Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm
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 35mm f/1.4 35mm
This manual lens is a fantastic budget option for Fuji X and Canon M mount users, praised for its solid metal build and sharpness at a very low price. Reviewers love the fun shooting experience and bokeh, though some note the optics are not top-tier and require practice. It's widely recommended as a great starter lens for hobbyists.
Pros
- Solid metal build quality
- Very affordable price
- Sharp images wide open
- Fun shooting experience
- Good bokeh
Cons
- Manual focus only
- Optics not top-tier
- Requires practice to use
- Not compatible with many Canon DSLRs
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 8 |
| Groups | 10 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | Multi-Layer Nano Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.29 kg | 0.22 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 49 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 400 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
Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm
- Strong build (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm offers 3.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 99 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 8 of 21 specs.
