Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Olympus Zuiko OPTM5020M43O 50mm
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
Olympus Zuiko OPTM5020M43O 50mm
The Olympus Zuiko Digital 50mm f/2 Macro lens is highly praised for its exceptional sharpness, bright aperture, and solid build quality, making it a favorite for macro and portrait photography. Users note its compact size and splash-proof design, but many find the autofocus slow and prone to hunting, often treating it as a manual-focus lens. While it delivers stunning image quality with minimal chromatic aberration, its 1:2 magnification ratio and telephoto equivalence on 4/3 cameras limit its versatility for group shots or walk-around use.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Bright f/2 aperture
- Solid build quality
- Compact size
- Splash and dust proof
Cons
- Slow autofocus
- AF hunts frequently
- Not true 1:1 macro
- Lens hood blocks manual focus when reversed
- Telephoto equivalence limits group shots
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Olympus Zuiko OPTM5020M43O 50mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 50 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 50 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 6 |
| Groups | 10 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | HD Anti-Reflection |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | APS-C★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.29 kg | 0.19 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 49 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 648 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8★ | 0.52x |
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
Olympus Zuiko OPTM5020M43O 50mm
- Strong build (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong bokeh (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong aperture (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong social proof (74th percentile)
- Below average af (13th percentile)13th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 98 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
