LensTip.com

Lens review

Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

12 April 2011
Arkadiusz Olech

11. Summary

Pros:
  • very universal focal lengths range,
  • very good image quality in the frame centre at all focal lengths,
  • good image quality on the edge of the frame in the 18-50 mm range,
  • quite well corrected coma,
  • slight astigmatism,
  • distortion noticeably lower than that of its rivals,
  • good quality of anti-reflection coatings,
  • silent and relatively efficient autofocus.

Cons:

  • weak image quality on the edge of the frame at 120-250 mm focal lengths,
  • high chromatic aberration at the maximum focal length,
  • weak performance against bright light.

The Sigma 18–250 mm f/3.5–6.3 DC OS HSM is a lens aimed at amateur photographers who, having a reflex camera, want to own one universal lens, which will be able to serve many purposes during a trip or on holiday. Looking at the performance of the tested lens it seems that it won’t disappoint such users. Of course it is hardly a flawless optical instrument but nobody can expect as much from a lens with such a zoom multiple. On the other hand the device boasts several indisputable advantages like a splendid image quality in the frame centre, stabilization and an HSM motor as well. Such a combination can be met only in the Nikkor 18-200 mm VR but that instrument features a narrower focal range.


Please Support Us

If you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - advertisement - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Sample shots

Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 147 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 400
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 4.09 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 80 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 400
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 4.3 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 400
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 4.37 MB
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 43 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 400
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 3.94 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 28 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 400
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 3.64 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 31 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 200
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 3.73 MB
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 95 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 400
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 4.51 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 43 mm, f/4.5, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 200
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 4.04 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 35 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 400
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 3.49 MB
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 18 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 400
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 3.24 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 120 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 400
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 3.78 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 250 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 200
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 3.35 MB
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 18 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/2500 s, ISO 100
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 4.52 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 31 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/800 s, ISO 100
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 4.35 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 63 mm, f/7.1, exp. 1/1000 s, ISO 100
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 4.21 MB
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 147 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/2000 s, ISO 100
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 3.7 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 250 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/2000 s, ISO 100
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 3.82 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 18 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/2000 s, ISO 100
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 6.16 MB
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 35 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/400 s, ISO 100
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 6.64 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 80 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1000 s, ISO 100
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 5.64 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 178 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/1000 s, ISO 200
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 5.37 MB
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 250 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/640 s, ISO 200
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 5.58 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 18 mm, f/5.0, exp. 1/640 s, ISO 100
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 4.11 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 28 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/2000 s, ISO 100
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 3.79 MB
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM - Summary
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/5.0, exp. 1/1000 s, ISO 100
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 4.01 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 80 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 400
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 3.69 MB
Camera: Canon 50D
Parameters: 31 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 400
File: JPEG, 4752×3168 pix, 4.21 MB



Next chapter