Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Meike SE Series 35mm f/2.0 AF 35mm
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 SE Series 35mm f/2.0 AF 35mm
The Meike lenses are widely praised for delivering impressive sharpness, fast autofocus, and excellent value for money, often compared favorably to much more expensive native lenses. Users highlight solid build quality, smooth manual focus rings, and pleasing bokeh, though a small number note minor issues like aperture ring looseness or focus hunting in very low light. Overall, it's seen as a fantastic budget-friendly option for photographers seeking prime performance without breaking the bank.
Pros
- Impressive sharpness for the price
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Solid build quality
- Pleasing bokeh
- Good value for money
Cons
- Aperture ring has slight play on some units
- Autofocus can hunt in very low light
- Lens hood attachment can feel stiff
- Minimum focus distance is somewhat long
- Some chromatic aberration in high contrast scenes
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Meike SE Series 35mm f/2.0 AF 35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 11 |
| Groups | 10 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | Multilayered Coatings |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 11★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.29 kg★ | 0.30 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor★ | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 450 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
- Strong macro (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong aperture (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
Meike SE Series 35mm f/2.0 AF 35mm
- Strong social proof (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong build (75th percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Meike SE Series 35mm f/2.0 AF 35mm offers 2.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 99 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
