Categories
Lenses News Product Announcements

Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro

Sigma 18-50 mm F2.8 EX DC Macro

Around two weeks ago in Photokina 2006, Sigma announced the Sigma 18-50 mm F2.8 EX DC Macro which appears to be an updated version of its original Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC from more than a year ago.

This new lens now has the “macro” designation, with an increase in filter size from 67mm to 72mm. This change resulted in a minimum focusing distance of 20cm/7.9in, very similar to that of the popular Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro that has been selling for several months now. I really think that this new lens is a hybrid of the older 18-50 and the new 17-70, combining the better attributes of these two good lenses.

I just got the Sigma 17-70 a few months ago but this new lens has me thinking again, though I don’t think I’m buying it soon. If you have the older Sigma 18-50 F2.8 or the Sigma 17-70, buying this one doesn’t make much sense unless you need both the F2.8 max aperture and the macro focusing. Now imagine this: what if Sigma combined all the best qualities of the lenses mentioned above without compromises, like a 17-70 F2.8 with macro and optical stabilization to boot? I know I’d be in line for them right away. Let’s hope the OS technology from the newly announced 18-200 OS dwindles down to their other lenses, as well as their progress in making consumer zooms with constant F2.8 max aperture at relatively cheap prices.

One reply on “Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro”

[…] Not too long ago, we mentioned Sigma’s update to their popular 18-50 f/2.8, the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro. Still with the very useful constant f/2.8 aperture, this new lens sports the “macro” designation which I suspect is inherited from the just as good Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro, a lens I’ve been shooting with for several months now. […]

Comments are closed.