Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary

With all the buzz around full-frame mirrorless at the moment, the smaller APS-C format might come across as a poor relation. But this really isn’t fair, as it’s capable of offering excellent image quality from smaller and cheaper cameras and lenses. Sigma’s 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN is a case in point, providing impressive optics in a compact package for just £429. It’s available for E-mount and L-mount cameras.

To understand why it looks such a bargain, we need to look at the alternatives. Sony’s E 16-55mm F2.8 G costs £1,059, while the Tamron 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is £769. Both provide broader focal-length ranges, with the Tamron also including optical stabilisation, but they’re also considerably larger and heavier. Meanwhile Sigma’s equivalent optic for