The Sony 35mm f/1.8 DT SAM has been tested at Photozone (Click here): “The Sony 35mm f/1.8 DT SAM may be a budget-oriented prime lens but regarding its performance it may even be a viable option for enthusiasts. Resolution-wise it delivers a very solid performance.” And the last statement will cause a huge discussion here: “It may surprise you but regarding the sum of its optical qualities it is actually a better choice than the “mighty” (albeit outdated) Sony 35mm f/1.4 G – Sony’s professional grade full format 35mm lens.“.
That’s a huge surprise if you do consider the big price difference:
Check the 35mm f/1.8 DT price at [shopcountry 6422].
Check the 35mm f/1.4 G price at [shopcountry 7016].
Surprised? I certainly do hope Sony (or Zeiss) will soon release a new 35mm lens!
36 Responses
Hello
A
N
D
R
E
A
Good morning!
Where is the a77 pic?!! And a little surprise along with that? Nothing interests me other that a77!!
Please show us the real treasure!!!
The a77 is probably on her hard disk! And the little surprise either on the HDD or in her head!
…sorry, couldn’t resist to answer that ;)…
She said 12:00 GMT, so have a little bit more patience… although it IS hard I have to admit. But I have learned one thing in my years: Women LOVE to tease ;)…
Andrea is a male name in parts of Europe. Just a little FYI.
It’s difficoult to find out where I am because actually I am half german and half italian 🙂
He was born in the middle of the Alps.
Andrea, or “Andreas”? Andrea is a spanish name and I´m sure that´s the nationality of our Andrea.
Let’s just hope that the HDD doesn’t “crash” …
Coming soon!
Yeah, nah.
The 35/1.8 is a great lens, though.
I’m not surprised at all.
The 35/1.4 is a 25+ year old design with a bucket load of problems.
The 35/1.8 is a crop lens with heavy vignette wide open, so it is much easier to make it sharp.
What SONY is missing (and here even sigma doesn’t deliver yet) is a FF 35mm lens which is either good enough for the $1,000+ price or a cheaper design.
I for example have an A850 with most of the “useful” primes (24,50,85,100,135). 35 is missing, but I just can’t get my hands on an old Minolta 35/2, and paying for the lackluster 35G is not an option. The gap between 24 and 50 is pretty big and requires quite a lot of “zooming” by foot, so I’m not a happy camper in that regard 😛
Interestingly, we have quite a different set of primes, despite having a similar idea. I’ve got 28/2, 35/1.4, 50/1.4 and 100 Soft. The 35G is easily the best of these.
No, not a surprise to me: The 1.8/35 DT is a DT Lens — the 1.4/35 G is a FF-Lens: this alone makes a huge difference in price and performance: The larger the image circle the more difficult it is to correct it to this size. Second: The 1.8 is a 1.8 lens, the 1.4 a 1.4 another huge difference: the faster the lens, the softer it is usually.
But: the larger the image circle, the more creative freedom one has! That’s why a DT lens is no option for me: The 1.8/35 DT has an angle of view and a focal depth like a 2.8/53 mm lens on a FF camera. Thus, the alternative would be a 2,8/50 mm lens on a FF body. So: Two different animals, and no alternatives at all.
IF you have FF there is no choice. But if you are on Crop frame then they are very definatly alternatives. any 2 lenses that cover a range of use in both are alternative. For example the the sony sal-75300 is a medeocre lens with some CA. but if you can aford the SAL-70300G you get a superbe lens wich on a crop frame camera (as its not using its edge) gives among the best vignet and CA controle available on any camera lens combination.
I have a similar prime issue in that I have a Minolta first generation AF 50/1.4 and a Zeiss 85/1.4 and 135/1.8.
My 50 is soft all over on my a850 and very poor at f1.4 in general, so I’m looking for something new and fast from Sony or Zeiss between 28 and 50 that equals in quality of the other two Zeiss I keep in my bag.
I would be a happy camper to see two sharp/fast Sony-Zeiss primes one 28 to 35 and a 50/1.4 or faster and I would by both this year.
And be ready to replace my a850 with a new FF in 2012
That’s what I have planned for in my budget and I hope Sony can my this come true.
Shame it’s made like cr*p though. Wonder how this lens will fair in 25 years…
25 years?! you joking? the focus ring becomes loose after half a year… Also there are a lot of complaints regarding the AF precision.
Haha! 🙂
Where are those “a lot of” complaints? I haven’t seen any.
It’s not designed to last for 25 years, and the rate of technological progress means you wouldn’t need it to.
Good lens designs never go out of style. The APO teles are still top-notch (even if the SSM 300 is even better than the APO 300) while the 35/1.4 simply never was good.
I personally think everyone should need it to. Man-made goods are often far too short term these days in my opinion: http://www.rharris-images.net/2011/05/hello.html
It’s been a long wait for the A77. I think this is the most anticipated camera of the year and I can see a lot of enthusiast is waiting for the first picture. I have been putting all my purchase and is waiting for this A700 replacement. What is a few hours wait compare to 4 years that many people are waiting… : )
4 years ago the *A700* wasn’t even annnounced yet…. 😉
I am looking for a decent large aperture prime in the range between 28 and 35 mm since a while now (APS-C only would be ok). The 35/1.8 SAM would be an alternative, since I also don’t want to pay more than 600 Euros. But I refuse to buy any lens without an ultrasonic motor. I’m planning to buy an A77 and for video, SAM or screw driven lenses just suck. Unfortunately, there simply doesn’t exist ANY lens that would match my needs – the Sigma 30mm isn’t HSM for Alpha mount (which makes me scream!) and its border sharpness isn’t very impressive.
I find it very odd that a lens with my desired properties doesn’t exist, since that focal length should be the standard prime for APS-C. Is it just me or is this driving anyone else crazy?
I would hope Sigma would update their lens (uhm, that might take 10 years) or that Sony would release an SSM lens (uhm, that will be a G or a CZ, so > 1000 Euros). What a pity! (I REALLY want such a lens!)
I’d buy this lens in no time, if it was 24mm instead of 35 🙁 Damn.
wohooooo! Andrea!!!! wednesday is here..:D
W8ing… 🙂
Andrea haven’t finished photoshoping of “A77” yet 🙂
Posted 😉
:))
35mm G is a piece of crap, so that’s now big deal. 😛
I have been very happy with my 35 1.8 – I don;t mind the build because it’s lightweight on my NEX-5 and I just MF it on there. It does do AF but slowly and just faster to MF. Images have been great and I am fussy, owning Zeiss and high end Canon L glass. Its a great buy esp when you need something fast.
The 35 G lens has a fabolous rendering and excels many ways. Of course, sharpness isn’t one of them.
I find mine plenty sharp right to the edges stopped down.
I still love my Minolta 35mm 2.0 :p
the sony 50 mm takes excellent pictures indoors if you use the A- aperture setting and dial down to 1/8 great sharp pictures without the need for a flash. But everyone should have a 50 mm in their kit. it is also great for portraits as to the wider aperature. Well worth the money and takes great pictures.