Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
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
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
The Meike 85mm f/1.8 lens receives mixed feedback. Many users praise its sharpness, bokeh, and value for the price, especially for portrait and low-light photography. However, a significant number of reviewers report issues with autofocus noise, inconsistent autofocus performance, and even complete focus motor failure. Build quality concerns, such as a loose focus ring, are also mentioned, leading to a polarized sentiment where the lens is either loved for its image quality or criticized for reliability.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Great bokeh
- Excellent value for money
- Good for low-light photography
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Loud autofocus noise
- Inconsistent autofocus performance
- Focus motor failure reported
- Loose focus ring on some units
- Compatibility issues with some adapters
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 85 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 11 |
| Groups | 10 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | multi-coated on both sides, fingerprint- and oil-resistant coatings |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.29 kg★ | — |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 650 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8★ | 0.17X |
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 (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (31st percentile)
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- Below average build (31st percentile)
Verdict
Scores 98 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.