Sigma’s New 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 and 50-120mm f/2.8: Practical APS-C Lenses for All Situations

Sigma has just announced two new Contemporary lenses for APS-C mirrorless shooters. The Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS is marketed as the world-first 18.8x zoom promising to be the only lens you need in your bag. The Sigma 50-120mm f/2.8 DC OS makes a case for a fast, compact telephoto zoom that still fits in a small travel kit. Together, they cover two of the most common requests from APS-C users: ultimate versatility and serious low-light reach.

Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary

The Sigma 16-300mm offers the widest zoom ratio ever achieved in a mirrorless all-in-one lens. Translated to APS-C coverage, it spans a 24–450mm equivalent range. That’s architecture and landscape photography at the wide end, portraits and street photography in the middle, and wildlife and sports at the long end. What I find pretty impressive is the 1:2 macro reproduction ratio at the 70mm mark, since most all-in-one zooms treat macro as an afterthought.

The 16-300mm offers six stops of compensation at 16mm, and 4.5 stops at the telephoto end, powered by the same OS2 algorithm Sigma uses in its larger super-telephoto primes. HLA autofocus rounds out the package, giving the lens fast, accurate subject tracking. A downside is the same as in the most “all-in-one” lenses: the variable aperture gets as dark as f/6.7 at 300mm. It’s workable outdoors in the daylight, but it won’t be helpful if you’re shooting events or wildlife in low light. At 1.4 lb with dust and splash resistance, though, it’s a compelling single-lens travel solution.

Specs

Specification	Details
Focal Length	16 to 300mm (35mm Equivalent: 24 to 450mm)
Aperture	Maximum: f/3.5 to 6.7 / Minimum: f/22 to 45
Lens Mount	Nikon Z
Lens Format Coverage	APS-C
Angle of View	83.2° to 5.4°
Minimum Focus Distance	From Camera Sensor: 6.7″ / 17 cm (Wide) to 41.3″ / 105 cm (Tele)
Magnification	1:2 Macro Reproduction Ratio / 0.5x Magnification
Optical Design	20 Elements in 14 Groups
Aperture/Iris Blades	9, Rounded
Focus Type	Autofocus
Image Stabilization	Yes
Filter Size	67 mm (Front)
Dimensions	2.9 x 4.9″ / 73.8 x 125.4 mm (Diameter x Length)
Weight	22.2 oz / 630 g

Sigma 50-120mm f/2.8 DC OS Contemporary

The 50-120mm f/2.8 offers a constant f/2.8 aperture across a 75–180mm equivalent range. It weighs under a pound and measures just 3.9 inches long, so it’s pretty compact for what it offers. Eleven rounded aperture blades and a thoughtful optical formula, including FLD and SLD elements, suggest Sigma has put some effort into the rendering. With an 11-blade rounded aperture, bokeh should be smooth and flattering. On the minus side, there’s no optical image stabilization. It’s worth noting, but for shooters on cameras with in-body stabilization it likely won’t be a deal breaker.

Both lenses reflect Sigma’s ongoing push to take APS-C seriously as a system and not just a compromise. As an APS-C shooter, I can’t complain. The Contemporary line isn’t as high-end as Sigma Art, but it’s been more about delivering meaningful optical quality at a more affordable price.

Specs

Specification	Details
Focal Length	50 to 120mm (35mm Equivalent: 75 to 180mm)
Aperture	Maximum: f/2.8 / Minimum: f/22
Lens Mount	FUJIFILM X
Lens Format Coverage	APS-C
Angle of View	31.7° to 13.5°
Minimum Focus Distance	9.1″ / 23.1 cm (Wide) to 21.7″ / 55.1 cm (Tele)
Optical Design	18 Elements in 13 Groups
Aperture/Iris Blades	11, Rounded
Focus Type	Autofocus
Image Stabilization	No
Filter Size	55 mm (Front)
Dimensions	2.6 x 3.9″ / 66.8 x 99.3 mm (Diameter x Length)
Weight	13.8 oz / 390 g

Pricing And Availability

The Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary is priced at $769 and is available for Canon RF, FUJIFILM X, L-Mount, Nikon Z, and Sony E mounts, with an estimated ship date of November 5. The Sigma 50-120mm f/2.8 DC OS Contemporary comes in at $799 and is available for Canon RF, FUJIFILM X, and Sony E mounts, shipping earlier on October 22.

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