The 35/1.4 Sony is brutal for color fringing but it doesn’t bother me at all. When I do notice it,I just fix it in Lightroom. I don’t often shoot portraits of people in foil hats so...
Here are some RAW test shots from just around the home, they are processed in LR Classic which doesn't as yet have a profile for this lens so bear that in mind. Lens compensation is set to 'auto' in my A7rIII's
I'm bummed at the price in the US, but I'm probably just going to break down and order it when it becomes available.
35mm has always been my go to FL, and the 28 f/2 has enough IQ for my needs (pictures of my kid), this at least looks like it will be better off center.
formula4speed wrote:
I'm bummed at the price in the US, but I'm probably just going to break down and order it when it becomes available.
35mm has always been my go to FL, and the 28 f/2 has enough IQ for my needs (pictures of my kid), this at least looks like it will be better off center.
Camera Canada is offering it for $629 including shipping to the USA. Just sent you a PM with contact info.
formula4speed wrote:
I'm bummed at the price in the US, but I'm probably just going to break down and order it when it becomes available.
35mm has always been my go to FL, and the 28 f/2 has enough IQ for my needs (pictures of my kid), this at least looks like it will be better off center.
Which shortcomings are they
p.27 #10 · Now in Stock: Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 ($748)
From what I'm seeing so far from this lens I am really quite impressed. It really is very sharp across the frame even wide open something that the FE28/2 couldn't even achieve when stopped down. I am also liking the bokeh and general rendering. I like the size and feel of it on the A7rIII and the MF ring is very smooth and linear. The only downer so far I can see is the CA in certain situations but so far I have found this easy to correct
I think it will make for a fine setup when paired with the FE85/1.8
p.27 #11 · Now in Stock: Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 ($748)
Viramati wrote:
From what I'm seeing so far from this lens I am really quite impressed. It really is very sharp across the frame even wide open something that the FE28/2 couldn't even achieve when stopped down. I am also liking the bokeh and general rendering. I like the size and feel of it on the A7rIII and the MF ring is very smooth and linear. The only downer so far I can see is the CA in certain situations but so far I have found this easy to correct
I think it will make for a fine setup when paired with the FE85/1.8...Show more →
I see nissen or double-edged bokeh in some of the photos in the outter 1/3 of the frame. Someone posted a comparison RX1 photo on this thread, and I noted it. And it's mentioned in the DPReview as well. This can't really be fixed (except cropping it out) and it's quite ugly.
What I really want to see is the color. I vastly prefer the color on my GM 24 to my FE 28, and I found the color far better on the GM 85 to the FE 85. Most people are focused on sharpness, but I don't find that the most important at all. Fine tonal gradation, micro-contrast and nuanced but vibrant color are extremely important. I think we'll be getting FE 28/85 color, not GM color (which I like less than Zeiss, Leica and CV color).
Give me smooth bokeh, smooth transitions, fantastic color, and at least moderate lateral CA correction (I can address axial with a click in post), and good coma correction for urban night and astrophotography. The FE 35 1.8 does not do this.
That's what the RX1 and GM 24 do, and they are fantastic. This Sony looks like it will tick most of the boxes for people (sharp, small, fast AF, reasonably priced), and it's very welcome, but it's won't make it's way into my bag, and I can see why it's not a GM lens.
p.27 #12 · Now in Stock: Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 ($748)
Colors and contrast are quite different between even G and GM. I have the 70-200 F4, and compared it with a 70-200 2.8. There was a stark difference, even though the environment I shot in was the same. That being said, I still love the G series lenses I have.
The question is whether contrast and colors (and speed) are worth a thousand bucks and a pound more.
nehemiahphoto wrote:
I see nissen or double-edged bokeh in some of the photos in the outter 1/3 of the frame. Someone posted a comparison RX1 photo on this thread, and I noted it. And it's mentioned in the DPReview as well. This can't really be fixed (except cropping it out) and it's quite ugly.
What I really want to see is the color. I vastly prefer the color on my GM 24 to my FE 28, and I found the color far better on the GM 85 to the FE 85. Most people are focused on sharpness, but I don't find that the most important at all. Final tonal gradation, micro-contrast and nuanced but vibrant color are extremely important. I think we'll be getting FE 28/85 color, not GM color (which I like less than Zeiss, Leica and CV color).
Give me smooth bokeh, smooth transitions, fantastic color, and at least moderate lateral CA correction (I can address axial with a click in post), and good coma correction for urban night and astrophotography. The FE 35 1.8 does not do this.
That's what the RX1 and GM 24 do, and they are fantastic. This Sony looks like it will tick most of the boxes for people (sharp, small, fast AF, reasonably priced), and it's very welcome, but it's won't make it's way into my bag, and I can see why it's not a GM lens. ...Show more →
p.27 #13 · Now in Stock: Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 ($748)
hotel117 wrote:
Colors and contrast are quite different between even G and GM. I have the 70-200 F4, and compared it with a 70-200 2.8. There was a stark difference, even though the environment I shot in was the same. That being said, I still love the G series lenses I have.
The question is whether contrast and colors (and speed) are worth a thousand bucks and a pound more.
I have shot both Sony's 70-200's and agree on the large difference in color, though I liked the 70-200/4 less than you.
And agreed again, the value of rendering and color depends on each photog (and budget).
In my observation, people don't remember lenses like the 70-200/4 or FE 85 1.8, but they do remember the premium lenses that emphasize the color and rendering (Lux 75, CY 35 1.4, Canon 85 1.2, ZM 50 1.5, Minolta 58 1.2) even though they might not be the most optically competent. And how many times have we heard about Fuji color versus Fuji sharpness. I appreciate Fuji's value of color.
p.27 #15 · Now in Stock: Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 ($748)
Well, bit of a torture test David, so won't say much. Many of the new 35s are like this these days, snicky sharp and lacking a little je ne sais quoi, Nikon's 35 S also. Maybe they don't know who they are designing for, and think of these as bread and butter lenses. But $750-850. Note exact same design parameters at 11/9 - are they looking over each other's shoulders?
Can't agree with the Chad report, it's no Sonnar 35/2. He shoots a lot of high tone, which helps the lesser lens appear better as your eyes flinch away. The headdress girl looking at the camera pair undermines his case of near-equivalence.
p.27 #17 · Now in Stock: Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 ($748)
philip_pj wrote:
Well, bit of a torture test David, so won't say much. Many of the new 35s are like this these days, snicky sharp and lacking a little je ne sais quoi, Nikon's 35 S also. Maybe they don't know who they are designing for, and think of these as bread and butter lenses. But $750-850. Note exact same design parameters at 11/9 - are they looking over each other's shoulders?
Can't agree with the Chad report, it's no Sonnar 35/2. He shoots a lot of high tone, which helps the lesser lens appear better as your eyes flinch away. The headdress girl looking at the camera pair undermines his case of near-equivalence.
Not read his report but you bring up a big issue with what’s going on lately in some lens brands. We are seeing this modern look a little too much. Not sure who is asking for laser cutting sharpness with bad bokeh, lemon shape, onion ring and poor tonalranges but as long as it’s sharp that’s what we are going to make. Look I love laser lenses but theses thing look as sterile rendering wise as you can get. I love sharp but where is that smooth look that we tend to like in the Sony 50 1.4 or the GM 85 sure they are sharp but they have some soul in the images , tonal range , nice pop, good clean rendering and look. This just looks like another one to pass over. I guess I’m not the market or a bunch of my friends here either
p.27 #19 · Now in Stock: Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 ($748)
GMPhotography wrote:
Not read his report but you bring up a big issue with what’s going on lately in some lens brands. We are seeing this modern look a little too much. Not sure who is asking for laser cutting sharpness with bad bokeh, lemon shape, onion ring and poor tonalranges but as long as it’s sharp that’s what we are going to make. Look I love laser lenses but theses thing look as sterile rendering wise as you can get. I love sharp but where is that smooth look that we tend to like in the Sony 50 1.4 or the GM 85 sure they are sharp but they have some soul in the images , tonal range , nice pop, good clean rendering and look. This just looks like another one to pass over. I guess I’m not the market or a bunch of my friends here either...Show more →
I actually think the highly touted 135GM has this type of modern clinical rendering, so really expensive lenses aren't immune to this either. That's just the decision that Sony went with the lens design vs the 85 GM, which seems to have a very deliberate delicateness to the rendering...especially wide open.
FE 35 f1.8 is a lower mid-range lens, and it seems to perform admirably for its price-point (if you take tariffs out out of the equation!). Bokeh is not the best, but it doesn't seem to have the drab colors and flat contrast of some of the other budget FE lenses.
p.27 #20 · Now in Stock: Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 ($748)
I would have to agree with most of the comments that have been made about the images I have posted but on the other hand there is no other 35mm AF E mount lens that is available that is small and light and I really don't want one of the other monsters that's out there. I am after a lens for documentary/event/street work and this really fits the bill and overall I'm so far very happy with it. I would have loved a Sony AF version of my Leica summicron 35/f2 but sadly that will never happen.
Quoting from Chad's review "This is the type of compact prime that I signed up for when the concept of mirrorless was introduced."
