Very practical review Mike, loved it! But I think those extra 2 mm at wide end adds tremendous value to fuji. Fuji needs to come up with a refresh of this old classic pretty soon and make it at least100-150 g lighter.
Hi! Many thanks for your kind words. I agree about the extra couple of millimeters on the wide end, and I personally also appreciate the extra 5 mm on the long end. Im no lens design expert, but my understanding is that pursuing that last bit of image quality (sharpness, contrast, detail, etc...) is both expensive and requires more lens elements and more weight. As always, I'm glad there's now so many options for lenses in the Fujifilm X system. Cheers!
From someone who has owned the Sigma for two weeks and is returning it for a Fuji, I think they definitely do! I've missed both the wide and tele extra reach and to be fair, the sharpness wasn't too great either. It is a great lens for its size, cost and weight but at least for me, Fuji is the way!
@@alphabetamedia Hello! Thanks for sharing about your experience with the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8. Sorry it wasn’t a good fit for you. Have fun with the Fuji!
@@MSladekPhoto thank you and thank you for a very informative review! I think I might even have gotten a bad copy of it for its softness. It was great in almost every other way!
Nice job my man! I much prefer the Sigma man, although with the 16-55 I've always wanted to buy it again. I sold it after probably a dozen weddings where I was getting inconsistent autofocus... never totally trusted it, but I always thought I might have just had a poor copy. The 18-50 has been just nails for me - and in a body that small and light? Amazing.
Hey Jerred! I’m really impressed with the sigma and its “fun factor” and value. I’ve had consistent focus results with my copy of 16-55, so I’m glad for that. So good to have a growing number of lens options in the Fuji X system. Cheers!
I tried the Fujinon 16-55mm on my XT-1 and the weight of the lens made the difference. Today I have XT30ll and Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 was the right choice.
One of the best videos I could find about the Sigma lens. I don’t have a zoom right now (only primes) and I was excited when I saw that Sigma came out with this zoom lens in the Fuji mount. I was considering the Fujinon or even the Tamron 17-70. But size is really important to me and I’m glad I’ve held off on buying a Zoom till this Sigma launched. Add to cart!
Hi Julia! Thanks for watching and sharing your comment. I think for size, weight, value and performance, the Sigma is pretty hard to beat. I hope you enjoy yours!
I love how you said "every lens is a compromise" I cant agree more. I love primes but in terms of versatility and budget I tend stick with a fast standard zoom because i'm a hybrid shooter. I think its easy to get caught up in buying a full kit all at once but for me I know I will always leave the primes at home and go out with one lens, otherwise I wont take my camera out at all.
Hi! Thanks so much for watching and sharing your comment. I agree that removing "friction" - anything that gets in the way, big or small, is such an important part of creating photos. Enjoy creating photos!
Great comparison, very interesting! Amazing how well the sigma performs compared to the much more expensive fuji lens. A lot of people worry about the lack of aperture ring on the Sigma, I felt the same way… however, I honestly hardly notice it after a couple of days with the Sigma.
Hi! Thanks for watching and sharing your comment. I agree about how surpassingly good the Sigma is for the price difference. For me, the lack of aperture was relatively easy to adjust to, but it took longer to get used to the opposite direction of the zoom ring ;) Cheers!
I’ve had both and the Sigma is so so good. I rarely need 16mm (24mm ff) so 18mm is good enough. Plus it’s so much lighter/smaller vs that barrel that is the 16 55mm f2.8. Both equally sharp.
Hi Duke! Yep, for lots (most?) folks the Sigma 18-50 could be a really great lens for functionality, image quality and value. Thanks for watching and sharing your comment.
Thanks for such a helpful video. I currently own both of these lenses, and definitely find the Sigma to hold up okay, especially for its size. I notice you focused mostly on object photography. How do you feel these two compare with people photography related to IQ & AF?
Hi Joe! Thanks for watching and sharing your comment and question. I’m not doing much portrait photography these days, so have not had a chance to do a direct comparison with these lenses for image quality and autofocus for that use. Sorry I couldn’t be o f more help. Cheers!
Wow thanks for this, you are a natural 😮 it was super useful! I feel like I’m in between… I am not a beginner but not fully pro at photography… I take pictures and videos for pleasure but also in my daily job actually. I got an XT5 a couple of months ago with a prime lens and feel I am missing the zoom… so I’m looking into getting the Sigma. I’m just curious about it resolving the 40 megapixels of the XT5? And more generally, as an amateur compared to you and all others who have commented, does the resolution of the camera help in making pictures sharper? In your example, would having an XT5 make the Sigma sharper? Or everything is relative? Thanks so much!
Hi! So glad you enjoyed the video and many thanks for your kind words. I'm not sure how the Sigma will performa on the X-T5 with 40MP of resolution... But, here's some thoughts. With the extra resolution, you will see more detail - so everything (good and bad) in the image will generally be more prominent. The extra resolution will not make the lens sharper, as far as I know. Having said that, lens sharpness is often over emphasized as an image quality factor. If your daily photography job involves product, macro, architecture, etc... type photography, then image sharpness will be an important element in your lens choice. Modern lenses, especially from larger companies, all tend to have sharpness and image equality that was not readily available even twenty years ago. One option for next step would be to rent the Sigma and/or Fuji 16-55 and see how they work for you in your daily photo routines. Best wishes!!!
Im considering selling my 16 to 55 for this Sigma ,reason being i dont use it as often becaide of the weight ,that being said im very happy with my client work when i do use it.what are your thoughts ?
I’m considering the same thing! Love the 16-55 image quality, but have not used it for over a year. The sigma is so much easier to justify throwing in the camera bag for its smaller size and weight. Cheers!
The Sigma is a great little lens for the price. I'm glad I got a new 16-55 for only $450 from a guy that has Fuji connections. It's a great lens that pairs well with both my X-T5 and X-H2.
@@MSladekPhoto sure, but I dont think that anyone now is going to purchase a lens for the XF system, based on planning to use only lower res sensors in the future
@@mcelliot Hmmmmmm. At least for me, I will choose the 26mp stacked sensor (currently only in X-H2S) when that is the option. The responsiveness of focus and speed overall is worth more than 14 more megapixels. Your mileage will vary 😉
Really helpful comparison. The lack of an aperture ring really bothers me, but the smaller lighter design would be a lot easier. Why could Sigma not have added an aperture ring. Oh well, stick with what I’ve got for now.
Hello! Thanks so much for watching and I'm glad you found the video helpful. I'm guessing that Sigma left the aperture ring off to save costs, as they already had this lens available for Sony without the aperture ring. Maybe future Sigma lenses will have aperture rings!
Great video Micahael. Would you say that the Sigma is a great lens for trave/street photography and even vlogging?? I own a X-T4 and was in Tokyo for a few days in Spring. I ended up leaving my XF 16-80 F4 at the hotel room and use the XF 23mm F2 practically the entire duration of the trip. The biggest reason was because of the weight factor for all day carry (out for over 12 hours when you are on vacation). I am not a professional photographer by trade, but I do a lot of documentary photography for work (as a publicist using for event reports and some social media shots). Love to hear your thoughts (I did look at the 16-55 F2.8, but the weight and also the price is out of budget at the moment). Thanks in advance.
Hello! Many thanks for watching and sharing your kind words. Yes, I think the Sigma would be a great travel and vlogging lens. Its small size and light weight make it easy to use in those applications. Plus, it's a great value with image quality that is lovely to my eye. My only hesitation with the Sigma is that I tend to be at the 60-80mm focal length a lot, so do miss it on the Sigma versus the Fuji 16-80mm. Hope that helps, and best wishes with this decision. Love to hear what you decide and see your photos!
@@MSladekPhoto Another quick question, do you use ND or CPL for vlogging? if yes, have you tried any magnetic circular filters? There are so many out there that I am a bit lost, especially with all the different reviews on YT.
@@josephlai1078 I generally use a GoPro for my point of view / vlogging clips in my video. I mostly use it without a ND filter, unless really sunny. There are some times I use X-H2S for clips in my videos, and I have not needed to use ND filters for my uses that usually has relatively small apertures (f/5.6-11). I have some screw on ND filters with several step up rings that mostly use for long exposures. I have no experience with magnetic filter systems. You’re right, there are so many to choose from! Sorry I can’t be of more specific help.
Hi Sean! Thanks for watching and asking this question. First, I don't have an X-T30, so can't test this 100%, but I think you can do this. Here's how: use custom menus to set up front and rear command dials for SS and Aperture (your choice for each, I think...) and then set one of the custom buttons to trigger iso, and then I think you can use the joystick to move up and down the ISO values. If this exact method doesn't work, I think some combination of custom dials/buttons should do the trick. Hope that helps!
Many thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed the video. I think the Sigma is such a great value and such an easy lens to always have with you. Hope you enjoy!
honestly wouldve been really nice stopping at the other popular focal lengths. super grateful for the vid but wide end & only tele...i dont get it. People dont just use 2 focal lengths :(
Hi! Thanks for watching and sharing your comments. The reason I just used the wide and tele was most zoomed lenses will be their worst at the extreme focal lengths of their zoom range. So, thought was this would show the most amount of differences between the two lenses. Cheers!
If your wife didn’t have this lens already, would you consider buying both? I like my 16-55, but the Sigma looks like the better option for traveling and hiking. It’s kind of hard to justify having both, though, since I would be the only one using them.
Hi John! That's a great question, and I don't have an easy answer. Here's why - I use the 16-55 for paid work projects. It "feels" like a work lens - bigger, heavier, SOLID. I feel more like a "pro" when using that lens. Nobody else notices, but it's in my mind for sure. But, for travel, hiking, etc... I'd take the Sigma 18-50 just about every time as preferred lens. If I didn't already have the 16-55, I'd get the Sigma. Hope that helps a little. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers!
Thank you for the comparison, Michael. I have a question. I am looking for a standard zoom lens for my X-S10 and I am comparing between Sigma 18-50 and XF16-80. Currently, I have XF23 F1.4. Mainly is still photos, portrait, landscape.. No vlog and video. What would you recommend between these two Sigma 18-50 and XF16-80, please ? Thank you for your input in advance.
Hi! Thanks for watching and sharing your question. I use the 16-80 f/4 as my daily lens. I like the extra bit on the wide and and the extra reach on the telephoto end. But... it's much larger and heavier and you lose a stop of light. For travel, I would probably use the Sigma 18-50 f/2,.8 for its smaller size, weight and the extra stop of light. Also, it's a bit less expensive than the 16-80... Both are great lens that I really enjoy, so you kind of can't go wrong ;) Cheers!
Did you notice that your settings weren’t the same when looking at the trees? The Sigma was at f/2.8 whereas the Fuji was f/5.6. Might explain the notable differences in image quality.
Hi! I missed that. Thanks for noticing and sharing. My opinion remains that the Fuji is a technically superior lens, but for day to day use, I’d mostly choose the Sigma for size, weight and “fun” factor. So good to have so many options. Cheers!
Very interested in the sigma. Sometimes albeit rarely I do miss a tele lens. My only lens is the gen 1 27mm fuji. The lack of aperturering does not bother me at all. There is not much of a barrell anyway on the 27mm. I think sigma would compliment the 27mm just nicely.
Hi! Yes, I agree. The Sigma 18-50 is so (relatively) small and light that it should compliment the 27mm nicely. Thanks for watching and sharing your comment. Cheers!
Very well made video, excellent side by side comparison. For this zoom range I have the XF16-80 and I’m more than happy with it for walking around, but since getting the XF33 f/1,4 (I know it’s a different subject) it’s fast becoming my favorite lens. Do you think that there’s a market for brick wall photography? It sounds like an easy job. Be well and stay safe Michael.
Enrique! I’m a fan of the 16-80, as you know. It works so well I’m so many situations. Not sure about the brick wall photo biz - seems kind of flat and boring to me. Lol.
Thank you for the comparison, Michael, I have been looking for this one for my X-S10. Can you do a product review on the 18-35mm f/1.8 Sigma Art lens Canon EF with the Fringer Pro II adapter for Fuji? Would love to see how it compares to the XF 16-55mm f/2.8. My primary use is for product photography as well. Thank you, I'm also a new sub.
Hi! Thanks for watching and welcome to the channel. I do not have a way to try the Canon 18-35 f/1.8 with adapter for Fuji, and that is not a lens I’m currently interested in. Maybe rent it to try for yourself and see how it works for you? Best wishes!
Someone explain to my why the size and weight difference is so stark? The difference is only 2mm on one and 5mm at the other. Why is the Fujio lens so much more massive? Is Sigma better at building lenses?
I’m not 100% sure, but I think Fujifilm chose to go after optical excellence with their 16-55, so used more glass elements which are heavier and take more space. Going after the last 10-20% of quality in anything tends to be expensive in materials and expertise. The XF 16-55 is optically superior to the Sigma 18-50, if you look hard enough, but the Sigma will be a great fit for most people.
Hi Arjun! I have not used the XF 18-55, but have heard many wonderful things about it. So, if I had the XF 18-55, I probably would not get the Sigma. The reason I did get the Sigma, is because I did not already have the Fujinon. Hope that helps!
I'm not sure why I'm watching this comparison as I don't shoot Fujifilm anymore but I like the way you present your videos. I had the XF16-55 and I thought it was an incredible lens and it is indeed. But when I switched to the Nikon Z system, I got the 24-70 f/4 and it was a night and day difference over the XF16-55 and it's smaller! The XE4 + Sigma 18-50 would be a neat small setup.
Hi! How could you NOT watch??? Lol. Intertwsting about the Nikon 24-70 experience. Makes sense that it would be smaller, with f/4 vs f/2.8. Thanks for tuning in!
@@MSladekPhoto yet its similar depth of field as the 16-55, actually I get more bokeh out of the 24-70 even with it being an f/4 due to the full frame sensor. I been pretty happy with it for the most part but I do miss the build quality of the 16-55, it always felt nice in the hands.
Hi! Sorry for freaking you out! I usually have the end caps on, but take them off when they are in photos, as it looks a little cleaner, I think. No lenses were harmed in the making of this video! Thanks for watching and sharing your concerns. Cheers!
Hi! You are (mostly) correct. I did make a mistake of having 28 on one lens and 5.6 on the other. But, there's no TAMRON lens in the video, just SIGMA and Fujifilm ;) Thanks for watching and sharing your comment!
Hi Vincent! I agree, on XH, missing aperture ring is not too big a deal. It's just my muscle memory is used to changing aperture on the lens now ;) Cheers!
Hi! I don't do much video work, aside from youtube, and I don't use either of these lenses for video, so prioritized my photo use of these lenses for this video. Thanks for asking!
Hi Robert! Thanks for your kind words :) When I was in college, I worked at a stereo store, and that's where I first learned the idea of chasing that last 10% or so of "Better" is soooooo expensive.
Hm very tight...But I have a feeling that bokeh from first image from 10.00 looks much smoother on fuji 16-55...(maybe because 5mm-who knows )... Sigma looks very good and serious competitive but I found Fuji 16-55 in nature have some kind of magic colours (maybe micro-contrast-colours) make this lens so special and sharp corner to corner...Always when I look landscape photos from Fuji 16-55 I say to myself (just woow) what is in this lens so special that feels like FF format rendering... Sigma must be great answer but i'm sure be missing aperture ring and premium quality of Fuji...
Based on the size and price of that Fuji lens, it should be F/2.0 The next time i’m in Kenmore Camera, I’ll say hi if I see you. (I know Thomas Hopkins too.)
Hi Jeff! Thanks for watching and sharing your comment. I'm not sure what magic of lens design is going on with the Fujifilm XF 16-55 to make it so relatively large and heavy, but it's pretty hard to argue with the results. Would love to meet you at the store! I'm there Friday-Sunday. Cheers!
I dont see this review as neutral. Why the sigma is for fun and the fujinon for work. Most of reviews show the sigma to be consistently sharper and the fujinon just to be sharper at times. There is some chromatic aberration which is pretty small and easy to correct. Autofocus looks to be similar. The aperture ring is easy to handle with the camera. The macro capabilities open a range of new posibilities. The optical result is 99% equal. The weigth makes it easier to carry for hours. In every profesional environment I see the sigma giving you better results. I see it makes your work easier. And I see it offer you more options for close ups. What makes the fujinon better for profesionals? What makes the sigma not reach the cut for profesionals? Is this neutral?
Hi! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and question. When I did this comparison, I fully specked the Fujinon to be far superior to the Sigma. As I said in the video, that was not my experience. I Think the Sigma is a great value and supremely worthy of consideration as an alternate to the Fujinon. In the year since this video, I have rarely used the Fujinon, and will likely be selling it soon. Thanks again for taking the time to comment. Cheers!
Hi! Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts. In my experience with the Sigma, the vignetting at 2.8 has not been very noticeable (I didn't even think to look for it until your comment) and is certainly not a distraction for me. Another reason that it's wonderful to have so many lens options at different performance and price levels. Cheers!
Hi! Thanks for watching and sharing your comment. I like your suggestion! There's so many different ways to go now with Fuji X-series lenses and it's pretty awesome. Cheers!
Hello! I said the intro was brief - less than 4 minutes. Don’t think I ever said the video was brief. Also, I included chapter markers so viewers could jump to the part that interested them the most. Thanks for sharing this thought and increasing engagement by feeding the UA-cam algorithm. You are too kind!
Very practical review Mike, loved it! But I think those extra 2 mm at wide end adds tremendous value to fuji. Fuji needs to come up with a refresh of this old classic pretty soon and make it at least100-150 g lighter.
Hi! Many thanks for your kind words. I agree about the extra couple of millimeters on the wide end, and I personally also appreciate the extra 5 mm on the long end. Im no lens design expert, but my understanding is that pursuing that last bit of image quality (sharpness, contrast, detail, etc...) is both expensive and requires more lens elements and more weight. As always, I'm glad there's now so many options for lenses in the Fujifilm X system. Cheers!
From someone who has owned the Sigma for two weeks and is returning it for a Fuji, I think they definitely do! I've missed both the wide and tele extra reach and to be fair, the sharpness wasn't too great either. It is a great lens for its size, cost and weight but at least for me, Fuji is the way!
@@alphabetamedia Hello! Thanks for sharing about your experience with the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8. Sorry it wasn’t a good fit for you. Have fun with the Fuji!
@@MSladekPhoto thank you and thank you for a very informative review! I think I might even have gotten a bad copy of it for its softness. It was great in almost every other way!
@@alphabetamedia Agreed! My copy does not seem to suffer from softness - at least to my eye!
Nice job my man! I much prefer the Sigma man, although with the 16-55 I've always wanted to buy it again. I sold it after probably a dozen weddings where I was getting inconsistent autofocus... never totally trusted it, but I always thought I might have just had a poor copy. The 18-50 has been just nails for me - and in a body that small and light? Amazing.
Hey Jerred! I’m really impressed with the sigma and its “fun factor” and value. I’ve had consistent focus results with my copy of 16-55, so I’m glad for that. So good to have a growing number of lens options in the Fuji X system. Cheers!
I tried the Fujinon 16-55mm on my XT-1 and the weight of the lens made the difference. Today I have XT30ll and Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 was the right choice.
Thanks for sharing. The Sigma 18-50 is a really nice size and weight fit for the XT30II. Enjoy!
One of the best videos I could find about the Sigma lens. I don’t have a zoom right now (only primes) and I was excited when I saw that Sigma came out with this zoom lens in the Fuji mount. I was considering the Fujinon or even the Tamron 17-70. But size is really important to me and I’m glad I’ve held off on buying a Zoom till this Sigma launched. Add to cart!
Hi Julia! Thanks for watching and sharing your comment. I think for size, weight, value and performance, the Sigma is pretty hard to beat. I hope you enjoy yours!
Excellent comparison! Thanks! Very happy with my Sigma. :)
Hi! That’s great to hear. Thanks for watching and sharing your comment. Cheers!
Thank you for this very detailed real life review! Helped me decide to go with the Sigma 18-50🤞
Hi! Thanks for watching and so glad that you found the video helpful. I hope you have lots of fun with the Sigma 18-50!
I love how you said "every lens is a compromise" I cant agree more. I love primes but in terms of versatility and budget I tend stick with a fast standard zoom because i'm a hybrid shooter. I think its easy to get caught up in buying a full kit all at once but for me I know I will always leave the primes at home and go out with one lens, otherwise I wont take my camera out at all.
Hi! Thanks so much for watching and sharing your comment. I agree that removing "friction" - anything that gets in the way, big or small, is such an important part of creating photos. Enjoy creating photos!
Great comparison, very interesting! Amazing how well the sigma performs compared to the much more expensive fuji lens. A lot of people worry about the lack of aperture ring on the Sigma, I felt the same way… however, I honestly hardly notice it after a couple of days with the Sigma.
Hi! Thanks for watching and sharing your comment. I agree about how surpassingly good the Sigma is for the price difference. For me, the lack of aperture was relatively easy to adjust to, but it took longer to get used to the opposite direction of the zoom ring ;) Cheers!
I’ve had both and the Sigma is so so good. I rarely need 16mm (24mm ff) so 18mm is good enough. Plus it’s so much lighter/smaller vs that barrel that is the 16 55mm f2.8. Both equally sharp.
Hi Duke! Yep, for lots (most?) folks the Sigma 18-50 could be a really great lens for functionality, image quality and value. Thanks for watching and sharing your comment.
Thanks for such a helpful video. I currently own both of these lenses, and definitely find the Sigma to hold up okay, especially for its size. I notice you focused mostly on object photography. How do you feel these two compare with people photography related to IQ & AF?
Hi Joe! Thanks for watching and sharing your comment and question. I’m not doing much portrait photography these days, so have not had a chance to do a direct comparison with these lenses for image quality and autofocus for that use. Sorry I couldn’t be o f more help. Cheers!
Wow thanks for this, you are a natural 😮 it was super useful! I feel like I’m in between… I am not a beginner but not fully pro at photography… I take pictures and videos for pleasure but also in my daily job actually. I got an XT5 a couple of months ago with a prime lens and feel I am missing the zoom… so I’m looking into getting the Sigma. I’m just curious about it resolving the 40 megapixels of the XT5? And more generally, as an amateur compared to you and all others who have commented, does the resolution of the camera help in making pictures sharper? In your example, would having an XT5 make the Sigma sharper? Or everything is relative? Thanks so much!
Hi! So glad you enjoyed the video and many thanks for your kind words. I'm not sure how the Sigma will performa on the X-T5 with 40MP of resolution... But, here's some thoughts. With the extra resolution, you will see more detail - so everything (good and bad) in the image will generally be more prominent. The extra resolution will not make the lens sharper, as far as I know. Having said that, lens sharpness is often over emphasized as an image quality factor. If your daily photography job involves product, macro, architecture, etc... type photography, then image sharpness will be an important element in your lens choice. Modern lenses, especially from larger companies, all tend to have sharpness and image equality that was not readily available even twenty years ago. One option for next step would be to rent the Sigma and/or Fuji 16-55 and see how they work for you in your daily photo routines. Best wishes!!!
Im considering selling my 16 to 55 for this Sigma ,reason being i dont use it as often becaide of the weight ,that being said im very happy with my client work when i do use it.what are your thoughts ?
I’m considering the same thing! Love the 16-55 image quality, but have not used it for over a year. The sigma is so much easier to justify throwing in the camera bag for its smaller size and weight. Cheers!
@12:54 I think we are just looking at an approximate 2x exposure difference (f2.8 1/2500 vs f5.6 1/1000)
Agreed - I made a mistake here.
Liked your review, more 'balanced' than other reviewers I have watched 😀
Hi Sandy! Thanks for watching and sharing this. I’m glad you found the video perspectives balanced and hope it was helpful. Cheers!
The Sigma is a great little lens for the price. I'm glad I got a new 16-55 for only $450 from a guy that has Fuji connections. It's a great lens that pairs well with both my X-T5 and X-H2.
Hi! That's a great price for the 16-55! Wow :) I'm glad you're enjoying with your cameras. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
Thanks for your review. Are you using both of these on a 40MP sensor?
Re welcome 😎 Nope, when I did the video, I used the 26MP X-H2S. Hope that helps.
@@MSladekPhotoand therein lies the rub. Fuji will continue to migrate to the 40mp sensor. Need to evaluate on the new sensor
True that lots, but not all Fuji cams will have the 40MP sensor. Will be interesting to see future.
@@MSladekPhoto sure, but I dont think that anyone now is going to purchase a lens for the XF system, based on planning to use only lower res sensors in the future
@@mcelliot Hmmmmmm. At least for me, I will choose the 26mp stacked sensor (currently only in X-H2S) when that is the option. The responsiveness of focus and speed overall is worth more than 14 more megapixels. Your mileage will vary 😉
Great thanks!! Can you now add the Tamron 17-70 to the mix?
Hi Greg! I don’t own the Tamron, and unless someone sends me one to try, I don’t plan to purchase. Thanks for the suggestion!
Really didn't like that lens, either of these better to me
Really helpful comparison. The lack of an aperture ring really bothers me, but the smaller lighter design would be a lot easier. Why could Sigma not have added an aperture ring. Oh well, stick with what I’ve got for now.
Hello! Thanks so much for watching and I'm glad you found the video helpful. I'm guessing that Sigma left the aperture ring off to save costs, as they already had this lens available for Sony without the aperture ring. Maybe future Sigma lenses will have aperture rings!
Just use the front dial?
That works!
Great video Micahael. Would you say that the Sigma is a great lens for trave/street photography and even vlogging?? I own a X-T4 and was in Tokyo for a few days in Spring. I ended up leaving my XF 16-80 F4 at the hotel room and use the XF 23mm F2 practically the entire duration of the trip. The biggest reason was because of the weight factor for all day carry (out for over 12 hours when you are on vacation). I am not a professional photographer by trade, but I do a lot of documentary photography for work (as a publicist using for event reports and some social media shots). Love to hear your thoughts (I did look at the 16-55 F2.8, but the weight and also the price is out of budget at the moment). Thanks in advance.
Hello! Many thanks for watching and sharing your kind words. Yes, I think the Sigma would be a great travel and vlogging lens. Its small size and light weight make it easy to use in those applications. Plus, it's a great value with image quality that is lovely to my eye. My only hesitation with the Sigma is that I tend to be at the 60-80mm focal length a lot, so do miss it on the Sigma versus the Fuji 16-80mm. Hope that helps, and best wishes with this decision. Love to hear what you decide and see your photos!
@@MSladekPhoto Another quick question, do you use ND or CPL for vlogging? if yes, have you tried any magnetic circular filters? There are so many out there that I am a bit lost, especially with all the different reviews on YT.
@@josephlai1078 I generally use a GoPro for my point of view / vlogging clips in my video. I mostly use it without a ND filter, unless really sunny. There are some times I use X-H2S for clips in my videos, and I have not needed to use ND filters for my uses that usually has relatively small apertures (f/5.6-11). I have some screw on ND filters with several step up rings that mostly use for long exposures. I have no experience with magnetic filter systems. You’re right, there are so many to choose from! Sorry I can’t be of more specific help.
@@MSladekPhoto Thanks.
Can you manually change the iso, aperture, and ss without using menus with the sigma on an xt30 type fuji?
Hi Sean! Thanks for watching and asking this question. First, I don't have an X-T30, so can't test this 100%, but I think you can do this. Here's how: use custom menus to set up front and rear command dials for SS and Aperture (your choice for each, I think...) and then set one of the custom buttons to trigger iso, and then I think you can use the joystick to move up and down the ISO values. If this exact method doesn't work, I think some combination of custom dials/buttons should do the trick. Hope that helps!
Great review. I want an f/2.8 zoom for event photography and I am leaning towards the sigma if it performs good with the AF.
Many thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed the video. I think the Sigma is such a great value and such an easy lens to always have with you. Hope you enjoy!
honestly wouldve been really nice stopping at the other popular focal lengths. super grateful for the vid but wide end & only tele...i dont get it. People dont just use 2 focal lengths :(
Hi! Thanks for watching and sharing your comments. The reason I just used the wide and tele was most zoomed lenses will be their worst at the extreme focal lengths of their zoom range. So, thought was this would show the most amount of differences between the two lenses. Cheers!
I dont think 12:46 and 13:08 were fair comparisons since you shot with the Sigma at f/2.8 while f/5.6 with the Fuji 🤔
You are correct! I goofed. You are not the first to let me know. Thanks for watching for the details and reminding me that I need to! Cheers!
@@MSladekPhoto Still a great vid nonetheless 👌
@@jamesvrtdz Thanks so much!
If your wife didn’t have this lens already, would you consider buying both? I like my 16-55, but the Sigma looks like the better option for traveling and hiking. It’s kind of hard to justify having both, though, since I would be the only one using them.
Hi John! That's a great question, and I don't have an easy answer. Here's why - I use the 16-55 for paid work projects. It "feels" like a work lens - bigger, heavier, SOLID. I feel more like a "pro" when using that lens. Nobody else notices, but it's in my mind for sure. But, for travel, hiking, etc... I'd take the Sigma 18-50 just about every time as preferred lens. If I didn't already have the 16-55, I'd get the Sigma. Hope that helps a little. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers!
Thank you for the comparison, Michael. I have a question. I am looking for a standard zoom lens for my X-S10 and I am comparing between Sigma 18-50 and XF16-80. Currently, I have XF23 F1.4. Mainly is still photos, portrait, landscape.. No vlog and video. What would you recommend between these two Sigma 18-50 and XF16-80, please ? Thank you for your input in advance.
Hi! Thanks for watching and sharing your question. I use the 16-80 f/4 as my daily lens. I like the extra bit on the wide and and the extra reach on the telephoto end. But... it's much larger and heavier and you lose a stop of light. For travel, I would probably use the Sigma 18-50 f/2,.8 for its smaller size, weight and the extra stop of light. Also, it's a bit less expensive than the 16-80... Both are great lens that I really enjoy, so you kind of can't go wrong ;) Cheers!
Did you notice that your settings weren’t the same when looking at the trees? The Sigma was at f/2.8 whereas the Fuji was f/5.6. Might explain the notable differences in image quality.
Hi! I missed that. Thanks for noticing and sharing. My opinion remains that the Fuji is a technically superior lens, but for day to day use, I’d mostly choose the Sigma for size, weight and “fun” factor. So good to have so many options. Cheers!
Very interested in the sigma. Sometimes albeit rarely I do miss a tele lens. My only lens is the gen 1 27mm fuji. The lack of aperturering does not bother me at all. There is not much of a barrell anyway on the 27mm. I think sigma would compliment the 27mm just nicely.
Hi! Yes, I agree. The Sigma 18-50 is so (relatively) small and light that it should compliment the 27mm nicely. Thanks for watching and sharing your comment. Cheers!
Very well made video, excellent side by side comparison. For this zoom range I have the XF16-80 and I’m more than happy with it for walking around, but since getting the XF33 f/1,4 (I know it’s a different subject) it’s fast becoming my favorite lens. Do you think that there’s a market for brick wall photography? It sounds like an easy job. Be well and stay safe Michael.
Enrique! I’m a fan of the 16-80, as you know. It works so well I’m so many situations. Not sure about the brick wall photo biz - seems kind of flat and boring to me. Lol.
@@MSladekPhoto 🤣🤣🤣
Thank you for the comparison, Michael, I have been looking for this one for my X-S10. Can you do a product review on the 18-35mm f/1.8 Sigma Art lens Canon EF with the Fringer Pro II adapter for Fuji? Would love to see how it compares to the XF 16-55mm f/2.8. My primary use is for product photography as well. Thank you, I'm also a new sub.
Hi! Thanks for watching and welcome to the channel. I do not have a way to try the Canon 18-35 f/1.8 with adapter for Fuji, and that is not a lens I’m currently interested in. Maybe rent it to try for yourself and see how it works for you? Best wishes!
Excellent video 📷
Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers!
I am planning to buy the Sigma for my X-T100. I think its size will fit perfectly the body
Hi! The Sigma should be a great fit with your X-T100. I hope you enjoy it!
@@MSladekPhoto I cannot wait ! :)
Someone explain to my why the size and weight difference is so stark? The difference is only 2mm on one and 5mm at the other. Why is the Fujio lens so much more massive? Is Sigma better at building lenses?
I’m not 100% sure, but I think Fujifilm chose to go after optical excellence with their 16-55, so used more glass elements which are heavier and take more space. Going after the last 10-20% of quality in anything tends to be expensive in materials and expertise. The XF 16-55 is optically superior to the Sigma 18-50, if you look hard enough, but the Sigma will be a great fit for most people.
Do you think it’s worth upgrading to the sigma if you have the XF 18-55? Seems like it might be a small upgrade.
Hi Arjun! I have not used the XF 18-55, but have heard many wonderful things about it. So, if I had the XF 18-55, I probably would not get the Sigma. The reason I did get the Sigma, is because I did not already have the Fujinon. Hope that helps!
@@MSladekPhoto Thanks Michael! Makes sense :) Save the money for a nice trip somewhere
I'm not sure why I'm watching this comparison as I don't shoot Fujifilm anymore but I like the way you present your videos. I had the XF16-55 and I thought it was an incredible lens and it is indeed. But when I switched to the Nikon Z system, I got the 24-70 f/4 and it was a night and day difference over the XF16-55 and it's smaller! The XE4 + Sigma 18-50 would be a neat small setup.
Hi! How could you NOT watch??? Lol. Intertwsting about the Nikon 24-70 experience. Makes sense that it would be smaller, with f/4 vs f/2.8. Thanks for tuning in!
@@MSladekPhoto yet its similar depth of field as the 16-55, actually I get more bokeh out of the 24-70 even with it being an f/4 due to the full frame sensor. I been pretty happy with it for the most part but I do miss the build quality of the 16-55, it always felt nice in the hands.
Why do so many people never put on their lens caps!?! It drives me nuts and I freak out when they put the metal mount on the table!
Hi! Sorry for freaking you out! I usually have the end caps on, but take them off when they are in photos, as it looks a little cleaner, I think. No lenses were harmed in the making of this video! Thanks for watching and sharing your concerns. Cheers!
When comparing the photos off the sky+tree you had F2.8 on tamron and f5.6 on the fujinon
Hi! You are (mostly) correct. I did make a mistake of having 28 on one lens and 5.6 on the other. But, there's no TAMRON lens in the video, just SIGMA and Fujifilm ;) Thanks for watching and sharing your comment!
I think the sigma is at its best on the XH cameras. I’ve used it on a XT and a XH and the lack of the aperture ring is not an issue with the XH.
Hi Vincent! I agree, on XH, missing aperture ring is not too big a deal. It's just my muscle memory is used to changing aperture on the lens now ;) Cheers!
Why no video comparison?
Hi! I don't do much video work, aside from youtube, and I don't use either of these lenses for video, so prioritized my photo use of these lenses for this video. Thanks for asking!
Good review. I particularly liked the last 10% being so co$tly. Much like stereo gear.
Hi Robert! Thanks for your kind words :) When I was in college, I worked at a stereo store, and that's where I first learned the idea of chasing that last 10% or so of "Better" is soooooo expensive.
Hm very tight...But I have a feeling that bokeh from first image from 10.00 looks much smoother on fuji 16-55...(maybe because 5mm-who knows )... Sigma looks very good and serious competitive but I found Fuji 16-55 in nature have some kind of magic colours (maybe micro-contrast-colours) make this lens so special and sharp corner to corner...Always when I look landscape photos from Fuji 16-55 I say to myself (just woow) what is in this lens so special that feels like FF format rendering... Sigma must be great answer but i'm sure be missing aperture ring and premium quality of Fuji...
Hi Daniel! I agree, the 16-55 is a great lens. It’s so nice to have different lens options now to meet different needs and budgets. Best wishes!
Based on the size and price of that Fuji lens, it should be F/2.0
The next time i’m in Kenmore Camera, I’ll say hi if I see you. (I know Thomas Hopkins too.)
Hi Jeff! Thanks for watching and sharing your comment. I'm not sure what magic of lens design is going on with the Fujifilm XF 16-55 to make it so relatively large and heavy, but it's pretty hard to argue with the results. Would love to meet you at the store! I'm there Friday-Sunday. Cheers!
I dont see this review as neutral. Why the sigma is for fun and the fujinon for work. Most of reviews show the sigma to be consistently sharper and the fujinon just to be sharper at times. There is some chromatic aberration which is pretty small and easy to correct. Autofocus looks to be similar. The aperture ring is easy to handle with the camera. The macro capabilities open a range of new posibilities. The optical result is 99% equal. The weigth makes it easier to carry for hours. In every profesional environment I see the sigma giving you better results. I see it makes your work easier. And I see it offer you more options for close ups. What makes the fujinon better for profesionals? What makes the sigma not reach the cut for profesionals? Is this neutral?
Hi! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and question. When I did this comparison, I fully specked the Fujinon to be far superior to the Sigma. As I said in the video, that was not my experience. I Think the Sigma is a great value and supremely worthy of consideration as an alternate to the Fujinon. In the year since this video, I have rarely used the Fujinon, and will likely be selling it soon. Thanks again for taking the time to comment. Cheers!
U should add 11 20 tamron and 17 70
Hi! If I had LOTS of money, I would try those :) If you have extra ones laying around, let me know! Cheers...
If only the Sigma had an aperture ring.
Agreed!
Sigma has a real strong vignetting at 2.8. Annoying.
Hi! Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts. In my experience with the Sigma, the vignetting at 2.8 has not been very noticeable (I didn't even think to look for it until your comment) and is certainly not a distraction for me. Another reason that it's wonderful to have so many lens options at different performance and price levels. Cheers!
I would get the sigma and a second hand 50mm f2 or viltrox 56mm f1.4 for the price of the fuji which is significantly overpriced
Hi! Thanks for watching and sharing your comment. I like your suggestion! There's so many different ways to go now with Fuji X-series lenses and it's pretty awesome. Cheers!
28 minutes is "brief"?
Hello! I said the intro was brief - less than 4 minutes. Don’t think I ever said the video was brief. Also, I included chapter markers so viewers could jump to the part that interested them the most. Thanks for sharing this thought and increasing engagement by feeding the UA-cam algorithm. You are too kind!
Fujinon destroys sigma no matter the price
Hi! Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
If you make lenses at a similar price point, Sigma would be much better.
@인생은한번-e5h Thanks for watching and sharing your comment.