35mm Sigma, Sony and SLR magic tests and news…

I just a couple of news and test all focusing on 35mm lenses:

1) The video on top shows a comparison between the Sony 35mm f/1.8, the SLR Magic 35mm f1.7 and the new SLR Magic 35mm T1.4 Cinelens E-mount lenses.

2) Matthew Durr tested the Sony 35mm f/1.8 OSS E-mount lens: “The 35mm f/1.8 is a fantastic lens, despite its focusing limitations dependent on CDAF. The only “real” knacks against it—heavy vignetting and noticeable fringing wide-open—can easily be worked around depending on the situation, what settings you shoot at, and how much post-processing you are used to doing.”

3) Another Sony 35mm E-mount review has been posted by BanBGanBoom on youtube. He compared the lens with the 50mm f/1.8 lens which he says is a tiny bit sharper.

4) An anonymous reader sent me this: “Just relaying info regarding release date of Sigmas 35… I was just billed by B&H for my preordered 35 (Click here). If this is not a mistake I assume it will be shipped on Monday as it is their policy to not bill until item is in.” Let’s hope the info is correct!

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Price and in Stock links to the mentioned lenses:
SLR magic 35mm 1.7 at Amazon and on eBay.
Sigma 35mm A-mount lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and eBay Slidoo.
Sony E-Mount 35mm f/1.8 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama, J&R, eBay.

WOW! Speed Booster adapter makes your lens faster, wider and sharper!

New Sony RX1 anti-loose cap. And more Gariz stuff (video by Steve Huff)

Mr. Ignoramus

6 months ago | Reply

Another success story for Sony. The lens lineup is shaping up nicely. I don’t think there are any equivalent lenses with OSS among any system, and the the m43-lens with a similar field-of-view, the plastic-PanaLeica, has no OSS, is physically LARGER, yet letting in an equivalent amount of light (it has a larger aperture, but the m43-sensors are tiny; 40% smaller than APS-C).

Vivek

I am even more convinced that it is 200 Euros more than what it is really worth.

Pablo

hey mister Mr…. when you’re so keen on defending the overpriced 35/1.8 lens… how about the 25/0.95 Nokton? has the same FOV, but definitely lets more light inside than the 35/1.8. or how about the SLR Magic 35/1.4, which lets also more light in? and does that for something about 60% of SONY’s price. I have the Nokton for my M5 and the SONY 50/1.8 for my 5N, as well as the SLR Magic 35/1.4 just ordered and paid for. But I’m really NOT buying that SONY misfit.

Matthew Durr
6 months ago | Reply

Two things you may not be taking into consideration:
1. The Sony has OSS, which, according to other camera manufacturers as well, is worth a lot (take a look at the price difference between the Canon EF 35mm f/2 and the new 35mm f/2 with image stabilization). None of your mentioned lenses have optical stabilization.

2. The Nokton is designed to cover m4/3, a much smaller sensor than APS-C. It’s also manual focus only. At the same time, the sensor isn’t actually benefitting from the extra light. See here: http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Insights/F-stop-blues

Hope that helps clear things up.

Mikestern

Sony 35mm f/1.8 is not overpriced at all. OSS is a major advantage. price is just right. Especially if you compare this lens to the other APSC mirrorless lenses.
Making a 35mm is more costly compared to 50mm for this system. And it comes with the new focusing system.
While 50mm still does not have the firmware update for it.

One last thing. I believe it’s auto focus is just as fast as the 16-50mm power zoom lens actually.
The autofocus comparison test we see above is not so accurate. He should have used the same f stop for all lenses. f/1.8 aperture will need more time to shift to focus back and forth in distances compared to f/3.5 or f/4.

Weakling
6 months ago | Reply

“Making a 35mm is more costly compared to 50mm for this system. And it comes with the new focusing system.”

I don’t think it does have the new focusing system (PDAF). From Matthew Durr’s review:
“The 35mm f/1.8 is a fantastic lens, despite its focusing limitations dependent on CDAF”

So it’s just like the 50mm CDAF only, which imo is a real mistake by Sony and hopefully will be corrected in the near future.