SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN

Review and Photo example of the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN with Leica CL

Gallery

The example photo was taken using a LEICA CL typ7323 camera.

Review

Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN is a zoom lens for APS-C size sensor mirrorless cameras.

Sigma lenses only list specs, and the notation is confusing and easy to understand, so it’s easy to get confused when minor changes or lenses with similar specs are released.
The official name of this lens is SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary, made by Sigma, zoom with a focal length of 18-50mm, open F value 2.8 (common to all focal lengths), DC=APS-C, DN = short flange back for mirrorless cameras, Contemporary = inexpensive line lens.

The lens size is almost the same as Leica’s Vario Elmar TL 18-56mm, a zoom lens in the same category, and the differences between the two are listed in the specifications table, but the three major differences are as follows.

The focal length at the telephoto end is 6mm shorter on the Sigma (Sigma = 50mm, Leica = 56mm)
Sigma has a constant aperture F value, Leica has a variable aperture F value and is a little dark.
There is a difference of about 4 times the price for new products, and about 2 times the difference for used products.

The maximum aperture value of F2.8 is the standard value for large-diameter zoom lenses in Japan, but compared to fixed focal length lenses, F2.8 is a fairly dark lens, so marketing that promotes F2.8 as a large-diameter lens is common. I feel like I’m done.

The rotation direction of the zoom ring on the Sigma is the opposite of that of Leica and Panasonic, but as you use lenses from various manufacturers, the rotation direction of the zoom ring becomes less of a concern. This seems to be a problem for people who only use a specific manufacturer.

When I used it with the LEICA CL, I rarely missed the autofocus (hereinafter referred to as AF) target position for normal subjects, and I never touched the sparse focus ring. For cats that are deep in the grass, where AF is not good, the focus will be on the grass in the foreground, so you will need to manually change the focus. I’m sorry that I don’t have any actual measurements, but compared to past memories, the AF is faster and more accurate than the 1856.

It is also fully compatible with the 24-megapixel sensor and provides sharp images. The shortest focusing distance is 0.12m at the wide end of 18mm, making it a very versatile lens. I received it as a bonus with the CL, but it’s a lens that allows you to experience Sigma’s technological prowess.

I think this combination, which weighs 600g together with the CL, is well-made as a walking camera. It was a useful camera system with a completely different mode from the LEICA S and HASSELBLAD X2D that I usually use.

Specification

Lens name	18-50mm F2.8 DC DN \| Contemporary	VARIO ELMAR TL
Focal length(mm)	18-50	18-56
Max aperture	2.8	3.5-5.6
Min aperture	22	16
Lens Construction	13elements in 10groups	10elements in 7groups
Leaf blade	7	–
Min distance(m)	0.12〜0.31	0.3〜0.45
Lens length(mm)	74.5(L-Mount)	60
Lens diameter(mm)	φ65.4(L-Mount)	63
Filter Size(mm)	55	E52(52mm)
Weight(g)	290	256 （レンズのみ）
Release date	2021.10.29	2014.4
Price(Yen/No-tax)	Open(58,000 Yen)	200,000(Yen)

Reference links

SIGMA Official page for 18-50mm DC DN

Update

2024.04.07
2023.08.24

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