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Archive 2022 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

rrrr
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

Hi,I have a sony a7c with samyang 35mm f1.8 and want to purchase my 2nd lens, I am considering either of the sony 55 and sigma 65

focal length wise it doesn't seem to be a big difference.
I am considering better optical performance
I m getting sony 55 for 805 USD & Sigma 65 for 832 USD in my country.

Please help me decide which lens to choose

Thanks

Jan 02, 2022 at 05:50 AM

isohw
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

My 2 cents,
35 and 55 are too close.
Better pair 35 with 65 mm.

I have 55ZA but I prefer sigma rendering.

Jan 02, 2022 at 07:10 AM

WillR
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

I did a comparison of both lenses here:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1689786/5#15556579

The 55 has a lot of good features, but I replaced my copy with the Sigma 65

-Will

Jan 02, 2022 at 09:17 AM

newdom
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

Sigma 65/2 all the way

The 55ZA was a good lens in it's time, but there are better options now. The Sigma is better build quality, better corrected (55ZA suffers from CA) and is sharper and has nice rendering at the same time. It's a great lens, under-appreciated because of it's odd focal length.

Jan 02, 2022 at 11:58 AM

smpetty
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

I own both and agree with all of the above. The Sony 55 is a great lens, but the Sigma is better in almost every way, and it fits better with the 35 you already have.

The only advantages that the Sony has, IMO, are its smaller size and weight (281g vs 405g) and slightly better AF. The AF of the 55 is just about perfect and instant, the AF of the Sigma 65 is slightly less accurate but also very fast. Of all of the Sigma lenses that I have used, the Sigma 65 DG DN has the best AF.

Jan 02, 2022 at 12:24 PM

Oogappeltje
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

+1 Sigma 65i

Jan 02, 2022 at 01:19 PM

corposant
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

Tough to beat the size of the 55mm

Jan 02, 2022 at 01:48 PM

photosbyjaron
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

Although I don’t still own the 65i, I still think the 65i is one of the best primes available for e-mount or really on any lens mount for that matter. Smooth fall off and let’s you get closer to the subject for portraits. I replaced mine with the 85 f1.4 for portraits, since I had never owned a 85 1.4, but I often regret not having the 65 still. It’s a great focal length for video as well.

Jan 02, 2022 at 02:44 PM

philip_pj
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

The new lenses will always win in the public mind over the 'due for replacement' age lenses, as many people see it. Lenses go through stages of maturity, with a lull in middle age when all and sundry know the faults, and even the circumstances that will bring them out in full view (bright sun, high contrast, close focus, fussy details in background, wide open).

Other factors arise. A lot of photographers don't enjoy 65mm for portraits and landscapes alike, and they jump from 50-55 to 75-85-90. The 55mm is as great lens at f8, where its very few much-publicised faults largely disappear. Even by f4, it's a scalpel. 65s are harder for groups or mixed content images.

And it all depends on what you intend to use it for. I doubt the Sigma is a better travel lens, for example, where you are often taking diverse compositions that need fast/quiet AF and have to crop in post. While not being in love with the 55, it's taken many of my most memorable images.

Jan 02, 2022 at 05:23 PM

SpecFoto
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

Bought the 55mm ZA when I first bought into Sony just over 3 years ago. It is a very good lens with fast AF, but it doesn't always have the best rendering. About 5 months ago I bought the Sigma 65 and I just love this lens. It is also very sharp with fast AF, but its rendering is better in my opinion. I have always had a 85mm as part of my kit and the 65 has allowed me to basically replace both the 55 and 85mm lenses for my travel and general shooting. I will be keeping my Batis 85mm but I plan on putting the Sony 55 up for sale, the 65 Sigma is that good.

That said, both lenses will produce great photos and you can't make a bad choice here

Jan 02, 2022 at 06:34 PM

DaveFP
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

FWIW -

Forget the 55 and 65.

Buy an 85 and create the opportunity to create an entirely different genre of images.

Jan 02, 2022 at 06:58 PM

darrellc
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

Everyone is different and you have to go with what works for you…

In my case, 55mm just never worked in context of my kit… and I found 85mm is just a focal length I don’t see images at - i always want to be longer or shorter, mostly shorter, so that 85mm turns into a specialist lens I never use except for dedicated portrait sessions and then I prefer using my Tamron 70-180mm. 65mm turns out to be perfect for me, replacing both the 50 and 85mm focal lengths and pairing well for me with my Sigma 35. I really like carrying 20/1.8G, Sigma 35 (and probably a 35GM at some point) and Sigma 65 as my 3 lens prime kit. I don’t care about shorter or longer 99% of the time.

I’ve had multiple copies of the 55ZA and had my first one from day one of the A7. A great lens whose faults are well known and perfectly acceptable to me. I much prefer the 65i image rendering as it approaches wider apertures. While the 55 ZA AF is superlative and a great video lens, the 65i has been sufficient for those purposes for me.

Jan 02, 2022 at 07:19 PM

Dave Sanders
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

I don't have the 65i...though I think will pick one up.

I've had three copies of the 55ZA...QC was much more of a problem for me than its performance shortcomings. I couldn't get a copy that was centered or without a tiled focal plane, so that's why I don't have one, but I used it and took many great images with it. Does it have bad CA? Sure. Can it have unsettled bokeh in certain situations? Yes indeed. But, like the 35ZA, when there aren't specular highlights, bokeh is quite lovely and rendering is very nice. While not exactly small for its class, it's at least light and focuses well.

I think the issue is that the 65i does everything the 55 does, just better with a bit more weight. I love having an aperture ring too, so I might give the haptics/ergonomics nod to the Sigma as well. The 55 isn't exactly a cheap lens either...but that doesn't change the fact that it is a great lens that is small and sharp and I took some images I really enjoy with it. The following is one I took of my father way back in the days of the original A7...I think it shows that the rendering of the 55 is nice in the right situation.

Jan 02, 2022 at 08:16 PM

DaveFP
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

darrellc wrote:
Everyone is different and you have to go with what works for you…

The most informative sentence in the thread.

Hopefully the OP reads it and understands it.

You'll never find a 65mm in my armamentarium; no matter how good it is.

Neither fish nor fowl in my hands. No room in the bag for such a thing.

Even the 55 is a tad long for what I want from a "fifty".

My loss as the system would appear to have two great 65s.

Jan 02, 2022 at 10:33 PM

jaybr
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

rrrr wrote:
Hi,I have a sony a7c with samyang 35mm f1.8 and want to purchase my 2nd lens, I am considering either of the sony 55 and sigma 65

focal length wise it doesn't seem to be a big difference.
I am considering better optical performance
I m getting sony 55 for 805 USD & Sigma 65 for 832 USD in my country.

Please help me decide which lens to choose

Thanks

I usually prioritise size with prime lenses, because I prefer twin prime lens combos. One on the camera body, the other in my pocket or in a small neoprene clip-on belt pouch. I have a couple of twin prime lens combos:

Voigtlander FE 21mm f3.5 and Sony FE 55mm f1.8
Also
Samyang FE 35mm f2.8 (perfect copy) and Samyang FE 75mm f1.8

As others have mentioned in this thread, the Sony 55’s balance of compact size/performance is it’s greatest benefit.
The Sigma 65 looks to be better optically, but is slightly larger and heavier.

Here’s the Camerasize comparison of the Sony 55 vs Sigma 65 (with hood) for your convenience:

https://camerasize.com/compact/#858.395,858.954,ha,t

J

Jan 03, 2022 at 02:39 AM

philip_pj
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

They are only little things, but notice how reviews provide descriptions about lens hoods but so very few ever weigh them, nor do they give you the 'in the field' weights? Not everyone uses their terrific lenses with no sun protection at all, ever.

Anyway, the in usage weights here are :

Sony 55/1.8 - 281g + 41g = 322g; Sigma 65/2 - 407g + 55g = 462g.

Sony's smallish cutout hood is very strong, mine is still unmarked after 8 years. It's not in the Cosina Voigtlander category (elegant metal and very light) but for a solid hunk of plastic, it's very good.

Jan 03, 2022 at 07:09 PM

tsdevine
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

Hmm, my FE 55 hood seems to be half plastic, half metal.

Jan 03, 2022 at 07:20 PM

scrappydog
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

Jan 03, 2022 at 07:32 PM

jaybr
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

“35mm and 55mm are too close in focal length”

I used to think that too, but the 55mm performs more like a semi portrait/normal lens, and the 35mm more like a wide/normal lens. There’s a clear and noticeable difference between the two focal lengths.

Also, I thought the 55’s LoCa would bother me after prominently seeing it in a few online reviews. I also thought the onion ring bokeh balls would too. I even sold my original copy of the lens a few years ago, thinking there were better options out there without those optical aberrations. The fact is, I realised most compact lenses have optical aberrations or compromises. The ones that don’t are usually larger, heavier or more expensive, or are manual focus only (I prefer EyeAF in longer focal lengths). I ended up purchasing another Zony 55 a couple of years ago 😉

I haven’t tested the Sigma 65 (because I’m happy with my current set of lenses).

J

Jan 03, 2022 at 08:30 PM

MAubrey
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Sony FE 55mm 1.8 ZA vs Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN

It's worth considering what you might want later on. If you can see yourself getting an 85mm or 90mm later, then the 55 is probably the better choice over then 65mm.

Jan 03, 2022 at 10:06 PM

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