The Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Modern is an ultra-wide angle lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras. Launched initially in L-mount and Sony E-mount variations, it’s now accessible in Fujifilm X-mount, and is a tantalizing proposition for Fujifilm customers as a result of it undercuts Fujifilm’s own-brand lenses in each worth and dimension.
Fujifilm does make two super-wide-angle lenses of its personal – the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR and the Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR. The XF 10-24mm has an extended focal vary than the Sigma and OIS, however a smaller most aperture. It’s additionally a lot larger and costlier, and has optical limitations that change into particularly obvious on the most recent 40MP Fujifilm cameras. The XF 8-16mm lens goes even wider than the Sigma, however that is one among Fujifilm’s red-badge professional lenses, and it’s each a lot larger and way more costly.
Proper now, then, the Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Modern appears to be like like a smaller, extra inexpensive and maybe superior super-wide lens for Fujifilm followers.
Certainly, Sigma claims that is the smallest and lightest ultra-wide-angle zoom lens for APS-C cameras, which makes its fixed f/2.8 most aperture much more spectacular. Sigma additionally claims its optical efficiency is maintained throughout the entire body, with high-quality element rendered completely proper into the corners.
That is achieved with a complicated optical building of 13 parts in 10 teams, which incorporates three ultra-low dispersion FLD parts, one tremendous/particular low dispersion SLD aspect, and 4 aspherical parts.
Sigma can also be very open concerning the reality this lens depends on digital corrections too. This has change into customary follow for mirrorless digital camera zooms, however not all lens makers are equally forthcoming about this. Pictures shot with the Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN can be corrected in-camera when you’re taking pictures JPEGs and can have a correction profile embedded in uncooked information to be used by packages like Seize One and Lightroom.
(Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN: Specs
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Focal size
10-18mm (15-27mm equal)
Most aperture
f/2.8
Development
13 parts in 10 teams
Aperture blades
7
Minimal focus distance
11.6-19.1cm wide-tele
Most magnification
0.25x (huge)
Filter dimension
67mm
Measurement
72.2 x 64.3mm
Weight
250g
Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN: Value and availability
The Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN | Modern for X-mount is obtainable now and prices round $599 / £649. That’s considerably cheaper than the most cost effective own-brand Fujifilm various which is the XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR. This prices round $999 / £879, which is some huge cash for a considerably common form of lens. Fujifilm left a really huge hole in its lens vary for a extra inexpensive ultra-wide zoom, and Sigma has crammed it.
Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN: Design and dealing with
The Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN is way smaller and lighter than both of Fujifilm’s personal ultra-wide zooms. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
There are some key options of the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN to pick right away. The primary is its dimension. It’s very small and light-weight for an APS-C ultra-wide zoom, and but it additionally has that fixed f/2.8 most aperture. It covers a reasonably modest zoom vary, after all, however that’s nonetheless spectacular.
It’s not all good, although. There’s no aperture ring on this lens, so the aperture have to be managed from the digital camera physique. That’s not such a draw back on X-mount cameras with a standard mode dial, such because the Fujifilm X-S10 or X-S20, however will probably be a disappointment for customers of the Fujifilm X-T5, X-T50, or different X-T, X-E, and X-Professional cameras with exterior publicity controls. Lots of the finest Fujifilm cameras owe their standing to those controls.
The Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN will not be climate sealed, however it does have a gasket on the mounting plate to seal in opposition to mud and moisture. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
This lens can also be not totally weather-sealed. There’s a rubber seal behind the lens mounting plate (which is manufactured from brass) to maintain out mud and moisture, however that’s it. Should you’re going to be taking pictures in harsh circumstances, keep in mind that whereas lots of the finest Fujifilm lenses are weather-sealed (search for the ‘WR’ within the title), this one isn’t.
And whereas the lens internals are manufactured from metallic, the outside is original from TSC (Thermally Secure Composite). Nonetheless, the outside end is first-rate. The semi-matt darkish grey/black floor appears to be like very good certainly.
The motion of the zoom ring is super-smooth, and the main focus ring has a light-weight, {smooth} really feel too, although there’s no focus distance scale and no exhausting stops to the minimal focus and infinity settings.
Each the zoom ring and the main focus ring have a particularly {smooth} motion that makes this lens really feel like a premium product. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
The lens zooms out and in by lower than a centimetre, and this combines with an inner focus system that ought to make the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN preferrred for gimbal use. The finest digital camera gimbals will have the ability to address any slight middle of gravity shifts with no problem.
Given the 10mm angle of view on the huge and and the comparatively quick f/2.8 most aperture, the entrance aspect of this lens will not be notably bulbous. This implies you’ll be able to match comparatively widespread 67mm filters without having for fancy wide-angle adapters.
A petal-style hood is included. This attaches to the entrance of the lens with a wierd form of push-click motion and is eliminated with a slight twist. It’s a bit odd, however you do get used to it.
The Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN was examined on a Fujifilm X-T5, the place the corporate’s newest 40MP sensor actually exhibits up any lens deficiencies. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN: Efficiency
It’s asking rather a lot to count on a lens this huge to supply flawless, aberration-free edge to edge sharpness, and regardless of Sigma’s declare that this lens does precisely that, it doesn’t totally stack up in follow.
Testing it on a 40MP Fujifilm X-T5 doesn’t actually assist, since Fujifilm’s newest sensor actually highlights any drop-off in lens efficiency. Maintain this in thoughts when you’re utilizing an earlier 26MP, 24MP or 16MP mannequin, because you received’t discover these points to the identical extent.
This shot and the one beneath give an concept of the variation in angles you will get from the 10-18mm zoom vary. This was shot at 10mm. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
This shot was taken with the lens set to 18mm. The 1.8x zoom vary could not sound a lot, however at these focal lengths it produces fairly sturdy modifications in perspective. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
Proper by means of the zoom vary, the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN is extraordinarily sharp within the middle of the body, and across the mid-way level to the body edges. On the excessive edges, although, the definition does fall away considerably. You’ll discover this most at 10mm, although, and by 14mm and 18mm, the sting definition is actually superb. This lens definitely outperforms the Fujinon XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR, which might be what it’s principally more likely to be in comparison with.
This picture, shot at 10mm, exhibits a level of nook softening below magnification, however plenty of this is because of residual uncorrected chromatic aberration within the JPEGs. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
The mix of wonderful close-focusing functionality and the f/2.8 most aperture means you will get surprisingly sturdy background blur, although there may be some seen bokeh fringing on this shot within the background. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
Sigma’s in-built lens profiles do an incredible job of correcting any distortion or nook shading, although the in-camera correction of purple fringing in direction of the perimeters of the body isn’t that nice. This does contribute in direction of the impression that the corners aren’t that sharp – plenty of the obvious unsharpness is definitely chromatic aberration. Should you shoot uncooked it’s best to discover that the automated chromatic aberration correction in each Seize One and Lightroom will repair this with a single click on.
The Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN does ship glorious distinction and flare resistance even huge open. You may get actually near foreground objects for dramatic perspective results and throw backgrounds out of focus on the similar time – although there may be some seen longitudinal shade fringing or ‘bokeh’ fringing with defocused object outlines.
This lens makes use of a stepping motor AF system quite than the linear actuators in additional unique lenses, however Sigma says the main focus group throughout the lens is gentle and, in actual world use, this lens focuses in a short time. It’s additionally inaudible. In video it refocuses rapidly with topic distance modifications and, once more, silently.
Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN: Pattern pictures
Right here’s a choice of pictures taken with the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN at numerous focal lengths and taking pictures distances. The sting to edge efficiency improves at longer focal lengths, however it’s nonetheless fairly good even at 10mm. It does extraordinarily properly for a such a small and modestly priced lens.
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(Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
(Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
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(Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN: Verdict
The Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN will not be excellent. The dearth of an aperture ring can be a disappointment for a lot of Fujifilm customers, and the shortage of climate sealing and OIS could disappoint just a few extra. However I do assume the positives simply outweigh the negatives. In comparison with Fujifilm’s personal ultra-wide zooms, this lens is tiny – some would say that that is the scale APS-C lenses are SUPPOSED to be. Given its dimension, its fixed f/2.8 most aperture is a substantial achievement. It’s true that that is over a shorter focal vary than the Fujinon XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR, for instance, however it’s important to resolve when you’re keen to swap the additional zoom vary for an additional f-stop in most aperture.
Maybe the one largest killer characteristic of this lens, although, is its worth. It’s not simply smaller than the XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR, it’s additionally significantly cheaper. And, admittedly over a smaller zoom vary, it outperforms the Fujifilm lens optically, too.
Skilled customers would possibly nonetheless take a look at the large Fujinon XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR as an alternative, which works even wider than this lens, however that represents an enormous step up in each dimension and worth. If what you’re searching for is a extra compact ultra-wide zoom for journey, structure, landscapes or interiors, the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN does it brilliantly. Why pay (and carry) extra?
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Options
A shortish zoom vary and no OIS, however a formidable fixed f/2.8 most aperture
★★★★☆
Design
An extremely compact and sweet-handling lens, however it’s a disgrace there isn’t any aperture ring
★★★★☆
Efficiency
Not excellent, however fairly distinctive at this pricee
★★★★★
Worth
The mix of dimension, fixed f/2.8 aperture and super-slick dealing with make the worth unbeatable
★★★★★
(Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
Must you purchase the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN?
✅ Purchase this…
Should you want an ultra-wide X-mount zoom that’s compact and inexpensive with out sacrificing picture high quality
Should you use a Fujifilm X-S10, X-S20, X-H2/S with a daily mode dial and also you’re used to controlling aperture from the digital camera
Should you want a continuing f/2.8 ultra-wide lens and the Fujinon XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR is simply an excessive amount of
🚫 Do not buy this…
Should you’re a diehard fan of exterior publicity dials, since you’ll discover it exhausting to just accept the shortage of an aperture ring
Should you’re searching for all-purpose ‘huge’ walkaround lens, as a result of the 27mm equal longest focal size is probably not fairly lengthy sufficient
If you should hold taking pictures in rain, snow and freezing circumstances, as a result of it’s not totally climate sealed in the identical means as Fujifilm’s personal WR lenses
