Bugma!

[YEKCIM]

After much deliberation and consultation, Mrs Y and I have decided to purchase the Sigma APO MACRO 150mm F2.8 EX DG HSM as a joint Mother's Day / Father's Day gift to each other, and to do our civic duty and spend a portion of our Stimulus Check. The lens, commonly referred to as the "Bugma" for its long focal length insect-capturing capabilities, is also given high marks as a sharp, fast (f/2.8) medium telephoto, and we anticipate using it in both roles.

I'm guessing there will be some future "discussions" on YEKCIM family outings, to the tune of, "It's my turn to use the BUGMA; you used it yesterday".

Let the fun begin.

~Ed

 

[Gdad]

Good for you guys! I think that *much* deliberation will pay off nicely for you guys with a fine lens- and pay off nicely for us with whom you *must* share the pictures. Of course if it is a good as they say it is you *may* end up with two of them- as in the 70-300vr?

Anyways- congratulations on the new lens.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Looks like a cool lens. I may consider it someday as I often find the reach of my 100mm macro too limiting. Something else you may want to consider is a ring flash. I've found that you want really narrower apertures for macro shooting, so you need a lot of light.

 

[Gdad]

Wow- 78 views and 2 replies? No love for the Bugma? Maybe this will help.

http://www.pixel-peeper.com/lenses/Sigma 150mm f2.8

 

[handicap18]

Nice Ed. I've heard great things about that lens and the images on Pixel Peeper echo that.

Looking forward to seeing some shots with it.

 

[LMarge]

Sweet! Love those types of "joint" gifts!! Just please post a "BUG" warning if you post any upclose shots of mister spider -- those always creep me out!! seriously, I get the heebees all over!!

 

[YEKCIM]

Sweet! Love those types of "joint" gifts!! Just please post a "BUG" warning if you post any upclose shots of mister spider -- those always creep me out!! seriously, I get the heebees all over!!

HaHa! I'm not too partial to bugs, either, although I don't mind the occasional butterfly. I'm actually hoping to use the lens as a fast, medium tele lens for indoor stuff where my slow-aperture zoom won't quite cut it.

~Ed

 

[YEKCIM]

B&H and "Brown" came thru today:

Preliminary indications are that the lens is as sharp as all the reviews say it is. In addition, it seems to be built like a tank (metal body, not plastic). HSM focus is VERY quiet, seems pretty fast, although there is a tiny bit of "hunting" before it locks focus. Tripod collar is excellent quality and is easily removed and replaced.

I think Mrs Y will be very happy with it

~Y

 

[Evad]

Congratulations Ed!! I'm sure you and Mrs. Y will be very happy with your new acquisition. Please do share the results with all of us!!!

 

[SonyaM]

Congrats! I'm no good at macro yet, so I can't wait to see what you manage with your new baby! I try, but I guess I need a tripod to really get nice results. Handholding isn't quite doing it for me.

 

[Code]

Yay for new lenses! I'm thinking about getting the Sigma 105mm macro for 4/3, similar equivalent focal length to your new tool(toy) so I look forward to seeing some shots.

 

[Gdad]

Excellent- I hope you give it a good test before Mothers Day- would not want to give MrsY anything faulty by accident.

 

[YEKCIM]

Excellent- I hope you give it a good test before Mothers Day- would not want to give MrsY anything faulty by accident.

I would not THINK of giving Mrs Y any substandard gift of any kind, especially a piece of camera gear! So, just to be sure that it meets her standards, I did take it out for a spin: Here are some of the initial shots:

Full shot:

100% crop of center (focus point):

100% crop of top right corner:

One real-world handheld tele shot, ISO 1600, 1/320 sec, f/3.2:

I think it has passed the rigorous YEKCIM QC Field Test and is of acceptable quality for Mrs Y. What do YOU think?

~Ed

 

[Gdad]

I think it looks great-

I also think it is still a few days until Mothers Day- you can never be too carefull.

 

[YEKCIM]

I also think it is still a few days until Mothers Day- you can never be too carefull.

Well, I guess a little more "testing" couldn't hurt...

E

 

[Evad]

I agree with Jeff. More testing and more sharing of results of testing I think is in order here sir!!

 

[YEKCIM]

Well, don't tell Mrs Y, but I shot nearly 300 pix with it last night at church orchestra dress rehearsal (which is where the earlier samples came from). I was too bleary-eyed last night to PP any more than the few I posted. Mom's Day will come early for Mrs Y this year, since she has expressed a desire to use the Bugma to shoot a client's dance school recital Saturday night. I guess that's the last I'll see of the lens .

I have to tell you, though, that I am very impressed with the lens in just about every way (the pitiful rear cap being the only exception I can think of at present) and am looking forward to using it...when I can sneak it out of Mrs Y's camera bag!

~Y

 

[AndrewWG]

Well, don't tell Mrs Y, but I shot nearly 300 pix with it last night at church orchestra dress rehearsal (which is where the earlier samples came from). I was too bleary-eyed last night to PP any more than the few I posted. Mom's Day will come early for Mrs Y this year, since she has expressed a desire to use the Bugma to shoot a client's dance school recital Saturday night. I guess that's the last I'll see of the lens .

I have to tell you, though, that I am very impressed with the lens in just about every way (the pitiful rear cap being the only exception I can think of at present) and am looking forward to using it...when I can sneak it out of Mrs Y's camera bag!

~Y

Ok, but I thought it only shot bugs? Where are the bugs?

Nah, just kidding. That looks like an awesome lens. I guess it is on my short list from now on. However, that list has a $1400 lens ahead of it unfortunately...

 

[YEKCIM]

Ok, but I thought it only shot bugs? Where are the bugs?

Nah, just kidding. That looks like an awesome lens. I guess it is on my short list from now on. However, that list has a $1400 lens ahead of it unfortunately...

Patience, grasshopper, PATIENCE! We are going to the Nikon Cafe' meet-n-shoot in Huntsville at the end of May and the Saturday portion is the local botanical gardens and BUTTERFLY house! The 150mm FL should be perfect for that, since it allows some extra standoff distance from the 90-105mm range.

I'm pretty set for gear at present, but if someone just dumped a load of cash on me, I'd have a D300 and some top tier glass in pretty short order.

Like THAT is going to happen...

~Ed

 

[AndrewWG]

Patience, grasshopper, PATIENCE! We are going to the Nikon Cafe' meet-n-shoot in Huntsville at the end of May and the Saturday portion is the local botanical gardens and BUTTERFLY house! The 150mm FL should be perfect for that, since it allows some extra standoff distance from the 90-105mm range.

I'm pretty set for gear at present, but if someone just dumped a load of cash on me, I'd have a D300 and some top tier glass in pretty short order.

Like THAT is going to happen...

~Ed

You are right, that should be a great lens for butterflies! Being able to stand back like that should keep them from flying away too quickly. Be sure to have Mrs Y post some of her pics! Unless of course, she lets you borrow it, then you can post yours.