Small but perfectly formed: the ideal zoom for crop sensor mirrorless.
Perfect for a wide range of photo and video applications including landscapes, portraits, street photography, architecture and events, and it can also be used for macro-style close-up photography owing to its maximum magnification of 1:2.8 that allows a minimum focusing distance of just 12.1cm. Autofocus is exceptionally fast and quiet thanks to the lens’ stepping motor, which can be particularly useful for shooting video, or for capturing fast-moving subjects.
Large F2.8 aperture and superb image quality
The SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary covers 27mm to 75mm in the 35mm format and has a wide aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range.
This makes it easy to achieve blurry backgrounds, which is ideal for shooting attractive portraits and close-ups. The bokeh is smooth and attractive so doesn’t distract from the in-focus subject.
The lens’s three high-precision glass-moulded aspherical elements coupled with the minimisation of the total number of elements yields superb optical quality without excessive weight, and the use of in-camera aberration correction further eliminates optical imperfections such as distortion and vignetting.
High contrast results with vivid colours
The optical quality of the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | C is exceptional, with high-contrast, ultra-sharp images all the way to the extreme corners of the frame, and even wide open at F2.8. Colours are vivid and rich straight out of camera.
Controlled results with little flare or ghosting
Along with its anti-ghosting design, Super Multi-Layer Coating and SLD glass, ghosting and flare are very well controlled to produce high-contrast results even in strongly backlighting. This yields punchy, high impact images in all lighting conditions.
A lightweight and compact body ideal for mirrorless cameras
The SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary is remarkably compact, matching the portability of APS-C mirrorless camera bodies. This makes it a perfect workhorse lens that is ideal for general day-to-day use. The lens is currently the smallest and lightest in its class (at time of writing), boasting a maximum diameter of 65.4mm, a length of 74.5mm and weight of 290g (L-Mount version), yet still maintains a constant aperture of F2.8.
To keep the lens as light as possible, SIGMA constructed the body from carefully selected materials. A polycarbonate called Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) was used for the construction of the barrel, which is sleek, robust, and importantly has a thermal conductivity close to that of aluminium. This ensures stable performance and good operability when used in changing temperatures. By using metal for some of the internal structure, the parts could be much thinner and have a higher rigidity, ensuring the lens can stand up to frequent, heavy use.
The 18-50mm F2.8 has the same aperture and a similar focal length to the popular but now discontinued SIGMA 17-50mm EX DC OS HSM. Despite these similarities, this mirrorless standard zoom is considerably smaller and lighter.
Sigma is now one of the very few imaging manufacturers whose products are solely made in Japan. This gives us full control over our production processes and helps us maintain the highest levels of quality control over the design, manufacture and construction of every product. Great care is taken to ensure the highest quality materials are chosen.
Supports a wide variety of shooting situations
The SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary has fast and near-silent AF that makes it perfectly suited to a range of photographic applications, including shooting in quiet environments, recording video and capturing fast-moving subjects. This has been achieved by using a stepping motor as the AF actuator. Since it is small and lightweight, it can be used flexibly in situations such as handheld shooting, which requires high mobility, gimbal shooting, one-man operation video shooting and vlogging.
With an emphasis on making the lens as versatile as possible in a wide variety of shooting conditions, SIGMA designed the lens with a minimum focusing distance of 12.1 cm and maximum magnification of 1:2.8 at the wide end, making it ideal for close-ups. Combined with the pocketable full-frame SIGMA fp, the total weight is only 712g, and it can also be useful as a sub-lens for full-frame cameras (used in crop mode) to keep weight down.
The 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary, which combines a compact and lightweight body, high optical performance and a large aperture supports a variety of shooting situations, from introductory single-lens mirrorless cameras to video shooting and is ideal for a wide range of photographic genres.
Short focusing distance for close-up detail
An impressive minimum focusing distance of 12.1cm at the wide end of the zoom range (a working distance of 4.7cm) up to 30cm fully zoomed in allows you to capture subjects close-up in incredible detail.
This gives a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2.8 and makes the lens ideal for shooting macro-style images of flowers, insects, textures and products.
Perfect for portraits
The mid-range focal length of this lens, coupled with its exceptional image quality, makes it ideal for portrait photography. At the tele end, it offers the perfect field-of-view for head and shoulders portraits, allowing you to achieve a flattering perspective on the face. Zoomed out to 28mm, it’s ideal for full body shots such as environmental portraits.
The wide and constant F2.8 aperture allows for a shallow depth-of-field, which helps the subject to stand out. Attractive, smooth bokeh ensures backgrounds are not distracting.
Light but tough polycarbonate petal hood included
Included in the box is a petal-style lens hood (LH582-02) that will help to reduce flare and ghosting when shooting into the sun or other bright source of light. Its tough but ultra-light polycarbonate design can also help protect the lens from damage if dropped.
Impression
Andrew Stripp
Hsu Wu Te
Damien Dohmen
Jim Koepnick
Other features
- Lens construction: 13 elements in 10 groups, with 1 SLD and 3 aspherical elements
- Internal focusing
- Compatible with high-speed autofocus
- Stepping motor
- Compatible with lens-based optical correction
*Function available on supported cameras only. Available corrections may vary depending on the camera model. - Super Multi-Layer Coating
- Support DMF, AF+MF
- Minimum shooting distance 12.1 cm at wide end with a working distance 4.7cm
- Petal-type lens hood
- Simple dust- and splash-proof design
- Compatible with SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 (sold separately / for L-Mount only)
- Designed to minimise flare and ghosting
- Every single lens undergoes SIGMA’s proprietary MTF measuring system ‘A1’
- 7-blade rounded diaphragm
- High-precision, durable brass bayonet mount
- ‘Made in Japan’ craftsmanship
Essentials
You'll find our philosophy and craftsmanship in every product
Our new lineup fully expresses our approach to lenses and photography itself. All of our lenses belong to one of three lines—Contemporary, Art, or Sports—all of which share our development philosophy and advanced manufacturing system. High performance, high quality, and high end in every respect, these lenses give people who love photography lasting value and consistent, exciting results. The secret is our passion for craftsmanship that we put into every production process and every product.
Evaluation with Sigma's own MTF measuring system “A1”
We used to measure lens performance with MTF measuring system using conventional sensors. However, we’ve now developed our own proprietary MTF (modulation transfer function) measuring system (A1) using 46-megapixel Foveon direct image sensors. Even previously undetectable high-frequency details are now within the scope of our quality control inspections. The SIGMA 50mm F1.4 DG HSM will all be checked using this “A1” before they are shipped.
* A1: Aizu1
“Made in Japan”
All Sigma’s manufacturing – right down to moulds and parts – with a few exceptions, are carried out under a single integrated production system, entirely in Japan. We are now one of the very few manufacturers whose products are solely “made in Japan”. We like to think our products are somehow imbued with the essence of our homeland, blessed as it is with clean air and water, and focused, hard-working people. We pride ourselves on the authentic quality of Sigma products, born of a marriage between highly attuned expertise and intelligent, advanced technology. Our sophisticated products have satisfied professionals and lovers of photography all over the world because our manufacturing is based on genuine craftsmanship, underpinned by the passion and pride of our experts.
Applicable for the Mount Conversion Service
As an experienced lens manufacturer that has been creating a diverse range of interchangeable lenses, we have started the innovative chargeable service “Mount Conversion Service”. With this service, the mount of your current SIGMA lenses can be changed to another mount of your choice. It gives a new life to your favourite lenses when you wish to use it on a different camera body.
* This “Mount Conversion Service” is different from a normal repair. In order to apply for the service, please contact your nearest authorized subsidiary/distributor of SIGMA.
Small but perfectly formed: the all-new standard zoom for crop sensor mirrorless.
Lens construction
Specifications
CContemporary
18-50mm F2.8 DC DN |
||
| Lens Construction | 13 elements in 10 groups | |
| Angle of View (35mm) |
76.5° – 31.7°
|
|
| Number of Diaphragm Blades | 7 Blades (Rounded diaphragm) | |
| Minimum Aperture | F22 | |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 12.1cm (W) – 30cm (T) | |
| Maximum Magnification | 1:2.8 (W) – 1:5 (T) | |
| Filter Size | Diameter 55mm | |
| Dimensions | 65.4mm × 74.5mm | |
| Weight | 290g | |
Corresponding AF Mounts
Barcode No. |
|
| L-Mount |
00-85126-585693
|
| Sony E-mount |
00-85126-585655
|
| FUJIFILM X Mount | 00-85126-585754 |
Small but perfectly formed: the all-new standard zoom for crop sensor mirrorless.
Diffraction and Geometrical MTF Chart - 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN
Small but perfectly formed: the all-new standard zoom for crop sensor mirrorless.
Accessories
Front Lens Cap
Protect the front element of your lens with a SIGMA Rear Lens Cap. Helps to prevent dust, scratches and unwanted damage. Supplied with new SIGMA Global Vision lenses* *Excluding some lens variants.
£5.99 – £14.99
Lens Hood for 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | C (LH582-02)
£31.99
Rear Lens Cap
Protect the rear elements of your lens with a SIGMA Rear Lens Cap. Helps to prevent dust, scratches and unwanted damage to the lens contacts. Supplied with new SIGMA Global Vision lenses* *Excluding some lens variants.
£4.99
Sigma USB Dock UD-11
Designed exclusively for the use with a SIGMA Contemporary, Art, or Sports lens and its accessories, the SIGMA USB DOCK allows users to update firmware and customize settings on lenses in these lineups. As the latest addition to the lineup, the USB DOCK UD-11 is designed for two types of mirrorless camera mounts: the L-Mount …
£59.99