Sigma Scalematic 3.5/200mm first impression

Toeteraar

I managed to get a copy of this seventies Sigma experiment. Sigma made a nice range of strange lenses in that time, not leading to great commercial successes making them nice lenses to collect.

This Scalematic can focus at a minimal distance of some 80cm's giving it a nice 1:3 ratio. Not quite macro, but enough for the bigger insects like dragonflies and butterflies.

From an earlier topic by Luisalegria about this lens, i already learned that it can perform well as long as it is stopped down to about 8

Mechanic-wise, Sigma did a good job, after some 40 years, aperture ring and both the focussing rings run as smooth as if the lens was produced about yesterday.
I use this one on my Panny G1 giving me the advantage of the EVF that makes it quite easy to focus with te aperture closed.

1 The combination

2 Surprise nr 1. Backgrounds that remind me of Bokina, one of my other macro's

3 It can really cope with insects like this dragonfly

4 Surprise nr 2, it can cope with backlit subjects

5 Easy stay out of the 'fly-away-zone'

6 @minimal distance

Verdict: a keeper