Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN 56mm
What Buyers Say
Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
This Nikon 18-55mm lens is widely praised for its sharpness, light weight, and excellent value for money, especially as a kit lens. Users highlight its vivid colors and quiet autofocus, though some note the plastic build feels fragile and the barrel can wobble at extended focal lengths. Overall, it's considered a fantastic starter lens that outperforms its modest price point.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Lightweight and portable
- Excellent value for money
- Vivid color reproduction
- Quiet autofocus
Cons
- Plastic build feels fragile
- Barrel wobbles at extended focal lengths
- No image stabilization
- Loose tolerances can affect focus
Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN 56mm
This Sigma 56mm f/1.4 lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and compact build, making it a top choice for portrait and street photography on APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras. Users consistently highlight its fast and reliable autofocus, excellent low-light performance, and outstanding value for the price compared to pricier native alternatives. A few users noted minor issues such as a very long manual focus throw, occasional focus misses in low contrast light, and a lack of an aperture ring, but these are far outweighed by the general enthusiasm. Despite isolated reports of poor retailer packaging, the overwhelming sentiment is that this lens delivers professional-quality results at an affordable price.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness at f/1.4
- Beautiful bokeh and background blur
- Fast and reliable autofocus
- Compact and lightweight build
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Very long manual focus throw
- No aperture ring
- Occasional focus misses in low contrast
- Not compatible with all camera mounts
- Poor retail packaging by some sellers
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm | Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN 56mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 56 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 55 mm | 56 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 10 |
| Groups | 5 | 6 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 2 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.20 kg★ | 0.28 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 55 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | pulse stepping motor | stepping motor |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 55 mm★ | 500 mm |
| Max Magnification | — | 1:7.14★ |
Pros & Cons
Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
- Strong macro (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN 56mm
- Strong aperture (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong build (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (35th percentile)
Pricing
Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm offers 3.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 4 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
