I don't always agree with Marc Alhadeff, but his conclusions about the 35 GM are exactly in line with my first impressions. In another thread (comparisons with sigma 35 f/2 & f/1.2) I remember having hesitated to use the expression "a bit more poetic" when referring to the Sigma 35/1.2 compared to the 35 GM, but I think you got the idea ;-)
p.66 #6 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
Have kept the 1.4/85 GM for oh so slightly nicer bokeh over the smaller/lighter 1.4/85 Art DG DN
will do the same with the 1.2/35 Art DG DN compared to the 1.4/35 GM
Had the comparable lenses been released at the same time I might have decided differently though,
so luckily I am not in that position.
p.66 #7 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
BastianK wrote:
Have kept the 1.4/85 GM for oh so slightly nicer bokeh over the smaller/lighter 1.4/85 Art DG DN
will do the same with the 1.2/35 Art DG DN compared to the 1.4/35 GM
Had the comparable lenses been released at the same time I might have decided differently though,
so luckily I am not in that position.
Well that makes sense. I did the same by keeping the 85 GM. And your review convinced me of buying the Sigma 35/1.2... that being said, when it comes to 35mm, I need something more versatile : at the end of the day, the 35 GM fits better my needs ;-)
p.66 #8 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
PhilG21 wrote:
Well that makes sense. I did the same by keeping the 85 GM. And your review convinced me of buying the Sigma 35/1.2... that being said, when it comes to 35mm, I need something more versatile : at the end of the day, the 35 GM fits better my needs ;-)
Ah we always need to consider I have more lenses than any sane person should have (despite already trying to get rid of the ones I rarely if ever use).
So in this case in addition to the 1.2/35 Art I also have a VM 35mm 1.7 and VM 35mm 1.2 III, so if I want to go really small I will pick one of those two either way.
I also wanted to sell the 1.7/35 when I got the 1.2/35 III, but that did not work out for various reasons.
As a "one lens solution 35" - which probably more people are looking for - I would be very likely to decide between 1.4/35 GM and 2/35 iSigma these days.
p.66 #9 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
BastianK wrote:
Ah we always need to consider I have more lenses than any sane person should have (despite already trying to get rid of the ones I rarely if ever use).
So in this case in addition to the 1.2/35 Art I also have a VM 35mm 1.7 and VM 35mm 1.2 III, so if I want to go really small I will pick one of those two either way.
I also wanted to sell the 1.7/35 when I got the 1.2/35 III, but that did not work out for various reasons.
As a "one lens solution 35" - which probably more people are looking for - I would be very likely to decide between 1.4/35 GM and 2/35 iSigma these days....Show more →
Oh I know what you mean. I still have multiples 35 lenses, it's definitely not an unhealthy deviance
More seriously: in my case the 35 GM is not exactly a "one lens solution 35", it simply fits better most of my current needs at that focal length, even in terms of rendering. But those who seek in priority a certain kind of "poetic rendering", especially for smooth environmental portraits (but not only), could very well prefer the 35/1.2 over the 35 GM... Honestly I think both lenses are interesting from an "artistic" point of view; differences are subtile and final choice is not easy !
p.66 #10 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
I rented the Sigma 35mm f1.2 for a week. Loved the lens except the size, weight. I also rented the Sony 35mm f1.8 for a week, but I find the chromatic aberration problematic with that lens. Also, when I compared it to my Zony 35mm f2.8 with various subject distances and scenarios, the Zony was, to my surprise, sharper at comparable fstops in all settings. (That Sony 35mm f1.8 may have been a bad sample although it seemed fine until I compared it to my Zony f2.8, and I believe my Zony f2.8 is a particularly good sample.)
For someone like me who values compact size and low weight and loves the 35mm focal length (also covered by a couple of my zooms), the Sigma 35mm, Sony 35mm GM and Voigtlander 35mm APO are all compelling as a second 35mm prime lens. It's truly amazing the choices one has with the Sony system and that all of Sigma, Sony, Voigtlander, Tamron and Laowa keep rolling out excellent new designs/alternatives.
p.66 #11 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
PhilG21 wrote:
Oh I know what you mean. I still have multiples 35 lenses, it's definitely not an unhealthy deviance
More seriously: in my case the 35 GM is not exactly a "one lens solution 35", it simply fits better most of my current needs at that focal length, even in terms of rendering. But those who seek in priority a certain kind of "poetic rendering", especially for smooth environmental portraits (but not only), could very well prefer the 35/1.2 over the 35 GM... Honestly I think both lenses are interesting from an "artistic" point of view; differences are subtile and final choice is not easy !...Show more →
In my hands the 35 GM would be a far better lens for portraiture than the CV 35 1.2.
The problem with any MF lens and portraiture is, to state the obvious, the time it takes to focus.
Particularly true when you want to use fast lenses wide open and/or the subject cannot/will not stay still.
By the time it is all lined up the spontaneity is gone and you lose the expressiveness in the eyes.
Between AF-C, current frame rates, and Eye-AF capturing expressive portraits is much, much easier than it ever has been.
Of course working with a pro model eliminates those problems.
This is not to say that I don't use MF lenses for portraiture; I use them all the time. They are just more work and require more luck.
p.66 #12 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
BastianK wrote:
Ah we always need to consider I have more lenses than any sane person should have (despite already trying to get rid of the ones I rarely if ever use).
So in this case in addition to the 1.2/35 Art I also have a VM 35mm 1.7 and VM 35mm 1.2 III, so if I want to go really small I will pick one of those two either way.
I also wanted to sell the 1.7/35 when I got the 1.2/35 III, but that did not work out for various reasons.
As a "one lens solution 35" - which probably more people are looking for - I would be very likely to decide between 1.4/35 GM and 2/35 iSigma these days....Show more →
I'm in a similar situation in so far as that I have multiple 35ish lenses. It's not my most used focal length, so the only way I can explain it is that its both versatile and manufacturers have taken a wide range of approaches to covering it. I have the Sigma 35 1.2, Tamron 35 2.8, CV 40 1.2, and I have the 35 GM on pre-order. That doesn't include the 2 Sony and 2 Canon zooms I have that also cover it. The only one I think I will consider selling is the Tamron so long as the max magnification and close-focus performance of the GM is good enough for my needs. The Sigma 1.2 is too heavy for everyday use, but I still don't expect the GM to render as well.
p.66 #13 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
PhilG21 wrote:
Oh I know what you mean. I still have multiples 35 lenses, it's definitely not an unhealthy deviance
More seriously: in my case the 35 GM is not exactly a "one lens solution 35", it simply fits better most of my current needs at that focal length, even in terms of rendering. But those who seek in priority a certain kind of "poetic rendering", especially for smooth environmental portraits (but not only), could very well prefer the 35/1.2 over the 35 GM... Honestly I think both lenses are interesting from an "artistic" point of view; differences are subtile and final choice is not easy !...Show more →
In the past I've not seen much in the way of 1.2 vs 1.4 particularly at 35mm FL. Other attributes of the lens might be more important to me to push me one way or the other.
The GM 35 from what little I've seen on line so far certainly seems to be shaping up to be an excellent compromise of smallish, 1.4, very sharp wide-open with what's looking like very pleasing bokeh ( at least in the scenarios posted so far). Being a native GM lens with the latest Sony AF technology x 2 is also a big + for me too.
I am however wondering about the focus breathing. Sony is known for hybrid mirrorless cameras so am wondering what attribute of this lens required Sony to allow the focus breathing compromise; maybe size? I am not a videographer so no problem for me and I am sure videographers can work around the focus breathing.
p.66 #15 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
Still surprised how little love or even mention the Loxia 35/2 gets...I love its rendering. I guess its bokeh is the deal breaker. Wide-open I find its bokeh annoyingly "busy". But I may misunderstand what I'm seeing....
p.66 #17 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
LBJ2 wrote:
I think very few have this lens in hand, out in the wild. I think I've only seen/noticed the one person(The OP) in this thread owns the lens so far?
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