Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Canon L-series EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
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
Canon L-series EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, fast autofocus, and robust build quality. Users highlight its versatility for wildlife, sports, and even close-up photography, with many noting it outperforms competitors like the Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm lenses in image quality. However, some criticize the price increase and occasional sharpness inconsistencies, while a few users report autofocus limitations with extenders on certain camera bodies.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Versatile zoom range (100-400mm)
- Excellent image stabilization
- Robust build quality
Cons
- Price increase over time
- Heavy weight
- Autofocus limitations with 2x extender
- Some copies lack sharpness
- Not ideal for Sony mirrorless
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Canon L-series EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 100 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 400 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 21 |
| Groups | 10 | 16 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | Air Sphere Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/100 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 4.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Canon EF |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.29 kg★ | 1.64 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor | USM★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 980 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8★ | 0.31x |
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 (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
Canon L-series EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
- Strong optical (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong af (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong versatility (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Below average aperture (1st percentile)1st %ile
- Below average bokeh (1st percentile)1st %ile
- Below average build (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (32nd percentile)
Pricing
Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN offers 6.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 99 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
