The Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary for Canon RF gives Canon's APS-C mirrorless cameras the bright, compact standard zoom they have long been missing. Canon's 1.6x crop makes it a 28.8-80mm equivalent, it holds F2.8 from one end to the other and it weighs 300g. On an EOS R50, R10, R7 or R100 it is small enough to stay on the camera every day.
Image quality
The optical design has 13 elements in 10 groups, with one SLD and three aspherical elements, so images stay sharp and free of obvious colour fringing across the range. Super Multi-Layer Coating keeps contrast up when the sun is in the frame, and the supplied petal hood blocks stray light. Seven rounded aperture blades keep background highlights soft and round at F2.8.
Autofocus and video
Focus is driven by a quiet stepping motor and works with Canon's Dual Pixel AF, including eye and subject detection. Because focusing is internal, the front of the lens neither extends nor rotates, so a polariser stays where you set it. The camera can apply its own lens corrections to the files.
Close-up shooting
At 18mm the minimum focus distance is just 12.1cm, which gives a 1:2.8 magnification ratio. That is close enough for detail shots of food, flowers and small products. At the 50mm end it focuses to 30cm.
Build
A Thermally Stable Composite barrel keeps the weight down and stays stable through changes in temperature, and the brass mount has a rubber gasket against dust and splashes. The lens measures 69.2 x 74.5mm and uses 55mm filters.
Who it's for
Canon's own RF-S kit zooms are small but slow, so this is the lens to choose if you want an F2.8 aperture at every focal length without a big jump in size. It is a good fit for travel, events and family photography. The R50, R10 and R100 have no in-body stabilisation and the lens has none either, so for handheld video those bodies rely on digital stabilisation, while the R7 has IBIS built in. If you need the most light possible, the Sigma 17-40mm F1.8 DC Art for Canon RF is over a stop brighter. If a wider starting point matters, the Tamron 16-50mm F2.8 for Canon RF begins at 16mm.
Also available for Sony E, Fujifilm X and L-Mount.
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