Head-to-head · Best Macro Lenses

Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S (Z mount) vs Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Sony E / L mount)

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S (Z mount) and Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Sony E / L mount) score essentially the same (4.8 vs 4.8). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Ranked #3 in Best Macro Lenses

Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S (Z mount)

4.8

3 sources2 derived$896.95as of Aug 2

S-line sharpness, vibration reduction and a long working distance make the Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S the benchmark macro lens for the Z system. Digital Camera World rated it 5 stars ('a stunner'), Cameralabs marked it Highly Recommended, and Amateur Photographer praised its 'excellent sharpness across the frame.' Set against the Canon and Sony flagships, its one real limitation is that it stops at 1:1 magnification.

Strengths

— Very sharp across the frame, usable wide open with minimal aberrations
— Built-in VR stabilization (around 4.5 stops) aids handheld macro
— Long 105mm working distance keeps you back from skittish subjects

Watch-outs

— Maxes out at 1:1, not the 1.4:1 of the Canon and Sony flagships
— Premium price for the Z system
— No teleconverter support for greater-than-life-size magnification

$896.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #4 in Best Macro Lenses

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Sony E / L mount)

4.8

3 sources$859as of Aug 2

Reviewers repeatedly place the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art among the sharpest lenses ever tested on high-resolution Sony bodies, which makes it the value sharpness king here. Amateur Photographer gave it a 5-star Gold Award and Cameralabs marked it Highly Recommended. Add a de-clickable aperture ring, weather sealing and a longer working distance than 90mm rivals and you have an outstanding 1:1 macro for Sony E and L-mount; it lacks only in-lens stabilization.

Strengths

— Reference-grade sharpness, among the sharpest lenses tested on high-res bodies
— Excellent value versus first-party 105mm-class macros
— True 1:1 magnification with a de-clickable aperture ring

Watch-outs

— No optical image stabilization (relies on in-body IBIS)
— Stops at 1:1, not the 1.4:1 of the Canon and Sony flagships
— Heavier than some rivals at around 715g

$859 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S (Z mount)

The Nikon Z MC 105mm offers a longer working distance than the Tamron 90mm and Sigma 105mm and adds in-lens VR they lack, but it stops at 1:1 where the Canon RF 100mm and Sony FE 100mm GM reach 1.4:1.

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Sony E / L mount)

The Sigma 105mm matches the Tamron 90mm as a value 1:1 macro without stabilization, offering a longer working distance, and like the Tamron it undercuts the stabilized first-party Sony FE 100mm GM and Nikon Z MC 105mm while stopping short of their 1.4:1 (Sony) magnification.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S (Z mount)	Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Sony E / L mount)
Mount	Nikon Z	Sony E / Leica L
Focal Length	105mm	105mm
Max Aperture	f/2.8	f/2.8
Max Magnification	1:1	1:1
Min Focus	0.29m	0.295m
Stabilization	VR (~4.5 stops)	—
Filter Size	62mm	—
Weight	630g	715g
Aperture Ring	—	De-clickable
Weather Sealed	—	Yes

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