Most of the time, my α6700 has the SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary on it. I bought it before my first trip to Paris. I had heard there were a lot of pickpockets and was a little scared, so I was looking for a lens that wouldn’t stand out but would still let me enjoy taking photos. It’s a combination that makes me feel I can’t go wrong if I just bring it along, and even now it stays on the camera most of the time.
Constant F2.8 at about 290 g, and about 780 g with the α6700
Its biggest appeal is how light it is. A constant F2.8 zoom at about 290 g. Even together with the α6700 at about 493 g, it comes to about 780 g, and whether it hangs from my neck or sits in a bag, it has never felt like a burden.
This lightness pays off when traveling. The Sony gear I took to Paris in November 2024 was almost entirely this combination. I wore my bag with my wallet and the camera strap across my body, with a coat on top. Because it is light, it was easy to take out from under the coat, and it was reassuring that the gear didn’t stand out.
I love the Nikon Zf with the 40mm too, but compared with that, this one is easier to take out without feeling any pressure.
A standard zoom covering about 27-75mm in full-frame terms in one lens
The 18-50mm is a standard zoom that covers about 27-75mm in full-frame terms in a single lens. While traveling, or in a place I may pass through only once, I rely on not having to change lenses.
For reference, here are some photos of the sea in Okinawa. The focal lengths are 18mm, 26mm, 42mm, and 50mm.
Getting as close as 12.1 cm at the wide end, for shots on the table
Another thing I like about this lens is that it focuses closer than it looks. The minimum focusing distance at the wide end is 12.1 cm. Food, flowers, small objects: you can bring the camera right up to them. With a constant F2.8, the background blur is clear when you move in close.
Soft contrast, and night streets at F2.8
The rendering has a delicate, soft contrast. The colors lean toward a slightly subdued tone, and the bokeh at F2.8 looks natural.
Being able to shoot with confidence on night streets and in indoor cafes is another strength of a constant F2.8.
A simple, compact, and dependable standard zoom
The aperture is set with a dial on the camera body, and the lens has no aperture ring. The telephoto end stops at about 75mm in full-frame terms, but that is enough for the way I shoot. I can also record video alongside my photos, so there are few situations where leaving it on the α6700 causes a problem.
SIGMA’s F2.8 zooms for APS-C also include the wide-angle 10-18mm and the telephoto 50-120mm. You can add a wide-angle or telephoto later, once you can see what you want to shoot.
Sample Photos: Morning Streets and the Sea in Okinawa
A bakery and morning streets
The beach and the bridge
All sample photos: Sony α6700 / SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary
In looks, it doesn’t have the classic charm of something like the Zf. Rather than something I dote on, it’s something I depend on. That is what the 18-50mm is to me.
