Many photographers who pick up a lens with a standard kit lens acquire an optic that generally has a focal length of around 18-50mm. This is actually a very versatile lens, but the problem with most kit lenses is that they have a slower viable aperture – so at the wide end, it’s likely to have a max aperture of f/3.5 but when zoomed in, this typically switches up to f/5.6, which can lead to slow shutter speeds.
One solution Sony photographers using the brand’s APS-C cameras such as the a6600 is to trade up to something like Sigma’s new 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary lens. The compact optic has a fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout the whole focal range, so photographers can keep shutter speeds steady and create an incredibly shallow depth of field in the frames whether they’re shooting at 18mm or 50mm.
When paired with an E-mount Sony camera like the a6600 or an L mount body such as the Leica CL, the focal length actually switches up to 27-75mm, enabling users to cover a wide range of photographic situations; from landscapes and architecture at the wider end, through to portraits and general travel work further towards the longer end of the focal range.
Make no mistake though, the biggest headline about his amazing lens is its dimensions. With a length of just 74mm, the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary tips the scales at only 290g, which is incredibly light for a lens with a constant f/2.8 max aperture.
With a ‘13 elements in 10 groups’ design, the lens includes 1 SLD element and three aspherical elements to improve image quality and the lens body uses Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) to help keep weight down. Sigma says the mount is dust and splash-resistant and a 7-bladed aperture design will produce impressive bokeh.
Other features include a minimum focusing distance of just 12cm, allowing users to capture frame-filling shots of smaller objects and there’s also a petal-style lens hood to protect the front element from the sun’s rays. Available now, the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary will cost arounds £430.