Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Meike 35mm F2.0 E
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 F2.0 E
The Meike lenses are widely praised for delivering impressive sharpness, fast autofocus, and excellent value for money, often compared favorably to much more expensive native lenses. Users highlight solid build quality, smooth manual focus rings, and pleasing bokeh, though a small number note minor issues like aperture ring looseness or focus hunting in very low light. Overall, it's seen as a fantastic budget-friendly option for photographers seeking prime performance without breaking the bank.
Pros
- Impressive sharpness for the price
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Solid build quality
- Pleasing bokeh
- Good value for money
Cons
- Aperture ring has slight play on some units
- Autofocus can hunt in very low light
- Lens hood attachment can feel stiff
- Minimum focus distance is somewhat long
- Some chromatic aberration in high contrast scenes
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Meike 35mm F2.0 E | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 11 |
| Groups | 10 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | Multilayered Coatings |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 11★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.29 kg | 0.29 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor★ | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 450 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 F2.0 E
- Strong social proof (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong build (76th percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Meike 35mm F2.0 E offers 2.1x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 99 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
