Sony FE 35mm F1.8 E-mount lens reviews

reviews found: 4   
reviewer#47060 date: Jan-17-2025
sharpness: 4.5
color: 5
build: 5
distortion: 5
flare control: 5
overall: 4.9
tested on:
  • film camera:Film camera
  • APS-C: 6MP6 MP; 10MP10 MP; 12MP12 MP; 14MP14 MP; 16MP16 MP; 20MP20 MP; 24MP24 MP
  • full frame: 12MP12 MP; 24MP24 MP; 36MP36 MP; 42MP42 MP; 61MP61 MP
ownership:I own this lens
compared to:Sigma Art 35/1.4 HSM (Sony A and Canon EF-mount)
Sony FE 28/2
Sony/Zeiss FE 55/1.8
Sony E 35/1.8 OSS
price paid:€399,- used
positive:Versatile lens without major flaws
negative:Lacking character
comment:I got a nice deal because the lens had some wear on the outside.

If you're looking for a affordable FE-mount 35mm lens, this is a good option. For APS-C I feel the E 35/1.8 OSS is the better option.
This lens is noticeably better then the Sony FE 28/2 - but that one is cheaper. I think both are about equally bang for your buck.

Build is similar to the Sony/Zeiss FE 55/1.8 with an AF/MF switch and focus-hold button. The Sony/Zeiss is a special lens, the 35/1.8 is not that special but still capable.
reviewer#45648 date: Feb-20-2021
sharpness: 4
color: 5
build: 4
distortion: 4
flare control: 4
overall: 4.2
tested on:
  • film camera:Film camera
  • APS-C: 6MP6 MP; 10MP10 MP; 12MP12 MP; 14MP14 MP; 16MP16 MP; 20MP20 MP; 24MP24 MP
  • full frame: 12MP12 MP; 24MP24 MP; 36MP36 MP; 42MP42 MP; 61MP61 MP
ownership:I used to own this lens
compared to: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 32 F1.8 Touit
Rokinon 35 F1.2
Neewer 35 F1.2
Sony FE 35 F1.4 Distagon
Fotasy 35 F1.6 APS-C & Mini
Kaxinda 35 F1.7
Rokinon 35 F1.8
Tamron SP 35 F1.8 USD
Minolta MD 35 F1.8
Sony E 35 F1.8 OSS
Sony DT 35 F1.8 SAM
Yongnuo EF 35 F2
7Artisans 35 F2
Minolta AF 35 F2
Tamron 35 F2.8 OSD
Rokinon AF 35 F2.8
Sony FE 35 F2.8 Sonnar
Minolta MC 35 F2.8
Vivitar 35 F2.8
Minolta 40 F1.7
Konica AR 40 F1.8
Sony FE 40 F2.5 G
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:525 USD (used)
positive:Bright
Flat field
Petzval swirl
Very little breathing
Very quick AF
Close focusing
30 FPS tracking
Aperture Drive in AF
Dust and moisture-resistant
Lens Compensation
negative:Price
Alignment/variation
High mechanical vignette
Chromatic aberration
Complex distortion
Metal surfaces
Plastic filter threads
Weight
comment:Purchased through a winning bid on an individual eBay seller listing. Very minor disclosed cosmetic wear. Full retail packaging.

At the time of purchase this was Sony's fifth least expensive FE prime lens sitting between the 85 F1.8 and the 20 F1.8 G. The old 35 F2.8 and 55 F1.8 ZA primes are generally less expensive used. Many erroneously refer to this as a G lens. It is less than half the price of the original A-mount 35 F1.4 G prime and currently half the price of the newer 35 F1.4 GM. It is styled very similarly to the older 28 F2 and 55 F1.8 ZA with the additions of an AF/MF switch and a focus hold button. It looks like a 25% enlarged version of the 28 F2. It feels substantially heavier than the Rokinon 35 F1.8. "Made in China"

This lens is a bit brighter wide-open in the center than the Rokinon or Tamron SP 35 F1.8 primes with better contrast than either of them. It is sharp wide-open across the frame, but it has more lateral chromatic aberration. The corners also brighten less than the other 35's when stopped down. There is a lot of mechanical vignetting and bokeh swirl. The older 2/28 has smoother rendering. The corner shading looks very neutral--perhaps Sony is adjusting the raw to correct color shifts.

It has more distortion than the other native 35's, mostly noticeable as pincushion in the extreme corners. The distortion shifts with focus, which is about the extent of its breathing. It focuses very quickly especially off center. The 2.5/40 G may have faster motors, but this lens hunts much less.

Video recording is the strongest use case for this lens--though it lacks an additional aperture control. The corner shading, lateral CA, and pincushion distortion make it less suited for stills use. Though those can qualify as character. The Sigma and Samyang primes produce more natural looking images.
reviewer#44545 date: Jul-5-2020
sharpness: 5
color: 5
build: 5
distortion: 5
flare control: 5
overall: 5
tested on:
  • film camera:Film camera
  • APS-C: 6MP6 MP; 10MP10 MP; 12MP12 MP; 14MP14 MP; 16MP16 MP; 20MP20 MP; 24MP24 MP
  • full frame: 12MP12 MP; 24MP24 MP; 36MP36 MP; 42MP42 MP; 61MP61 MP
ownership:I own this lens
compared to:Sony 35 1.4 (A mount)
Sigma 35 1.4 (A mount)
Sony 35 2.8 (FE mount)
price paid:£530 new at release
positive:Small and light
Sharp
Lovely bokeh
Fast AF
negative:None
comment:Another fantastic little lens that makes me question how good a lens needs to be to get the GM moniker. Similar size to the Sony 35 1.4 on A mount, but that was screw driven versus this with SSM. The Sigma had HSM, but was significantly larger (though definitely preferable to the Sony on a-mount).

Picked this up at a good price pre-ordered on Amazon and very pleased I did. Takes great pics and is a length I really appreciate, especially alongside the similar sized (and similarly wonderful performing) 85 1.8. Both this and the 85 1.8 show the benefits of mirrorless and ability to create such compact lenses.

I did briefly have the Sony 35 2.8 but at this focal length and while it is an even more compact lens (possibly half if not a 3rd of the size) I prefer the wider aperture of f1.8 for the narrower depth of field at this relatively wide angle length.

Can't find anything to fault here, a really really great lens.
reviewer#44354 date: Aug-20-2019
sharpness: 5
color: 5
build: 5
distortion: 5
flare control: 5
overall: 5
tested on:
  • film camera:Film camera
  • APS-C: 6MP6 MP; 10MP10 MP; 12MP12 MP; 14MP14 MP; 16MP16 MP; 20MP20 MP; 24MP24 MP
  • full frame: 12MP12 MP; 24MP24 MP; 36MP36 MP; 42MP42 MP; 61MP61 MP
ownership:I own this lens
compared to:Sony E 10-18mm. Voigtlander FE 15mm. Batis 18mm. Batis 25mm. Zeiss 16-35mm f4. 16-35mm GM. Sony FE 28mm. Zeiss FE 35mm. Batis 40mm. Samyang FE AF 45mm. Sony FE 50mm. Sony FE 50mm macro. Zeiss FE 55. Sony FE 85. Sigma A FE 135mm. Sony 70-200 GM. Sony 100-400mm GM.
price paid:£625.00
positive:Build. Image quality. Size. Form factor.
negative:Cheap hood which will be ridiculously expensive to replace as with all Sony hoods.
comment:At long last the FE lens that should have been released with the launch of the 7 series cameras. It's top notch optically but lacks weather sealing between lens and body. This is IMHO the ultimate street and feature shot lens. It will focus very closely indeed with beautiful out of focus rendering. Very highly recommended.
reviews found: 4   

rating summary

lens image
  • total reviews: 4
  • sharpness: 4.63
  • color: 5.00
  • build: 4.75
  • distortion: 4.75
  • flare control: 4.75
  • overall: 4.77

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