Sigma’s New 18-50mm f/2.8 Lens For Fuji X-Mounts is Wonderfully Small

One of the newest third-party lens additions to the market for Fujifilm X-mount cameras is Sigma’s new 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary edition. Its maker promises high performance and solid build quality, but we know that it’s exceptionally compact.
This new optic from Sigma is the fourth built by the company so far for X-mount lenses and the first among these lens models that’s a zoom lens dedicated to APS-C mirrorless cameras.
According to Sigma, “This addition allows users to enjoy a high-performance, high-quality, compact standard zoom lens in native mount on their X Mount system,”
The company further explains that “This exceptionally light, bright, and sharp standard zoom for crop-sensor mirrorless cameras is the ultimate workhorse lens.”
The 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary is assembled from 13 elements arranged in 10 groups. Among these is an SLD element and 3 aspherical lenses. The lens is built with a seven-bladed diaphragm and offers an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/22.
Given its minimum focusing distance of just 4.8 inches on the wide end, it can also serve as a decent macro lens. On the telephoto end, the Contemporary has a minimum focusing distance of 11.9 inches and a magnification of 1:2.8.
Sigma has given its new lens a 35mm full-frame equivalent zoom range of 27mm to 75mm while keeping its f/2.8 aperture throughout and describes its tiny size as a key selling feature. Indeed, the lens is just 2.4 inches (6cm) wide and 3 inches (7.6cm) long.
Given these dimensions, it’s unsurprising that the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary weighs no more than 10.1 ounces or 285 grams. The front filter of the lens is 55mm and its mount is rubber-sealed for partial resilience against water, dust and inclement weather in general.
In other words, this is a genuinely compact, light lens that’s especially useful on a compact APS-C mirrorless camera’s body during outdoor shooting.
Sigma describes the Contemporary as the lightest lens in its class as an AF-compatible, f/2.8 APS-C, constant aperture zoom optic.
Another thing that Sigma also claims for its latest lens model is a Fujifilm-specific control algorithm that facilitates communication speed between the lens’s AF drive and the Fuji camera it’s mounted to.
According to the brand, this lets the AF in this lens operate exceptionally quickly while also being capable of continuous performance and even working with in-camera aberration correction if the camera being used has that specific technology.
Sigma is releasing the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary for Fujifilm X mounts as of December and it’s going to be available for a retail price of $549.


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