5.0 out of 5 stars A classic 35

E. · 23 May 2014

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } This small, lightweight prime is an ideal general lens for the new Sony A7/R, offering the classic 35mm focal length. The laws of physics apply though - keeping it small and light means it only opens up to f/2.8, and it vignets like a good 'un (although you can set the cameras to correct this automatically). Doesn't bother me - I add vignetting far more often than I remove it, but if you don't like it, be warned. And correcting it can lead to visibly increased noise around the edges of the frame, especially if you're shooting wide open in low light. Other than that though, it's a gem. It's incredibly sharp even at its maximum aperture, chromatic aberrations are minimal, colour rendition is great, and the bokeh looks lovely. Add to that first class build quality, weather sealing, and a smart hood/lens cap design, and you've got a winner. Yes it'd be nice if it went a bit brighter, and it's a bit dear, but still one hell of a lens.

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it

p.h. · 16 November 2021

Great lens with a great offer at time of purchase. Pictures are crisp and autofocus on Sony A7iii is fast and reliable. Despite its age it's a quick, sharp lens which is very light and easy to handle when in the camera. Super happy and looking forward to taking more pictures with it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome lens

N.B. · 8 May 2014

Small, expensive, detailed, impressive. You can see an example shot here: 500px.com/photo/69700203Clarity for portraits is impressive - works well for closer candid shots of kids etc.Excellent sharpness for all purposes.For walking and photographing I will carry just this lens, the Sony A7 and my Tokina 17mm manual focus FD mount. With a tripod, a very tidy compact package.

4.0 out of 5 stars Reasonably sharp, unreasonably slow and expensive

b.s.r. · 11 February 2018

Having studied the available alternatives at length, I finally persuaded myself to plump for this diminutive 'Zeiss' wide-angle prime. The following summarises my overall impressions of this endearingly dinky little lens:• Weighing only 120g, and measuring only 61.5mm (diameter) by 36.5mm (height), this is an unbelievably light and compact lens for the specification - in principle, making this an ideal lens for everyday use• Observable build quality is good. The outer lens barrel is constructed from aluminium (the supplied lens hood is part metal, part plastic), and all relevant surfaces are protected by a coating of satiny black paint• The lens delivers a slightly cold/neutral colour rendition, which I personally quite like• In my considered opinion, this lens is not quite sharp enough for an A7R. Sharpness at the centre of the frame is perfectly acceptable at f2.8 - rising swiftly to a performance peak between f4 and f5.6, at which point centre sharpness can be generally regarded as good. However, the edges and the corners lag noticeably behind, only really beginning to get on terms as you venture beyond f5.6 - with the best uniform sharpness arriving around the f8 mark (although by this stage, it's unfortunately as much about centre sharpness declining as anything else.) For a wide-angle lens of this diminutive size, I would consider the overall performance to be good rather than great• Lateral Chromatic Aberration is not too much of a concern here (there is some slightly more problematic Longitudinal CA, however), but very obvious purple fringing seems easily provoked when I use this lens on my A7R (see the uploaded image, below.) Although Distortion is generally well controlled, Vignetting always tends towards the severe and never entirely departs - even when the aperture has been dialled right down. That said, correcting Sony ARW RAW files is generally a straightforward task if you're using an efficient modern editing programme• The aperture mechanism incorporates only seven blades: the bokeh is OK, but it's not as smooth as you would expect from the latest nine or ten-bladed systems. (The lens's limited maximum aperture of only f2.8 doesn't help matters here, of course.) 'Sun stars' can also be disappointingly fuzzy• As with many modern digital lenses, this little 35mm characteristically produces acceptably rich but slightly 'flat' two-dimensional representations of what should be recognisably three-dimensional objects within the frame. I find that I'm routinely manipulating distortion and contrast levels quite significantly, when working with RAW files, in order to restore a sense of structural modelling and depth!• The lens is sealed against the intrusion of dust and moisture, but oddly - there is no seal around the lens mount itself (such as you will find on the Zeiss Loxia 35mm f2 lens)• Its closely-spaced arrangement of tiny elements probably makes this one of the most responsive auto-focusing lenses currently available in the FE mount• The grooved focusing ring is a reasonable width, given the overall size of the lens, and rotates smoothly enough. Unfortunately, the fact that it isn't actually connected to the focusing mechanism by any physical means (the lens makes use of an electronic 'focus-by-wire' adjustment system) soon becomes disappointingly apparent. For twisting the focusing ring produces such an inconsistent response - devoid of any tactile feedback - that you're often left wondering whether you're actually making any progress at all!• If you want to use filters, you unusually have two distinct options to choose from: the unconventional lens hood is threaded to accept 40.5mm filters, whilst 49mm filters can also be attached directly to the lens. Different filters can therefore be used separately or in combination, although you would be wise to avoid the budget brands and opt instead for the highest quality filters you can afford. However...• The 'inverted' lens hood supplied with this lens may well be a novel take on the concept...but I have to confess, I'm not a fan. I prefer a much more traditional and 'open' design; and if you feel the same (and if you don't mind dispensing with the opportunity of using tiny 40.5mm filters), you might want to consider buying a third-party alternative (I chose a suitable offering made by JJC)• It is perhaps no surprise that a move to electronic diaphragm control systems (and the need for easy weatherproofing) has led to the disappearance of the good old-fashioned aperture ring from many modern lenses - and along with it, the useful accompaniment of those depth-of-field markings: it is certainly the case with most of these Sony-originating FE lenses, anyway. But losing the distance scale as well is still quite a shock to the system - especially if, like me, you're not terribly good at visually estimating distances! Yes - when focusing manually, I do know that my A7R can visually display a distance scale; but as I can personally confirm - this facility is not really of much help when you're using the camera in AF mode!• Further to the previous point, no printed depth-of-field tables are provided with this lens (you have to depend on 'focus peaking', instead, which I'm afraid isn't implemented very reliably on the A7R - and again, it is only available in MF mode• That Carl Zeiss name commands lots of kudos in photographic circles, I know; but whichever way you look at it, this is rather too expensive for a medium wide-angle f2.8 lens - even one for a Sony camera! (Why, for example, does this lens cost so much more than Sony's own FE 28mm f2 - a lens that is both wider AND faster...?) That high price doesn't become any easier to swallow when you discover that the lens is being made in Japan (by Sony) - NOT in Germany (by Zeiss)• You only get one year's standard warranty cover (provided by Sony), whereas genuine Zeiss lenses (i.e., lenses made for and sold by Zeiss, not by Sony) currently receive a standard three-year warranty in the UK. (You have to pay extra if you want to extend the Sony warranty to match)• You aren't provided with any kind of a lens case or lens pouch (very mean of you, Sony, at this price!)In summary:As soon as I unpacked it from its box, I honestly couldn't believe my eyes: this seems impossibly tiny for a 'Sonnar' rectilinear lens - more particularly, a lens that's been designed to project an image over a full-frame sensor...although in the process of doing so, it has most definitely managed to produce a worrying amount of vignetting! (The lens can also be used on APS-C Sony E-mount cameras, of course, where it becomes equivalent to a 52.5mm f4.2.)To be perfectly honest, its modest proportions do represent this f2.8 Sonnar's most attractive quality. In fact, it makes a near perfect general purpose lens for any A7 series camera precisely because it's so small and so light. For example - when used In conjunction with my own A7R, the combined weight of less than 600g (including the battery!) is something that I can easily carry around with me, all day long, without suffering any ill effects! It's demonstrably not as sharp or pure a lens as its launch companion - the stunning 55mm f1.8 Zeiss FE; but it's usually good enough when stopped down to median apertures - and that I believe is sufficient to earn it an honest recommendation.

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent, small, manual focus mode doesn't feel right

T.B.R. · 14 November 2015

I think it's an ok lens, probably the best auto-focus lens out there for the sony alpha series, but I prefer the sharpness and the rendering of adapted Leica-m lenses.The focus ring is not mechanically connected to the elements. I knew this before i bought it, but i held hope that the electric focusing system would work better, but it's inadequate at best and very laggy.

5.0 out of 5 stars A quality lens

j. · 15 February 2014

Superb quality on my A7R pin sharp at full aperture only the slightest softening in corners which are also pin sharp stopped down to F4. Expensive but a first class lens.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not good enough for the price

J. · 16 February 2016

This is a razor sharp lens but the vignetting is way too bad. I'm not a fussy customer and have never returned any photo gear in my life but this is simply not good enough for a £500 lens. It's only a 35mm f2.8 prime so I wouldn't expect that kind of problem in this price range. It's on my Sony A7R and I tried f8 with the lens hood off and shading compensation on but the fall-off is still really bad. It doesn't seem to improve much when you stop down. Also, it is not just the corners but the whole side. I don't understand why the camera didn't compensate? To make things worse it is slightly off-set so it is worse on the right side than the left. Perhaps it is faulty, I don't know, but I sent it back. It's a shame because it is excellent in every other sense and is the sharpest lens I have ever briefly owned.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great little but brilliant 35mm

G. · 18 April 2022

This lens is a must for your Sony full mirror camera. So sharp and super light. A really nice travel lens.

Nella botte piccola...

L. · 27 July 2021

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } E' proprio vero che nella botte piccola c'è il vino buono!Ottima resa ottica per una lente un po' datata ma super leggera e performante. Colori ZEISS e qualità costruttiva al TOP!

Snelle levering, goed product

B. · 30 April 2020

Bestelling snel ontvangen. Zeer goede prijs voor prima foto lens.

Pro

C.b.b. · 5 November 2014

Hallo, kurze Zusammenfassung:* deutlicher Schärfe und Qualitätsutnerschied zur Kit-Linse!* leicht, kompakt und schönes Design, macht die A7 tauglich für Mitnahme* fühlt sich hochwertig an* zur Info: das äquivalente Profi-Objektiv von Canon (EF 35mm f/1.4L USM) hat zwar eine bessere Blende, ist aber doppelt so teuer und hat deutlich schlechter in der Bild-Qualität abgeschnitten (s. Vergleich auf dxomark). Preis und Quali ist also ok!* Wer noch bei der 35mm oder 55mm-Entscheidung hängt:- 35mm ist für unterwegs, Landschaft, bestimmter Stil von Street-Fotografie (á la Alex Webb oder Friedlander), Blende (nur) F2,8 ist eher unwesentlich für diese Anwendung- 55mm ist für Portraits und Street, leichter Zoom* Bildfehler hab ich persönlich noch nicht ausmachen könnenTolles Stück für die Sony A7, viel Spaß :)Nachtrag:Wovon ich wirklich begeistert bin ist* Auf die Streulichtblende passt ein 40,5mm Polfilter!! D.h. kleinerer Filter ist billiger und lässt sich super schnell abnehmen!* der plastische (oder 3D) Effekt, der durch den Kontrast und die Schärfe entsteht;* Größe und Gewicht;* Fokus-Ring (er unterscheidet langsame und schnelle Drehungen, bei denen man fein scharf stellen kann oder er über mehrere meter springt).Es macht richtig Spaß damit auf die Straße zu gehen.

lo amo y de los pocos 100% compatible con la fx3

S. · 29 September 2023

Lo tuve muchos años sin usar cuando salió. Lo sentía lento para el autoenfoque y ruidoso para hacer video por lo mismo, así que lo regalé. ahora que el hardware de las cámaras ha mejorado eso, funciona a la perfección. además, tiene todo el carácter y “onda” de los Zeiss, un contraste hermoso, colores vivos. y su tamaño es increíble porque permite sacar tu cámara sin tanto engorro. es el que uso para mi fx3 todo el tiempo. logró sustituir al 28-135 e incluso el Zeiss 24-70. chulada.

Boa qualidade.

L.M.D.A. · 26 June 2024

Estou a usar esta lente numa Sony APS-C e a qualidade de imagem é muito boa. Sendo ela uma full-frame a nitidez ne minha aps-c é muito boa.