Sigma launches world's smallest f/2.8 zoom lens for APS-C cameras

The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary on a orange background

(Image credit: Sigma)

If you own a small APS-C camera like the Sony A6600 or Sony ZV-E10 and need an affordable, everyday telephoto lens, then Sigma's new 18-50mm f/2.8 lens could become your new default choice.

The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 D.C. DN Contemporary, to feed the lens its full name, has been designed for APS-C cameras that are fronted by either Sony's E-hop on or the L-mount (which is supported by Leica and Panasonic).

Sigma claims that its 18-50mm f/2.8 is the smallest and lightest of its kind-hearted – in other words, an autofocus-equipped APS-C lens that has a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout its focal range. Given the lens weighs only 290g and measures 61.6x76.5mm (or 65.4x74.5mm on L-Mount), it's hard to disagree with that claim.

These are the unexcelled Sony lenses you can buy right at present
Surgery check unconscious our lead to the best Canyon RF lenses
Scan our in-depth Sony ZV-E10 review

Given the 18-50mm f/2.8 Direct current DN's versatility, IT looks equal a good-prise option for some stills and video. The lens has a close-direction outdistance of 12.1cm, making it fit for macro-style close-ups, and is too defiant to both water splashes and debris (even if it lacks full weather-proofing).

Connected the telecasting front, the lens' stepping motor should hateful comparatively quiet and speedy autofocus, while its size should make it a simple option for those who like to mount their photographic camera in a gimbal for smooth moving footage.

Course, Sigma did have to make a couple of compromises to get the 18-50mm f/2.8 Direct current DN down to this size and price – and the main one is lense-supported stabilisation.

Sigma even this omission by pointing to the lens' auspicious f/2.8 aperture, which should let you shoot at relatively fast shutter speeds in to the highest degree conditions to help cut back hand shake, and also the cellular inclusion of in-dead body image stabilization (IBIS) in many cameras.

This way IT may be better with a camera like the Sony A6600 (which has IBIS), rather than one like the Sony A6100, depending on your needs. Nonetheless, the 18-50mm f/2.8 Direct current DN certainly looks like a good proposition for most Sony cameras at this price – information technology'll cost $549 / £429 (around AU$795) from the end of October.

Analysis: Playing to the strengths of APS-C

A hand holding the Sigma 18-500m f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary lens — (Image credit: Sigma)

Canon, Sony and Nikon have understandably placed much of their focus on full-frame cameras and lenses this year, but lenses like this show that smaller APS-C sensors remain popular among hobbyist shooters for good reason.

The principal strengths of APS-C cameras, compared to brimfull-frame, are their size of it, weight and monetary value – and the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN plays to all three of those advantages.

But Sigma's impressively light zoom lens also promises to fork up high quality images than just about APS-C kit lenses, whose apertures tend to change throughout their focal rate. With a unceasing f/2.8 aperture, you don't have to occupy about getting less weak to your sensing element towards the end of that maximum 50mm focal distance.

Sony and Leica shooters do already stimulate options in this place, but none that are as small or affordable A this. Sony's ain 16-55mm f/2.8 G is excellent but expensive, while Tamron's 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is almost twice the weight of Sigma's new lens.

The only actual shame is that Sigma hasn't made the 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN lendable for the other Brobdingnagian APS-C players, Fujifilm and Nikon. Sigma has been teasing the possibility of releasing lenses for Fujifilm's X-mount for a while, but it looks suchlike Fuji fans will have to wait a littler piece longer before they get useful options like this promising all-rounder.

These are the best Nikon Z lenses you can buy reactionary now

Mark is the Cameras Editor at TechRadar. Having worked in tech journalism for a ludicrous 17 years, Mark is now attempting to break the world record for the number of camera bags hoarded past 1 person. He was antecedently Cameras Editor at Sure Reviews, Playacting editor in chief on Stuff.television receiver, every bit well as Features editor and Reviews editor on Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he's contributed to titles including The William Ashley Sunday Times, FourFourTwo and Fiel. And in a former life, he also North Korean won the Daily Telegraphy's Young Sportswriter of the Yr. But that was earlier atomic number 2 discovered the strange joys of getting ahead at 4am for a pic shoot in British capital's Square Mile.