Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Sirui 56AS12E-W
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
Sirui 56AS12E-W
This lens is praised for its affordability and quality, especially for portrait and interview photography. Users love the bokeh, color rendering, and dreamy look at f/2.2, though autofocus is slower than some other lenses and video mode has a minor reset issue. It is an APS-C lens, so full-frame users need to use Super 35 mode.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Great bokeh
- Good autofocus
- Beautiful color rendering
- Dreamy look at f/2.2
Cons
- Slower autofocus than 75mm
- Video mode reset issue
- APS-C only, not full frame
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Sirui 56AS12E-W | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 56 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 56 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 12 |
| Groups | 10 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | 2 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | HD Nano coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.2 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 11★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.29 kg★ | 0.42 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 600 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 (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
Sirui 56AS12E-W
- Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong optical (75th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 99 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.