Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
What Buyers Say
Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary is widely praised as a compact, lightweight, and sharp standard zoom for APS-C mirrorless cameras. Users consistently highlight its excellent image quality, fast f/2.8 aperture, and affordable price as major strengths, making it a popular upgrade from kit lenses. Common criticisms include the lack of optical stabilization and a poorly designed lens hood, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.
Pros
- Excellent image sharpness
- Compact and lightweight design
- Fast f/2.8 constant aperture
- Great value for the price
- Fast and silent autofocus
Cons
- No optical image stabilization
- Poorly designed lens hood
- No weather sealing
- Plastic build quality
- Zoom ring direction opposite to Fujifilm
Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
The Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 pancake lens is widely praised for its ultra-compact size, lightweight design, and excellent value, making it a favorite for street photography and travel. Users note it turns a full-frame camera into a highly portable setup, though the fixed f/4.5 aperture and lack of manual focus ring are limiting for some. Image quality is considered good for the price, but low-light performance and autofocus in dim conditions are common drawbacks. A few users reported a stuck rear lens cap or battery drain on certain Sony models, but overall sentiment is positive for its intended casual use.
Pros
- Ultra-compact and lightweight design
- Excellent value for the price
- Great for street photography and travel
- Sharp image quality for its class
- Built-in lens cover
Cons
- Fixed f/4.5 aperture
- No manual focus ring
- Poor low-light autofocus
- Battery drain on Sony A5100
- Stuck rear lens cap issue
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 28 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 6 |
| Groups | 10 | 6 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | 2 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | nano multi-coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4.5 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | 6 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | L-Mount |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.29 kg | 0.08 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor★ | VCM |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 420 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8★ | 0.11X |
Pros & Cons
Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong macro (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong aperture (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Below average stabilization (35th percentile)
Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
- Strong build (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average social proof (9th percentile)9th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm offers 5.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 94 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
