Sigma 10-18mm F/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens Review
Sigma offers one of the world’s widest APS-C format lenses, in Sony E, Fuji X and L mount. There are wider lenses, but these are fisheye designs, whereas the new Sigma is rectilinear. This should be especially interesting for landscape and architectural photographers, although the lens is not limited to these subjects and can be applied for any sort of image-making, within the limits of our own imaginations. Two camera bodies have been used for the review, the 24MP APS-C A5100 being used for the resolution tests and the 42MP A7R III being used in its 18MP crop mode for the locations shots and handling assessment. Let’s see how we get on and how the technical tests work out.
Sigma 10-18mm F/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Handling and Features
Largely plastic in its construction, the lens weighs in at a very modest 255g and measures a svelte 72.2mm x 62mm. The usual petal lens hood is provided, and if the user does not read the instructions then it could cause a bit of confusion as it looks like a bayonet fit, it might well be expected to be a bayonet fit, but it isn’t a bayonet fit. It is a push-on fit but there is no obvious advantage to this deviation from the norm. There is a conventional 67mm filter thread.
First up is the zoom ring, clearly marked at 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 16mm and 18mm. This ring does extend the length of the lens, but only a very small amount. It is quite firm in action but very smooth.
The thin electronic focusing ring supports all the usual Sony functions such as AF-S, AF-A, AF-C, DMF and MF. The AF is fast and virtually silent. Focusing is down to 0.116m (0.381′) at 10mm, for a maximum magnification of 1:4. At 18mm, closest focus is 0.191m (0.627′) for a maximum magnification of 1:7. This is usefully close and makes dramatic close-up foregrounds possible, for dramatic perspectives. This is indeed the stuff of ultra-wide lenses.
Optical construction is 13 elements in 10 groups, including 3 FLD, 1 SLD and 4 Aspherical. Focus breathing is suppressed, advantageous for videographers in particular. The lens is also dust and splash-resistant, but not waterproof, so the usual caution should be observed. The constant aperture value across the zoom range is always an advantage and there is no real disadvantage here in terms of size or weight.
There is the usual Sigma metal mount, well engineered and fitting the cameras firmly but smoothly.
For wide-angle photographers, this is a beautifully rewarding lens to use, with the 10-18mm range giving us a “35mm equivalent” field of view of 15-27mm, or ultra-wide to wide angle. Thinking back to the first 15mm f/3.5 lenses from Zeiss, Leica and Pentax in the early 1970s (at their astronomical prices) they were not a patch on the usability of this zoom. If the performance is up to scratch then we could be onto a winner here. Let’s look at the performance results and find out.
Sigma 10-18mm F/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Performance
At 10mm, central sharpness is excellent from f/2.8 right through to f/11, very good at f/16 and good at f/22. The edges are excellent from f/2.8 to f/8, very good at f/11, good at f/16 and fair at f/22.
At 14mm, central sharpness is also excellent from f/2.8 to f/11, very good at f/16 and good at f/22. The edges are very good at f/2.8, excellent from f/4 to f/8, very good at f/11, good at f/16 and fair at f/22.
At 18mm, central sharpness is excellent from f/2.8 to f/11, very good at f/16 and fair at f/22. The edges are very good at f/2.8 and f/4, excellent at f/5.6 and f/8, very good at f/11, good at f/16 and fair at f/22.
Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary MTF Charts
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How to read our MTF charts
The blue column represents readings from the centre of the picture frame at the various apertures and the green is from the edges.
For this review, the lens was tested on an A5100 using Imatest. Want to know more about how we review lenses?
CA (Chromatic Aberration) is virtually eliminated centrally, throughout the zoom range. The edges are not quite the same order of correction, but still very well held at, generally, under 1 pixel. CA is not visible on most subject matter, but of course, there are software solutions if necessary.
Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary Chromatic Aberration Charts
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How to read our CA charts
Chromatic aberration (CA) is the lens’ inability to focus on the sensor or film all colours of visible light at the same point. Severe chromatic aberration gives a noticeable fringing or a halo effect around sharp edges within the picture. It can be cured in software.
Apochromatic lenses have special lens elements (aspheric, extra-low dispersion etc) to minimize the problem, hence they usually cost more.
For this review, the lens was tested on an A5100 using Imatest.
Distortion starts off with a whopping -5.83% barrel at 10mm, but to be fair that is at least on the right side of things and we expect barrel distortion on ultra-wide lenses. Pincushion would have looked very strange indeed. By 14mm, this has been reduced to a much more reasonable -0.63% barrel and by 18mm +1.12% pincushion. If desired, there are again always software solutions.
Bokeh is the quality, smoothness or gradation of the out-of-focus areas in an image. Although bokeh may not be the forte of ultra-wide lenses, the Sigma puts in a very creditable result, with smooth out-of-focus areas.
Flare is suppressed very well indeed and even in the harshest lighting conditions the lens seems totally unfazed. This is a great performance for such a wide lens.
Vignetting is quite obvious wide open, but as the lens is stopped down it does improve. Very often some corner darkening is helpful to an image, concentrating our eyes towards the centre of the frame where the main subject is often situated. Software correction can always be applied.
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| Aperture | 10mm | 14mm | 18mm |
| f/2.8 | -2.5 | -2 | -2 |
| f/4 | -2 | -1.7 | -1.5 |
| f/5.6 | -1.9 | -1.7 | -1.5 |
| f/8 | -1.8 | -1.6 | -1.5 |
| f/11 | -1.8 | -1.6 | -1.5 |
| f/16 | -1.8 | -1.6 | -1.5 |
| f/22 | -1.7 | -1.5 | -1.4 |
Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary Sample Photos
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Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary Aperture range
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Value For Money
The [AMUK]Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN C|Sigma+10-18mm+f/2.8+DC+DN+C[/AMUK] lens is priced at £599. Whilst this is unique for Sony E system, other marques do have alternatives that at least put the costings in perspective.
In terms of Fuji X mount cameras, the Sigma is available at £599. Alternatives are:
- [AMUK]Fujifilm XF 9-18mm f/4-5.6|Fujifilm+lens[/AMUK], £599
- [AMUK]Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR|Fujifilm+lens[/AMUK], £1499
- [AMUK]Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR|Fujifilm+lens[/AMUK], £949
MFT Users might look at these:
- [AMUK]OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm f/4 PRO|OM System+lens[/AMUK], £949
- [AMUK]OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO|OM System+lens[/AMUK], £1249
- [AMUK]Panasonic Lumix Vario 8-18mm f/2.8-4 Asph|Panasonic+lens[/AMUK], £799
- [AMUK]Panasonic Leica Vario-Summilux DG 10-25mm f/1.7 Asph|Panasonic+lens[/AMUK], £1699
- [AMUK]Panasonic Lumix G Vario 7-14mm f/4|Panasonic+lens[/AMUK], £799
There is no doubt that the new Sigma lens is excellent value for money.
Sigma 10-18mm F/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Verdict
The new Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN C lens is a great addition to the range of lenses available for Sony E APS-C format cameras, as well as Fuji X and L mount cameras. It handles well, is incredibly versatile and gives excellent results. Herein lies the reasoning behind using the full frame A7R III in crop mode for the location shots. The handling of the larger camera is much more akin to the latest larger APS-C models such as the A7C II and A7C R. The higher pixel count of the smaller format was used for the technical tests. The higher-than-usual distortion may well be better corrected by more recent Sony APS-C cameras, but will probably not upset many users anyway. Those who revel in the world of ultra-wide images will be delighted with the quality, the close focusing and the superb handling. The lens is Highly Recommended.
Sigma 10-18mm F/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Pros
- Excellent, even sharpness
- Excellent central CA results
- Light and compact
- Lovely smooth bokeh
- Dust and splash resistant
- Excellent VFM
- Fast, accurate and silent AF
- Excellent resistance to flare
- Fast, constant aperture
Sigma 10-18mm F/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Cons
- High distortion levels
- Some edge CA possible
- Vignetting wide open
[REVIEW_FOOTER]R_features=4|R_handling=5|R_performance=4.5|R_value=5|R_overall=4.5|A_level=4.5|A_text=Highly recommended – A superb ultra-wide zoom lens that is a pleasure to use.|E_id=8023[/REVIEW_FOOTER]
Source: Photography News
Sigma 10-18mm F/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens Review
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