Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
p.4 #1Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
darrenhaken wrote:
So you really didn't like the AF then? I wondered for the kind of photos I'm taking if it would be a problem or not.
You can solicit input from folks here and you get a wide range of opinions. But, the decision is ultimately yours. Just do what you think is right and you will have to find out for yourself whether it would be a problem or not. Either you live with it or you go back to what you have. Personally, I would not make the switch. Another option would be to get the Viltrox, use it for a while and decide, which one to sell.
aerospace99 wrote
I took one for a spin. Was not impressed with AF speed. Sharp lens though. For family memories in a must get the shot situation like birthdays or Christmas in low light, I would stay with the Sony. My 2 cents....You can solicit input from folks here and you get a wide range of opinions. But, the decision is ultimately yours. Just do what you think is right and you will have to find out for yourself whether it would be a problem or not. Either you live with it or you go back to what you have. Personally, I would not make the switch. Another option would be to get the Viltrox, use it for a while and decide, which one to sell.
Aug 17, 2026 at 10:39 AM
p.4 #2Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
darrenhaken wrote:
I owned the 35GM and thought it was, at the time, the best 35mm lens I had ever owned -- just that bit too big to bring along when I needed a 35mm walk around and did not get used much. So in the end I sold it.Is the AF 'good' still though or are you dissapointed with the hit rate?
I think it looks as small as the Sony 35mm FE 1.8 but not as light.
AF is pretty good, just not quite as fast. I might miss, say, 1 shot in every 30 -- 50 if the subject is moving quickly. They are misses that I don't usually get with my current Sony lenses (24-50 and 50/1.2) and don't remember happening with the 35GM.
Size is about the same as the Sony 35/1.8 as you say, but the body is bit heavier. A Viltrox 35mm AIR would be nice, like their 50mm AIR.
There was a thread on here recently about the best compact, lightweight 35mm for Sony cameras. It was inconclusive although the Viltrox got a number of mentions.
rob_ww wrote
I now own the Viltrox 35 EVO. Was also hoping it would feel a little bit smaller than it does in practice. AF is okay but not up with the very best. All my Viltrox lenses seem to render a tad warm and I find myself adjusting the WB by a few points on nearly every photo. Results are then fine but is a bit tedious. Along with an occasional susceptibility to flare it makes me wish their lens coatings were a bit better.I owned the 35GM and thought it was, at the time, the best 35mm lens I had ever owned -- just that bit too big to bring along when I needed a 35mm walk around and did not get used much. So in the end I sold it.
I think it looks as small as the Sony 35mm FE 1.8 but not as light.
AF is pretty good, just not quite as fast. I might miss, say, 1 shot in every 30 -- 50 if the subject is moving quickly. They are misses that I don't usually get with my current Sony lenses (24-50 and 50/1.2) and don't remember happening with the 35GM.
Size is about the same as the Sony 35/1.8 as you say, but the body is bit heavier. A Viltrox 35mm AIR would be nice, like their 50mm AIR.
There was a thread on here recently about the best compact, lightweight 35mm for Sony cameras. It was inconclusive although the Viltrox got a number of mentions.
Aug 17, 2026 at 10:59 AM
p.4 #3Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
rob_ww wrote:
I owned the 35GM and thought it was, at the time, the best 35mm lens I had ever owned -- just that bit too big to bring along when I needed a 35mm walk around and did not get used much. So in the end I sold it.Is the AF 'good' still though or are you dissapointed with the hit rate?
I think it looks as small as the Sony 35mm FE 1.8 but not as light.AF is pretty good, just not quite as fast. I might miss, say, 1 shot in every 30 -- 50 if the subject is moving quickly. They are misses that I don't usually get with my current Sony lenses (24-50 and 50/1.2) and don't remember happening with the 35GM.
Size is about the same as the Sony 35/1.8 as you say, but the body is bit heavier. A Viltrox 35mm AIR would be nice, like their 50mm AIR.
There was a thread on here recently about the best compact, lightweight 35mm for Sony cameras. It was inconclusive although the Viltrox got a...Show more →
What were the other front runners – Sony 35mm FE 1.8 and the Sigma 35mm DG DN f2?
darrenhaken wrote
rob_ww wrote
I now own the Viltrox 35 EVO. Was also hoping it would feel a little bit smaller than it does in practice. AF is okay but not up with the very best. All my Viltrox lenses seem to render a tad warm and I find myself adjusting the WB by a few points on nearly every photo. Results are then fine but is a bit tedious. Along with an occasional susceptibility to flare it makes me wish their lens coatings were a bit better.I owned the 35GM and thought it was, at the time, the best 35mm lens I had ever owned -- just that bit too big to bring along when I needed a 35mm walk around and did not get used much. So in the end I sold it.
I think it looks as small as the Sony 35mm FE 1.8 but not as light.
Size is about the same as the Sony 35/1.8 as you say, but the body is bit heavier. A Viltrox 35mm AIR would be nice, like their 50mm AIR.
There was a thread on here recently about the best compact, lightweight 35mm for Sony cameras. It was inconclusive although the Viltrox got a...Show more →
What were the other front runners – Sony 35mm FE 1.8 and the Sigma 35mm DG DN f2?
Aug 17, 2026 at 11:15 AM
p.4 #4Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
Sell an expensive lens to buy a cheap lens?
I think it's obviously better to add the cheap lens, then decide whether or not to switch to the cheaper lens.
I think it's obviously better to add the cheap lens, then decide whether or not to switch to the cheaper lens.
Aug 17, 2026 at 03:17 PM
p.4 #5Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
The best add on (!) to 35GM is 40G if you don’t need f/1.4 and would like to save some weight. But not Viltrox. Not at all.
Aug 18, 2026 at 12:09 AM
p.4 #6Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
vaptre wrote:
The best add on (!) to 35GM is 40G if you don’t need f/1.4 and would like to save some weight. But not Viltrox. Not at all.
Why the 40mm?
Aug 18, 2026 at 12:13 AM
p.4 #7Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
darrenhaken wrote:
What were the other front runners – Sony 35mm FE 1.8 and the Sigma 35mm DG DN f2?
I think there was a Samyang (from memory). Quite a lot of support for the 40G as @vaptre says, if you can make your peace with a slightly narrower FOV. The Sony G series are pretty neat and compact and have all the benefits of a first-party manufacturer.
What were the other front runners – Sony 35mm FE 1.8 and the Sigma 35mm DG DN f2?
I think there was a Samyang (from memory). Quite a lot of support for the 40G as @vaptre says, if you can make your peace with a slightly narrower FOV. The Sony G series are pretty neat and compact and have all the benefits of a first-party manufacturer.
Aug 18, 2026 at 03:58 AM
p.4 #8Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
If you can deal with the lack of weather sealing, I think the Sigma i35 is a nice complement to the 35GM. I have both and appreciate the smaller size of the Sigma. AF is good enough for street. I can't say how it does on toddlers as my kids are now adults. I also have the FE35. Haven't mounted it on a camera for years, as I prefer the rendering of the Sigma and the GM
Aug 18, 2026 at 03:00 PM
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p.4 #9Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
The Viltrox was basically a new way of having the same idea as the sigma really. I wonder how different their AF is.
How come you’ve kept the FE35?
Newenglandrocks wrote:
If you can deal with the lack of weather sealing, I think the Sigma i35 is a nice complement to the 35GM. I have both and appreciate the smaller size of the Sigma. AF is good enough for street. I can't say how it does on toddlers as my kids are now adults. I also have the FE35. Haven't mounted it on a camera for years, as I prefer the rendering of the Sigma and the GM
How come you’ve kept the FE35?
Newenglandrocks wrote:
If you can deal with the lack of weather sealing, I think the Sigma i35 is a nice complement to the 35GM. I have both and appreciate the smaller size of the Sigma. AF is good enough for street. I can't say how it does on toddlers as my kids are now adults. I also have the FE35. Haven't mounted it on a camera for years, as I prefer the rendering of the Sigma and the GM
Aug 18, 2026 at 11:22 PM
p.4 #10Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
rob_ww wrote:
I think there was a Samyang (from memory). Quite a lot of support for the 40G as @vaptre@ says, if you can make your peace with a slightly narrower FOV. The Sony G series are pretty neat and compact and have all the benefits of a first-party manufacturer.
I disagree. The CA on the 40G is why I parted ways with it. Unacceptable at f2.5, and still not cleaned up even by f3.5. For how expensive it is... yeah I went to Viltrox 50mm (which is not the same subject matter at hand, but I'm good with the 50mm f2's CA performance and sharpness).
Sony 40mm f2.5
Another set from 40mm f2.5
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-sony-fe-40mm-2-5-g/#Chromatic_aberration
Sony 35mm f1.8
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-sony-fe-35mm-f1-8/
Viltrox 35mm f1.8
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-viltrox-af-35mm-1-8-fe-evo-apo/#Chromatic_aberration
Viltrox 50mm f2
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-viltrox-af-50mm-f-2-air-fe/
My main preoccupation with CA is that it's extremely difficult to clean up in post processing. I can sharpen photos that are a bit less sharp, but CA especially in slightly out of focus areas is terrible and can be photo ruining.
darrenhaken wrote
What were the other front runners – Sony 35mm FE 1.8 and the Sigma 35mm DG DN f2?I disagree. The CA on the 40G is why I parted ways with it. Unacceptable at f2.5, and still not cleaned up even by f3.5. For how expensive it is... yeah I went to Viltrox 50mm (which is not the same subject matter at hand, but I'm good with the 50mm f2's CA performance and sharpness).
Sony 40mm f2.5
Another set from 40mm f2.5
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-sony-fe-40mm-2-5-g/#Chromatic_aberration
Sony 35mm f1.8
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-sony-fe-35mm-f1-8/
Viltrox 35mm f1.8
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-viltrox-af-35mm-1-8-fe-evo-apo/#Chromatic_aberration
Viltrox 50mm f2
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-viltrox-af-50mm-f-2-air-fe/
My main preoccupation with CA is that it's extremely difficult to clean up in post processing. I can sharpen photos that are a bit less sharp, but CA especially in slightly out of focus areas is terrible and can be photo ruining.
Aug 22, 2026 at 07:09 PM
p.4 #11Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
Agree. Opinions vary widely:
https://www.lenstip.com/602.5-Lens_review-Sony_FE_40_mm_f_2.5_G_Chromatic_and_spherical_aberration.html
..and it looks a design issue, it's got three aspheres in three elements (one or more may be double-sided, compounding the issue) and they are very hard to align perfectly. The better known Chinese lenses virtually all appear to have very low CA. I have six or seven and they are all good.
https://www.lenstip.com/602.5-Lens_review-Sony_FE_40_mm_f_2.5_G_Chromatic_and_spherical_aberration.html
..and it looks a design issue, it's got three aspheres in three elements (one or more may be double-sided, compounding the issue) and they are very hard to align perfectly. The better known Chinese lenses virtually all appear to have very low CA. I have six or seven and they are all good.
Aug 23, 2026 at 12:46 AM
p.4 #12Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
Thanks for explaining. I don't own the 40G myself, I was just responding re what lenses were suggested re smaller/lighter 35mm on another thread.
Aug 23, 2026 at 12:55 PM
p.4 #13Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
I love the 40G, I would recommend it if you want to go small. It's my light alternative to my Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB N
SONY ILCE-7M5
1/1250s f/2.5 at 40.0mm iso100
SONY ILCE-7M5
1/1250s f/2.5 at 40.0mm iso100
Aug 23, 2026 at 03:04 PM
p.4 #14Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
jojib wrote:
I love the 40G, I would recommend it if you want to go small. It's my light alternative to my Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB N
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176462996.Zi67VXrS.1DSC04560.jpg
SONY ILCE-7M5
1/1250s f/2.5 at 40.0mm iso100
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176512028.Vhg1aCBf.1DSC04579.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176513532.jVBkN1af.1DSC06316.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176513534.OLWD7E5C.1DSC07356_DxO.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176513535.uWKTY6Ad.1DSC01285_DxO.jpg
If he gets the Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB N, it sends him in a completely different direction than the OP expressed in his opening post. BUT, the brilliant part of it is, that if he gets the very large and heavy Viltrox, then the GM 35/1.4 will feel small and light.
Reverse psychology. I think I've seen samples of the Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB N in so many threads, I think I'm starting to have visions in my sleep.
So if a thread mentions 35mm, even if the desire is completely different than the Viltrox, or mentions a Chinese lens, then we see samples of the Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB N? In essence, if you move up in classification, if a lens is mentioned....any lens, technically it opens the door right?
Just yanking your chain a bit, you obviously love that lens.....
I love the 40G, I would recommend it if you want to go small. It's my light alternative to my Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB N
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176462996.Zi67VXrS.1DSC04560.jpg
SONY ILCE-7M5
1/1250s f/2.5 at 40.0mm iso100
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176512028.Vhg1aCBf.1DSC04579.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176513532.jVBkN1af.1DSC06316.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176513534.OLWD7E5C.1DSC07356_DxO.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176513535.uWKTY6Ad.1DSC01285_DxO.jpg
If he gets the Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB N, it sends him in a completely different direction than the OP expressed in his opening post. BUT, the brilliant part of it is, that if he gets the very large and heavy Viltrox, then the GM 35/1.4 will feel small and light.
Reverse psychology. I think I've seen samples of the Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB N in so many threads, I think I'm starting to have visions in my sleep.
So if a thread mentions 35mm, even if the desire is completely different than the Viltrox, or mentions a Chinese lens, then we see samples of the Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB N? In essence, if you move up in classification, if a lens is mentioned....any lens, technically it opens the door right?
Just yanking your chain a bit, you obviously love that lens.....
Aug 23, 2026 at 03:15 PM
p.4 #15Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
tsdevine wrote:
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176462996.Zi67VXrS.1DSC04560.jpg
SONY ILCE-7M5
1/1250s f/2.5 at 40.0mm iso100
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176512028.Vhg1aCBf.1DSC04579.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176513532.jVBkN1af.1DSC06316.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176513534.OLWD7E5C.1DSC07356_DxO.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176513535.uWKTY6Ad.1DSC01285_DxO.jpgIf he gets the Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB N, it sends him in a completely different direction than the OP expressed in his opening post. BUT, the brilliant part of it is, that if he gets the very large and heavy Viltrox, then the GM 35/1.4 will feel small and light.
Reverse psychology. I think I've seen samples of the Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB N in so many threads, I think I'm starting to have visions in my sleep.
So if a thread mentions 35mm, even if the desire is completely different than the Viltrox, or mentions a Chinese lens, then we see...Show more →
hahahahaha. I wouldn't advice the OP to sell the 35GM. I don't have that lens but it seems like it is the GOAT 35mm for Sony!!
One disadvantage of the 40G is that it is 'only' f/2.5----thus you can't blur the background that much especially in taking full body shots of adults. I know in this forum there is an unwritten rule not to use lens blur tool in Photoshop (yeah, it gets better and better). So if I really want to go light, I would go with the 40G and for my Instagram I will definitely use that lens blur tool. All my viewers won't care.
jojib wrote
I love the 40G, I would recommend it if you want to go small. It's my light alternative to my Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB Nhttps://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176462996.Zi67VXrS.1DSC04560.jpg
SONY ILCE-7M5
1/1250s f/2.5 at 40.0mm iso100
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176512028.Vhg1aCBf.1DSC04579.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176513532.jVBkN1af.1DSC06316.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176513534.OLWD7E5C.1DSC07356_DxO.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/o12/30/64330/1/176513535.uWKTY6Ad.1DSC01285_DxO.jpg
Reverse psychology. I think I've seen samples of the Viltrox 35/1.2 LAB N in so many threads, I think I'm starting to have visions in my sleep.
So if a thread mentions 35mm, even if the desire is completely different than the Viltrox, or mentions a Chinese lens, then we see...Show more →
hahahahaha. I wouldn't advice the OP to sell the 35GM. I don't have that lens but it seems like it is the GOAT 35mm for Sony!!
One disadvantage of the 40G is that it is 'only' f/2.5----thus you can't blur the background that much especially in taking full body shots of adults. I know in this forum there is an unwritten rule not to use lens blur tool in Photoshop (yeah, it gets better and better). So if I really want to go light, I would go with the 40G and for my Instagram I will definitely use that lens blur tool. All my viewers won't care.
Aug 23, 2026 at 03:22 PM
p.4 #16Sell Sony 35mm Gm for the new Viltrox 35mm Evo 1.8 II - thoughts?
The 1.2 lens is not going to be the solution for my puzzle :-)
My partner owns the Sony 40mm so I can actually borrow that lens from her. I didn’t buy a second copy as it felt having something different makes sense.
My partner owns the Sony 40mm so I can actually borrow that lens from her. I didn’t buy a second copy as it felt having something different makes sense.
Aug 23, 2026 at 11:26 PM