Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary vs Tamron 16-50mm F2.8 A
Every published spec side by side, with today's lowest prices for the market you've chosen.
Key differences
- Closest focus: 0.12 m on the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary, against 0.15 m on the 16-50mm F2.8 A.
- Max magnification: 0.36× on the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary, against 0.22× on the 16-50mm F2.8 A.
- Weight: 290 g on the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary, against 305 g on the 16-50mm F2.8 A.
18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary or 16-50mm F2.8 A: which should you buy?
Choose the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary for its closest focus, max magnification and weight.
On published specs the 16-50mm F2.8 A leads the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary nowhere; buy it for its price, its handling or the lenses you already own.
On paper the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary wins more rows (3 to 0); if the 16-50mm F2.8 A's strengths are the ones you shoot with, and its price is lower where you buy, it can still be the better buy.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price today | $489.95 new $379.99 used | $529 new |
| Optics | ||
| Focal length | 18–50mm | 16–50mm |
| 35mm equivalent | 27–75mm equivalent (29–80mm on Canon) | 24–75mm equivalent (26–80mm on Canon) |
| Maximum apertureLower f-number lets in more light. A zoom wins only when it is as bright at both ends. | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 | f/16 |
| Made for | APS-C | APS-C |
| Elements / groups | 13 / 10 | 14 / 10 |
| Aperture blades | 7 | 7 |
| Closest focus | 0.12 m (best) | 0.15 m |
| Max magnification | 0.36× (best) | 0.22× |
| Focus & handling | ||
| Autofocus | Yes (Stepping motor) | Yes (VXD) |
| Optical stabilisation | No | No |
| Weather sealed | — | Yes |
| Internal zoom | No | No |
| Aperture ring | No | No |
| Teleconverter compatible | No | No |
| Size & weight | ||
| Weight | 290 g (best) | 305 g |
| Diameter × length | 65.4 × 74.5 mm | 64.4 × 79.6 mm |
| Filter thread | 55 mm | 55 mm |
Green marks the better figure where “better” is unambiguous. A dash means the maker doesn't publish it or we haven't verified it yet.