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Fred Miranda wrote:
For those unwilling to compromise 1/3 stop for a lighter/smaller lens, the Sigma will still be the answer.
However, some may change their mind if the new 35/1.4 GM is significantly smaller and dethrones the Sigma in resolution and rendering.
I think the size is actually the most important factor. Sure, some people will want either the latest and greatest and go for the Sony—but the Sigma seems to be a big hit with the wedding & event crowd already and the market is saturated. Don't remember the exact weight of the Sigma, but if we're talking a weight difference of 1kg and 700g... well, you're getting 1/2 an extra stop for less than half again the weight. If the AF is good enough (and outside some buggy behavior it seems to be), there's not a huge reason to pay equal or more money for a less capable lens (I doubt any working professional will be buying a 35mm for sports). Sure, the rendering on the Sony may end up being better—but the rendering on the Sigma is hardly bad. It's rather excellent actually, and at this point improving on it is far into the field of diminishing returns.
Everything about the Sigma is rather excellent where it needs to be (again, AF being just good enough is fine for most use cases)—except size. I think that's the X-factor here, and Sony certainly must have noticed the critical response with their 24 GM and 20 G and how everyone was completely over the moon about how well they managed to fit an excellent optic into a petite package. It was probably too late to affect the development of this lens, but they also must be aware of how similarly positive the reception of Sigma's new 85 is as well. So I have some hope.
The one fly in the ointment here is that Sony seems to have been a bit more traditional in their recent optical designs than Sigma. To compare: while Sigma specifically optimizes size by baking in imperfections that are almost completely computer correctable, Sony likes to go more whole hog with chasing their optical goals. If Sony also started using this approach during the development of their 35 I could see a sub 600g lens seeing as Sigma managed to shrink their absolute BEHEMOTH 85 down to one of the lightest in current production at under 700g. If they didn't, well... they might surprise me but I expect we're going to see weights closer to traditionally excellent 35s.
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