Once you put the lens head on it doesn't come off. So you are stuck with your lens hood for good. This lens produces nice macro photos. But because it's 50mm lens, you have to really get closer to the subject.

I also own the Sigma 150 Macro (which is excellent). Image quality wise, this one is as good, if not a tiny bit sharper. It is small and light, so I always have it in my bag, even if I dont plan to do macro. I bought it also a as a walk around prime that can do macro if needed.

Light weight; Optics: sharpness, contrast, bokeh , color are top notch; AF accurate , price

slow AF (but I knew it wasn't HSM when I bought it...

A competitively priced, digitally optimised lens......

Well priced and sturdy enough lens; full-frame imaging circle

Image quality is not as good as some others

Gary Wolstenholme reviews Sigma's 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro lens.

Good value for money; Excellent sharpness when stopped down; Compact size; Low distortion

Could be sharper at maximum aperture; Short working distance can make it difficult to light your subject

The Sigma AF 50mm f/2.8 EX DG macro is a member of Sigma's popular gang of four macro lenses. The new DG ( Digital ) variant features an improved lens coating optimized for digital sensors. It is a full format lens but as usual we'll have a look how it performs on an APS-C DSLR.

Great lens! I use this on my Pentax K-50. It's not a 50mm as the review headline says though while writing this, it's a 70mm. It takes wonderful macro images and I use it quite frequently for that. My images can be seen here: alittleplaceontheweb.com if you would like to see examples.

I use this product ...for close up shots of non moving object, but this lens can be use for portrait photography, or even landscape...take it as a essential prime lens with very good macro capability....

Consistent Output; Durable; Easily Interchangeable; Lightweight; Rugged; Strong Construction; Value low light

Auto focus noisee; Slow Focus

A nice lens with decent image quality and reasonable price. As a Macro lens it suits the needs. Sharpness and contrast are on the very good side. Gives a macro rendition of 1:1

Image sharpness is very good even for a tendency for excellence, Contrast is very good, The best point for this lens is its price; Compared to similar products, lenses from the camera manufacturers are much more expensive

Inner construction; The focus limiter is very fragile and might disengage/break from first attempt of engaging it, Lens hood is screw on and whenever attached the lens cap cannot be used, creating an inconvenience, The focusing ring rotates when on AF

A recommended lens for begginers in macro but it does have limitations!

Good build quality and good value for money

Sigmas claims not met and a slow auto focus

I purchased this lens based on reviews I had seen on other web sites and I do not regret it. The lens focuses quickly in AF mode and in manual focus, it focuses as smooth as an AF lens I've used does.