Just got my Sigma 105 macro...

[BigAl]

Here are a few of Inca lilies.

This was with the kit lens for you to get a feel for the size of the flower (flash mounted on camera).
http://bigal-sa.smugmug.com/photos/33190125-O.jpg


This was with the Sigma, manual mode (s=1/125s; F13) flash mounted on camera
http://bigal-sa.smugmug.com/photos/33190126-O.jpg


Flash mounted off camera (also bought an off-camera flash cable).
http://bigal-sa.smugmug.com/photos/33190127-O.jpg


Cat inspecting the packaging that the lens arrived in:
http://bigal-sa.smugmug.com/photos/33190069-O.jpg

No PP other than light sharpening. All the pics are full size, just scaled for SM (ie no cropping).

regards
alan

[gus]

Great lens there BigAl..now get me a shot of a dasi (those giant tailess rats you blokes have)

Gus

[Lord Vetinari]

Good shots Al, looks like the lens is fine :): .

Look forward to some stunning macros from you.

[Netgarden]

Nice ones Bigal, how close cwill the lens allow you to get? Enjoy!



Good shots Al, looks like the lens is fine :): .

Look forward to some stunning macros from you.

[Lord Vetinari]

Nice ones Bigal, how close cwill the lens allow you to get? Enjoy!I can answer that while I am here- the front of the lens is 4.5" from the subject at min focus distance ie 1:1 macro.
Brian V.

[BigAl]

Great lens there BigAl..now get me a shot of a dasi (those giant tailess rats you blokes have)

Gus Thanks Gus. Will probably need your 400mm for the dassie, not this baby!
(BTW1, zoologists believe that on the evolutionary scale of things the closest relative to the dassie is the elephant :uhoh :scratch.)
BTW2, for other folks another name for the dassie is Rock Hyrax.)

regards
alan

[BigAl]

Good shots Al, looks like the lens is fine :): .

Look forward to some stunning macros from you. Thanks Brian. Just itching to be able to get outside in the daylight. Got a bit bored with taking pictures of beer bubbles last nite!!:D :1drink

Horror story: I got err99 several times on autofocusing at macro distances under low light. No problems with manual focusing or focusing at distances over 50cm. :cry

regards
alan

[BigAl]

Nice ones Bigal, how close cwill the lens allow you to get? Enjoy!
Thanks Linda. Brian has answered your question!

regards
alan

[Lord Vetinari]

Thanks Brian. Just itching to be able to get outside in the daylight. Got a bit bored with taking pictures of beer bubbles last nite!!:D :1drink

Horror story: I got err99 several times on autofocusing at macro distances under low light. No problems with manual focusing or focusing at distances over 50cm. :cry

regards
alan
Hmm- I never use autofocus on macro shots so I can't really help there.
Brian V.

[BigAl]

Hmm- I never use autofocus on macro shots so I can't really help there.
Brian V. I dunno how I came to be using af, I normally use mf with macros as well. The flower pics above (including the one from the kit lens) were all mf. A colleague is bringing his 300d around later so I can see whether his camera also has this problem.

[Lord Vetinari]

I dunno how I came to be using af, I normally use mf with macros as well. The flower pics above (including the one from the kit lens) were all mf. A colleague is bringing his 300d around later so I can see whether his camera also has this problem.Hi Al - just tried using AF on mine in very low light- lens hunted and then sort of stopped, no err99 though. Seemed fine with AF after in good light.
Brian V.

[BigAl]

Hi Al - just tried using AF on mine in very low light- lens hunted and then sort of stopped, no err99 though. Seemed fine with AF after in good light.
Brian V. Thanks for your input and tests Brian. I think I've found what was wrong (or at least I haven't had an err99 today) - you need to shift the focusing ring itself to select A or M (in addition to to switch on the side of the lens). In moving between the two, there is a "stop" in between at which the lens will "work" in either mode. I think this is where I went wrong last nite (says he hopefully :uhoh).

regards
alan