Sigma 180mm F/5.6 APO UC Macro ZEN

Macro lens • Film era • Discontinued

  • Announced:
  • · October 1990
  • Production status:
  • ● Discontinued
  • Country of design:
  • · Japan
  • Original name:
  • · SIGMA AF APO MACRO 180mm 1:5.6 MULTI-COATED
  • Class:
  • · Slow full-frame macro lens
  • · Professional model

Abbreviations

APO Apochromatic optical design.
UC Ultra Compact lens.
MACRO Macro lens. Designed specially for shooting close-ups of small subjects but can be also used in other genres of photography, not necessarily requiring focusing at close distances. Learn more

Specification

Optical design:
35mm full frame
180mm
F/5.6
9 elements in 6 groups
2 SLD
Internal focusing (IF)
Floating element system
Canon EF [44mm]
Minolta/Sony A [44.5mm]
Nikon F [46.5mm]
Sigma SA [44mm]
13.7° (35mm full frame)
On Canon EOS APS-C [1.59x] cameras:
35mm equivalent focal length:
286.2mm (in terms of field of view)
35mm equivalent speed:
F/8.9 (in terms of depth of field)
Diagonal angle of view:
8.6°
On Sony DSLR-A/SLT-A APS-C [1.53x] cameras:
35mm equivalent focal length:
275.4mm (in terms of field of view)
35mm equivalent speed:
F/8.6 (in terms of depth of field)
Diagonal angle of view:
9°
On Nikon D APS-C [1.53x] cameras:
35mm equivalent focal length:
275.4mm (in terms of field of view)
35mm equivalent speed:
F/8.6 (in terms of depth of field)
Diagonal angle of view:
9°
On Sigma SD APS-C [1.74x] cameras:
35mm equivalent focal length:
313.2mm (in terms of field of view)
35mm equivalent speed:
F/9.7 (in terms of depth of field)
Diagonal angle of view:
7.9°
Diaphragm mechanism:
Diaphragm type:
Automatic
Aperture control:
None; the aperture is controlled from the camera (Canon EF, Minolta/Sony A, Sigma SA)
Aperture ring (Manual settings + Auto Exposure setting) (Nikon F)
8 (eight)
Focusing:
0.55m
0.403m
1:2
Focusing modes:
Autofocus (AF), Manual focus (M)
Autofocus motor:
Micromotor (Canon EF, Sigma SA)
In-camera motor (Nikon F, Minolta/Sony A)
Manual focus control:
Focusing ring
Focus mode selector:
AF - M (Canon EF, Sigma SA)
None; focusing mode is set from the camera (Nikon F, Minolta/Sony A)
Manual focus override in autofocus mode:
-
Optical Stabilizer (OS):
-
Physical characteristics:
435g (Nikon F)
⌀69×103mm (Nikon F)
Accessories:
Screw-type 52mm
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Source of data

  • Manufacturer's technical data.

Manufacturer description #1

World's Smallest APO/MACRO Telephoto

APO 180mm Macro F5.6 UC

  • Apochromatic optical performance and flat field macro capability in an ultra-compact telephoto lens - less than 4" long, weighs just 15 oz.
  • Focuses down to just 22" for 1:2 (1/2 life-size) magnification.
  • Internal focusing system maintains constant lens size and provides fast, smooth, one-finger focusing.
  • Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass combined with apochromatic design means sharp, brilliant images with chromatic and spherical aberrations virtually eliminated.
  • Smooth-looking ZEN finish, non-slip, non-glare and scratch-resistant.
  • Available for Canon, Minolta, Nikon and Pentax autofocus mounts and most manual mounts.

Manufacturer description #2

Remarkably small and light for a 180mm telephoto, this innovative Sigma lens saves even more room in the camera bag by doubling as a superb macro lens. With dimensions of just 2.75" x 4", and weight under a pound, the Sigma 180 F5.6 is made to order for the photographer who likes to travel light.

Perfect for telephoto applications, this Sigma lens also focuses down to 22" for crisp 1:2 (1/2 life-size) close-ups. A smooth internal focusing system means the lens is always the same size, and requires no exposure compensation with macro work. The lens barrel accepts popular 52mm filters and, because it does not rotate with focusing, polarizers and graduated filters stay aligned.

Apochromatic corrections, combined with Sigma's Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass, mean superior contrast, resolution and color correction throughout the focusing range. On the outside, a professional "ZEN" finish resists reflections and scratches and provides a sure grip.

Manufacturer description #3

This 180mm is an ultra-compact telephoto macro lens with Apochromatic design and unparalleled optical performance. Chromatic aberration, often a problem in telephoto lenses, has been eliminated by using SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass for the two front lens elements. A floating element internal focusing system maintains high optical performance from infinity to 1:2 macro magnification, and eliminates the need for exposure compensation at the larger reproduction ratios. This Sigma 180mm delivers superior color rendition, with crisp, high-contrast images. With its rugged ZEN finish and ultra-compact size, it's ideal for travel photography.

From the editor

Introduced at Photokina 1990.

Notes

  • The autofocus will not be available with Nikon D40, D40X, D60, D3000-D3500, D5000-D5600 digital SLR cameras.
  • Sigma had to reverse engineer the communication protocol of the Canon EF mount to produce a version of this lens for Canon EOS 35mm film SLR cameras. As a consequence, this lens may not work properly with Canon EOS cameras (both film and digital) due to compatibility issues.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Sigma lens designation "ZEN" mean?

It means that the lens has a ZEN finish. ZEN is an acronym for Zeitgeist ("the spirit of the times"), Enhancement, and Nonglare. This nonreflective urethane resin finish was introduced around 1989 and replaced the old-style, painted satin-black finish. Sigma claimed it to be hard, strong, antichemical, nonslip, antiglare, and scratch-resistant, however, it actually had a tendency to peel off and become sticky as it aged.

Lenses with similar focal length

■Canon EF mount (6)
Canon EF 180mm F/3.5L Macro USM • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.48mPro 1996 ●compare43
Sigma 180mm F/2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM Macro • ⌀86 • 1:1 @ 0.47mPro 2012 ●compare53
Sigma 180mm F/3.5 APO EX DG [HSM] Macro • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.46mPro 2005 ●compare53
Sigma 180mm F/2.8 APO Macro ZEN • ⌀82 • 1:2 @ 0.64mPro 1990 ●compare13
Sigma 180mm F/3.5 APO EX IF [HSM] Macro • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.46mPro 2000 ●compare43
Tamron SP AF 180mm F/3.5 Di LD [IF] Macro B01 • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.47mPro 2003 ●compare23
■Minolta/Sony A mount (6)
Minolta AF 200mm F/4 Macro APO G • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.50mPro 1999 ●compare33
Sigma 180mm F/2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM Macro • ⌀86 • 1:1 @ 0.47mPro 2012 ●compare53
Sigma 180mm F/3.5 APO EX DG [HSM] Macro • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.46mPro 2005 ●compare33
Sigma 180mm F/2.8 APO Macro ZEN • ⌀82 • 1:2 @ 0.64mPro 1990 ●compare13
Sigma 180mm F/3.5 APO EX IF [HSM] Macro • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.46mPro 2000 ●compare23
Tamron SP AF 180mm F/3.5 Di LD [IF] Macro B01 • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.47mPro 2003 ●compare23
■Nikon F mount (6)
Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm F/4D IF-ED • ⌀62 • 1:1 @ 0.50mPro 1993 ●compare33
Sigma 180mm F/2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM Macro • ⌀86 • 1:1 @ 0.47mPro 2012 ●compare53
Sigma 180mm F/3.5 APO EX DG [HSM] Macro • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.46mPro 2005 ●compare53
Sigma 180mm F/2.8 APO Macro ZEN • ⌀82 • 1:2 @ 0.64mPro 1990 ●compare13
Sigma 180mm F/3.5 APO EX IF [HSM] Macro • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.46mPro 2000 ●compare43
Tamron SP AF 180mm F/3.5 Di LD [IF] Macro B01 • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.47mPro 2003 ●compare23
■Sigma SA mount (4)
Sigma 180mm F/2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM Macro • ⌀86 • 1:1 @ 0.47mPro 2012 ●compare53
Sigma 180mm F/3.5 APO EX DG [HSM] Macro • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.46mPro 2005 ●compare53
Sigma 180mm F/2.8 APO Macro ZEN • ⌀82 • 1:2 @ 0.64mPro 1990 ●compare13
Sigma 180mm F/3.5 APO EX IF [HSM] Macro • ⌀72 • 1:1 @ 0.46mPro 2000 ●compare43

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