Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary

Andy Westlake assesses a compact, affordable, large-aperture wideangle zoom for APS-C cameras

- Andy Westlake

I’ve been reviewing lenses for over 16 years now, so it’s not often that I’m surprised when a new optic shows up for testing. But the Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN is an exception. It’s an ultrawide angle zoom for APS-C mirrorless cameras with a bright maximum aperture, and it’s tiny. In fact, it measures just 62mm long and weighs only 260g. What’s more, at £649, it’s one of the most affordable lenses of its type. It’s available for Fujifilm X, Sony E, and L-mount cameras.

To put these diminutive dimensions into context, we just have to look at other autofocus ultra-wide zooms available in these mounts. Perhaps its closest competitor is the Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD, which is 24mm longer, 75g heavier, and costs £50 more. This Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 is also considerably smaller than Fujifilm’s XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR, which retails for £949. Only the Sony E PZ 10-20mm F4 G is smaller and lighter, but it’s a stop slower and you can expect to pay £100 more for it.

Further perspective is provided by the older Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM for APS-C DSLRs. This lens was 26mm longer and precisely double the weight, despite gathering two-thirds of a stop-less light. This portability makes the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 an extremely tempting proposition, but is it all just a bit too good to be true?

Features

With its 10-18mm range, this lens provides an ultra-wideangle view that’s equivalent to using a 15-27mm lens on full-frame. As a result, it should be attractive to photographers shooting subjects such as landscapes, architecture, and interiors. Its f/2.8 maximum aperture should also make it handy for low-light photography. However, there’s no optical stabilisation on board.