Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN C
Summary
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN C is a solid optical performer — a wide-angle zoom (27mm equivalent) with f/2.8 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$750 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.
Genre Suitability
- Excellent for: Travel, Wildlife
- Adequate for: Nightscape, Landscape, Street, Portrait, Sport, Macro
- Avoid for: Architecture
Strengths
- Good flare resistance
- Weather-sealed construction
- Fast linear motor autofocus
Weaknesses
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
- No built-in optical stabilization
Specifications 19/20
| Optical construction | 13 elements in 10 groups (3 aspherical, 1 SLD) |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating |
| Focal length | 18-50mm |
| Max aperture | f/2.8 |
| Sweet spot | f/5.6 |
| Aperture blades | 7 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 14 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.35x |
| Min focus distance | 121mm |
| AF motor | LM |
| OIS | No |
| Weather sealed | Yes |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Clickless aperture | — |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | Yes |
| Distance scale | No |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 290g |
| Diameter | 65.4mm |
| Length | 74.5mm |
| Filter thread | 55mm |
| Year | 2021 |
Optical Quality 13/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.5 |
| Corner (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Center (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Coma | 1.0 |
| Astigmatism | 1.0 |
| Longitudinal CA | 1.5 |
| Lateral CA | 1.0 |
| Distortion | 0.5 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 0.0 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Bokeh | 1.0 |
| Flare resistance | 1.5 |
Sharpness
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
- Moderate astigmatism
Rendering
- Acceptable bokeh rendering
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
- Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
- Good flare resistance
Distortion
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
All optical scores are based on lab measurements and field tests from trusted review sources. For details on how we score lenses, see our scoring methodology.
Genre Fit
~ Nightscape Photography 3/5
Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
- Moderate astigmatism
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
~ Landscape Photography 3/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
- Good flare resistance
- Moderate astigmatism
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
✗ Architecture Photography 2/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
- Good flare resistance
~ Street Photography 3/5
Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Good flare resistance
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
✓ Travel Photography 4/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Lightweight at 290g
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Good flare resistance
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
~ Portrait Photography 3/5
Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.
- Acceptable bokeh rendering
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
~ Sport Photography 3.5/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
~ Macro Photography 3/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.35x)
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Acceptable bokeh rendering