Ideal for a wide range of photo and video applications including landscapes, portraits, street photography, architecture, and events, the 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens from Sigma is a small, light, and bright standard zoom for crop-sensor mirrorless cameras. Offered here with a Sony E-mount, this lens provides a versatile full-frame equivalent zoom range of 27-75 and a wide constant aperture of f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. The lens design includes three high-precision glass-molded aspherical elements coupled with a special low dispersion element. Together they minimize the total number of elements for superb optical quality without excessive weight. Autofocus is exceptionally fast and quiet thanks to the lens's stepping motor, which can be particularly useful when shooting video or fast-moving subjects such as children and animals. An ultimate workhorse, the lens features a minimum focusing distance of just 4.8", enabling it to be used for macro-style close-up photography, and the lens is also outfitted with a rounded seven-blade diaphragm for a pleasing bokeh quality.
Ask Our Experts800-952-1815
Hello, Log InAccount & Orders
Video Chat with a Photography Expert - Live
Key Features
- E-Mount Lens/APS-C Format
- 27-75mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Minimum Focusing Distance: 4.8"
Ideal for a wide range of photo and video applications including landscapes, portraits, street photography, architecture, and events, the 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens from Sigma is a small, light, and bright standard zoom for crop-sensor mirrorless cameras. Offered here with a Sony E-mount, this lens provides a versatile full-frame equivalent zoom range of 27-75 and a wide constant aperture of f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. The lens design includes three high-precision glass-molded aspherical elements coupled with a special low dispersion element. Together they minimize the total number of elements for superb optical quality without excessive weight. Autofocus is exceptionally fast and quiet thanks to the lens's stepping motor, which can be particularly useful when shooting video or fast-moving subjects such as children and animals. An ultimate workhorse, the lens features a minimum focusing distance of just 4.8", enabling it to be used for macro-style close-up photography, and the lens is also outfitted with a rounded seven-blade diaphragm for a pleasing bokeh quality.
More DetailsIn Stock
Protect Your Gear
Add a protection plan from $71.99
See Options
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Overview
Standard zoom lens is designed for APS-C-format Sony E-mount cameras and provides a 35mm equivalent focal length range of 27-75mm.
Constant f/2.8 maximum aperture is well-suited for working in low-light conditions and provides greater control over the focus position when using shallow depth of field techniques.
Three high-precision glass-molded aspherical elements are used to help limit distortion and spherical aberrations and contribute to greater overall sharpness and accurate rendering.
Special Low Dispersion (SLD) element reduces chromatic aberrations and color fringing.
Super Multi-Layer Coating minimizes flare and ghosting for improved contrast and color accuracy when working in strong lighting conditions.
In-camera aberration correction further eliminates optical imperfections such as distortion and vignetting.
Stepping motor with nearly silent autofocus that makes it perfectly suited to a range of photographic applications, including shooting in quiet environments, recording videos, and capturing fast-moving subjects.
Minimum focusing distance of 4.8" and a 1:2.8 maximum magnification ratio benefits working with close-up subjects.
Rounded seven-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality.
UPC: 085126585655
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Specs
| Focal Length | |
| Aperture | |
| Lens Mount | |
| Lens Format Coverage | |
| Angle of View | |
| Minimum Focus Distance | |
| Magnification | |
| Optical Design | |
| Aperture/Iris Blades | |
| Focus Type | |
| Image Stabilization | |
| Filter Size | |
| Dimensions | |
| Weight |
Packaging Info
| Package Weight | |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) |
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Reviews
Good lens. B&H, not so much
By Thomas
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2026-10-07
The sigma 18-50 is a great “do it all” lens, but I would not buy from B&H again. My past experiences with B&H have been okay. It has always exhibited basic competence. Recently, I purchased the sigma 18-50 to use on a two week special occasion trip to southern Italy. The lens arrived five days late, and I had to leave the country without it. Not the end of the world, but five days is an eternity when Amazon and Walmart are offering same day delivery of many items. No explanation from B&H. No “would you like to cancel.” No, “how can we make this right.” Just an email saying, “delayed.” No kidding. I will purchase elsewhere in the future.
great lens for in water work
By John
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2026-08-19
Bought this lens to use with Sony a6600 as a backup compact lightweight in water setup for photographing surfing. It is the perfect length for in water use, and I appreciate the compact size when swimming with it in a housing.
See any errors on this page?
does it work with sony a7cii
does it work with sony a7cii
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens does fit the Sony a7CII. However, it will be forced to crop and you will reduce your image's resolution as this lens is not full frame.
Date published: 2025-06-01
Will this lens' autofocus work with Sony FX30?
Will this lens' autofocus work with Sony FX30?
Yes, the autofocus on the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony E is functional on the Sony FX30.
Date published: 2022-12-13
Would This lens come to the Canon RF-S lens ...
Would This lens come to the Canon RF-S lens mount? (I'm going to go for a Canon R7. Just for some context)
As of today, Sigma hasn't announced the release of a Canon RF mount version of this 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens. In the event that they do, we'll announce it through the B&H E-Mail Newsletter.
Date published: 2022-08-03
How does this compare with the Sony Zeiss f4 ...
How does this compare with the Sony Zeiss f4 16-70 Zoom in terms of quality of images?
Compared to the Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens, B&H # SO16704, the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony E is sharper and has a larger aperture, but its zoom range is shorter. If you don't need the longer zoom range, then the Sigma could be more ideal.
Date published: 2025-09-04
What is a contemporary lens?
What is a contemporary lens?
Sigma's Contemporary line are lenses designed to require digital lens corrections for things like distortion and lateral chromatic aberration. This allows the lens to be smaller and cheaper. But if you turned lens corrections off, you would see the distortion quite clearly. The line above the Contemporary line, the Art line, does try to correct all optical imperfections in-lens and not require digital corrections, but the lenses are much larger and more expensive because of it.
Date published: 2024-10-26
I have the Sony 18-135 currently. Is this as good ...
I have the Sony 18-135 currently. Is this as good as or better than the Sony lens?
In terms of image quality, the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony E is an upgrade over the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens, and it has a larger aperture for better low-light performance or background blur. However, the Sigma lens has a shorter zoom range, so if you're typically shooting above 50mm on the 18-135mm this would not be recommended.
Date published: 2025-07-02
Does the focus ring work in the same direction as ...
Does the focus ring work in the same direction as sony lenses?
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony E does not rotate in the same direction as native Sony lenses. When you rotate the focus ring clockwise on Sony native lenses it focuses toward infinity. When using Sigma lenses, rotating the focus ring clockwise will focus toward close focus instead.
Date published: 2025-07-02
Will this be avaliable for Canon EF mount?
Will this be avaliable for Canon EF mount?
It's a DN, meaning it's for mirrorless cameras only. Surprisingly, it also isn't available (yet?) in the Canon M mount.
Date published: 2022-12-05