p.1 #1 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
I'm looking for a fast 35mm setup. I'm most interested in the rendering quality but also a lens that isn't overly massive and heavy (like the Sigma 35mm f1.2).
Has anyone seen a comparison between the GM and RF or owned both lenses?
p.1 #2 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
I haven't seen in the field comparisons. But on TDP it looks like the Canon never really sharpens up as you stop down, looking at the edges and corners. Possibly due to over-reliance on digital distortion correction.
p.1 #3 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
True about the breathing but Sony's newer bodies have breathing comp so I'm not too worried about that.
It would be a general purpose walk about lens but would also love if the AF could keep up well with moving subjects (dogs mainly). I'm looking for a similar setup as I had with my A6000 with the 24mm f1.8 Sony Zeiss Sonnar. I loved the rendering and close focus distance of that lens. I haven't really found another combo I enjoy taking photos with as much as that one. The Canon reviews are a bit off putting with the clunking and heavy correction needed but the photos I've seen from it look great.
tsdevine wrote:
I haven't seen in the field comparisons. But on TDP it looks like the Canon never really sharpens up as you stop down, looking at the edges and corners. Possibly due to over-reliance on digital distortion correction.
p.1 #4 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
Well, Sonys have linear motors which can have some of that clunking....but not sure to the level of the Canon. I've heard that complaint too. It might be that Sony has better dampening.
I've never shot the GM, but I know there are many fans of it here on the Sony forum.
How well it tracks would most likely be impacted by what body you use. Anything that has the new AI AF would probably be excellent with the GM when it comes to tracking.
Hopefully some of the GM 35 shooters will jump in here.
AlphaPhotography wrote:
True about the breathing but Sony's newer bodies have breathing comp so I'm not too worried about that.
It would be a general purpose walk about lens but would also love if the AF could keep up well with moving subjects (dogs mainly). I'm looking for a similar setup as I had with my A6000 with the 24mm f1.8 Sony Zeiss Sonnar. I loved the rendering and close focus distance of that lens. I haven't really found another combo I enjoy taking photos with as much as that one. The Canon reviews are a bit off putting with the clunking and heavy correction needed but the photos I've seen from it look great.
p.1 #5 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
I use and really like the 35 GM. It has a ton of focus breathing, but if you don't care about that or are happy with the digital compensation, that's pretty much its only fault. If I were shooting video with it I'd turn on breathing compensation, but otherwise I don't care. Optically it's just spectacular, sharp everywhere in the from from wide open, but especially at wide apertures it just has a really nice look, precise and sharp without looking "clinical" as they say. Bokeh and defocused highlights are quite pleasant. Focusing is quick, accurate, and quiet enough.
p.1 #6 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
The 35GM (likely my most used lens) is relatively fast, but to tsdevine’s point above, tracking is dependent more on body. It’s not quite as fast as the 4 motor lenses (it has 2) but plenty fast for most applications.
I also own the 16-35gmii and it does indeed focus faster, whether this is meaningful to you is questionable.
I’ve used the 35gm on the a7iv and a7cr and both are excellent with tracking.
Have not used the RF but from samples I’ve seen iq is maybe a bit worse than the GM (this might be a toss up depending on what you’re after, rf has a bit more cats eye and character, Sony pretty consistent/smooth/modern), though I’ve heard focus speeds are excellent on the canon lens.
p.1 #7 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
I mentioned the AF because some of Canon's lenses have pretty terrible noisy autofocus like my 35mm f1.8 STM or even my 28-70mm f2. I find they struggle with fast moving subjects even on a camera like the R5 where their other lenses like the 70-200mm f2.8 focus very fast. Fortunately that shouldn't be any issue with the VCM.
My experience with Sony was that all of their AF lenses I used were blazing fast and silent including older ones like the 55mm Zeiss. The only one I ever heard a complaint about was the 85mm GM. The 135mm f1.8 GM is still one of my favorite lenses ever.
tsdevine wrote:
Well, Sonys have linear motors which can have some of that clunking....but not sure to the level of the Canon. I've heard that complaint too. It might be that Sony has better dampening.
I've never shot the GM, but I know there are many fans of it here on the Sony forum.
How well it tracks would most likely be impacted by what body you use. Anything that has the new AI AF would probably be excellent with the GM when it comes to tracking.
Hopefully some of the GM 35 shooters will jump in here.
p.1 #8 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
I think that if you like the 135GM, then you will enjoy the 35GM. I feel like the GM line of lenses has a look. I certainly enjoy it. This isn’t to say it’s better or worse than anything else. It’s not any individual attribute that makes it near perfection IMO. It’s the total package. How it handles and balances. Having a physical aperture ring was always important for my own enjoyment. I have had it since release and it’ll forever remain a staple of my photography.
AlphaPhotography wrote:
I mentioned the AF because some of Canon's lenses have pretty terrible noisy autofocus like my 35mm f1.8 STM or even my 28-70mm f2. I find they struggle with fast moving subjects even on a camera like the R5 where their other lenses like the 70-200mm f2.8 focus very fast. Fortunately that shouldn't be any issue with the VCM.
My experience with Sony was that all of their AF lenses I used were blazing fast and silent including older ones like the 55mm Zeiss. The only one I ever heard a complaint about was the 85mm GM. The 135mm f1.8 GM is still one of my favorite lenses ever.
p.1 #9 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
Does that hood work well enough compared to the stock one? Can it still screw on reversed?
Canon and Sony's (and Nikon's) lens lineups make it difficult to stick with one system. I can't imagine parting with the compact RF 70-200mm and 100-500mm (which also has a ridiculously good MFD). I sold my Sony A9II + 200-600mm after comparing it side by side with the Canon R5 + 100-500mm. The Sony 200-600mm was a pain to travel with, especially in smaller bags, and the MFD sucks. Canon also now has the 100-300mm which looks fantastic for sports and the 24-105mm f2.8 for video. But then Sony has amazing compact primes like the 14mm GM, 24mm GM and 35mm GM etc., plus access to 3rd party lenses like the Tamron 35-150mm. And Nikon has the only 400 and 600mm with built-in TC's plus the lightweight PF lenses and the best telephoto video stabilization by far. Their cheap new 35mm f1.4 looks pretty great too. Too many great choices these days but it feels like I need all three systems to get the best of each. A Sony A1 Mark II might drag me back to Sony or if I decide on the 35mm GM I'll either use that on my Nikon ZF or pick up an A7CR in the meantime.
Surfnsun wrote:
I think that if you like the 135GM, then you will enjoy the 35GM. I feel like the GM line of lenses has a look. I certainly enjoy it. This isn’t to say it’s better or worse than anything else. It’s not any individual attribute that makes it near perfection IMO. It’s the total package. How it handles and balances. Having a physical aperture ring was always important for my own enjoyment. I have had it since release and it’ll forever remain a staple of my photography.
p.1 #10 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
I find it to be fantastic. It’s an all metal build with the hood adding minimal bulk. It’s a pressure fit and I’ve never had it fall off by accident. They paid attention to build tolerance.
Here’s a couple quick closer shots showing the unique shape that helps to hide the size further IMO. It however doesn’t appear to allow for it to be mounted reversed like I can with the 70-200.
AlphaPhotography wrote:
Does that hood work well enough compared to the stock one? Can it still screw on reversed?
Canon and Sony's (and Nikon's) lens lineups make it difficult to stick with one system. I can't imagine parting with the compact RF 70-200mm and 100-500mm (which also has a ridiculously good MFD). I sold my Sony A9II + 200-600mm after comparing it side by side with the Canon R5 + 100-500mm. The Sony 200-600mm was a pain to travel with, especially in smaller bags, and the MFD sucks. Canon also now has the 100-300mm which looks fantastic for sports and the 24-105mm f2.8 for video. But then Sony has amazing compact primes like the 14mm GM, 24mm GM and 35mm GM etc., plus access to 3rd party lenses like the Tamron 35-150mm. And Nikon has the only 400 and 600mm with built-in TC's plus the lightweight PF lenses and the best telephoto video stabilization by far. Their cheap new 35mm f1.4 looks pretty great too. Too many great choices these days but it feels like I need all three systems to get the best of each. A Sony A1 Mark II might drag me back to Sony or if I decide on the 35mm GM I'll either use that on my Nikon ZF or pick up an A7CR in the meantime.
p.1 #11 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
Adamwilbert wrote:
The 35GM (likely my most used lens) is relatively fast, but to tsdevine’s point above, tracking is dependent more on body. It’s not quite as fast as the 4 motor lenses (it has 2)
The 50mm f/1.2 has 4, however, the aperture is larger and the focal length longer. A 35mm f/1.4 should be an easier task for the motors.
Adamwilbert wrote:
but plenty fast for most applications.
I also own the 16-35gmii and it does indeed focus faster, whether this is meaningful to you is questionable.
I’ve used the 35gm on the a7iv and a7cr and both are excellent with tracking.
Have not used the RF but from samples I’ve seen iq is maybe a bit worse than the GM (this might be a toss up depending on what you’re after, rf has a bit more cats eye and character, Sony pretty consistent/smooth/modern), though I’ve heard focus speeds are excellent on the canon lens.
Without having any experience I expect both lenses to focus fast enough and to be sharp enough, so I would choose based on preferred character, available cameras, and maybe magnification factor if that's your thing.
If you don't like corrections the 40mm Art is probably the best option, however, if you want a compact fast lens you'll have to choose.
p.1 #12 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
If u like the 135mm Gm, I think u would love the 35mm Gm rendering. I find both rendering a bit too sharp, with a little outlining in the transition zones.
I have both the sigma 35mm f1.2 and 35mm Gm but I carried my sigma on the last vacation even though it’s so heavy….
p.1 #13 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
Anyone who is considering the new Canon 35mm f1.4 take a look at the review below. He mentions things that Canon ambassadors won't, they won't an issue for some but for others they might be deal breakers.
I own the Sony GM and aside from focus breathing it doesn't have the issues the new Canon has.
p.1 #14 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Canon RF 35mm f1.4 VCM?
I own the Sony 35/1.4 GM but for Canon I’m still using my EF 35/1.4 II L adapted to the RF mount.
I’m a stills shooter so Canon’s approach to their aperture ring implementation is keeping me away.
Also, since I shoot only stills focus breathing on the Sony has no real impact to me.
Finally with no real info on how Canon will give us 14mm, 20mm, and 24mm in their L family has me sticking with Sony in those focal lengths for primes. Canon’s 15-35mm f/2.8 is a nice zoom but I like my 16-35/2.8 GM II just as much and it’s lighter. The Canon 50/1.2, 85/1.2, 10/2.8, and 135/1.8 L primes are all very good.
I hope it’s obvious that I shoot with both systems.
