Sony DT 35mm F1.8 SAM A-mount lens review by QuietOC
 QuietOC#15255 date: May-22-2015 | |
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| sharpness: 4 color: 4 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Canon EF 28 F1.8 USM Sigma 28 F1.8 HS & EX DG Sony FE 28 F2 Minolta MD & AF 28 F2 Canon EF 28 F2.8 IS USM Minolta/Sony AF 28 F2.8 Neewer 28 F2.8 Sigma 30 F1.4 DC DN C & EX DC Sigma 30 F2.8 DN Art Sony DT 30 F2.8 Macro SAM Neewer 32 F1.6 Zeiss Touit 32 F1.8 Neewer 35 F1.2 Fotasy 35 F1.6 APS-C & Mini Kaxinda 35 F1.7 Minolta MD 35 F1.8 Sony E 35 F1.8 OSS Tamron SP 35 F1.8 USD Minolta AF 35 F2 Rokinon AF FE 35 F2.8 Minolta MC 35 F2.8 Vivitar 35 F2.8 Minolta 40 F1.7 Konica AR 40 F1.8 Canon EF 40 F2.8 STM Pentax-M 40 F2.8 Pentax-DA 40 F2.8 XS Pentax-FA 43 F1.8 Limited |
| price paid: | 58 USD (used) |
| positive: | Small and light 55 mm non-rotating filter threads |
| negative: | Barrel distortion Chromatic aberration Curved focus plane Small, loose focus ring Variable quality Noisy, rough AF Busy foreground bokeh |
| comment: | I placed an order for this lens with my local shop, but Sony didn't have any in stock. I found a used copy for $155 on Amazon. I bought a second used copy of this lens without hood for $58. This copy was much sharper wide-open. The previous copy was my first prime lens experience. I've revised my ratings in light of broader comparison especially in light of the Tamron SP. This lens was originally $200 when released in 2010 with a few sales at $175. The retail price increased to $220 in 2012 with sales at $190. Sony has stopped offering discounts. "MADE IN CHINA" It's field of view is comparably to a 52.5 mm full frame lens, but it does not equal the total light gathering of a 50mm f/1.8 on a larger sensor. It is similar to a 135 format f/2.8 lens in light gathering and depth-of-field. It can still produce some lovely smooth background blur. The second copy is much sharper in the center wide-open, but the corners are a bit softer. Both lenses had direction glows wide-open on high contrast edges indicating alignment problems. The focus plane curvature makes this more of a portrait lens. It does have less optical issues than the stabilized Sony E 35 F1.8 OSS that I tried. The barrel distortion is a little annoying for raw capture without a lens profile. The zoom lenses have similar amounts of distortion at 35 mm. It can focus fairly closely for semi-macro work, but the Tamron focuses closer. The included ALC-SH111 circular hood is smaller than it could be. The much deeper ALC-SH102 hood from the 55-200 lenses fits perfectly and doesn't vignette on an APS-C camera. The hood bayonet doesn't rotate so an even larger petal hood could be used. Overall a decent inexpensive prime lens especially at current used prices. There are better lenses optically like the Tamron SP 35 F1.8 USD or even the Vario-Sonnar 16-80. |
; 10MPrating summary
- total reviews: 109
- sharpness: 4.72
- color: 4.62
- build: 3.42
- distortion: 4.49
- flare control: 4.35
- overall: 4.32