Here's a question -- and I apologize if it was asked someplace earlier in this thread -- does the 40/1.2 have any advantages in image quality vs. the Sony 35/1.4? (other than f/1.2 and perhaps less onion rings in the bokeh?).
Or is the 35/1.4 clearly better, if size/weight and MF feel aren't a concern?
MrTMan wrote:
Here's a question -- and I apologize if it was asked someplace earlier in this thread -- does the 40/1.2 have any advantages in image quality vs. the Sony 35/1.4? (other than f/1.2 and perhaps less onion rings in the bokeh?).
Or is the 35/1.4 clearly better, if size/weight and MF feel aren't a concern?
Haven't posted for a long while. I have both, and both has their strengths and weaknesses. For midrange horizontal full body portrait, you can still throw the background out of focus and giving an amazing 3D pop, the distagon doesn't have quite as much pop but doesn't mean it's bad.
But for closer range wide open, the distagon wins for my taste - sharper and the transition of the oof is very smooth, giving very 3D pop. Nokton doesn't do very well in this regard.
As for long range or infinity, somehow I feel the nokton did better (I didn't do direct comparison) especially wide open. Stop down I think both are doing quite a nice job.
Lastly, they both have rather different color signature, I like the skin tone out of the distagon better, the nokton often give a rather strong orangy cast to the skin.
Oh and, while nokton is lighter and smaller, distagon gave me the ability to shoot with one hand due to the ability to autofocus, which is very handy during travels.
This is shooting on Sony a9 by the way. And the above comment represent my own opinions. Nothing too objective and scientific.
Strikes me, and this is still quite subjective, the Nokton is going to have more “character” at 1.2-2.0, the Distagon will be cleaner with less character. So size and AF aside it depends what kind of rendering you want. And the color is different, again it’s more tastes and preferences...
I love the Nokton at 1.2 for the right subject, so have no interest in the Distagon, but others don’t like the lack of sharpness at 1.2 so...
MrTMan wrote:
Here's a question -- and I apologize if it was asked someplace earlier in this thread -- does the 40/1.2 have any advantages in image quality vs. the Sony 35/1.4? (other than f/1.2 and perhaps less onion rings in the bokeh?).
Or is the 35/1.4 clearly better, if size/weight and MF feel aren't a concern?
Fred, I hope you have seen a good game. At least, they fixed it in the overtime.
Did you buy the Marumi DHG Achromat? It's been a while since you told to go this route. If so, which one (+3 or +5? 58mm or 55mm (to use it on the Elpro adapter)?) And how is your experience?
MrTMan wrote:
Here's a question -- and I apologize if it was asked someplace earlier in this thread -- does the 40/1.2 have any advantages in image quality vs. the Sony 35/1.4? (other than f/1.2 and perhaps less onion rings in the bokeh?).
Or is the 35/1.4 clearly better, if size/weight and MF feel aren't a concern?
I have both lenses and think they are both superb but quite different. Obviously, all these comments will be subjective. I am keeping both lenses. The Nokton for times when I can shoot more slowly, the Distagon for when speed is important
The Distagon 35/1.4 was my go to lens and performs wonderfully wide open, producing glorious bokeh, with a slightly almond/cats eye presentation. I prefer the Distagon for subjects that are close to me. The big difference is the size/weight, price and that the lens has AF.
The Nokton is a very different animal and one that I prefer if I'm not shooting an event. I'll try and explain why. The process of shooting a manual lens is preferable to me. The large nurled focusing ring is glorious. I'm not sure why but I consistently love the results from the Nokton. The bokeh has more "character" which some may like less. The lens is challenging at f1.2. It's also impossible to hand your camera to another person and have them take a shot of you and your mom, or whatever Yet, I find myself with the Nokton always on my a7r2.
I can't say one is better, I can only tell you how I feel and which I prefer. They are both GREAT lenses. I am sure that for most people the Distagon will be the better lens.
I found 15 minutes to do a long pending job: quickly testing all my lenses using Freds method for decentering. My CV is fine. Its extremely sharp at 2.8.
