Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Meike 55mm F1.4 AF STM 55mm
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 55mm F1.4 AF STM 55mm
The Meike 55mm f/1.4 lens delivers impressive sharpness, pleasing bokeh, and fast autofocus for Fuji APS-C cameras at a budget-friendly price. Users consistently praise its metal build and aperture ring, but note that firmware updates may require a specific USB-C to USB-A cable and a Windows computer to unlock full autofocus performance. Overall, it is considered an exceptional value, particularly for portrait and street photography.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness at f/1.4
- Pleasing bokeh and background separation
- Fast and reliable autofocus after firmware update
- Premium metal build with aperture ring
- Lightweight and compact design
Cons
- Firmware update requires specific USB-C to USB-A cable
- No firmware update support for Mac computers initially
- Plastic lens hood feels less premium
- Autofocus can hunt before firmware update
- Some chromatic aberration at wide apertures
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Meike 55mm F1.4 AF STM 55mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 55 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 55 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 11 |
| Groups | 10 | 8 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | multilayered coatings |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.29 kg★ | 0.29 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 52 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 610 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong macro (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
Meike 55mm F1.4 AF STM 55mm
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong build (75th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Meike 55mm F1.4 AF STM 55mm offers 1.7x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 98 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
