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Sigma C 50 mm f/2 DG DN – first impressions and sample images

3 April 2023
Maciej Latałło

2. Build quality

The following chart presents a comparison between different standard f/2.0-2.5 lenses that were designed for mirrorless full frame cameras. As you can notice, only the huge Leica is noticeably bigger and heavier than the new Sigma.

In the photo below the new Sigma is positioned between the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 2/50 and the reflex camera Sigma A 35 mm f/1.4 DG HSM. It should be added that in this photo the Voigtlander is in its folded position – when you set the focus at the minimum focusing distance its length increases noticeably.

Sigma C 50 mm f/2 DG DN – first impressions and sample images - Build quality

The Sigma C 50 mm f/2 DG DN starts with a metal mount that surrounds contacts and a rear element, 29 mm in diameter. The element is immobile, positioned quite shallowly inside the casing, but the area around it is well blackened and matted. Overall from this side everything looks as it should.

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Sigma C 50 mm f/2 DG DN – first impressions and sample images - Build quality

The proper body of the lens starts with a smooth, metal ring painted black. On it you can find an inscription with the name and parameters of the lens, the logo of the producer, the 'C' letter, meaning the lens belongs to the 'Contemporary' series, '023' meaning the model year of the instrument, the serial number, and a white dot, making an alignment with a camera easier and a focusing mechanism mode switch (AF/MF).

Then you see an aperture ring, 10 mm wide, with protruding ribbing on both sides of it to ensure you a firmer grip. The ring has aperture markings from f/2.0 to f/22, with finer points every 1/3 EV, along with an A position that allows automatic control of this parameter from the camera menu's level. The ring is, generally, a joy to use.

Sigma C 50 mm f/2 DG DN – first impressions and sample images - Build quality

Next part is an immobile fragment of the barrel with an inscription 'MADE IN JAPAN' and the focusing mechanism working range: '0.45M/1.48FEET–∞'.

Another ring, 16 mm wide, controls manual focus. It doesn't have any markings, its main part covered by ribbing. It is a focus-by-wire construction that moves very smoothly. Even when you turn it quickly, running through the whole distance range needs an angle of about 180 degrees, more than enough to ensure you precise settings.

Sigma C 50 mm f/2 DG DN – first impressions and sample images - Build quality

The lens ends with an immobile, metal ring and a hood mount behind it. The mount surrounds a non-rotating filter thread, 58 mm in diameter.

The front element is 29 mm in diameter and it doesn't move. It is surrounded by black barrel, this time without any inscriptions.

Sigma C 50 mm f/2 DG DN – first impressions and sample images - Build quality

When it comes to optical construction you deal here with 11 elements positioned in 9 groups. Among them one element is made of low dispersion SLD glass and there are as many as three aspherical elements. Inside you can also find a round aperture with nine blades that can be closed down to a value of f/22 at the maximum.

Buyers get in the set: a metal hood, a rear cap, and two front caps – a classic one, made of plastics, and the second magnetic, made of metal, a very nifty solution. The C series instruments aren't sold with any kind of a case.

Sigma C 50 mm f/2 DG DN – first impressions and sample images - Build quality