Bright telephotos tend to be heavy optics, but Sigma’s newest lens is a 50-120mm with an f/2.8 aperture that’s less than 10 cm / 4 inches long. The Sigma 50-120mm f/2.8 DC OS Contemporary is a bright, compact zoom built for APS-C cameras, debuting in Sony E, Fujifilm X, and Canon RF mounts.
The October 08 launch completes Sigma’s Contemporary “holy trinity” series alongside the 10-18mm f/2.8 and 18-50mm f/2.8. But Sigma says that even all three lenses in a camera bag together still weigh less than 1kg / 2.2 pounds.
The new 50-120mm acts as a 75-180mm lens in full-frame equivalent, trading the more standard 70-200mm range for a design that’s built to match the compact design of APS-C bodies. The lens weighs in at 390g / .85 lbs.
Sigma says that the new lens raises the standard for APS-C constant zooms. The lens uses a high-response Linear Actuator autofocus motor, alongside Sigma’s latest stabilization tech that brings 6.5 stops of stabilization at 50mm and 4.5 stops at 120mm.
The lens is an external-style zoom, which means the length of the lens changes based on focal length. But the company says that the lens was built to minimize focus breathing for video shooters.
Like the other two lenses in the trinity, the 50-120mm skips out on the focus mode switch and stabilization switch for a more minimalist design. The design still manages to fit in weather-sealing and an oil-repellent coating at the front.
Part of the allure of the APS-C format is the more compact body designs – but those smaller cameras tend to feel unbalanced with larger lenses mounted on the front. While there are plenty of first-party and third-party full-frame 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses built for full frame that will work on APS-C, there are relatively few made specifically for the more compact sensor format.
Fujifilm has the XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR, but that lens is more than twice as heavy and nearly twice the cost. Sony has the 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS and the 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS, but neither lens has a constant f/2.8 aperture. Canon’s closest APS-C lens is the RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6.
The new Sigma 50-120mm f/2.8 is notably missing a mount: the Nikon Z. While the new APS-C zoom doesn’t include Nikon’s mirrorless bodies, today Sigma also announced that the existing Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary will be arriving for the Z Mount in November.
Perhaps the most appealing part of the new Sigma 50-120mm f/2.8 could be the price. The 50-120mm lens is set to retail for $799 / £699 – which converts roughly to AU$1,326 / CA$1,317.
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