Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Review: Compact With Some Compromises

The Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary is an incredibly small ultrawide lens for Sony E-Mount and Fujifilm X-Mount. The lens arrived just in time for Alberta's beautiful autumn colours, so Chris Niccolls took it out to see how it performs.
Rental equipment provided by The Camera Store
www.thecamerastore.com
0:00 - Intro
0:38 - Sample images
1:16 - Size and design
2:22 - Close-up performance
2:57 - Flare and sunstars
4:09 - Autofocus performance
4:28 - Bokeh
5:33 - More Photos!
5:57 - Video performance
6:36 - Sharpness
7:29 - Should you buy it?

[@drchtct]

Appreciate Sigma downsizing so many lenses, would love to see a pancake for X mount that competes with the Fuji one

[@GameFirst]

【Appreciate】? I saw two guys use this word in top 1 and top 2 reply. did u get money from sigma? or u just a western who had been tamed by Japanese in spirit? Appreciated? u buy their product with paying ur money. appreciate for what? did u appreciate Mcdonald for cheap fast food, Tyson for meat, Apple for phone, even ur local electronic power supplier, ur kids school and teachers? but appreciated for a Jap company who took ur money. and this product is worse and later than another Company product called Tamron 11-20 F2.8. Appreciated? very interesting！

[@daltonidaho]

Nice photos and video work in this one ☺the performance of this lens looks good enough to me!

[@andrisstanga5938]

I always appreciated the 'holy trinity' of APSC lenses Sigma had, but coupled with some other lenses and a zoom or two, that's a lot of gear. So I always hoped, especially after the excellent 18-50 f2.8 zoom, that Sigma would create a holy trinity of zooms. I wouldn't need anything else if those lenses were good enough. So I'm really glad to see this hope beginning to come true... Now waiting for a 50-150 or 50-200...

[@NeonShores]

I know primes are the way to go for ultimate sharpness and aperture, but I've been looking at getting some kind of Fuji as a secondary EDC to compliment my bigger FF setup and having the 10-18 and 18-50 zooms would cover just about everything I need.

[@GameFirst]

【Appreciated】? I saw two guys use this word in top 1 and top 2 reply. did u get money from sigma? or u just a western who had been tamed by Japanese in spirit? Appreciated? u buy their product with paying ur money. appreciate for what? did u appreciate Mcdonald for cheap fast food, Tyson for meat, Apple for phone, even ur local electronic power supplier, ur kids school and teachers? but appreciated for a Jap company who took ur money. and this product is worse and later than another Company product called Tamron 11-20 F2.8. Appreciated? very interesting！

[@Walkingclaxxic]

And this is why I love apsc so many cheap lens options

[@lemmontree1]

You two are just masters of your craft!

[@induction7895]

Great review PP guys!!

[@vinhsanity]

They’ve got a great formula for videos. I’m looking for an ultrawide for the XH2s and of course I naturally gravitate towards their reviews.

[@OMURFERAHCAN]

I got the lens today , yes it's a very good lens as long as you are not planning to zoom in/out , especially when recording video. It loses focus terribly when zooming in/out on XT5 , and exposure is all over the place if you zoom no matter what your setting are .

[@robertcudlipp3426]

Another practical review of an excellent wide angle lens, for my a6400, in a way slightly torn between the Sigma and Tamron, however given how helpful Sigma has been to Sony apsc owners, will be purchasing this lens when it becomes available in Australia.

[@NotAnotherChannel_Channel]

Ah, the Plena unit of measure. (chef’s kiss) Great vid as always.

[@danieloswatching7932]

wow, nice lens and very useful review, thanks

[@guyjordan8201]

Classic great review saving a product contrast till the end.

[@opalyankaBG]

Nice review! I'd be interested in seeing a comparison between this lens and the Tamron 11-20 when both are focused farther than 1-2 meters. Using test charts is great for most lenses but for UWA ones you really need to get up close to them which puts UWA optics at disadvantage as they don't usually perform at their best when focused up close.

[@PrimalShutter]

Loving that recent sigma witchcraft, I'd love a tiny 18-35/2 now

[@JulianIsAnthony]

That would be incredible

[@geoffreybassett6741]

Perfect gimbal lens, well done Sigma!

[@MattyDCCollins]

The boys are at it again! Looks like a decent small lens 🎉

[@panoramicviolinist]

Great review 🙏

[@chryseass.5143]

😊Whew ! I just bought the Tamron 11-20 a week before the Sigma was announced. I am glad that I made the right choice for my a6700. I have it paired with Sigma 18-50 and am travelling with it now. It is wonderful to be able to reduce the weight and the space . I also had room for Tamron 's 70-300 and a couple of small fast primes in my carry-on luggage.

[@anonymousl5150]

Looking at Frost's tests, they are roughly the same. Slightly brighter at 10 mm f/2.8 than Tamron's 11 mm f/2.8, less fringing, sharper corners on both ends. Tamron looks slightly shaper at 20 mm than Sigma at 18 mm in the center, while corner it outperforms in resolution but not contrast. Same reproduction ratio of 0.25. But the Sigma is over 20 mm shorter and 70 grams lighter, I would personally prefer that for travel.

[@dingbat19]

Great review - are you sharing your sample shots ?

[@cbimage]

Thanks, Chris. I have it for my Fuji X-T5 and I really like its size. But I've not tried closeup like your leaf and droplet; I will now.

[@leo_hoang]

It was tested and compared that the A6700 sensor is just the A7RV cropped. I’m sure there was an article out there. If it’s not the exact same it’s close enough according to those tests.

[@atom-qr2oc]

Awesome video! When are we gonna see the APSC-battle royale though?

[@TySPAID]

Desperately need this for Canon

[@danielhuang2488]

just give up canon

[@amermeleitor]

Rumors says that at the end of 2023 or first half of 2024 Canon will opent its mount.

[@frankfeng2701]

​@@amermeleitorI would not want this on a RF-S body because of 1.6x crop and large mount design.

[@justpray365]

Then desperately buy a Sony.🤣🤣

[@amermeleitor]

@@frankfeng2701 large mount design isn't a issue at all. I have Nikon and there are very small lenses. The mount diameter have nothing to do with it.

[@jeremytheoneofdestiny8691]

The last of the fall colors? That’s wild. Down here in Georgia, they haven’t even started yet. We still have summer heat on those days.

[@dalefrolander3583]

The a7R5 really is two cameras in one. I just went to a wedding and since I was traveling with a lot of stuff I brought my a7R5 and only apsc lenses to save room. I brought the Sony 10-20mm f4, Sigma 18-50mm f2.8, and the Sigma 56mm f1.4. I kind of wish I had brought the Sony 135mm f1.8, but the pictures turned out great anyway. I'm wondering how the image quality of this lens compares to the Sony 10-20mm f4. I really like the Sony 10-20mm, but being an f4, would I still recommend it or the Sigma to my friend.

[@massimobernardoni8741]

Nice video thank you! I just wanted to ask you if Tamron was better and you answered me! 😀

[@cocoy01]

I watched my first sony Alpha6000 from your video review years ago.

[@alexgoriatchenkov]

IF this Sigma sharpness will be close to my Sony 15mm, F1,4 then will get one, definitely more versatility. Thank you for incredible introduction.

[@officialhardnox]

Hi there! Great video! We’ve been using the Sony kit lens 16-50 for our music videos and are not dissatisfied at all but was wondering is this lens would give enough of a noticeable quality jump for shooting in lower light situations? What do you think?

[@DirectorNathanJ]

I seen both of your reviews on sigma 10-18 and 16-28. I'm shooting on S1h. Which lense would you recommend out of those two?? Looking forward to your reply!

[@RandumbTech]

I routinely shoot 26MP RAW (m) mode on my A7RV with Sigma 16-28 and it’s excellent. Would be interesting to see how this smaller lighter lens compares in crop mode with same resolution. Looks like a great travel lens!

[@gustavoterzaghi2352]

It'd be the same thing as shooting at f/4 with your camera/lens in full frame mode

[@edwardc2635]

Im impressed with this lens

[@stephanweiskorn6760]

Great value 😁

[@MarlonKingShow]

Sigma are ones aware that people going for crop want a smaller, lighter and cheaper package. Overall been really happy with my other sigma lenses, so im sure this would be good also. Thanks for the review.

[@akirahojo2]

How does this lens compare to the Sony E 10-20mm f4 beside the pricing, for landscape, Astro and video?

[@kevin.itruth6880]

An 18mm F2 pancake prime would also be amazing for Sony APS-C...Hoping that's coming soon.

[@gordon3988]

Loved the fall colours…what did you record this on? Did I miss that? Looks like a great lens, especially for travel. And Chris; you need to do more cardio..try a series of 30 -60 second kettlebell swings starting with a pood and working up over time to 1.5 pood.

[@PetaPixel]

This was shot on the Panasonic G9 II.

[@mosaic11]

I want to know the image quality comparison between xf8mm and sigma10-18.

[@carlosalvarezcastanon557]

Gran trabajo, por favor, para un usuario de Fujifilm, xt3, cuál es más recomendable en cuanto a calidad de imagen, este Sigma o el fujinon 10-24? Muchas gracias!

[@offic.dzanjo3048]

Most times I do use s35 lenses on ff Sonys for video and when ever I do it i use CIZ and everything works at 1.2 to r c 1.3 which is sick 😮‍💨😮‍💨

[@RoofisDoofis]

How would compare to the Fujifilm 10-24?

[@carlosandreviana9448]

This lens would not compromise any Nikon Z one. It's incomprehensible why another Sigma lens in this situations is not released for the Z mount

[@zegzbrutal]

Z mount isn't totally open

[@carlosandreviana9448]

@@zegzbrutal I know the limitations. This isn't one of them

[@zegzbrutal]

@@carlosandreviana9448 Nikon did said they allow 3rd party based on per cases. I think they are trying to protect the Z DX 12-28...

[@speecher1959]

Now that there will be an RF version, it's time for me to pay attention!

[@thewongbear2944]

can it be used in full frame mode like the old sony 10-18mm f4?

[@mixeddrinks8100]

i think all these crop sensor lenses that has X-mount needs to be tested on the 40 megapixel cus I mean why not... lets see if it works great or not

[@short_bar]

Seeing Chris’s face next to a hood free lens is what makes me click a video

[@niccollsvideo]

I love you.

[@pixelkay2004]

thanks!!

[@drrrw]

Sheesh, 2.8. Kinda 16-35 f4 full frame but that small and kinda weather sealed.

[@Shuttterbugg]

When does it come.out or is it already?

[@przybylskipawel]

After watching Christopher Frost's review of this lens I start to wonder wether you did not get a bad copy.

[@JungleCatImages]

Gordon Laing from Camera Labs review is similar to this one, he considers the Tamron better also.. So, Frost has it as amazing and the other 2 I've seen say it's good, not great

[@przybylskipawel]

@@JungleCatImages Northrup also praise it.

[@otameal]

Agreed. Frost's review had me excited, this one reins me back in a bit. I wish Gordon Laing had a review of the Tamron 11-20; would be a useful comparison. Also would like to see a head to head with the Sony 10-20.

[@przybylskipawel]

@@otameal Me too

[@matic_horvat]

The breathing thing was slick

[@jorgemendez4517]

How is the distortion for street and architectural ?

[@ziginox]

Dammit, Sigma. I know it's a silly gripe, but I really wish they'd put the zoom ring the other way around. The majority of manufacturers do it that way. I had actually been thinking about picking up the Sony 10-18 f/4, but this makes a good proposition.

[@gelade]

I agree. Have their 100-400 and the reverse zoom ring is just not it…why you gotta be like this sigma

[@bbpptravel]

This lens doesn't get vignette when it mounts on a full frame when using aps-c mode?

[@lukealbins2526]

How does it compare to the sony f4 pz 10-20mm?

[@The_CGA]

But I wanted to hear Jordan talkaboot it too

[@OliverSchlecht]

Sounds like I keep my Fuji 10-24/4 better. Thx for the objective review.

[@epicnova2010]

you already have the 70-200 DG DN Sport on your hand, Right?

[@granitfog]

I looked at your review of the Tamron 10-20 (other review) and using screen shots of your bank note resolution tests (from both reviews), I see that the differences for Tamron and Fuji (in the other review) were not that dramatic. But for the Sigma (in this review) vs Tamron or Fuji, I see DRAMATIC difference in corner resolution in the wide angle, in favor of Sigma. (I paid special attention to the area behind the queen's head in the corner. In the Sigma, the verticle lines making up the background are clearly seen while for the Tamron and Fuji they are smeared. This was so different I thought they were different banknotes, but the serial numbers matched, so not different.) So it looks like I will go with the Sigma, but make sure not to get it wet. :-)

[@IrfanKhokharFilms]

nice!

[@arkphotog]

08:13 so Tamron. Wink, wink. Got it. Thanks. That’s what I was wondering; I get that you can’t be more clear about it for sponsorship / product sakes.

[@seantomlinson3320]

That'd look good on a Z50 or Zfc!

[@PrimalShutter]

We really need a z50II with ibis and better evf btw

[@olivertrees]

@@PrimalShutter i wouldn't even mind the same sensor. THe Z50/Z30 has one of the best lowlight performances in the lowlight department, although still beat by Fuji

[@synthgreen5648]

what was that camera at 0:09 in the background?

[@andrewdang4199]

I wonder if this works in FF mode on a FF kind of like the Sony 10-18mm does at 13mm...

[@ItzSi]

I wish canon allowed third party lens like this on their RF mount what a shame

[@srodigital]

I'm in a state of shock, like Jordan must have been during this lens review video...Chris three or four times caught using a tripod...was this something that was written into his PetaPixel contract when he moved over from DPReview, must use tripods, and been recorded/photographed doing so. I thought from past comments, tripods were evil as far as Chris was concerned 😂.

[@niccollsvideo]

Very cute! I use the them all the time and I think they are a necessary evil.

[@enduringtech822]

I am a little sad this is not coming to MFT

[@mauricio.montoya]

The L mount version of this lens has been added to my wish list 😊

[@campa_t]

Bruh tamron and sigma are both missing a tele apsc for mirrorless I don’t get why it’s like they want to make the perfect kit minus one lens

[@Walkingclaxxic]

Sigma at it again this lens will compete me

[@quite1enough]

idk guys, if judging by youtube reviews, Tamron 11-20mm don't seem like a better choice, it breathes noticeably, some reviews shows that it's less sharp than Sigma, and it's more expensive ;c but the sun stars seems to be better

[@alank378]

Can it be used on Olympus E-MkIII or OM 1 bodies?

[@garageworker]

Hold up, what'd you shoot this video on? Something new coming soon?

[@PetaPixel]

Panasonic G9 II

[@Yyrocham]

Would this lens good for real estate photography?

[@KhaoWhanTV]

Wow.

[@GoergeSwenton]

Can anyone imagefine having this as a full-frame option. That would be dope...

[@bartjeej]

Nice review, this lens is impressively small. I don't understand Sigma's thing of only putting a rubber seal on the lens mount but not elsewhere around the lens, what's the point? They've been doing that on many lenses recently, and on a lens that seems tailor made for landscape photography out in the field, it's a very strange omission.

[@Vielpi]

Is it better than the 18mm from Fuji?

[@tornadocapoeira]

I was hoping for Tamron

[@SalComuna]

How would it perform in a FF sensor? 🧐

[@rekinxxxl]

bit of wignetting on 10 then less on 11-16 then more on 18

[@BrendanMacWade]

This is far from perfect, but it might have to be my ultra-wide choice due to the Samyang AF 12mm prime being a little too unrefined at this time. At $600, it would be the most expensive of my 6 Sigma contemporary lenses. My collection would be: 10-18, 18-50, 16, 23, 30, 56.

[@anonymousl5150]

The lens is very sharp and it is super difficult to make perfect corners for ultrawide zoom, he is being way too unrealistic.

[@nevvanclarke9225]

It's really interesting because I'm a landscape photographer and yeah I'm probably professional well less I am because I sell images and I also teach landscape photography. Sunflare is such an overrated attribute for a lens because there's so many times when we don't shoot into the sun it's such an overrated thing that I constantly see people reviewing. I could probably count five photos in the last two years where I've pointed it directly at the sun to get a flair. It's just not a thing that I rate in lenses and this is coming from someone that shoots landscapes three times a week. No, that's my little tantrum out that way. I think this is quite a good lens I use the 8 to 16 mm which is a fantastic lens. I also have the Viltrox 13 ..... Which I think is the most underrated wide-angle lens that Fuji make, and I'm using that on a Fujifilm XT5 for my Astro work and close at work, and I'll say a bokeh shot -I think it's a great lens to add to the Fujifilm collection I'm thinking, but I know they're making it in other brands as well

[@igordmitriev7211]

Flaring is the worst at 18mm, at 10 it subsides quite a lot, which wasn't mentioned. The sun stars at f/22 are also quite amazing as per other reviews

[@Bayonet1809]

But shooting at f/22 is major diffraction territory, so you would have to do some compositing with a larger aperture shot. Why these companies can't use straight aperture blades on a lens that is not designed for bokeh anyway is beyond me.

[@Princeton_James]

I can't get it out of my head when he called us "pedophiles" 😂😂

[@harijsbruns8582]

where is Jordan? that was not a question!

[@_o__o_]

Compact With Some Compromises - dat what ma girlfriend says every evening

[@dnguyen536]

but cant say in reverse, compact black hole does Damage! 😉

[@ChrisParayno]

😂😂😂

[@michaeldimitrov1444]

Definitely getting it for my X-H2S.

[@bigd7696]

You will love it. I have the Tamron 11-20 on my X-H2S and it's fantastic. The Sigma is even lighter.

[@jubilee0418]

thanks for the video. I’m 16-35 GM user. How do you think the difference between the two? Is 10-18mm comparable to 16-35GM?

[@enduringtech822]

Anyone else wish this is available for M43?

[@alterbluue4048]

Best APS-C Sony mirrorless camera is.. a7R5

[@jamese4729]

Hot crossed bun ghosts. Band name?

[@hendrixg]

The dammed PLENA reference, nooooooo.

[@DavidMartin-wr1gt]

Would there be a business case to being out for canon m mount? Surely it doesnt cost much to add a mount version.

[@owenrodgers8020]

Only the law suit from canon...

[@Bayonet1809]

EF-M mount is dead.

[@sealcove2698]

I want it in Z mount for Z30

[@gabrielmachadobsb]

How is the manual focus ring? Is it capable of linear speed and repeatable focus? Knowing that is crucial for video applications

[@acidpanic]

I dont get why tf no one reviews how the zoom action looks like on video.

[@davidgarrett5242]

The tamron has pretty bad field Is curvature

[@xnautro]

only chanel i watch at x1 speed (rest x1.5)

[@ald4989]

This would be such a nice lens for MFT!

[@mateibradescu635]

Agreed!!!

[@_o__o_]

mft dead

[@JhnnyBoy]

Noob question. Does this lens fit on a Canon 80d. I know it works on APSC, but I've searching the webs to see if there is anything connecting this to an 80d, with no luck, so it's making me wonder if it doesn't. Appreciate the help.

[@ProbablyAnAmateur]

this is a mirrorless lens sorry. there is an ef-s lens thats 10-18mm though