Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 Air 9mm
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 Air AF 9mm F2.8 Air 9mm
The Viltrox lenses receive overwhelmingly positive feedback for their exceptional value, sharp image quality, and solid build. Users praise the fast apertures and autofocus performance, though some note issues with chromatic aberration in high-contrast scenes and noisy autofocus on certain models. Overall, these lenses are seen as a budget-friendly alternative that punches above their price point.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Sharp image quality wide open
- Solid metal construction
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Pleasing bokeh
Cons
- Chromatic aberration in high contrast
- Noisy autofocus in video
- Slow autofocus in low light
- No weather sealing
- Front-heavy on small bodies
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 Air 9mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 9 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 9 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 13 |
| Groups | 10 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | 2 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | Advanced coating technology |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.29 kg | 0.19 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor | STM+Lead screw★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 130 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8★ | 0.15x |
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 (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Below average stabilization (35th percentile)
Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 Air 9mm
- Strong build (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong optical (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average bokeh (30th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 Air 9mm offers 2.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 98 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.
