Sigma APO EX DG OS HSM Macro 106306 150mm

The Sigma 150mm f/2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM Macro is a Nikon F-mount macro lens with excellent stabilization and a bright aperture, but mediocre optics and poor build quality. It's worth considering only if you find it at the low end of its EUR 379 to EUR 1,148 price range. For most people, newer alternatives offer better sharpness and construction.

The optical performance is a mixed bag. Our database puts the optical score at the 39th percentile, which translates to mediocre for a lens in this class. That's not a disaster, but it's not the razor-sharp edge-to-edge performance Sigma's marketing copy suggests. The three SLD elements help with color fringing, and the Super Multi-Layer Coating does cut down on flare, but the overall sharpness doesn't blow us away compared to newer macro glass.

Where this lens does shine is stabilization. The OS system is rated at 4 stops, and our data puts it in the 93rd percentile for stabilization. That's genuinely one of the best on the market for a lens like this. For handheld macro work, where every tiny shake gets magnified, that's a real advantage. The f/2.8 aperture also lands in the 86th percentile, which is strong. You get a bright viewfinder and decent low-light flexibility. Bokeh quality is well above average too, at the 84th percentile. For portraits at 150mm and f/2.8, the background melts away nicely.

The Sigma 150mm f/2.8 doesn't have a ton of direct competitors at this exact focal length, but there are some interesting alternatives. The Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 is a zoom, not a macro prime, but it's a modern mirrorless lens with better overall versatility. If you're on a Nikon Z body, the Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 VR gives you a huge focal range and modern autofocus, though you lose the f/2.8 aperture and true macro capability.

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.7 XF is a completely different beast, a fast wide prime for Fuji. It's not a macro lens at all, but it's a reminder that newer third-party glass often delivers better optical performance per dollar than older designs like this Sigma. The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 and Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS are also zooms that trade macro capability for flexibility. If you specifically need 1:1 macro at 150mm on a Nikon F-mount DSLR, this Sigma is one of very few options. But if you're willing to compromise on focal length or magnification, there are sharper, better-built lenses out there.

Pricing on this lens is all over the place. We're seeing EUR listings ranging from EUR 379 up to EUR 1,148 across German and Italian retailers. That's a EUR 769 spread, which is wild. If you can find it at the lower end of that range, it's a much more interesting proposition. At EUR 379, you're getting a stabilized 150mm macro with f/2.8 for less than many modern 90mm macros. At EUR 1,148, you're paying way too much for a lens with mediocre optical scores and bottom-tier build quality. Shop around before you commit. The cheapest listing we found is the one to chase if you decide this lens is for you.

The Sigma 150mm f/2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM Macro is a full-frame macro prime for Nikon F-mount DSLRs. It's a chunky piece of glass at 1179g, but that weight buys you a 1:1 magnification ratio, a constant f/2.8 aperture, and optical stabilization rated for about 4 stops. This lens sits in a weird but interesting spot. It's a macro lens first, but the 150mm focal length also makes it a genuinely nice portrait option on full-frame bodies.

People searching for a Nikon macro lens usually want to know if it's good for insects, flowers, or product shots. The answer is yes, mostly. The 381mm minimum focus distance gives you decent working room, which matters when you're trying not to scare off a butterfly. And because it's a true 1:1 macro, you can fill the frame with something the size of a postage stamp.

But this isn't a modern mirrorless lens. It's an older DSLR design, and that shows in a few places. The autofocus is HSM, which is fine but not lightning fast. The build quality score in our database is rough, landing near the bottom of the pack. We'll get into what that means below.

Skip this lens if you're on a mirrorless system and don't want to deal with adapters. Also skip it if build quality matters to you, because this lens scores near the bottom of our database for construction. If you shoot in rough conditions or travel often, the 1179g weight and mediocre build make it a poor travel companion. Our data gives it a travel score of just 32.1 out of 100. If you need a versatile everyday lens, look at a modern zoom like the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 or the Nikon Z DX 18-140mm instead. And if you're paying more than EUR 500 for this Sigma, you're better off putting that money toward newer glass.

Should you buy the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM Macro? It depends on what you shoot and what you pay. If you're a Nikon DSLR shooter who wants a stabilized 150mm macro with a bright aperture, and you can find this lens for under EUR 500, it's worth a look. The stabilization is genuinely excellent, and the f/2.8 aperture plus 150mm focal length makes it a solid portrait lens too.

But the build quality is a real concern. Our database puts it at the 10th percentile, which is one of the worst we've seen for a lens in this category. That's not something to ignore if you plan to use this outdoors for insect photography. The optical performance is also just okay, not great. If you're paying anywhere near the top of that EUR 379 to EUR 1,148 range, you're overpaying. This lens makes sense as a budget find, not as a premium purchase.