Here is a small update of my progress in the search for the 35mm that would meet my needs.
- Sony 35mm 2.8 ZA: abandoned, not convinced.
- Sony 40mm 2.5 G: tested and very good impression as to the appearance, the features. On the other hand, I am disappointed with the optical quality; (far) less good than my other G lenses. Not sure about it…
- Sony 35mm 1.8: not particularly compact, no aperture ring, I am not very mixed to be able to test it.
- Sigma 35mm 2.0: I was able to test it at the same time as the 40mm G to which it is clearly superior optically speaking, as well as in terms of construction. The weight is ok, but with the sunshade, it's still quite long... Apart from that, I'm excited!
- Sigma 45mm 2.8: beautiful, but we are too close to 50mm. The lack of contrast does bother a little at a short distance, but otherwise, perfect size and weight!
- Viltrox 35 1.8: not yet tested.
Here is a small update of my progress in the search for the 35mm that would meet my needs.
- Sony 35mm 2.8 ZA: abandoned, not convinced.
- Sony 40mm 2.5 G: tested and very good impression as to the appearance, the features. On the other hand, I am disappointed with the optical quality; (far) less good than my other G lenses. Not sure about it…
- Sony 35mm 1.8: not particularly compact, no aperture ring, I am not very mixed to be able to test it.
- Sigma 35mm 2.0: I was able to test it at the same time as the 40mm G to which it is clearly superior optically speaking, as well as in terms of construction. The weight is ok, but with the sunshade, it's still quite long... Apart from that, I'm excited!
- Sigma 45mm 2.8: beautiful, but we are too close to 50mm. The lack of contrast does bother a little at a short distance, but otherwise, perfect size and weight!
- Viltrox 35 1.8: not yet tested.
I bet you can use the Sigma without the hood a majority of the time, just have a UV protection filter on it. Viltrox might win on paper, I just don't want to deal with them until they have proper distribution and warranty facilities in Europe.
Here is a small update of my progress in the search for the 35mm that would meet my needs.
- Sony 35mm 2.8 ZA: abandoned, not convinced.
- Sony 40mm 2.5 G: tested and very good impression as to the appearance, the features. On the other hand, I am disappointed with the optical quality; (far) less good than my other G lenses. Not sure about it…
- Sony 35mm 1.8: not particularly compact, no aperture ring, I am not very mixed to be able to test it.
- Sigma 35mm 2.0: I was able to test it at the same time as the 40mm G to which it is clearly superior optically speaking, as well as in terms of construction. The weight is ok, but with the sunshade, it's still quite long... Apart from that, I'm excited!
- Sigma 45mm 2.8: beautiful, but we are too close to 50mm. The lack of contrast does bother a little at a short distance, but otherwise, perfect size and weight!
- Viltrox 35 1.8: not yet tested.
patotts wrote:
I bet you can use the Sigma without the hood a majority of the time, just have a UV protection filter on it. Viltrox might win on paper, I just don't want to deal with them until they have proper distribution and warranty facilities in Europe.
Any other solution, except a filter, than the oversized and heavy original hood is better.
My favorite is a pair or two of step up/down rings when the original hoods are crazy big.
But, the i35 is not a little brother to the 35GM.
Of the listed lenses it is the 35EVO and perhaps the 40G that qualify optically. Then again, anyone finding the optical performance of the i35 very much better than the 40G performance really isn't looking for a little brother to the 35GM.
Buy a second hand Sigma i35 and try it out in real life, sell if not happy with it.
Here is a small update of my progress in the search for the 35mm that would meet my needs.
- Sony 35mm 2.8 ZA: abandoned, not convinced.
- Sony 40mm 2.5 G: tested and very good impression as to the appearance, the features. On the other hand, I am disappointed with the optical quality; (far) less good than my other G lenses. Not sure about it…
- Sony 35mm 1.8: not particularly compact, no aperture ring, I am not very mixed to be able to test it.
- Sigma 35mm 2.0: I was able to test it at the same time as the 40mm G to which it is clearly superior optically speaking, as well as in terms of construction. The weight is ok, but with the sunshade, it's still quite long... Apart from that, I'm excited!
- Sigma 45mm 2.8: beautiful, but we are too close to 50mm. The lack of contrast does bother a little at a short distance, but otherwise, perfect size and weight!
- Viltrox 35 1.8: not yet tested.
The 35 evo isn’t what I’d call small or light, but definitely a more compact solution than the 35 GM. It’s amazing to me how much weight a lens can shed when no aperture ring is included. It’s for that reason I wish for a Viltrox 35 air. In your case, I would take a look at the Samyang 35.
