Contents
Conclusion
Pros:
- Compact and well constructed lens
- Fast, quiet and accurate autofocus
- Optical stabilizer is effective to approximately 3 stops
- Good sharpness wide open and excellent sharpness stopped down
- Generally pleasing bokeh
- Nice color and contrast
- Good control of lateral chromatic aberration
- Minimal distortion
Cons:
- Somewhat expensive
- Longitudinal chromatic aberration can be visible in some situations
- Bright ghosting flare is easily induced
The Sony 35mm f/1.8 is a solid performing lens in a compact and well-built package. The lens maintains high image sharpness at any aperture while producing a pleasing overall rendering, though there’s nothing particularly special about how it draws either. The optical stabilizer allows for extra handholding in low light, and is a very convenient feature to have on a fast prime. While there are definitely some flaws, such as the potential for ghosting and some longitudinal CA, the overall optical quality of the lens is very good. The autofocus motor is quick and quiet, and the small profile makes it a lens you can toss on the camera and carry with ease.
The price of $449 (buy here at B&H) is a bit higher than a lot of other f/1.8 normal lenses, and it’s hard to say the addition of OSS is worth the entire price premium, but all things considered I don’t view the price as unreasonable. If you’re on a budget, the excellent Sigma 30mm f/2.8 is less than half the cost, but it’s also over a stop slower and lacks stabilization. For most E-mount shooters, the 35mm f/1.8 is going to be their best bet in the normal range. A very nice lens and one I’m happy I own.
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Image Samples
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Hi Jordan,
interesting review! I personally find 35mm on APSC somewhere in between. It is still not wide enough to capture more than one person, but not tele enough to focus more on portrait. The SEL50 IMHO has nicer bokeh and rendering. However, you also have the Fuji 35/1.4 and showed nice portraits with that. Guess I am more of an candidate for the SEL24, but that is without OSS and even used expensive. Hmm….
What is your preferred focal length?
Best regards,
Chris
I’ve always really liked the normal focal length – it’s a good general purpose length, though it of course has its limitations. I was, for a long time, one who preferred the 50/100mm (FF equiv) field of view for two main primes, but I’ve grown to quite like the 35/85 doublet. As such, I often carry the 23/1.4 and 56/1.2 on my Fuji cameras, though I like to shoot with the 35mm on APS-C as well, enjoying both the 35/1.8 on my a6000 and the Fuji 35/1.4 on my Fuji bodies. On m4/3, I loved the Panasonic 25/1.4, so still in that ~50mm equivalent range.
As time has gone on, especially as I test a lot of different lenses for this site, I’ve become a lot more adept at adjusting how I approach a subject based on what lens I have, as well as the converse: adjusting my framing and positioning and then choosing the lens (my preferred method when shooting for myself).
I have been reading that this lens, and other lenses from Sony, have shown an inordinate amount of centering problems. Have you experienced such with this lens or other Sony lenses?
My copy of the 35/1.8 does not show any obvious centering defects. I’ve had lenses that have had decentered elements (from several different manufacturers), so I know the effects.
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Thanks for another great review! I am considering buying this lens but am concerned about the longitudinal chromatic aberration. I like to expose to the right, often blowing out the background, so how problematic is the longitudinal CA likely to be for me at wider apertures? Thanks again.
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I only recently bought my first SLR camera, the Sony a5000 this year (which comes with a 16-50mm/3.5-5.6) and want to buy my second lens for it. I am considering this lens, as I have read elsewhere it’s a great ‘second lens’ choice, but it is pricey.
I have also read you review for the Sigma 19mm f/2.8, and it’s lower price make it more attractive, naturally. But I cannot find an example of these lenses compared side-by-side.
All I know for definite is that I want a larger aperture, which both of these offer.
Does the extra spec and aperture size of this lens warrant the heftier price-tag, in your opinion? I am a total amateur and I want to expand the range of photographs I can take, and I don’t know which lens offers me the most interesting options to further develop my photography.
Apologies for long message, if anyone has advice it would be much appreciated!
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