"How many Sony-fit 35mm primes do we NEED? We count 15, but there are more"
"Sony makes two 35mm primes under its own label, and two more with the Zeiss branding.
-Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Sony's regular everyday 35mm f/1.8 prime is a G lens rather than a G Master, but that does make it both affordable and a reasonable size.
-Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Sony's new premium G Master optic is not massively huge, nor massively expensive, but it is massively good and almost certainly the best FE mount 35mm prime right now.
-Sony (Zeiss) Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA This super-compact Zeiss lens combines optical and engineering quality with a super-slim profile, but it is pricey.
-Sony (Zeiss) Distagon T* FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA Before Sony started its G Master line, its Zeiss-branded lenses were its flagship optics. Now the Distagon 35mm f/1.4 goes head to head with the newer G Master lens.
Sigma 35mm primes
Sigma makes three fast 35mm primes for Sony FE; two are huge but the third looks a lot more practical.
-Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Just in for testing, this new Sigma 35mm f/2 is a sensible size and a sensible price, and we can't wait to find out what it's like to use.
-Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Once upon a time, a 35mm prime lens was a compact and portable alternative to a zoom. The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 is neither. Its a great lens, but HUGE.
-Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art Is the Sony E-mount wide enough for f/1.2 lenses. It is if you are Sigma. But impressive as the 35mm f/1.2 is technically, it's bigger even than the f/1.4 version.
Samyang 35mm primes
Samyang's 35mm primes are miles cheaper, and now that the latest come with AF, you don't have to give up too much convenience.
-Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE If you like the look of the Zeiss-badged 35mm f/2.8 but not the price, here's a cheaper alternative that probably won't match the Zeiss build and quality, but might come close enough.
-Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE If you want an affordable everyday 35mm prime, this Samyang lens is a little shorter and lighter than the Sony equivalent and a whole lot cheaper.
-Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE Samyang always delivers impressive specs for the price, and its AF 35mm f/1.4 is not just WAY cheaper than the -Sony equivalent, but a lot cheaper than the Sigma f/1.4 lens too.
-Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC Before it started making autofocus lenses, Samyang made a lot of manual focus primes, and many are still on sale, which makes things confusing.
Tamron, Voigtländer and Zeiss 35mm primes
Tamron's trio of affordable FE mount primes has really caught our eye, but what we really, really want to get our hands on are the two Noktons...
-Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD M 1:2 There are no fireworks with the Tamron lens, just modest specs and everyday affordable practicality – and it will focus right down to a 1:2 reproduction ratio for half life size macro shots.
-Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 Voigtlander is a name from the past, and a time when 35mm lenses were quite small. This one is manual focus and we haven't tried it – but we really want to.
-Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical SE Is the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 not fast enough for you? Then go another 1/3EV faster with this f/1.2 version – another lens we really want to get our hands on!
-ZEISS Loxia 35mm f/2 Zeiss Loxia lenses are compact and portable but manual focus only – but this one can be 'declicked' for video. Don't rule it out if you're looking for a small and classy prime. "
Leica is the only one I know coming with a new 28mm prime for their SL system. Listening to one of the Leica marketing discussions on-line, it was mentioned the huge and on going success of their 28mm fixed lens camera, the Q and Q2 contributed to Leica deciding on the 28mm FL as a priority for their next new SL lens.
As it seems we are still missing great 35mm options (!) , it looks like Voigtlander will join the pack and offer a 35mm APO lens (in FE and M mounts) !
As it seems we are still missing great 35mm options (!) , it looks like Voigtlander will join the pack and offer a 35mm APO lens (in FE and M mounts) !
keepcoding wrote:
Exactly my thoughts. It will be only marginally better than something like the Sigma 35mm F2 in terms of chromatic aberrations.
Without a doubt it should perform better than the Sigma in terms of color error but based on their 50/2 APO, I would still expect some fringing under extreme contrast situations. It's definitely a lens I would like to compare to the 35/2 DG DN.
So many choices, so little room in the camera bag.
My top 5 are:
1. Sigma 35i - Light, compact, metal build and beautiful rendering, i.e., everything I want in a lens.
2. Sony 35GM - GM goodness. A little heavy for a walk around lens, but without a doubt this will be one of the best 35s.
3. CV 35 APO - Always wanted to own 50 APO, but I already have the dreamy 50/1.2 Nokton SE, so that wasn't really an option, but 35 APO might be the ticket.
4. Sigma 35 f/1.2 - I own and love everything about it except its weight and size.
TakenWild wrote:
I don’t think other recent lenses will really compare to a 35 APO.
They will complement it, but with these APO are a pure joy to use as far a manual focus experience goes. I’ll bet it’s IQ will be better than the Sigma 35/2 or the Tamron 35/2.8 with it’s wonderful macro ability.
Very likely it will be equipped with same aperture mechanism from the 50/2 APO...meaning full circular specular highlights at f/2 and f/2.8.
vdo1 wrote:
Of course. Looking forward to the "rendering" and "sunstars" oohs and aahs that Cosina always ellicits. Hopefully this one will have "micro-contrast" too
Now that depends...What is your definition of "micro-contrast"
Fred Miranda wrote:
Very likely it will be equipped with same aperture mechanism from the 50/2 APO...meaning full circular specular highlights at f/2 and f/2.8.
And at f/5.6 too if they copy it from the APO50VM...
Back when the 50 APO came out I said I wanted a 35 APO. Now here it is and I'm happy with the 35 1.2. My guess is it will not be much if at all sharper in the center at F2 and I like the added dual purpose of being able to shoot wide open at 1.2. I am curious to see how the 35APO and the 35 1.2 SE compare size wise though. Sooo many options. Really thought the next CV lens for Sony would be the 75mm.
TakenWild wrote:
I’m keeping my Tamron 35/2.8, even after getting this APO. It’s cheap and I love it’s macro ability. But the Tamron isn’t great for people and I like a 35 for people. The AF is sluggish. I may end up with 3 35mm primes! I’m keen on the new Sigma as well.
Feb 10, 2021 at 04:28 PM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
nhsonyshooter wrote:
Back when the 50 APO came out I said I wanted a 35 APO. Now here it is and I'm happy with the 35 1.2. My guess is it will not be much if at all sharper in the center at F2 and I like the added dual purpose of being able to shoot wide open at 1.2. I am curious to see how the 35APO and the 35 1.2 SE compare size wise though. Sooo many options. Really thought the next CV lens for Sony would be the 75mm.
Same here. The 50/2 APO is a special lens and can't be beat for across the field sharpness, even wide open, and for lack of aberrations. But the 50/1.2 Nokton SE is a tad sharper centrally and competes across the field when closed down to f/5.6 or more. It can get looks that the 50 APO can't. Phillip Reeve's review of the 50/2 APO ended like this
"If you are in the lucky position that spending a little over $1k on a 2/50 won’t cause you any financial stress go for it: You will enjoy handling it. You will also enjoy the images you take with it and you can be certain that there is no better for some applications applications. For example for landscape photography where speed isn’t important but sharpness, contrast, flare resistance and sunstars clearly make the AL 2/50 best in class and the images you take with it on a high resolution camera will hold up to gigantic enlargement.
But if you are in the more typical situation that this amount of money is a big investment to you I can only advise to not be blinded by the Voigtlander’s technical perfection. Other lenses give in my eyes nicer images for a wider range of uses. Take for example Voigtlander’s own 1.2/50 which is close in price and size but offers 1.5 stops more and also nicer bokeh. Sure the 2/50 AL is a lot better corrected but at the typical enlargements I find aberrations to be hardly ever an issue while speed and bokeh are easily visible in most images."
I'll bet the same will hold true with the 35/2 APO and the 35/1.2 SE (at least I hope so because I can't afford another 35 ).
I like the bokeh on my 35mm 1.7. I'm sure this will be sharper off center no doubt, but it has to have equal OOF rendering and then I'd consider it....or maybe not. IDK, like the above poster, the OOF rendering is more important to me than off center sharpness. I tend to put my subject in the center or slightly off. I rarely do group shots at 35mm. With that said, I haven't tried the 35mm 1.2, but I'd probably swing that way if I added another Voigtlander 35mm.
So many 35mm lenses so little time.
Feb 10, 2021 at 05:25 PM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
smpetty wrote:
Same here. The 50/2 APO is a special lens and can't be beat for across the field sharpness, even wide open, and for lack of aberrations. But the 50/1.2 Nokton SE is a tad sharper centrally and competes across the field when closed down to f/5.6 or more. It can get looks that the 50 APO can't. Phillip Reeve's review of the 50/2 APO ended like this
"If you are in the lucky position that spending a little over $1k on a 2/50 won’t cause you any financial stress go for it: You will enjoy handling it. You will also enjoy the images you take with it and you can be certain that there is no better for some applications applications. For example for landscape photography where speed isn’t important but sharpness, contrast, flare resistance and sunstars clearly make the AL 2/50 best in class and the images you take with it on a high resolution camera will hold up to gigantic enlargement.
But if you are in the more typical situation that this amount of money is a big investment to you I can only advise to not be blinded by the Voigtlander’s technical perfection. Other lenses give in my eyes nicer images for a wider range of uses. Take for example Voigtlander’s own 1.2/50 which is close in price and size but offers 1.5 stops more and also nicer bokeh. Sure the 2/50 AL is a lot better corrected but at the typical enlargements I find aberrations to be hardly ever an issue while speed and bokeh are easily visible in most images."
I'll bet the same will hold true with the 35/2 APO and the 35/1.2 SE (at least I hope so because I can't afford another 35 )....Show more →
I put my 35 SE up for sale this morning and just changed my mind and withdrew it .
Feb 10, 2021 at 05:33 PM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
smpetty wrote:
Same here. The 50/2 APO is a special lens and can't be beat for across the field sharpness, even wide open, and for lack of aberrations. But the 50/1.2 Nokton SE is a tad sharper centrally and competes across the field when closed down to f/5.6 or more. It can get looks that the 50 APO can't. Phillip Reeve's review of the 50/2 APO ended like this
"If you are in the lucky position that spending a little over $1k on a 2/50 won’t cause you any financial stress go for it: You will enjoy handling it. You will also enjoy the images you take with it and you can be certain that there is no better for some applications applications. For example for landscape photography where speed isn’t important but sharpness, contrast, flare resistance and sunstars clearly make the AL 2/50 best in class and the images you take with it on a high resolution camera will hold up to gigantic enlargement.
But if you are in the more typical situation that this amount of money is a big investment to you I can only advise to not be blinded by the Voigtlander’s technical perfection. Other lenses give in my eyes nicer images for a wider range of uses. Take for example Voigtlander’s own 1.2/50 which is close in price and size but offers 1.5 stops more and also nicer bokeh. Sure the 2/50 AL is a lot better corrected but at the typical enlargements I find aberrations to be hardly ever an issue while speed and bokeh are easily visible in most images."
I'll bet the same will hold true with the 35/2 APO and the 35/1.2 SE (at least I hope so because I can't afford another 35 )....Show more →
I think when comparing between the Nokton and the APO Lanthars now at 35 and 50, I think it depends on what you shoot and how you shoot. Personally, for 90% of my shots with the 50 Nokton I am stopped down to f/2 or narrower. I plan to switch to the 50 APO Lanthar and I don't think I will miss the Nokton much. I may miss the bokeh sometimes, but I won't miss the fast aperture because I don't use it. I know I will also use the better close focus ability of the AL quite a bit as well. My Sony manual focus kit is my travel kit and I want it to be small and want the lenses to be versatile, so I think the 50 f/2 AL will just fit that use better. For much the same reasons I will probably go with the 35 f/2 AL, and if I was going to go with one AL and Nokton I would go with the 35 AL (provided it is in the same league as the 50 f/2 AL) and the 50 Nokton.
