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Sigma

18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary

Sony E Mount

18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary — 18–50mm f/2.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sigma lineup.

$549

Launch price

Released Oct 2021

vs

Sigma

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Fujifilm X Mount

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary — 56mm f/1.4 for Fujifilm X, a popular choice in the sigma lineup.

$429

Launch price

Released Jun 2023

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary is 1.7 years newer.

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Wins

3categories

18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary

Sports & Action

Wins

4categories

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Portrait

1 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary wins 2 categories·56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary wins 3 categories
  • B56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.4 vs f/2.8)
  • B56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.4 vs f/2.8)
  • A18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary has higher Max magnification (0.25 × vs 0.14 ×)
  • B56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary has lower Length (66.5 mm vs 91 mm)
  • A18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary has lower Min focus distance (38 cm vs 50 cm)

Key specs at a glance

18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Focal Length18-50 mm56 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/1.4
MountSony EFujifilm X
CoverageAPS-CAPS-C
StabilizationNoNo
Weight290 g280 g
Min Focus38 cm50 cm
Filter Size62 mm55 mm

Size and weight, to scale

18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary

65 × 91 mm

290 g (0.64 lb / 10.23 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

67 × 67 mm

280 g (0.62 lb / 9.88 oz)

18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary is 25mm longer and 2mm narrower than 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary.

18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary is 10 g heavier than 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary.

Diameter (⌀) is the maximum barrel width; length is measured from the mount to the front of the lens.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use case18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Portrait
4.5Fair
8.5Excellent
Sports & Action
6.5Good
4.5Fair
Video & Hybrid
4.0Fair
3.5Limited
Landscape
4.0Fair
2.0Limited
Travel
5.0Fair
5.0Fair
Wildlife
1.0Limited
0.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
2.0Limited
0.0Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Min focus distance

    38 cm vs 50 cm — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.25 × vs 0.14 × — higher is better

  • Diameter

    65 mm vs 67.4 mm — lower is better

Reasons to choose the 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

  • Special elements

    Adds 1 SLD, 2 Aspherical

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.4 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.4 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Length

    66.5 mm vs 91 mm — lower is better

  • Weight

    280 g vs 290 g — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary

Pros

  • Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day
  • Native Sony E mount compatibility

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Pros

  • Bright f/1.4 aperture for low light and subject separation
  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary and 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary at major authorized retailers.

Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary

Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

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Full specifications

= category winner

18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Focal length (Min)
18 mm
56 mm
Focal length (Max)
50 mm
56 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8
f/1.4+2 stops wider
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8
f/1.4+2 stops wider
Elements
16
10
Groups
12
8
Special elements
Aspherical
1 SLD, 2 Aspherical
18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Min focus distance
38 cm−12 cm less
50 cm
Max magnification
0.25 ×+79%
0.14 ×
Autofocus motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Stepping motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Weight
290 g
280 g−10 g less
Length
91 mm
66.5 mm−25 mm less
Diameter
65 mm−2 mm less
67.4 mm
Filter thread size
62 mm
55 mm
Weather sealing
No
No
Diaphragm blades
9
9
18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Lens mount
Sony E
Fujifilm X
Format coverage
APS-C
APS-C

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.