I have the Sigma 45 now. It's my second copy actually. The first copy glitched within the first 24 hours and I had to return it.
I just wanted to come back to this thread and report that the Sigma 45 actually autofocuses silently. This is very different than the Sigma 35 and Sigma 85 Art DSLR lenses I have. It looks like Sigma's DG DN mirrorless designs were made with a more silent AF mechanism.
After all the buzz and hype around the new GM, it is difficult to motivate myself to continue testing the Sigma 35 F2 vs 35mm F1.4 ZA and 24GM on APSC. Did some close up shots for color fringing using the lens cal spyder:
Sigma 35mm F2 DG DN @ F2
The Sigma has some glow wide open (remember it is close to MFD, so that is to be expected), but less than the ZA. The 24GM seems to be best of the three (highest sharpness and contrast), but I guess on 24 MP they are all perfectly usable and sharp enough wide open (even up close) for my applications...
For me the 24 and 65 are pretty "must haves", around my beloved CV40. And IF I will get a 35mm at some point, I think it will still be the Sigma f/2. Smaller than GM, half the price and really great image quality.
Tonzah78 wrote:
For me the 24 and 65 are pretty "must haves", around my beloved CV40. And IF I will get a 35mm at some point, I think it will still be the Sigma f/2. Smaller than GM, half the price and really great image quality.
Smaller than GM, half the price and really great image quality.
That is my feeling as well. The GM will be a superb lens no doubt but for me, the Sigma strikes a nice balance in build, size, weight, price and of course image quality. I preordered mine form B&H so hopefully it will ship soon, they said mid January for the Sigma.
BruceRH wrote: Smaller than GM, half the price and really great image quality.
That is my feeling as well. The GM will be a superb lens no doubt but for me, the Sigma strikes a nice balance in build, size, weight, price and of course image quality. I preordered mine form B&H so hopefully it will ship soon, they said mid January for the Sigma.
It would be interesting to compare their rendering and resolution across the field.
Well, I've decided to go the other way, so no more Sigma f2 pictures from me. After watching and reading those 35GM reviews + rethinking my 35mm kit, I'll return the small and sell the big Sigma. It was with a heavy heart that I started packing this gem of craftsmanship, but I just can't see myself using anything other than the new GM in the future.
If I had a smaller camera, like A7C, I would have probably kept it, but with regular A7III the lenses I enjoy using the most are the size of 24GM.
I still have some reservations regarding CA/PF control on the new GM vs the big Sigma, but let's see what the future holds .
Tonzah78 wrote:
For me the 24 and 65 are pretty "must haves", around my beloved CV40. And IF I will get a 35mm at some point, I think it will still be the Sigma f/2. Smaller than GM, half the price and really great image quality.
I'm also still happy with my choice of Sigma 35/2 and the other I-series lenses even though the new 35/1.4 GM looks very nice too. The size/weight of Sigma is still better for my A7C and with Japan pricing the new GM is almost 3 times as expensive. It's also nice to have (as soon as 24/3.5 also arrives) a full set of the I-series lenses as a consistent AF lens setup for A7C.
I could be tempted at some point to trade in my Sony Zeiss 35/1.4 and get the GM in its place for event shooting (for my A9) but as long as there are no events due to Covid-19 restrictions, there's no hurry.
Juha Kannisto wrote:
I'm also still happy with my choice of Sigma 35/2 and the other I-series lenses even though the new 35/1.4 GM looks very nice too. The size/weight of Sigma is still better for my A7C and with Japan pricing the new GM is almost 3 times as expensive. It's also nice to have (as soon as 24/3.5 also arrives) a full set of the I-series lenses as a consistent AF lens setup for A7C.
I would do the same. This lens and i set with FP (or A7C) are very special handling wise and I couldn't ask more for performance at this size and price as well.
35gm is good (along with other gm) to the point that I want to add a Sony system down to the road but it is not a priority for now.
zhangyue wrote:
I would do the same. This lens and i set with FP (or A7C) are very special handling wise and I couldn't ask more for performance at this size and price as well.
35gm is good (along with other gm) to the point that I want to add a Sony system down to the road but it is not a priority for now.
I've been also thinking of getting another copy of the Sigma 35/2 in L-mount for my Sigma fp, in case I keep my fp along with my A7C for the long run, and perhaps the 24/3.5 too. Still no decisions on that front and I but it's tempting
Hmmm, as probably my last unprompted commentary in this thread in a while: think I'm gonna go with the GM here. While there are some differences in IQ, that really isn't the reason as the 35 2 is still plenty excellent. It's that, size/weight aside (smaller and lighter always is better after all) the GM is more of what I was hoping this Sigma to be, really. I take my lenses out in the rain and snow with some regularity, which I can't do here. I also regularly enjoy a good close-up when I'm walking around, which... due to the pleasant surprise of telescopic focus breathing on the GM means that with the same MFD (+ an additional 2 cm closer in MF) you get a much better magnification on the GM lens.
Thinking back to those first leaked images from Nokishita and how I thought it was going to be a 35mm f2 with 1:2 magnification, ART-esque optics, and I hoped for sealing. Even though that lens would still probably be behind the GM in terms of IQ I'd go for that lens easily. If Sony hadn't made the GM as light as they did I also would probably be leaning Sigma's way. I feel bad for Sigma, because I can't be the only one making these calculations for purchasing decisions... and they made a great lens. But with what Sony offered for competition with the GM, it needed to be exceptional.
To me, the Sigma 35/2 and GM 35 aren't really direct competitors. Sure, there will be a bunch of people buying the GM, no doubt. But it seems to me like the Sony 35/1.8 is more of a competitor, given the $1400 (vs. $640) price tag for the GM. Now the Sigma 35/1.2 and GM 35/1.4 seem more like apples to apples......
tsdevine wrote:
To me, the Sigma 35/2 and GM 35 aren't really direct competitors. Sure, there will be a bunch of people buying the GM, no doubt. But it seems to me like the Sony 35/1.8 is more of a competitor, given the $1400 (vs. $640) price tag for the GM. Now the Sigma 35/1.2 and GM 35/1.4 seem more like apples to apples......
Yeah, it all depends on your point of view.
If you're looking for a compact lens, then f2 Sigma is significantly smaller and lighter than the GM (+ that sleek design & build!).
If you're looking for a "normal" lens, then f1.2 Sigma is too big I guess, but GM is perfect imho...
True, the GM being a goldilocks lens, it could peel of buyers from both Sigma's.
j4nu wrote:
Yeah, it all depends on your point of view.
If you're looking for a compact lens, then f2 Sigma is significantly smaller and lighter than the GM (+ that sleek design & build!).
If you're looking for a "normal" lens, then f1.2 Sigma is too big I guess, but GM is perfect imho...
j4nu wrote:
Well, I've decided to go the other way, so no more Sigma f2 pictures from me. After watching and reading those 35GM reviews + rethinking my 35mm kit, I'll return the small and sell the big Sigma. It was with a heavy heart that I started packing this gem of craftsmanship, but I just can't see myself using anything other than the new GM in the future.
If I had a smaller camera, like A7C, I would have probably kept it, but with regular A7III the lenses I enjoy using the most are the size of 24GM.
I still have some reservations regarding CA/PF control on the new GM vs the big Sigma, but let's see what the future holds ....Show more →
This is the same way I will go. A7III owner, no A7C. But will keep the Sigma 35/2 until the GM arrives and see how many keepers it'll give me until then. It is really nice to handle and fun to shoot with
last night we got 35 cm of fresh snow, most snow in 20 years. ideal opportunity to take the 35/2 for a walk to better get a grasp on the characteristics of this lens. my main complaint with the 35/1.4 za was the non-existing sunstar, in my kit of 20/35/85, the other two lenses have really nice sunstars (20mm G and sigma 85 1.4 dg dn), so I am happy to see that the sigma 35/2 has as well a quite nice sunstar. and rendering of OOF areas is still ok.
