When I spot something I want to shoot while walking around town, I take a lens out of my sling bag and swap it on the spot, standing right where I am. The SIGMA 50-120mm F2.8 DC OS | Contemporary is the light telephoto zoom I had long wanted, one that makes this easy. I used it a lot on trips to Seoul and Naha.
About 75-180mm in full-frame terms: a constant F2.8 telephoto zoom at about 390 g
On the α6700, it covers about 75-180mm in full-frame terms. It is F2.8 across the whole zoom range, has image stabilization built in, and weighs about 390 g. I can hold it comfortably in one hand, and the AF is plenty fast for the way I shoot.
Together with the 10-18mm wide-angle and the 18-50mm standard zoom, APS-C now has its own set of constant F2.8 “holy trinity” zooms. All three come to about 935 g.
I used to own the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II. The white telephoto lens looked great, and I enjoyed using it. But it weighs over 1 kg, so taking it on a trip took real resolve, and even when I did, I often came home without ever putting it on. Even together with the 18-50mm, the 50-120mm comes to about 680 g.
At 99mm long, small enough to share a sling bag with my valuables
When I travel, I keep my passport, wallet, and power bank in a small sling bag. I want the bag that holds my valuables to stay as small as possible. The 50-120mm is 99mm long, under 10 cm, so it fit in there with everything else.
When I carry all three, I keep one on the camera, one in my sling bag, and the third in my tote bag. If I switch which lens goes in the sling bag depending on where I am heading, I can pull it out right away when I want to shoot.
I haven’t had much experience changing lenses outdoors. Until now, my lenses tended to be big or expensive, like a full-frame 70-200mm F2.8, so I always worried about dropping them or getting them dirty. The 50-120mm is not only short but also slim, so it fits in my hand. I can grab it with one hand and swap it while still holding my bag.
An aperture ring for changing the f-number with my left hand
The 50-120mm has an aperture ring. When I raise the camera to shoot, I like adjusting ISO and shutter speed with my right hand and the f-number on the lens with my left, so this is something I’m happy to have.
The joy of telephoto: tidying up the background at 120mm F2.8
When traveling, people and other tourists often end up in the background. Opening up to F2.8 at telephoto lets me keep just what I want to shoot and tidy up the background.
Photos taken at telephoto with a blurred background look a little different from the scene I see with my own eyes. Being able to enjoy that with a lens this small is what I like most about it.
City photos with telephoto compression, where near and far come together
Hillside neighborhoods and layers of rooftops are fun subjects to frame with a telephoto lens. The distance between near and far shrinks, and the buildings look stacked on top of one another.
Combining foreground blur with compression gives a photo a sense of depth.
Focusing as close as 23 cm at the wide end, for shots on the table
The minimum focusing distance is 23 cm at the wide end. Even with a telephoto zoom, I can get close to drinks and plates on the table. Unlike shooting at wide or standard focal lengths, plates and glasses show less distortion, which is another good thing about telephoto. Just adding a blurred iced latte in the foreground changes the mood.
A constant F2.8 telephoto zoom small enough to carry anywhere
The long end reaches only about 180mm in full-frame terms, but that is enough for the way I shoot. I would rather it stay this small than gain focal length and get longer. When I want to get a little closer, I crop.
SIGMA’s F2.8 zooms for APS-C also include the 10-18mm wide-angle and the 18-50mm standard zoom.
Sample Photos: along the river in Seoul, and the sea in Okinawa
Evening and night by the river
The city by day, flowers, and food
The sea and greenery of Okinawa
All photos: SIGMA 50-120mm F2.8 DC OS | Contemporary. Seoul on the Sony α6700, Okinawa on the Sony α7C II (S35mm mode).
I used to think the lens to buy after a standard zoom would be a favorite prime. Now I think adding a light telephoto zoom that fits in a sling bag is a good choice too.
