SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary

When photographers ask TIPA editors about their recommendation for a lens for their travel camera bag, they point to a versatile wide to normal zoom that’s lightweight and compact. TIPA’s choice in this category this year is the SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary, which weighs in at just 290g/10.2oz. and is relatively small at 65.4×74.5mm/2.6×2.9in. Yielding a full-frame equivalent 27-75mm focal length range, it is ideal for compositional versatility without having to change lenses. Perfect for both still and video, its stepping motor provides smooth and quiet AF performance, plus the balance of three high precision glass molded aspherical lenses and a low dispersion lens element makes for excellent optical quality without excessive weight. Expanding imaging options even further, the lens maintains the fast F2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range, and features a minimum focusing distance of 12.1cm/4.8in.