JohnDizzo15
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
|
 p.25 #16 · Sigma 35mm f/1.2 Art E Mount Lens Image Thread | |
lunar module wrote:
I think the Sony 35 1.4 ZA gets a bad rap around here because it isn't technically excellent (in terms of corner sharpness, CA correction, onion skin bokeh balls, and copy to copy variation), but the truth of the matter is that it makes very beautiful images more often than not. Color saturation is good. Center sharpness is outstanding. Contrast is good. Bokeh is smooth (real bokeh, not bokeh ball bokeh, which I think is a special case and, IMHO, somewhat hackneyed).
Many people around here love the Voigtlander 40 1.2 and 50 1.2, which have a large amount of glow wide open near focus and which have relatively severe LoCA, because they make soulful images.
I think the ZA is somewhat similar. It isn't technically perfect, and it is certainly overpriced for what it is, but it is capable of making beautiful images. If you can get a decent copy (look for copies tested by the seller on the buy and sell forum) at a fair price I think it is an excellent choice for a 35 1.4 with AF on the Sony body.
The images that I have seen from the Sigma 1.2 look technically "perfect" to me, but they have a "commercial" feel to them that I find somewhat off putting. Kind of "plasticy", "artificial", "unnatural", "too sharp". They are the opposite of what I can only describe as "organic". This might be perfect for commercial work or landscapes, but I, personally, don't find it to be a particularly appealing aesthetic. YMMV.
There is more to a lens than a spectacular MTF curve, corner to corner sharpness wide open, high contrast, and smooth bokeh. IMHO, modern day super sharp, super corrected lenses are outstanding for making technically correct images, but they are completely unnecessary to make (and in some ways get in the way of making) "art". Look at the color work of Saul Leiter, Ernst Haas, Fred Herzog and other similar photographers to get an idea of what I'm talking about. Then again, not everyone is trying to make "art".
So there is no real "best lens". Depends on what you are shooting for and your particular aesthetic sensibility.
...Show more →
Totally get where you're coming from. However, for me, the copies of the Sony/Zeiss I had were just very poor outside of a very small window of shooting (subject within several feet and pretty centered). Outside of said parameter (especially for environmental shots with the subject outside of center frame), I regularly wondered whether the copies I had were malfunctioning with regard to AF or some other optical issue as the resolution was just that low on my subjects. As stated previously, I would often have to scroll around the shot to see if there was another unintended area that was in focus to make sure I didn't just miss focus on my subject.
When the Sony/Zeiss was used within the parameters that worked well for me, it was stunning and I loved the look. But beyond that, it was pretty much on par or worse than my Canon 35Lmk1.
I definitely know/agree with what you're referring to with regard to the "commercial" look that many modern lenses produce (to include the Sigma 35/1.2). Personally though, I already have plenty of character lenses (7Artisans, Contax/Zeiss, plethora of old Russian lenses of different names, Takumars, etc) in various focal lengths and 35 is one of those where I at least want one option in the arsenal that is capable of producing the best (or close to) technical IQ I can get. I can always dial back IQ in post but I can't bring it back when it isn't there which is where I often found myself with the Sony/Zeiss 35.
All that being said, if I could've been promised a good copy that performed better across the focal distance range and with subjects further away from center, I'd probably still have a Sony/Zeiss 35 today.
On another note, some shots to share (interestingly enough, with LR lens corrections turned off).
 Sigma 35/1.2 by Johndizzo15, on Flickr
 Sigma 35/1.2 FE by Johndizzo15, on Flickr
 Sigma 35/1.2 FE by Johndizzo15, on Flickr
 Cleaning up = shoving everything to the edge by Johndizzo15, on Flickr
 Sigma 35/1.2 FE by Johndizzo15, on Flickr
|
.
