Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 56mm
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
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 56mm
The Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 is a creative manual-focus lens that delivers soft, dreamy portraits and unique effects straight out of camera. Build quality feedback is split: some call it cheap and wobbly, while others praise solid construction. It works on many Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Pentax mounts but requires patience with manual focus. Most users love the artistic results despite mixed feelings on build.
Pros
- Unique soft focus effect
- Fun and creative lens
- Solid build praised by many
- Beautiful portrait results
Cons
- Cheap build and wobbling reported
- Loose mount and barrel play
- Rear lens cap falls off
- Very soft wide open
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 56mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 56 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 56 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 4 |
| Groups | 10 | 3 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.6 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.29 kg★ | 0.41 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 62 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 121 mm★ | 127 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8 | 1:2 |
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
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 56mm
- Strong macro (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Below average optical (0th percentile)0th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (8th percentile)8th %ile
- Below average af (13th percentile)13th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN offers 1.6x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 98 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
