Sony 85/1.4 ZA, Sigma 70/2.8 Macro, or Tamron 90/2.8 Macro

From portraiture to photojournalism, fashion, weddings and whatever

Pretend it was your money:

Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85 F1.4
4
50%
Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro
2
25%
Tamron SP AF 90 F2.8 Di
2
25%
 
Total votes: 8

User avatar
pakodominguez
Minister with Portfolio
Posts: 2306
Joined: Tue May 22, 2007 5:38 pm
Location: NYC
Contact:

Re: Sony 85/1.4 ZA, Sigma 70/2.8 Macro, or Tamron 90/2.8 Mac

Unread post by pakodominguez »

Hi Kevin,
So?
what happened?
did you get your 70-200 f2.8?
show us your pics!
Pako
------------
http://www.pakodominguez.photo/blog" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
KevinBarrett
Emperor of a Minor Galaxy
Posts: 2449
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:32 pm
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Contact:

Re: Sony 85/1.4 ZA, Sigma 70/2.8 Macro, or Tamron 90/2.8 Mac

Unread post by KevinBarrett »

In the end, I got the Sigma 70/2.8 macro. I couldn't justify spending $800 to get one stop over my beercan, even if the Sigma 70-200/2.8 is sharper overall, its still a lens I'd have to stop down for ultimate sharpness. I began this search trying to find a lens that would be sharp at f/2.8, and by all sources, the Sigma macro is that lens. My brother loves his, and I've always been envious. The thought crossed my mind that the Tamron 60/2 macro should have been an option, but I can't rule out going to a full-frame camera eventually.
Kevin Barrett
-- Photos --
User avatar
Dr. Harout
Subsuming Vortex of Brilliance
Posts: 5662
Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 7:38 pm
Location: Yerevan, Armenia
Contact:

Re: Sony 85/1.4 ZA, Sigma 70/2.8 Macro, or Tamron 90/2.8 Mac

Unread post by Dr. Harout »

Congratulations and enjoy it Kevin.
A99 + a7rII + Sony, Zeiss, Minolta, Rokinon and M42 lenses

Flickr
User avatar
KevinBarrett
Emperor of a Minor Galaxy
Posts: 2449
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:32 pm
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Contact:

Re: Sony 85/1.4 ZA, Sigma 70/2.8 Macro, or Tamron 90/2.8 Mac

Unread post by KevinBarrett »

Meh, I'm kind-of underwhelmed. The Sigma 70/2.8 Macro got here yesterday and I spent the morning playing with it. It isn't as sharp as I'd been led to expect, or maybe my lens is a dud. Either way, I don't think macro photography is right for me, or this isn't the right season for it, or Texas isn't the right place. I hate using tripods and the paper-thin DoF makes tripods a necessity. So, the close-focusing capability of what is probably a very nice macro lens is wasted on me.

As a portrait lens, the Sigma becomes redundent for me. Though the f/2.8 aperture should mean accurate auto-focusing, mine seemed to hunt quite a bit, and sixteen AF-screw turns from 1:1 to infinity takes a good while. The beercan focuses much faster and maybe a bit more accurately, too. F/2.8 is nice, but again, the lens isn't at its best there. Above f/4.5 the lens starts to act like a beercan with a bokeh upgrade; smoother and more circular OOF highlights. My beercan already behaves very well at 70mm, with plenty of sharpness and no CA to speak of, so I can't see carrying both lenses.

The Sigma 70mm is going back. I'm sure it's a good macro lens, but I learned my lesson about using a macro for portraiture. A side effect of this experience: I REALLY appreciate all the lenses I already own. I'll rent another body for my upcoming wedding and use the Tamron 17-50 on one and the beercan on the other. As for a lens purchase with my "allowance," I'll wait and see about the new Sigma 85/1.4, or maybe the Tokina 11-16/2.8.
Kevin Barrett
-- Photos --
User avatar
pakodominguez
Minister with Portfolio
Posts: 2306
Joined: Tue May 22, 2007 5:38 pm
Location: NYC
Contact:

Re: Sony 85/1.4 ZA, Sigma 70/2.8 Macro, or Tamron 90/2.8 Mac

Unread post by pakodominguez »

mmm
I'm sure the 70-200 f2.8 was THE lens that will make you happy -get it and sell the Beercan!
;-)
Pako
------------
http://www.pakodominguez.photo/blog" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
KevinBarrett
Emperor of a Minor Galaxy
Posts: 2449
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:32 pm
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Contact:

Re: Sony 85/1.4 ZA, Sigma 70/2.8 Macro, or Tamron 90/2.8 Mac

Unread post by KevinBarrett »

pakodominguez wrote:mmm
I'm sure the 70-200 f2.8 was THE lens that will make you happy -get it and sell the Beercan!
;-)
Your store quit selling it! It's back to August availability with B&H and Amazon...
Kevin Barrett
-- Photos --
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests