p.7 #1 · SG-image 35mm f/2.2 AF pancake lens for E/L/Z mounts
OscarF wrote:
I emailed SG-image asking whether the special lens hood and cap were included with purchase. There's nowhere in the product listing that mentions or evens shows the square lens hood.
p.7 #2 · SG-image 35mm f/2.2 AF pancake lens for E/L/Z mounts
After having seen five review videos on Youtube, it seems that the biggest obstacle at the moment seems to be the AF-performance on all mounts (L, Z and E), hopefully firmware updates can mitigate that.
p.7 #4 · SG-image 35mm f/2.2 AF pancake lens for E/L/Z mounts
It looks like they added the hood option after the emails. On the initial orders, they didn't have the hood option... On 25mm they were giving it free on early orders, then they switched no hoods...
lattesweden wrote:
The metal hood is 10 USD extra at ordering (on the sg-image website). you then also get a special lens cap that fits over the hood.
So far, only E and Z are available.. Available in three trim levels. An ordinary, square lens hood with a lid, plus some filters.
Thanks for the headsup sergun, ordered it to US from Aliexpress. Directly from sgimage seems cheaper but they explicitly write that the buyer is responsible for tariffs and Ali return policy is great…
p.7 #13 · SG-image 35mm f/2.2 AF pancake lens for E/L/Z mounts
Rather than ordering direct, I picked up a copy from a local distributor. During a brief hands-on, a few characteristics stood out: the manual focus is heavily damped, and the autofocus is impressively snappy on the A9 III. I also noticed some field curvature at infinity. The corners are decently sharp if you focus specifically on them, as the focal plane bends outward.
p.7 #14 · SG-image 35mm f/2.2 AF pancake lens for E/L/Z mounts
I got the lens this Monday (ordered from Aliexpress the day it became available there, March 27), today I am sending it back... Autofocus works okayish in center area (I would call it average, usable but not fast at all, with some noise), but is very unreliable outside of it. AF-C is unusable outside of APS-C zone with the lens (I have A7C2). I like to shoot with central-point only, point at subject, push AF ON button to activate AF-C and then recompose. With this lens it's impossible, it will start pulsating and focusing on everything else when I recompose... Checked the vendor's website, no FW update for Sony cameras yet - I guess it's because of the extreme focal plane curvature outside of the central area (the lens has pretty substantial focus breathing which I guess also contributes to it somehow losing focus with AF-C).
It's also a bit bigger/heavier than I expected - it's not long, but pretty wide, and with A7C2 the metal focus ring digs into my fingers Weight on the camera feels very similar to Sony 40/2.5G (obviously, as they are pracitcally the same weight, but I hoped it will bring the center of mass closer to the camera - does not feel like it).
It made my camera freeze twice during brief testing - camera turned on, focused, took a photo and the camera showed black screen and became totally unresponsive - had to take battery out (turning off/on did not do anything). Never happed to me with other lens... The firmware of the lens must be super early, I guess they can fix some issues as they brought up FW update for L-mount version pretty quickly..
Otherwise the sharpness is actually okay, when I manually focused I was pretty happy with it (even wide open), but the autofocus quirks kill it for me totally.
p.7 #15 · SG-image 35mm f/2.2 AF pancake lens for E/L/Z mounts
I took a few shots this morning... I tried it with A1 with old firmware and A7C kolari. The size was fine with me holding A7C eg compared to tighter Metabones adapter. AF was fine with both, but af struggled at mfd on A7C with backlighting (A7C was afs, A1 was dmf). It is not the fastest af like Sony lenses, but I didn't see any issues, no freezing, no problem on af after I switched to afc on A7C also. Animal eye af is excellent at afc with both A1 & A7C trying with our midsize dog.
Sharpness wide open is on the soft side, corners are not sharp. There is definitely field curvature. It reminded me the Mandler 35mm video review posted here... Compared to Samyang 100mm f2.2, SG 35mm is softer wide open... At f8, both camera corners looked fine based on af on the trees across the parking lot... Corners at f4 looked to me better on A7C kolari, again it might be 24MP vs 50MP and hand-held uncontrolled shots... I don't know how they have adjusted the sensor thickness btw L and E versions... I like the lens so far... It has a softer draw, more like older lenses...
Here is a review on S9, as he said all depends on your expectations:
p.7 #16 · SG-image 35mm f/2.2 AF pancake lens for E/L/Z mounts
serhan_ wrote:
I took a few shots this morning... I tried it with A1 with old firmware and A7C kolari. The size was fine with me holding A7C eg compared to tighter Metabones adapter. AF was fine with both, but af struggled at mfd on A7C with backlighting (A7C was afs, A1 was dmf). It is not the fastest af like Sony lenses, but I didn't see any issues, no freezing, no problem on af after I switched to afc on A7C also. Animal eye af is excellent at afc with both A1 & A7C trying with our midsize dog.
Sharpness wide open is on the soft side, corners are not sharp. There is definitely field curvature. It reminded me the Mandler 35mm video review posted here... Compared to Samyang 100mm f2.2, SG 35mm is softer wide open... At f8, both camera corners looked fine based on af on the trees across the parking lot... Corners at f4 looked to me better on A7C kolari, again it might be 24MP vs 50MP and hand-held uncontrolled shots... I don't know how they have adjusted the sensor thickness btw L and E versions... I like the lens so far... It has a softer draw, more like older lenses...
Here is a review on S9, as he said all depends on your expectations:
My experience mirrors yours, using the A9III, no issues so far. Focus acquisition is slower than GM glass, but tracking is solid; I’m getting an 80–90% hit rate at 5 fps with a child running toward me. Resolution is a bit weaker mid-frame compared to the corners when focus is placed there, but overall it’s more than acceptable given the price, size, and weight. It also seems tuned for portrait distances rather than infinity, though I need more data to confirm. For me, it’s a keeper.
p.7 #19 · SG-image 35mm f/2.2 AF pancake lens for E/L/Z mounts
This seems like it will be a very appealingly tiny competitor. Thypoch Ksana 35mm f2 ASPH lens. $599 alone or 649 with hood.
"Vintage Brass Construction with Premium Aesthetics
Crafted with a brass lens body for greater heft and vintage character than aluminum, it develops a unique patina over time for a timeless, well-loved look. Paired with 10 circular aperture blades for smooth, natural bokeh and gentle out-of-focus transitions."
Ahh the 40mm F/2, probably deserves its own thread as it's arguably one of the most important lenses ever released for L-mount (certainly the most important lens for the Panasonic Lumix S9). I do strongly agree with many reviewers - it really should have been a kit lens at S9's launch and Panasonic have lost the first mover advantage with the plethora of very capable third party lenses now available on L-mount (TTArtisan 40/2, SG-image 35/2.2..). But better late than never!
I haven't explored every review or sample of the Lumix 40/2, but based on what I have seen so far it feels just like an FF version of the M4/3 Lumix G 20/1.7, in terms of the concept, handling, and rendering - clean, consistent, and clinical, with improved AF compared with what I remember of the Lumix G 20/1.7. If I'm being picky, the bokeh of the Lumix 40/2 has some strong outlining, still it does a fine job blowing out the DOF and the rendering is not that different (possibly better) than equivalents on other mounts such as the Sony 50/2.5. For this size, price, and convenience, I think it's very acceptable. Some may prefer the more characterful or vintage looks of the TTArtisan or SG-image which appear to have slightly creamier bokeh rendering, at the cost of consistency and sharpness which the Lumix has in abundance.
Personally, I won't be giving up my Sigma 45/2.8 anytime soon - IMHO the Lumix 40/2.8 in no way matches it in terms of rendering (and very few lenses do!). Nonetheless, it's great to see L-mount thriving with so many decent lens choices for all tastes.
Weight on the camera feels very similar to Sony 40/2.5G (obviously, as they are pracitcally the same weight, but I hoped it will bring the center of mass closer to the camera - does not feel like it).
