Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm
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
Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm
The Laowa 180mm f/4.5 Ultra-Macro APO lens is highly praised for its sharpness, compact size, and lightweight design, especially compared to older Canon models. However, users note limitations with its autofocus, which is slow and has a minimum distance of 1.5m, and the lack of close AF for handheld macro work. A pleasant surprise is its image circle covering GFX sensors with only minor corner softness.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness and detail
- Lightweight and compact design
- 1.5:1 magnification ratio
- Surprising GFX sensor coverage
- Beautiful bokeh for macro
Cons
- Slow autofocus speed
- Minimum AF distance of 1.5m
- No close AF for handheld macro
- Manual focus needed for close range
- Tripod collar sold separately
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | macro |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 180 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 180 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 12 |
| Groups | 10 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | APO |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/32 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4.5 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Canon EF |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.29 kg★ | 0.52 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 62 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor★ | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 300 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8 | 1.5:1★ |
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 af (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (86th percentile)86th %ile
Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm
- Strong macro (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Strong build (70th percentile)
- Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average bokeh (7th percentile)7th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm
No current pricing available
Verdict
Scores 98 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
