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Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

QuietOC
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p.30 #1 · p.30 #1 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

darrenhaken wrote:
Any others in your keep list?
I could keep any of them.

The Sony FE 35mm F1.8 has great things going for it. I recommend it for AF performance and video. I used it on a commercial shot for a small business service customer. It worked very well for that. But I don't miss it.

The Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 is under-appreciated. It is sharper than their F1.8 especially in the corners. It focuses faster than that F1.8 too. Maybe it has more variation than the F1.8. The II version adds sealing and loses some mass. I could see getting the full Samyang AF II set--though I returned the two I've tried so far.

I started with an adapted Tamron SP 35mm F1.8 USD, and that is still a very good lens. It is bulky and slow though. The little mirrorless lenses have so much corner shading.

Mar 13, 2023 at 04:21 PM

Latouf
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p.30 #2 · p.30 #2 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

As usual, great review. I have forgotten I much I liked these forums. I will try to get back more frequently.

I have the original Sony 35mm 2.8 and really like the weight and size. I was looking for something a little faster and this 35mm might just be what I was looking for.

Given it is a much older lens, there is not a lot of side by side comparison.

I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with both ?

Mar 13, 2023 at 07:01 PM

ramesesthe2nd
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p.30 #3 · p.30 #3 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

I had both. Zony 35 f/2.8 is a true compact lens and feels really close to a pancake lens. Sigma 35mm f/2 is not big, but coming from Zony, it will feel much bigger and heavier. I was not happy with the IQ of Zony and Sigma 35/2 didn't really feel like a small lens to me, so I dumped both and got Sony 35 GM.

If you are looking for a compact lens, stick with Zony 35/2.8 or look at the new Sony 40 f/2.5G. If you are looking for the best 35mm, Sony 35 GM is your answer. No other 35mm does it all (size, price, weight, IQ, and rendering) like the 35 GM. If you don't have a budget for the GM, Sigma 35/2 is probably your best option. It does everything well and it feels like a premium product due to its high build quality and design.

Edited on Mar 14, 2023 at 06:18 AM · View previous versions

Mar 13, 2023 at 07:49 PM

darrenhaken
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p.30 #4 · p.30 #4 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

ramesesthe2nd wrote:
I had both. Zony 35 f/2.8 is a true compact lens and feels really close to a pancake lens. Sigma 35mm f/2 is not big, but coming from Zony, it will feel much bigger and heavier. I was not happy with the IQ of Zony and Sigma 35/2 didn't really feel like a small lens to me, so I dumped both and got Sony 35 GM.

If you are looking for a compact lens, stick with Zony 35/2.8 or look at the new Sony 40 f/2.5G. If you are looking at the best 35mm, Sony 35 GM is your answer....Show more →

I assume you wouldn’t find the Sony 35mm 1.8 or Samyang 35mm 1.8 small enough then?

I’ve got the 40G on loan right now, I love it’s size. Something about it’s photo output I’m not drawn to though. I also have the 50G and I prefer it. I keep feeling like I’m missing a trick!

Mar 14, 2023 at 01:45 AM

ramesesthe2nd
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p.30 #5 · p.30 #5 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

I can't comment on Sony 35/1.8 and Samyang 35/1.8, as I never owned either. Sony's bokeh is a little too distracting for my liking and Samyang build quality is too much plastic for my taste, but I had Sony 55 for a brief period and it felt like a small lens to me, so I suppose Sony 35/1.8 will also feel small.

I hear you on 40G. I have been thinking about buying it, but it is basically the same lens as Zony 35/2.8, only slightly sharper. Brokeh always feel distracting to me and rendering is very crisp and compact digital camera like. It feels very much like the V2 of Zony 35/2.8. My problem is that a compact lens like this tends to stay on my camera more than my other nicer lenses and if the IQ is just average, then all my images just don't have the wow factor that I am expecting from a full frame kit.

Mar 14, 2023 at 09:12 AM

QuietOC
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p.30 #6 · p.30 #6 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

The 2.8/35 ZA Sonnar is not as sharp outside the center as even the Samyang 35mm F2.8. The copy I tried also wasn't sharp anywhere, but the calculated MTFs are pretty clear about what to expect from better copies. It does have quick and quiet AF and some amount of sealing.

Unlike the Sonnar, my 2.5/40 G is sharp across the frame, but backgrounds are a little worse than the FE 35mm F1.8. The body seems like a cheap imitation of the Sigma 45i. Samang bodies look like they fit together better. The 40 G AF is very good like the Sonnar, but the FE 35mm F1.8 focuses better. It seems like there is some optical variation with the 40 G too, but maybe less than the Sonnar.

Mar 14, 2023 at 09:52 AM

Oogappeltje
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p.30 #7 · p.30 #7 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Mar 20, 2023 at 09:30 AM

dwh1312
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p.30 #8 · p.30 #8 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

I just picked up one of these on sale hoping to upgrade from my Samyang f1.8. Unfortunately I’m not seeing any advantage in the optics. The build is very nice, centering more consistent, but sharpness seems to slightly lag or just equal the Samyang f1.8. Not sure if I got a bad copy (seems evenly centered in tests) or if the only upgrade that will really show a big improvement is the 35GM? Size, weight and price have kept me away from the 35GM thus far. Wondering if I should reconsider the GM or if try another copy of the Sigma?

Apr 12, 2023 at 11:19 AM

keepcoding
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p.30 #9 · p.30 #9 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Apr 12, 2023 at 11:25 AM

Oogappeltje
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p.30 #10 · p.30 #10 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

After going the way you've gone down I bought the 35GM. Yes it's bigger and heavier. IQ wise it is a step up from the Sony 1.8/35 Sigma 2/35 Samyang 1.8/35

In my camera bag the 35GM is a fine fit in combination with the A7iii. Balances good handheld.
AF is great, snappier as the Sigma.

dwh1312 wrote:
I just picked up one of these on sale hoping to upgrade from my Samyang f1.8. Unfortunately I’m not seeing any advantage in the optics. The build is very nice, centering more consistent, but sharpness seems to slightly lag or just equal the Samyang f1.8. Not sure if I got a bad copy (seems evenly centered in tests) or if the only upgrade that will really show a big improvement is the 35GM? Size, weight and price have kept me away from the 35GM thus far. Wondering if I should reconsider the GM or if try another copy of the...Show more →

Apr 12, 2023 at 11:29 AM

dwh1312
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p.30 #11 · p.30 #11 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Thanks for the reply’s. The primary reason I thought the Sigma should be sharper than the Samyang are reviews and my own tests that showed the Sony 24-105 and Tamron 28-200 were actually sharper across the frame for landscapes at 35mm and equal apertures.

For portraits and low light the primes are clearly better. But at landscape distances and apertures I’m not seeing much advantage. Was hoping for better low light landscape performance.

Apr 12, 2023 at 12:05 PM

QuietOC
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p.30 #12 · p.30 #12 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

The Samyang F1.8 is definitely brighter wide-open than the Sigma F2--especially in the corners.

The Tamron 35mm F2.8 is a bit sharper across the frame than either of these. My copies of those zooms aren't close to the primes.

Apr 12, 2023 at 12:15 PM

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p.30 #13 · p.30 #13 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

dwh1312 wrote:
I just picked up one of these on sale hoping to upgrade from my Samyang f1.8. Unfortunately I’m not seeing any advantage in the optics. The build is very nice, centering more consistent, but sharpness seems to slightly lag or just equal the Samyang f1.8. Not sure if I got a bad copy (seems evenly centered in tests) or if the only upgrade that will really show a big improvement is the 35GM? Size, weight and price have kept me away from the 35GM thus far. Wondering if I should reconsider the GM or if try another copy of the...Show more →

I tried three different copies of the Sigma and found them all to be sharp enough for general shooting. Or nearly so. One of them was kind of tilted somehow. The other two were centered fine but both were weak at the midzone, right side only. better bokeh than the Samyang except for in the corners and extreme sides where the Samyang is better (to my eyes and some situations, YMMW).
This was 2 years ago and I hope Sigmas sold today are better. Maybe it was about a bad batch or two.

The Samyang 35/1.8 (one copy only) build quality is lower, less fun to use but optically there isn't much wrong with the lens. A tad sharper than the Sigma if that matters.

The 35 GM (again one copy only) is better at about everything. Maybe not meaningfully better - that depends on your intended use and what camera you have. For an A7C, 24MP sensor, I would say they all work fine.

I'm about to sell the 35GM as I found I don't use it. That is due to the weight and I now prefer a combo of the PZ 16-35/4 and the Samyang 75/1.8. That's another story of course.

Apr 12, 2023 at 02:01 PM

dwh1312
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p.30 #14 · p.30 #14 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Based on the replies I’m guessing I may have gotten a decent but not exceptional copy of the Sigma. But my experience isn’t that unusual. Almost tempted to get a second copy of the Samyang f1.8 to see if I can get a better performing copy. I do love its size and weight. 35GM seems the best upgrade path for me, just not sure the extra size, weight costs are worth it to me.

Apr 12, 2023 at 03:12 PM

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p.30 #15 · p.30 #15 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

dwh1312 wrote:
Based on the replies I’m guessing I may have gotten a decent but not exceptional copy of the Sigma. But my experience isn’t that unusual. Almost tempted to get a second copy of the Samyang f1.8 to see if I can get a better performing copy. I do love its size and weight. 35GM seems the best upgrade path for me, just not sure the extra size, weight costs are worth it to me.

I don't think a 35GM is going to be any better at mid apertures. Both lenses are as good as it gets for a 35mm lens from about f4; in fact they are close to diffraction limited!

You might notice better performance from the GM at f2 compared to the sigma; and you will notice better performance from the GM near minimum focussing distance until about f4.

But if the mid aperture performance is not good enough for you, look for something other than the lens. Unless, of course, your copy is really bad - but really bad Sigmas are unusual, as they test them individually.

Apr 12, 2023 at 11:40 PM

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p.30 #16 · p.30 #16 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

bump

May 17, 2023 at 03:23 PM

fred081273
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p.30 #17 · p.30 #17 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Hi,

i am new to this forum but have read tons of threads during the last years. I am trying to find a lens that fits between my Loxia 21 and Sigma 65f2. I still have the Batis 40. It is a great lens but i am more a 35mm shooter.
i have tried three copies of the S35f2 but experienced a backfocus wide open on my two A7rII bodies.
The Batis works just fine.

Here is an example. I have focused the right eye using AF-S. The left eye is clearly sharper.

https://flic.kr/p/2oB7gwr

Yesterday i have called Sigma Germany. They will try to reproduce the problem.

Cheers
Fred

May 18, 2023 at 02:59 AM

fred081273
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p.30 #18 · p.30 #18 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Got a call from Sigma today. They could reproduce the backfocus on a rII and rIV.
Sigma Japan sent them a fix. I have to send my lens to Sigma for an update.

May 19, 2023 at 04:25 PM

lensfan
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p.30 #19 · p.30 #19 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

Do we still have front/back focus issues on mirrorless? I remember in Canon DSLR days every Sigma I purchased went through extensive front/back focus test in the store before buy. Did not realize it is stil an issue on mirrorless.

May 19, 2023 at 04:46 PM

AZHeaven
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p.30 #20 · p.30 #20 · Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Review

lensfan wrote:
Do we still have front/back focus issues on mirrorless? I remember in Canon DSLR days every Sigma I purchased went through extensive front/back focus test in the store before buy. Did not realize it is stil an issue on mirrorless.

Nope! That's one reason I switched to Sony from Nikon in 2018. My Tamron and Sigma lenses were front and back focusing. Though there are copy variations with lenses that have that issue.

May 20, 2023 at 09:27 AM

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