p.2 #1 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Nice, great little review, thanks. I think I'll stick with my Sigma 45 and pick up either the Sigma 35i or talk myself into the 35GM. In Canada the Sony 40/2.5 is $799 CDN, the Sigma 35i $899. For me I definitely think that I like the Sigma and the 35mm FOV $100 more.
Now, the 35GM? $1899 CDN...that's the exactly $1 more than buying both the Sigma 35i and 65i. Hmmm...
p.2 #2 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
'In this case the CA went away at f/8, f/11 if a little more picky.'
You broaden the DOF envelope with small apertures, and get a more diffused focal plane. Try a brush with much reduced saturation, one for magenta only, a second go over for green only. It's an imperfect world!
p.2 #3 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Excellent review, I've been on the fence on this vs the Sigma 35/2 as my small (ish) walk around. I want the 40 to beat the Sigma as I would appreciate the lighter weight and enjoy 40 as a FL, but I think this push me towards the Sigma. Same price, a bit wider and heavier.
p.2 #4 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
j4nu wrote:
It's not magic, right?
According to this calculator: https://www.kielia.de/photography/calculator/
at 0.23x magnification and 0.27m focus distance (35GM AF) you get 41mm focal length.
I always thought that's all there is to it, or am I missing sth ?
Well, that's how I always understood it as well but these calculations seem to diverge a bit from those used in the review...
Effective focal lengths are probably close to the least important measuring stick by which to judge a lens, but I confess one of the reasons I felt a pull toward the 35 GM over other 35s was the suspicion it was actually a 40mm at shorter distances
p.2 #5 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Thanks again Jonas for the review. From looking at this review and others, I think what Sony has here is perhaps the perfect lens to really just leave glued to your camera. As others have said, the performance doesn't dazzle—but I think this opinion omits just how used to dazzling we have become as Sony shooters. In the chain of these releases, which hasn't been the "best" in single to multiple ways at the time of their release: 24 GM, 135 GM, 20 G, 35 GM, 50 GM, 12-24 GM?
I think the 40 G is actually worth praise optically. As someone who often shoots up close, I find undercorrected SA like one will find on the 35i a limitation even if it improves rendering at mid distance. While the 40 G doesn't have as smooth OOF regions as the 35 GM here... it also doesn't look to have the overly harsh rendering of the 35 1.8 FE. Comparing it to its AF competition, it seems to be unique in this regard. Additionally, using lenstip data, it actually appears to be sharper wide open until 3.2 than competing AF lenses. Considering that the 40 G remains plenty usable at narrower apertures I'd consider this an advantage overall.
Its features also deserve praise. Price for this lens is perhaps a bit high, but if one looks favorably on the optical performance one must also look favorably on the fact that among current compact AF standard lenses for E-mount it is unique in having: competent sealing, metal hull, manual aperture control, linear MF, AF|MF toggle, a declickable aperture, and a focus hold button. Competing AF primes can claim some on this list, but nothing except the 40 G can do all the 40 G can.
I think my next prime purchase will be the 35 GM—but I think I'll be picking this up eventually. The weight and size make this and the 35 GM a perfect division between bringing a camera just in case and planned shooting opportunities.
p.2 #6 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Thanks for the test and the images. I will keep the sigma 45/2.8 for now to use along my 35gm.
It looks much better on the camera This hood is really terrible. But if the price drops and/or I get bothered by the Sigma being softer than my GM in close-ups, I might switch. Big fan of 40-45 mm lenses, longtime user of FE 28 f2 on apsc.
p.2 #8 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
JVan_02 wrote:
@Jonas B@ : are you sure those effective focal lengths are correct? If they are, I clearly don't understand something about lenses as despite having the same MFD in manual focus (0.25m) the 35 GM has greater magnification. I would assume the 35 is more tele towards MFD, but it looks like from your chart that this isn't the case as the effective FL of the 40 G increases towards MFD.
Unless the 35 GM goes all the way to 50 or 55mm
Well, I'm never sure as then somebody will tell me I can't focus, that I'm out of my mind and so on.
I used an old formula from way back when I worked as a cinema technician. That may work or not but the relative values are OK. Anyway, I'm pretty sure and yes, all distances were measured with care.
Also see an update to post4 at the first page.
p.2 #9 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
40mm/2.5 is a bit like a new manufacturing batch of Sony/Zeiss 35mm/2.5. Obviously stock of the old lens har run down by now... Specs are a little different as well as design, but from the point of photography it does not matter much if one has the one or the other attached to a camera.
p.2 #11 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Stort tack, Jonas! Förträffligt detaljerad.
I loved the idea of this lens since I first heard about it and I have a pre-order in, but I’m not so sure anymore. It is depressingly ugly (I know, we only care about IQ and handling…) and it seems like the performance is only OK - perhaps my expectations are wrong but I don’t find this to be a cheap lens, heck, the Canon RF 50/1.8 is $200 and it is a decent performer.
This will require some rethinking, perhaps borrow or rent the lens first.
p.2 #13 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Poposs wrote:
would anyone pick this new 40 or the older 35z f2.8? have to say, the older 35z is pretty cheap now on both new and used market.
I mean, even if I didn't prefer 40 as a FL you get sealing, a vastly superior MFD & reproduction ratio, and more manual controls (which pair well with the compact α7C).
p.2 #14 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
I’d pick the new 40G over the 35/2.8 for the feature set, what must be better manual focusing experience, and improved sharpness (per lenstip review). Once it is out fir a bit and on the used market the premium won’t be that much.
p.2 #16 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Just got the email from B&H that mine shipped out today - a day earlier than they've said it would. Gets here Friday. Now I just need to grab an A7C perhaps . . .
p.2 #17 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Thank you, Jonas B for a very informative review. This looks like an easy to use, casual, grab-and-go lens. I like a 40mm field of view, a relaxed normal. I have a different small, easy, 40mm lens that I use often. It has taken some of the photos on my wall. But mine is strictly manual focus. I think anyone who uses this Sony G lens will enjoy it very much.
p.2 #18 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Flaxx74 wrote:
Thanks for the test and the images. I will keep the sigma 45/2.8 for now to use along my 35gm.
It looks much better on the camera This hood is really terrible. But if the price drops and/or I get bothered by the Sigma being softer than my GM in close-ups, I might switch. Big fan of 40-45 mm lenses, longtime user of FE 28 f2 on apsc.
I love this hood! It’s a remarkable combination of compact amd effective. Normally we get to choose between tiny hoods that make no difference to contrast or flare, or huge ones which are relatively effective.
p.2 #19 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
jhinkey wrote:
Just got the email from B&H that mine shipped out today - a day earlier than they've said it would. Gets here Friday. Now I just need to grab an A7C perhaps . . .
Mine should arrive Friday as well, and will live on my A7C. I'll post my thoughts when it shows up.
p.2 #20 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
DavidBM wrote:
I love this hood! It’s a remarkable combination of compact amd effective. Normally we get to choose between tiny hoods that make no difference to contrast or flare, or huge ones which are relatively effective.
I also think the hood on the 40/2.5 is very practical and compact. It doesn't look as beautiful as the Sigma I-series hoods, but those Sigma hoods are bit too big and heavy in comparison. On my kitchen scale, 40/2.5 hood is 12g, and Sigma 35/2 hood is 48g, and Sigma 45/2.8 hood is 44g.
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