Is the Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G worth 3x more money than the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN? Let’s find out.
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
- Focal Length: 18-50mm
- Max Aperture: f/2.8
- Mount: Sony E
- Stabilized: ❌
- Weather-Sealing: ❌
- Weight: 290g
- Released: 2021
- Amazon ($)
Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G
- Focal Length: 16-55mm
- Max Aperture: f/2.8
- Mount: Sony E
- Stabilized: ❌
- Weather-Sealing: ✔️
- Weight: 494g
- Released: 2019
- Amazon ($$$)
In this comparison, I go through all of their advantages and how they compare at different photography styles.
The Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G is an optically superb lens, but costs well over $1,000. A few years after its release, Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN came out and is now slowly taking over the space as an all-around ultra compact winner.
If you’re in a hurry, the advantages below are all you need to make the final decision.
Advantages of Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN
Advantages of Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G
Now, let’s see which features and advantages are actually important for your specific needs and which ones only sound good on paper.
Sigma 18-50mm vs Sony 16-55mm: Detailed Comparison
🔭 1. Focal Length
- Sigma 18-50mm: From 18mm to 50mm
- Sony 16-55mm: From 16mm to 55mm
- Winner: Sony 🏆
The Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G has a little bit more wide-angle and telephoto zoom than the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN.
It’s not a huge difference, but 2mm more on the wide-angle side can help with landscape and real estate photography. That’s 11% more scene captured in your shot.
It’s safe to say that both lenses are excellent for all-around, travel photography, as far as focal length goes.
🎥 2. Maximum Aperture
- Sigma 18-50mm: Constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 at all focal lengths
- Sony 16-55mm: Constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 at all focal lengths
- Winner: Tie
Both Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DG DN and the Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G have a constant f/2.8 aperture, which is great for shooting in low light or less than ideal lighting conditions.
You can always select a smaller aperture, but f/2.8 is also great for blurring the background. This is useful for weddings, portraits, animals and macro photography.
📏 3. Dimensions & Weight
- Sigma 18-50mm: 290g
- Sony 16-55mm: 494g
- Winner: Sigma 🏆
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DG DN is 43% lighter (204g) than the Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G.
That’s a big difference, and something you’ll definitely notice if you travel with 1-2 extra lenses. Both were designed for APS-C systems, but the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 is truly a more compact choice.
If you want to travel light, or don’t always use your camera because of its size, this is super important.
- Sigma 18-50mm: 65.4 x 74.5mm
- Sony 16-55mm: 83.3 x 106.0mm
- Winner: Sigma 🏆
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN is 25% shorter than the Sony 16-55m f/2.8 G.
Both lenses are still smaller than the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di VC RXD, a very popular alternative.
🎥 4. Minimum Aperture
- Sigma 18-50mm: f/22
- Sony 16-55mm: f/22
- Winner: Tie
Nothing too exciting here, as both Sigma and Sony stop down to f/22. It’s perfectly fine for 99% scenarios when it comes to landscape or real estate photography. Plus, shooting with small apertures can result in diffraction, aka loss of image quality.
🔬 5. Minimum Focusing Distance
- Sigma 18-50mm: 12.1cm at 18mm
- Sony 16-55mm: 33cm at 16mm
- Winner: Sigma 🏆
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN offers an incredible 12.1cm minimum focusing distance. This gets you more than 2x closer to your subject than the Sony does! You do however have to be in manual focus to achieve this.
Remember, these distances are measured from your camera’s sensor and not from the front of the lens. The Sigma is a lot more usable for macro photography, even though none of these lenses are designed for that specifically.
⛅ 6. Weather-Sealing
- Sigma 18-50mm: ❌
- Sony 16-55mm: ✔️
- Winner: Sony 🏆
The Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G is completely weather-sealed. It also feels more solid in hand, and is a clear winner if you often shoot in harsh weather conditions, or are afraid of damaging your gear.
For casual use, all lenses can handle a normal amount of rain, snow and dust. The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DG DN is perfectly fine for shooting in light rain, but it’s only weather-sealed at the mount. Its design is mostly plastic with some metal parts, whereas the Sony is full metal.
One of the reasons for the higher price tag is the build design and quality of the Sony lens.
🎦 7. Image Stabilization
- Sigma 18-50mm: ❌
- Sony 16-55mm: ❌
- Winner: Tie
Image stabilization helps make your images appear less blurry when shooting with slow shutter speeds.
Neither of these two lenses offer Image stabilization. However, this isn’t a problem if your Sony camera has it built-in already (called IBIS). It won’t help freeze moving subjects, it will only help correct your unwanted movement when taking a picture.
💿 8. Aperture Blades
- Sigma 18-50mm: 7 rounded diaphragm blades
- Sony 16-55mm: 9 rounded diaphragm blades
- Winner: Sony 🏆
A lens with more diaphragm blades will usually produce smoother bokeh, aka background blur.
The Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G has 9 blades versus 7, which is not a big difference, and the bokeh quality also depends on the quality of the lens itself. However, it never hurts to have more!
📽 9. Filter Size
- Sigma 18-50mm: 55m filter size
- Sony 16-55mm: 67mm filter size
- Winner: Sigma 🏆
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DG DN accepts 55mm filters. They are super affordable and very easy to find.
For the Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G, you’ll need to buy 67mm filters. These are a bit more expensive, but still extremely common in all stores.
💲 10. Price
- Sigma 18-50mm: ~$549
- Sony 16-55mm: ~$1399
- Winner: Sigma 🏆
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DG DN costs 3x less than the Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G. You could get another Sony APS-C camera with the rest of the money, or another excellent lens.
Both lenses are optically great, but the Sony 16-55mm offers better build quality and even better auto focusing.
Sigma 18-50mm vs Sony 16-55mm: Photography Type
From 1 being worst, 5 being the best.
It’s best to choose a lens that suits your favorite photography types, or offers you something that your current gear is not good enough for.
The extra aperture blades make the Sony 16-55mm more appealing for portraits, and the weather-sealing makes it safer for wildlife and landscape use in difficult weather.
On the other hand, the close minimum focus distance of the Sigma 18-50mm is excellent for macro photography.
For travel, all-around and wedding photography, both lenses are nearly identical.
Sigma 18-50mm vs Sony 16-55mm: Comparison Table
Better specifications are highlighted in green.
| 🎥 Lens Specification | Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 | Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G |
|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 18-50mm | 16-55mm |
| 35mm Equivalent | 27-75mm | 24-82.5mm |
| Mount | Sony E (APS-C) | Sony E (APS-C) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/22 | f/22 |
| Filter Size | 55 mm | 67 mm |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.36x | 0.20x |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 12.1 cm | 33 cm |
| Aperture Ring | No | No |
| Focus Type | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Motor Type | Stepping Motor | XD Linear Motor |
| Lens Construction | 13 elements in 10 groups | 17 elements in 12 groups |
| Aperture Blades | 7 (rounded) | 9 (rounded) |
| Image Stabilization | ❌ | ❌ |
| Weather Sealing | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Dimensions (mm) | 65.4 x 74.5mm | 73 x 100mm |
| Weight (g) | 290g | 494g |
| Hood Included | Yes | Yes |
| Released | 2021 | 2019 |
| Price | Amazon | Amazon |
So, which lens is the better one?
Choose the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 if:
- You want a much smaller and lighter lens (41% lighter)
- You want to spend way less money (~$850 cheaper)
- You often shoot macro, close-up photography
Choose the Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 if:
- You want 2mm wider and 5mm longer zoom reach
- You shoot in difficult conditions and want the best weather-sealing
- You want even faster and more accurate auto focusing
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