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Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Chaliel
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p.3 #1 · p.3 #1 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

lifeandmylens wrote:
Fred will do a whole section on this, but my experience so far on my copy is AF-C and Eye AF are much better than they are on the Sigma 45 2.8 (which is poor).

But AF-C and Eye AF are slower and less accurate than the native FE lenses that I have on hand to compare it with (20G, 24 GM, 135 GM). It hunts more and loses Eye AF by panning the camera while holding down the shutter half way. But also not a very fair comparison as these FE lenses are some of Sony's best AF performance lenses....Show more →

What kind of body did you use?
Read that others have no trouble with AF...
So I wanna know which bodies are fine for these new i-Sigmas
From A7(R)-3 and up?

Feb 22, 2021 at 04:35 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #2 · p.3 #2 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

AF speed and accuracy

The Sigma 35/2 DG DN has fast and accurate AF on my A7R IV.
Phase detect works great with this lens even though is has some residual SA. I have not seen any miss-focus even at close distance since I started testing it. It's night and day compared to the Sigma 45mm f/2.8 which has issues with PDAF (AF-C).

Just today, I took 46 images in low contrast lighting testing Eye-AF (phase detect tracking) and to all images were in focus. My subject was moving and posing without being perfectly still and Eye-AF was keeping up just fine.

Feb 22, 2021 at 10:11 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #3 · p.3 #3 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Distortion

The Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN has moderate barrel distortion. There are no profiles for Lightroom yet but it's easy to correct the distortion by setting the Lightroom Distortion slider to +8.

I find that some barrel distortion actually is a plus for portraits where faces look less stretched but this type of distortion can be easily corrected in post without much noticeable loss of acutance.

Before LR correction

After LR correction

Infinity distance (CENTER): Before distortion correction (LEFT) - After distortion correction (RIGHT)

Infinity distance (MID-FIELD): Before distortion correction (LEFT) - After distortion correction (RIGHT)

Infinity distance (EXTREME CORNER): Before distortion correction (LEFT) - After distortion correction (RIGHT)

Feb 22, 2021 at 10:35 PM

Jonas B
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p.3 #4 · p.3 #4 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Thank you for this on-going work!

I have a question about the aperture mechanism and focusing: Does the Sigma 35/2 AF at working aperture? Or, does it open and close the iris for every time I half press the shutter (or in any other way) and ask the camera to focus?
If it open up, focus and then closes again, is there then a delay before the camera can be fired or is it a snappy, instant closing down action?

Feb 27, 2021 at 09:37 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #5 · p.3 #5 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Samples 1

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/2.0 1/60s 200 ISO -1.7 EV

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/2.0 1/60s 200 ISO -1.7 EV

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/2.5 1/60s 400 ISO -1.7 EV

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/2.0 1/60s 3200 ISO -1.7 EV

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/2.0 1/3200s 100 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/22.0 1/30s 800 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/22.0 1/30s 320 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/2.0 1/400s 100 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/2.0 1/500s 100 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/2.0 1/1600s 100 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/22.0 1/30s 640 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/2.0 1/100s 100 ISO -1.7 EV

Feb 27, 2021 at 01:25 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #6 · p.3 #6 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Two more....

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/2.0 1/4000s 100 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-7RM4 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary 020 lens 35mm f/22.0 1/8s 100 ISO -0.3 EV

Feb 27, 2021 at 01:33 PM

Chaliel
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p.3 #7 · p.3 #7 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

OK some vignetting, but bokeh OK to me.
Beautiful sunstars for the fans.
Great performer.
No AF problems, but how fast(or slow) is it?
Is it like the FE 55?

Feb 27, 2021 at 01:58 PM

Chaliel
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p.3 #8 · p.3 #8 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

I do hope that you will do a review and tests also with the Sigma 65mm one day!

Feb 27, 2021 at 02:05 PM

stevenvh
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p.3 #9 · p.3 #9 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Thanks! Looks good to me, I may prefer it to the 45/2.8. Vignetting looks tolerable and easily fixed. I add vignetting half the time in PP anyway. Sharpness and rendering look excellent.

Feb 27, 2021 at 02:47 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #10 · p.3 #10 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Distance: Infinity
Focus: Center - Best of three @ 12.4x magnification
WB: Daylight for both lenses
Both Lenses perfectly centered using my decentering test
Software: Lightroom with FM Default Landscape Sharpening. All other settings set to default

PS: Vignetting and distortion were NOT corrected for both lenses.

35mm
CENTER resolution/contrast comparison between Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN vs Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 III E-mount

PS: At infinity, the Sigma 35/2 is wider than 35mm while the Voigtlander 35/1.2 III is slightly longer. I'd say the Sigma is about 32.5mm and the Voigtlander is 35.5mm and this makes a noticeable difference in FOV.

Center at f/2:

Center at f/2.8:

Center at f/4

Center at f/5.6

Center at f/8

Feb 27, 2021 at 07:03 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #11 · p.3 #11 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

35mm
MID-FIELD resolution/contrast comparison between Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN vs Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 III E-mount

Mid-field at f/2

Mid-field at f/2.8

Mid-field at f/4: As we posted before f/4 is the optimal aperture for the SE's mid-field. The VM version is still about 1 stop behind.

Mid-field a f/5.6

Mid-field at f/8

Feb 27, 2021 at 07:03 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #12 · p.3 #12 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

35mm
EXTREME CORNER resolution/contrast comparison between Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN vs Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 III E-mount

Extreme corner at f/2

Extreme corner at f/2.8

Extreme corner at f/4

Extreme corner at f/5.6

Extreme corner at f/8

Feb 27, 2021 at 07:03 PM

nhsonyshooter
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p.3 #13 · p.3 #13 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Fred Miranda wrote:
35mm
EXTREME CORNER resolution/contrast comparison between Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN vs Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 III E-mount

Your copy of the CV looks pretty bad?

Feb 27, 2021 at 08:29 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #14 · p.3 #14 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

nhsonyshooter wrote:
Your copy of the CV looks pretty bad?

Same copy I used for my Voigtlander 35/1.2 III E-mount review. The difference is that this time, I tested it on the A7R IV and that's more demanding. Center and Mid-field were good stopped down but the Voigtlander 35mm and 40 f/1.2 Nokton lenses have high astigmatism and LACA, so extreme corners never get very good, especially on high MP sensors.

I've just confirmed that this copy is still well centered (no mount tilt or swing). Perhaps the difference here is due to the fact that the Sigma 35/2 DG DN is a superb performer across the field at infinity with pretty much no detectable field curvature.

We will see how the Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN performs against the Voigtlander 35mm f/2 APO and Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM when I get them for review.

Feb 27, 2021 at 08:40 PM

nhsonyshooter
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p.3 #15 · p.3 #15 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Fred Miranda wrote:
Same copy I used for my Voigtlander 35/1.2 III E-mount review. The difference is that this time, I tested it on the A7R IV and that's more demanding. Center and Mid-field were good stopped down but the Voigtlander 35mm and 40 f/1.2 Nokton lenses have high astigmatism and LACA, so extreme corners never get very good, especially on high MP sensors.

I've just confirmed that this copy is still well centered (no mount tilt or swing). Perhaps the difference here is due to the fact that the Sigma 35/2 DG DN is a superb performer across the field at infinity...Show more →

I have no doubt the Sigma is sharper extreme corner to to extreme corner but no way is my copy this bad.

Feb 27, 2021 at 08:44 PM

ReleaseDrive
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p.3 #16 · p.3 #16 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Hi Fred,

I scrubbed through the first page and read your comments and pictures on the Bokeh. Any thoughts on how bokeh might stack up to the Voigtlander 35mm 1.7 (Not so much sunstars but portraits)?

I'm tempted due to the sharpness, speed, AF and size. Was hoping the bokeh would stack up...if not, might just wait to purchase the 35mm 1.4 GM but I do prefer smaller lenses.

Feb 27, 2021 at 08:51 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #17 · p.3 #17 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

ReleaseDrive wrote:
Hi Fred,

I scrubbed through the first page and read your comments and pictures on the Bokeh. Any thoughts on how bokeh might stack up to the Voigtlander 35mm 1.7 (Not so much sunstars but portraits)?

I'm tempted due to the sharpness, speed, AF and size. Was hoping the bokeh would stack up...if not, might just wait to purchase the 35mm 1.4 GM but I do prefer smaller lenses.

I will post a section on rendering soon but my impression so far is that the Sigma's rendering is pleasant even at mid-distance. Smooth transition zone and clean specular highlights.
Perhaps the only negative I've seen is the rather noticeable optical vignetting but still not as strong as I've seen on the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.7 Ultron.

Feb 27, 2021 at 09:06 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.3 #18 · p.3 #18 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

ReleaseDrive wrote:
Hi Fred,

I scrubbed through the first page and read your comments and pictures on the Bokeh. Any thoughts on how bokeh might stack up to the Voigtlander 35mm 1.7 (Not so much sunstars but portraits)?

I'm tempted due to the sharpness, speed, AF and size. Was hoping the bokeh would stack up...if not, might just wait to purchase the 35mm 1.4 GM but I do prefer smaller lenses.

See these blind tests as well:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1652099/
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1685214/

The Sigma does quite well. Not as well as the Sony RX1, but still very well.

Feb 27, 2021 at 09:27 PM

ReleaseDrive
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p.3 #19 · p.3 #19 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Wow, that 35mm 1.2 is really on another level. I'm surprised by the RX1 as well. I guess now I understand some of the buzz behind that camera.

Feb 27, 2021 at 09:48 PM

philip_pj
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p.3 #20 · p.3 #20 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

It's truly excellent, very close to the Sigma 35/1.2 at f2. A telling comparison above. The three asph elements did their job on the Sigma and it will sell very well. F2 lenses are emerging as the new standard for all round usage.

Fearless prediction: the CV 35/2 APO (E) will be 10% stronger, more so the further you move from the axis, with great edges/corners. This Sigma has already won the E mount 35mm value for money award, and most will need AF.

Feb 27, 2021 at 11:49 PM

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