>Number of Aperture Blades<\/b>: 9 (rounded)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Min Focus<\/b>: 0.31 m<\/span>
\n<\/span>Filter Size<\/b>: 62 mm<\/span>
\n<\/span>Lens Mount<\/b>: Nikon F, Canon EF, Sigma SA, Sony\/Minolta alpha<\/span>
\n<\/span>Weight<\/b>: 700 g<\/span>
\n<\/span>Diameter x Length<\/b>: 78 x 127 mm<\/span>
\n<\/span>Elements\/Group<\/b>: 16\/11<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Sigma
\nSLD = Special Low Dispersion glass<\/em><\/p>\n

Variations<\/span><\/h2>\n

SIGMA SA and Sony mounts have been discontinued in production, but Nikon F and Canon EF are still in production, and can be bought new in 2023.<\/p>\n

There is a predecessor to this lens “Sigma 105 F2.8 EX DG Macro”, with no “OS” or “HSM” in the name, which is without image stabilization from 2004, that one is not in production anymore.<\/p>\n

There is also a newer version, Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG DN macro, from 2020 that is produced exclusively with Sony FE and L-Mount.<\/p>\n

\"Sigma
Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG OS Macro HSM | Nikon Z6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Handling<\/span><\/h2>\n

The lens is mainly built of plastic, and it feels plasticky but solid in your hands at the same time. There is a window on top of the barrel, through which you can see the focusing distance scale. T<\/span>here are three switches on the lens barrel:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Autofocus limiter with three positions, A. Full, B. 0.45m-infinity, and C. 0.312-0.45m<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. AF – M for switching the autofocus on or off<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Image stabilization button with three positions “OFF”, “1” for full stabilization, and “2” for stabilizing the vertical axis only.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    \"Sigma<\/p>\n

      Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG Macro HSM<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

      The autofocus motor is a ring-type ultrasonic autofocus. Autofocus is relatively silent and precise but it is slower than average. You can override the autofocus at any time with a wide rubberized focusing ring that turns smoothly and precisely. The barrel does not rotate when focusing. This lens incorporates an internal floating elements design, which moves two lens groups separately. This should minimize aberrations which occur as shooting distance changes and should enable stable rendering of the image from infinity to 1:1 magnification. This also corrects image distortion, especially when taking close-up pictures, according to Sigma. <\/span><\/p>\n

      All that means that focusing does not change the lens’ overall length, which is good. The lens comes with a plastic lens hood that fits firmly on the lens, there is also a “lens hood extender”, that is a plastic tube you can attach between the lens and the lens hood when you are using the lens on an APS-C camera to make the front element more recessed. <\/span><\/p>\n

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      In general, because of the lens’s heavy weight and relatively long length, plus the adapter, the whole package with a mirrorless camera feels a little front heavy. <\/span>There is no weather sealing gasket around the rear bayonet. <\/span>On full frame cameras it reproduces 1x (1:1) magnification so the perceived magnification on APS-C cameras is 1.5x (compared to FF).<\/span><\/p>\n

      Optical Features<\/span><\/h2>\n
      \"Sigma
      MTF Chart, Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG Macro HSM OS, Provided by Sigma<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Judging just from the MTF chart the Sigma should have excellent sharpness and contrast across the whole image with no lateral CA or astigmatism. Let’s see how it translates to real life tests!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

      Sharpness (Infinity)<\/span><\/h3>\n

      Generally, sharpness is a strong feature of all macro lenses, they normally can be sharp or very sharp and this Sigma does not disappoint in this regard. Let’s look at the center, midframe and corner of the frame.<\/p>\n

      \"Sigma<\/p>\n

      \"Sigma
      Sigma105\/2.8 DG Macro HSM Infinity Sharpness Chart<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Wide open at f\/2.8 the center is excellent, mid-frame almost as good but not quite, and the corner, while good, softer than other parts.
      \nAt f\/4 the mid-frame also gets excellent, but the corners get just a very tiny improvement.
      \nStopping further down improves the corner gradually to f\/8, where even the corners are excellent.<\/p>\n

      This is a very good performance on a full-frame 24 MP sensor but on a 40+ Mp sensor you should expect a less impressive result. Some of the latest macro lenses also show better infinity corners at wider apertures.<\/p>\n

      Sharpness (Portrait)<\/span><\/h3>\n

      Let’s look at the portrait distance (for a 105mm lens about 2.5 m) at the very <\/span>center<\/span>, center’s <\/span>inner<\/span> periphery and center’s <\/span>outer<\/span> periphery (points of interest for portraits) according to the following diagram.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Points of Interest in Portrait Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n