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

I am canceling my plans to complete 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 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 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 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.