Sigma 20-200mm F3.5-6.3 DG | Contemporary (L-Mount)

Testers were surprised by how few optical compromises they found. The centre is very good across the whole range, and from 20mm to about 100mm the corners are good even wide open on full frame; at 200mm the lens is softer at f/6.3 and astigmatism shows at the edges, so stopping down to f/8 helps. Longitudinal colour is negligible, lateral colour is moderate and corrected in camera, coma is well controlled and flare is rare and mild. Autofocus is quiet, quick and accurate, and focus breathing is low.

The weaknesses are the ones software is expected to fix: strong, wavy barrel distortion at 20mm and pincushion at the long end, and very heavy vignetting at 20mm wide open. Reviewers also note the limited maximum apertures, f/6.3 at the long end, a mostly plastic barrel and a zoom ring that turns the opposite way to most brands, but they rate it as an unusually versatile one-lens travel kit at a reasonable price.