The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens is a small, lightweight and fast zoom lens that is suitable for a wide range of subjects. I spent a week testing the 18-50mm lens and I was impressed with the power of this tiny lens, which is now available for Fujifilm X Mount cameras.
specifications
- 10 groups, 13 elements (1 SLD and 3 aspherical lenses)
- 7 round leaves
- Maximum Magnification: 1:2.8
- Filter size: 55 mm
Bigger on the inside
When I first unboxed the 18-50mm lens, I was surprised by its compact size and weight, especially since it has a constant f/2.8 aperture. Not only is it small, but it’s also light and pairs perfectly with my Fujifilm X-T4 camera. In fact, it’s so compact that I initially doubted whether the lens would be rugged enough for professional use, which I’m happy to report is not the case.
I first used an 18-50mm (35mm equivalent to 27-75mm) lens while running for a software company. I think focal length and fast aperture make a perfect pairing for shooting vertical lenses in natural light, and since I haven’t tried this lens before, I’m willing to turn it off if I don’t. thought it got the job done. I liked the results so much that I used this lens most of the time shooting. It’s just the right size and features a large rubber zoom ring, and the zoom range makes it easy and fun to take group photos, portraits, and interesting angles to shoot. More importantly, the image quality and color rendering under fluorescent lighting are excellent, but the latter will be more appreciated.
After a few minutes of shooting with the 18-50mm, I realized that this tiny lens allows me to shoot indoors without a flash, while delivering excellent results. Since I’m used to lenses of similar specs that are much larger and heavier, the 18-50mm’s small size and discreetness really impressed me. This is why I say 18-50 is bigger on the inside. Don’t be fooled by the size, because it behaves like a much larger and heavier lens.
Quality build and handling
Although the lens is quite light, it feels solid and sturdy. The zoom ring has a rubber finish, making it easy to grip and use. Street photographers and other outdoor photographers will also appreciate the rubber-sealed mount, which makes it perfect for less-than-ideal shooting environments. It has a metal lens mount and a smooth zoom ring with just the right amount of resistance to stay in place. My only criticism of the build concerns the manual focus ring, which I find a bit too narrow. While it’s very smooth and works well, it’s a bit difficult to find the ring while my eyes are on the viewfinder. It’s also important to note that the lens doesn’t have a physical aperture ring, which most Fujifilm users prefer to dial in the settings via a command dial. Obviously, the lack of an aperture ring is not a design fault, but it should be noted for Fujifilm users.
Image quality
I was very impressed with the image quality, color rendering and sharpness of the lens. I tested it at a variety of apertures and focal lengths, and used it in both raw and JPEG on my X-T4. In addition to corporate photography, I tested the 18-50mm lens with the most difficult subjects, my two young children! I also took close-ups of some of the nature reserves because this lens has excellent close-focusing capabilities. Finally, I had an impromptu photo session with my band friends to test the lenses in a studio environment. In each situation, the lens performed beyond my expectations, and although I usually use prime lenses, I love the ability to take portraits, group photos, and landscapes without needing to change lenses. glass as well as without losing image quality.
One of the highlights of the lens is its sharpness. During a nature walk, I took a number of flower photos, all in handheld mode and the detail is quite impressive. Also, the 18-50mm’s excellent close-focusing is a nice touch.
As a serious Fujifilm user, I tested out many of Fuji’s original film simulations to see how they would look with third-party lenses. Again, I was very pleased with the color, quality and overall look of the simulations when paired with the 18-50mm. One highlight for me was using Velvia, which is a live simulation of Fuji. While I generally don’t like this simulation for portraits, as skin tones look oversaturated, I found saturation and colors to be excellent for some of the fall photos I took of my kids. The images have rich blacks, vibrant colors, and quite a bit of depth to them.
At the set, I was once again satisfied with the quality of the lens. The picture is very nice, with deep blacks and good contrast. Overall, I’m very pleased with the photos I’ve produced in each situation.
Auto focus
The autofocus is silent and fast. Normally, I find autofocus speed and accuracy on par with my Fujifilm 16-55mm f/2.8. In addition, the lens operates very quietly, making it suitable for both stills and video shooting. In terms of focus accuracy and grip in continuous AF mode, again, the lens performs similarly to my Fujifilm 18-55mm and delivers consistently sharp images without much slippage.
Inference
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary lens surprised me in many ways. It’s so small and light that I initially forgot I was using a zoom lens with a constant f/2.8 aperture. Since one would expect those specs to be in a much larger package, it took me a minute to appreciate how extraordinary the design is. In my opinion, this is the best part of the 18-50mm, as I can shoot in low-light situations without having to carry around a large lens that throws off the balance of my relatively small camera. As I mentioned before, it pairs perfectly with the X-T4 in terms of size and weight, and I didn’t take it off the camera at all during my time with it. Sharpness, contrast, color rendering, and quality finish make this lens quite appealing to anyone using an APS-C-sized camera.
What I like
- Compact design
- Strong build quality
- Excellent sharpness, contrast and colors
- Fast AF
What can be improved
- The manual focus ring is a bit narrow
Buy, lean on, cling to
