Another week, another new L-mount lens. This time Sigma enters the fray with a standard zoom for APS-C cameras. With its 27-75 mm effective range, the Contemporary lens occupies familiar territory. But what does stand out is the bright f/2.8 constant aperture which is a remarkable achievement in a body weighing just 290g.
Sigma tells us that the 18-50 mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary makes a perfect everyday lens as well as being an attractive, and very light, sub-lens for full-frame bodies.
PRESS RELEASE
The all-new SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary is SIGMA’s first mirrorless zoom for crop sensor cameras. With a full-frame equivalent focal range of 27-75mm, it combines exceptional versatility with an ultra-small and light body, superb build quality and impressive optical performance. It also boasts a large F2.8 constant aperture that is ideal for creating blurry backgrounds and allowing easier low-light shooting without the need for a tripod.
Mounted on the Sigma fp 
The 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | C is perfect for a wide range of photo and video applications including landscapes, portraits, street photography, architecture and events, and it can also be used for macro-style close-up photography owing to its maximum magnification of 1:2.8 that allows a minimum focusing distance of just 12.1 cm. Autofocus is exceptionally fast and quiet thanks to the lens’s stepping motor, which can be particularly useful for shooting video, or for capturing fast-moving subjects such as children and animals. Weighing in at less than 300g the 18-50mm is perfect as an everyday lens for a crop sensor body, or as a sub-lens for a full-frame body. It’s available for L-Mount and Sony E-mount cameras from 29 October 2021.
Key features
1. Large F2.8 aperture and superb image quality
The SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary covers 27mm to 75mm in the 35mm format, and has a wide aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. This makes it easy to achieve blurry backgrounds, which is ideal for shooting attractive portraits and close-ups. The bokeh is smooth and attractive so doesn’t distract from the in-focus subject.
The lens’s three high-precision glass-moulded aspherical elements coupled with the minimisation of the total number of elements yields superb optical quality without excessive weight, and the use of in-camera aberration correction further eliminates optical imperfections such as distortion and vignetting. This has all been made possible by the latest optical design technology at SIGMA’s only production base in Aizu, where all SIGMA lenses are built.
- Exceptionally compact and lightweight body ideal for mirrorless cameras
The SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary is remarkably compact, matching the portability of APS-C mirrorless camera bodies. This makes it a perfect workhorse lens that is ideal for general day-to-day use. The lens is currently the smallest and lightest in its class, boasting a maximum diameter of 65.4mm, a length of 74.5mm and weight of 290g, yet still maintains a constant aperture of F2.8.
To keep the lens as light as possible, SIGMA constructed the body from carefully selected materials. A polycarbonate called Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) was used for the construction of the barrel, which is sleek, robust, and importantly has a thermal conductivity close to that of aluminium. This ensures stable performance and good operability when used in changing temperatures. By using metal for some of the internal structure, the parts could be much thinner and have a higher rigidity, ensuring the lens can stand up to frequent, heavy use.
The new SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary has fast and near-silent AF that makes it perfectly suited to a range of photographic applications, including shooting in quiet environments, recording video and capturing fast-moving subjects. This has been achieved by using a stepping motor as the AF actuator. Since it is small and lightweight, it can be used flexibly in situations such as handheld shooting, which requires high mobility, gimbal shooting, one-man operation video shooting and vlogging.
With an emphasis on making the lens as versatile as possible in a wide variety of shooting conditions, SIGMA designed the lens with a minimum focusing distance of 12.1 cm and a maximum magnification of 1:2, making it ideal for close-ups.
Combined with the pocketable full-frame SIGMA fp, the total weight is only 712g, and it can also be useful as a sub-lens for full-frame cameras (used in crop mode) to keep weight down.
The 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary, which combines a compact and lightweight body, high optical performance and a large aperture supports a variety of shooting situations, from introductory single-lens mirrorless cameras to video shooting, and is ideal for a wide range of photographic genres.
Additional features
- Lens construction: 13 elements in 10 groups, with 1 SLD element and three aspherical elements
- Inter focus system
- Compatible with high-speed autofocus
- Stepping motor
- Compatible with lens aberration correction
- Support DMF and AF+MF
- Super Multi-Layer Coating
- Petal-type lens hood
- Mount with dust- and splash-resistant structure
- Compatible with SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 (sold separately / for L-Mount only)
- Designed to minimise flare and ghosting
- Every single lens undergoes SIGMA’s proprietary MTF measuring system
- 7-blade rounded diaphragm
- High-precision, durable brass bayonet mount
- “Made in Japan” craftsmanship
Key specifications
- Lens construction: 10 groups, 13 elements (1 SLD and 3 aspherical) Angle of view (APS-C): 76.5° (W) – 31.7° (T)
- Number of diaphragm blades: 7 (rounded diaphragm)
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Minimum focusing distance: 12.1cm (W) – 30cm (T)
- Maximum magnification ratio: 1:2.8 (W) – 1:5 (T)
- Filter size: φ55mm
- Dimensions (Maximum Diameter x Length): φ65.4mm×74.5mm
- Weight: 290g
Supplied accessories
- FRONT CAP LCF-55III
- PETAL TYPE LENS HOOD LH582-02 REAR CAP
Optional accessories
- SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 for L-Mount
- SIGMA WR PROTECTOR 55mm
- SIGMA PROTECTOR 55mm
- SIGMA WR UV FILTER 55mm
- SIGMA WR CIRCULAR PL FILTER 55mm
- PETAL TYPE LENS HOOD LH582-02
Read more on Sigma
Read more on the L-mount Alliance
Read Patrick Leong’s excellent review of this lens
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Best APS-C lens of the year according to DPReview… Obviously they shoot it on a Sony since they thrashed the Leica CL at its release 4 years ago in what was probably the worst review I have ever seen from them…
I spoke to Sigma UK this morning & ordered my copy of this 18-50, I will get it tomorrow.
I will not be comparing it to Leica lenses, what’s the point? Instead I will be enjoying a tight compact lens at a constant f2.8 with very acceptable IQ as with most Sigma L-mount lenses. There is always a ‘pay-off’ when going for a ‘cheaper’ option but let’s face it, outside in good light at f5.6-8 will we really notice a real world difference in quality? I wont, but I think it is very handy to have the option to shoot at f2.8. I owned the 18-56 lens from Leica, it’s very good, of cause it is as is the rest of the TL line up, but, sadly that looks like your lot from Leica, I cannot see them releasing any more lenses for APSC cameras, this is why I salute companies like Sigma who continue to listen to the customer & try to give them what they want at an excellent price.
Sounds like good logic, Marac.
Patrick Leong did a great review of this lens on his blog.
https://findingrange.com/2021/10/19/sigma-18-50mm-f2-8-dc-dn-contemporary-lens-review/#more-32991
I do not think Sigma would design such a great lens if Leica did not have plans to release a CL2 in the not too distant future.
Except it is E-mount as well and so bets are hedged.
Sigma offers a mount conversion service, you can have the mount of your lens changed so I wouldn’t necessarily read too much into Sigma also releasing this lens in L-mount. Changing mount seems to be a relatively easy thing for them provided they support the new mount obviously.
Yes, although L mounts come with weather seal, unlike others previous. So does my 30 f1.4
Tempting for me this zoom, thanks.
I pre-ordered mine this morning. I guess the future of Leica APS-C is clear as mud but in the meanwhile I might as well enjoy this lens. Fast, compact, light and inexpensive, I believe this lens will sell very well. Thanks Sigma for stepping up once more while Leica has been MIA for 4 years now…
Agreed. It will be very interesting to see a comparison between this new f/1.8 and Leica’s relatively slow (but supposedly world-beating in image quality) 18-56 TL. It’s half the price and twice as fast, so that’s a good start.
I have the VE-TL 18-56mm as well, it is a very good lens and one you get to appreciate more the longer you have it but for most indoor shooting indeed a bit on the slow side, so buying the Sigma 18-50 for pretty much the same reason as I bought the Sigma 16mm for, ie. low(er) light shooting. Hopefully there is a new body with IBIS on the horizon… although I personally would already be happy with a standard zoom with OIS…
How can the 18-56 be “slow” in these days of high variable ISO cameras? We are not limited to ISO 400 anymore.
This is true and I find that most of my photograph is done between f/4 and f/8. But it’s perception that matters and, for better or worse, a constant f/2.8 ticks more boxes, whether or not people really need it.
Hi Stephen, I explicitly mentioned indoor shooting, including bars, restaurants, hotel rooms, etc. I took some pictures with the 35mm f1.4 at f1.4 yesterday, they were ISO 1,600. With the Sigma 18-50 they would have been 6,400 and with the Leica VE 18-56 at the same focal length they would have been 12,800 or 25,600. Still a big difference, even for today’s sensors. Obviously IBIS would help as well, at least for static objects.
I think it is even more of a bargain, at less than 1/3rd of the price of the Leica lens. With the avowed advantages, I find it a very tempting proposition. Sigma’s Art lenses are made to a very high standard, fully comparable with Leica’s products. The well established standard zoom lens for the CL is already made in Japan, and not in Europe. Just imagine a rebadged version of the Sigma lens. No, very highly unlikely. Whether there is to be a CL2 or not, this Sigma standard zoom lens will extend the scope of the CL, certainly indoors and, equally, in the close focusing field of applications. A very promising addition. I have ordered mine.
Let us know what you think when it arrives, David. It is an attractive proposition at an affordable price.
Will do.
SlowDriver, thanks for posting your experience in a real life situation. That’s a good case then for the 2.8. aperture. Sigma definitely has definitely given us quite a menu to choose from recently and this new one will certainly appeal to CL users who don’t have the 18-56. I find the zooms particularly useful indoors when you can’t move forward or backward in some cramped situations.
This is good to know. Does this signal that Leica’s APSC line still has some life in it yet?
I don’t know, but there is certainly a dearth of L-mount APS-C cameras on the market. So unless something unexpected happens, we will have more lenses than cameras…