Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN
Canon EF-S17-55IS 55mm
What Buyers Say
Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm F2.8 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
Canon EF-S17-55IS 55mm
The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens is highly praised for its sharpness, fast focusing, and constant f/2.8 aperture, making it a versatile choice for low-light and everyday photography on crop-sensor cameras. Users appreciate its optical quality, often comparing it to Canon's L-series lenses, though some note the lack of weather sealing as a drawback, with a few reporting dust or sand issues. Overall, it is considered a reliable workhorse lens, especially for indoor and event photography.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Constant f/2.8 aperture
- Excellent low-light performance
- Versatile zoom range
Cons
- No weather sealing
- Dust and sand ingress issues
- Not compatible with full-frame cameras
- Large size compared to mirrorless lenses
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Canon EF-S17-55IS 55mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 17 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 55 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 19 |
| Groups | 10 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 | 3 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | Super Spectra |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Canon EF-S |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.29 kg★ | 0.65 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor | USM★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 3 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 350 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8★ | 0.17x |
Pros & Cons
Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN
- Strong macro (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong build (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong optical (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (21st percentile)
Canon EF-S17-55IS 55mm
- Strong optical (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong af (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong aperture (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong bokeh (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
Pricing
Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN offers 1.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 79 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
