Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro HSM Lens Review

• Review
• Lens Specifications

by Bryan Carnathan

I am canceling the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro HSM Lens review - Here's why ...

I had two weeks blocked out in late Spring 2007 to spend a large amount of time with this lens. Unfortunately, the lens arrived with a very bad front-focus calibration problem at the wide end. This situation warrants either a return-for-exchange or a return-to-manufacturer for warranty repair. I chose the latter.

Even calibrated, I found the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro HSM Lens to be very inconsistent in autofocus accuracy. Most comparison images I shot were wasted because of varying AF distances (lenses must be identically focused to compare).

So, I decided to put the review on hold (I had plenty of other work to do) until the expected-to-be-announced Canon 1Ds Mark III arrived. My thought was that I would simply use Live View for focusing. Well, my 1Ds III arrived two days ago. Fortunately or unfortunately, Sigma announced the 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG HSM Macro Lens in the meantime.

At this point, it makes more sense to sell my Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro HSM Lens and pick up the new version "II" for a review. You can check out the review for the very similar Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG non-Macro HSM Lens. The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro HSM Lens should be at least as capable as the slightly older non-macro version - I'll point the sample pictures for this lens to the non-macro gallery.

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