Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Viltrox AF 16/1.8 FE 16mm
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 AF 16/1.8 FE 16mm
The Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 lens is widely praised for its excellent image quality, solid build, and outstanding value for money. Many users find it sharp, fast, and versatile for landscapes, astrophotography, and video. However, a few have reported autofocus inconsistencies, occasional bricking after months of use, and some limitations like unchangeable display units and manual-only aperture on certain mounts.
Pros
- Excellent image sharpness
- Great value for money
- Solid metal build quality
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Bright f/1.8 aperture
Cons
- Autofocus can be unreliable
- Lens hood does not snap tightly
- Some copies brick after months
- Display only shows meters, not feet
- Aperture control manual only on some mounts
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Viltrox AF 16/1.8 FE 16mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 16 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 15 |
| Groups | 10 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 | 3 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 4★ |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | HD Nano Multilayer Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.29 kg★ | 0.55 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 270 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8 | 1:10 |
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
Viltrox AF 16/1.8 FE 16mm
- Strong optical (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong macro (75th percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (24th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN offers 2.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 99 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 2 of 21 specs.
