p.36 #2 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
I think many people would happily buy an 85 GM Mark II, with updated AF and well that’s about all it needs. Maybe a touch more sharpness, the newest coating, but really just the XD motors.
After the 16 let’s hope we can get a 2 for one. GMs 50 and 85 at the same time.
But really let’s stay on topic and enjoy that those of us who preordered today will hopefully have their lens in hand in a little over a month.
Also I’m stoked for Fred’s upcoming review.
Chris_88 wrote:
Looks like Sony finally answered to all those asking for that 35 1.4 GM. Not sure whether this lens is for me, as I've realized I more often reach for the 55 1.8 than the 35 1.8, when I need AF. I also have the CV 35, which is my go to 35mm for landscapes.
Then again, I'm happy that they made this lens (can we now stop complaining about a lack of great 35mm primes in e-mount, please ?). Like Fred and others, I'm positively surprised that they managed to come up with what looks like a very reasonable compromise between performance, rendering, size and weight.
It's funny how things have changed, no? Initially, the expectation was that e-mount would allow Sony to come up with more compact designs primarily or exclusively in the range of (U)WA focal lengths. Sure enough, they did so with some of their UWA zooms and the 24 GM. This wasn't going to work with the 35 GM, but apparently it did.
Any (optical) insights/educated guesses what that would mean for a future 50 GM? It seems to me that with the arrival of the 35 GM and the rumored release of that 16 1.8 GM, the only major fast aperture, standard FL combinations carrying a GM label that are missing are the 28 and 50 FL's (plus more primes between 200mm and 500mm). ...Show more →
p.36 #3 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
darrellc wrote:
More out of curiosity than real consideration given it weighs 29.372 lbs and is taller than my camera backpack, but now that the Sigma 35 1.2 is plummeting / will plummet in value and like new copies can be found on B&S already below $1K, well below new GM + tax pricing, is there any respect in which the Sigma seems to outperform the GM at common apertures (from f/1.4, I know you get f/1.2 with Sigma...) based on early reviews?
My quick, casual scan of reviews doesn't suggest much (maybe focus breathing, that's crazy multi-mm focus breathing on the GM... maybe it is a 40mm + lens up close?)
The discussion in this thread points to "on axis" CA (purple fringing), like Fred called it, which I also have a feeling will behave similar to 24GM so not too well in demanding conditions (e.g. branches against heavy backlit sky).
This was and still is I guess my main gripe about 24GM, when I took it to the forest with harsh winter sun and trees/branches covering the whole top of the frame, the results were pretty disappointing (but then I'm not sure which lens would do significantly better, maybe the bigger Sigma 24).
p.36 #4 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
j4nu wrote:
The discussion in this thread points to "on axis" CA (purple fringing), like Fred called it, which I also have a feeling will behave similar to 24GM so not too well in demanding conditions (e.g. branches against heavy backlit sky).
This was and still is I guess my main gripe about 24GM, when I took it to the forest with harsh winter sun and trees/branches covering the whole top of the frame, the results were pretty disappointing (but then I'm not sure which lens would do significantly better, maybe the bigger Sigma 24).
The bigger DSLR Sigma 24 is even worse. PF appears more readily. Though the GM 24 does have some, not all contrasty situations will induce it. I just take it as a big compromise for this size. Look at the Nikon 50/1.2 S to see the potential size and weight compromise on a mirrorless platform if you want a better color corrected optics for this kind of aperture.
I sold my GM 24 not because of the PF, but mainly the slower than expected AF speed (only DDSSM) and I don't really like that focal length.
p.36 #5 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
hiepphotog wrote:
The bigger DSLR Sigma 24 is even worse. PF appears more readily. Though the GM 24 does have some, not all contrasty situations will induce it. I just take it as a big compromise for this size. Look at the Nikon 50/1.2 S to see the potential size and weight compromise on a mirrorless platform if you want a better color corrected optics for this kind of aperture.
I sold my GM 24 not because of the PF, but mainly the slower than expected AF speed (only DDSSM) and I don't really like that focal length.
Yeah, I'm not aware of any fast 24-ish lens that does significantly better in that regard (PF). It's just that it came as a huge surprise to me as no reviews really mentioned it...
I also agree that AF on 24GM is not perfect, closed down below f6.3 I mostly have to switch to AF-S. Otherwise, I often get pulsing and innacurate focus. Speed-wise, I never really feel it's too slow though...
p.36 #6 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
The only thing that's slightly turning me off is the harsh outlining with bright light sources I'm seeing and the football bokeh in the corners wide open.
With that said though, it does look really good and admittedly, I can't think of any 1.4 or faster that doesn't at least have the footballs wide open to some extent. And, you know...it is football season.
p.36 #7 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
vdo1 wrote:
I'm not sure that we could describe the 135mm as "light". It's not that much different than the Sigma 35/1.2. Guess that it takes some substantial glass to make such lenses.
Pretty sure within its class, the GM is among the lightest and smallest (if not already). I imagine they can shrink it a bit more with a little more compromise on the IQ. But I think after this GM 35, Sony has learned the winning formula to separate itself from the like of Canikon while being appealing to a lot of people. In the age of camera phone, how many really want to lug around a heavy and big setup?
p.36 #8 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
Surfnsun wrote:
Well my pre-order is in! Woo-hoo! Let the countdown begin. I went with my local camera shop in order to support local businesses during these tough times. I’d like to encourage everyone else to do the same. Normally I’m not one to make these kind of posts, but it makes a difference.
My local shop already got killed during the pandemic
p.36 #10 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
darrellc wrote:
More out of curiosity than real consideration given it weighs 29.372 lbs and is taller than my camera backpack, but now that the Sigma 35 1.2 is plummeting / will plummet in value and like new copies can be found on B&S already below $1K, well below new GM + tax pricing, is there any respect in which the Sigma seems to outperform the GM at common apertures (from f/1.4, I know you get f/1.2 with Sigma...) based on early reviews?
My quick, casual scan of reviews doesn't suggest much (maybe focus breathing, that's crazy multi-mm focus breathing on the GM... maybe it is a 40mm + lens up close?)
p.36 #11 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
Teo Rey wrote:
I thought that lateral CA only appears on the plane of focus? The CA on the GM that people are most concerned about is on the focus plane, no?
Longitudinal (aka axial) is on the plane of focus—purple before and green after the focal point.
p.36 #14 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
Teo Rey wrote:
I thought that lateral CA only appears on the plane of focus? The CA on the GM that people are most concerned about is on the focus plane, no?
Longitudinal CA can appear to be on the plane of focus, even though strictly speaking it isn’t, unlike LaCA which is strictly on the focus plane.
This happens when there is an in focus subject - let’s say some trees at infinity, but some colours are out of focus (commonly violet) and so form a kind of halo around it of fringing. It’s longitudinal because the different colours are in focus at different subject distances.
This can sometime be visually hard to distinguish (or can be combined with) lateral CA where the colours are in the focus the same subject distance. But here you get fringing because the magnification is a little different between colour channels, causing fringing.
p.36 #17 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
ReleaseDrive wrote:
Lot of pre-orders going on here. B&H should just relocate their pre-order button onto this site. Haha. No, but seriously.....
Based on the 24mm GM this lens will likely be backordered for the next year so it makes sense to preorder even if you're not sure if you want it. You can always return it or sell to someone else on the waitlist. If you don't preorder, and later decide you want it, you might be SOL. In the case of the 135mm GM you even had a price increase.
p.36 #18 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
j4nu wrote:
The discussion in this thread points to "on axis" CA (purple fringing), like Fred called it, which I also have a feeling will behave similar to 24GM so not too well in demanding conditions (e.g. branches against heavy backlit sky).
This was and still is I guess my main gripe about 24GM, when I took it to the forest with harsh winter sun and trees/branches covering the whole top of the frame, the results were pretty disappointing (but then I'm not sure which lens would do significantly better, maybe the bigger Sigma 24).
I was beginning to think I am alone about the 24mm gm issue with color fringing. Example of the 24mm gm below. It is really a significant issue so I am not sure why 24mm is so highly rated. It is a good lens but it is in no way perfect. I am beginning to feel the same way about the 35mm f1.4gm. I don't want to sell my 35mm f1.2 which honestly I have no complains about in Image quality. Sure there is some color fringing too but it is really quite low and below my threshold.
p.36 #19 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
Below is one of the winter shots with the sigma 35mm f1.2. I looked through all my keepers and I can't really find much color fringing that is objectional. It is significantly better than the 24mm gm. So the big question is how much better is the 35mm gm compared to the 24mm gm? If it is similar to 24mm gm, I will not get it.
p.36 #20 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
I know it's hard to resist but we should not compare color aberration correction from lenses with different focal lengths.
Instead we should compare the FE 24/1.4 GM to other 24mm f/1.4 lenses. The FE 24/1.4 GM is well regarded because it actually does better than the competition in regards to CA and resolution while being compact for what it is.
Here is a high contrast sample showing axial CA on the metal chain: (front of plane of focus)
?). Like Fred and others, I'm positively surprised that they managed to come up with what looks like a very reasonable compromise
