My full review of the Sigma 35mm f2 DG DN vs 35mm f1.2 Check price at B&H: bhpho.to/2Jg64Fu // WEX: tidd.ly/2VoD54I Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book at Amazon: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Like Cameralabs? Get the merch: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop
That's one of the reasons why I really like the RF mount lineup. They decided to go for the extreme high end with their first batch of lenses, and now they're focusing on cheaper, consumer grade lenses. At the end of 2020, the RF lineup seems to make a lot of sense, with f/1.8-2 lenses being affordable and light and the premium lenses being all f/1.2 and ludicrously sized and priced, whereas other lens mounts have much more confusing lineups with oddities like the high-end f/1.8 lenses that other mounts have, which makes it awkward for them to then make cheaper consumer alternatives when they've locked themselves into selling f/1.8 lenses for so much money.
Unlike Nikon. Image quality at all costs. I think there needs to be some outstanding lenses but also some travel lenses. Nearly all new lenses are reasonably sharp now so not having 'perfect ' optical quality doesn't bother me.
Metal body alone sold me. Fantastic lens for the price, compared to the 1.2. Yes the 1.2 has better bokeh and shallower depth of field, but the price and weight difference doesn't justify (unless you're a pro photographer and really want the 1.2!)
I used to be a 50mm guy when I started photography but I've grown into the 35mm focal length now. Maybe it's because I've been doing more and more street photography. It'd also be my first choice if I could only pick one lens. I still love the 50mm focal length for indoor photography (not studio work but family portrait). 85mm is often too long when shooting in a living room.
This was the first lens I bought for my S5 beyond the kit of 20-60mm and 50/1.8. It's really got everything - excellent optics, reasonable size and cost and the wonderful build quality and aperture ring. It's a real pleasure to use and that counts for a lot in my view.
Good review, Gordon. I think this lens pairs very well with the Lumix S5. I really love Lumix cameras for their handling and great features and image quality. If only they could bring hybrid AF (contrast + phase)...
8:20 Sigma 35mm f2 DG DN vs 35mm f1.2, you keep saying slightly higher magnification of the 1.2 but it seems a massive difference to me for something claiming the same focal length.
IF the 35mm f2 is an actual 35, then the 35 1.2 could be more like 40, but you never know, the 35 f2 might be more like a 30. You'd have to measure actual field of view by mathematically calculating it from your position.
I got a Leica SL2S for Christmas, about 48 hours after they were released in the US. I create professional video and dome photography. Since I shoot more video than photos and was attracted to the camera for its duel personality. My go to cameras have been the Sony A7s-II and A6300 (gimbaled). I have researched many lenses and watched a lot of videos to help decide the best lenses for my work. I am sure I want a 35mm, but as you point out, it’s a crowded field. Even more so with the resent release of Sigma’s brand new 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens. What I like about your review is the well described, real world applications and how each lens performs head to head. After watching your review, I am convinced I have to have the F2. In fact, I won’t wait for reviews of the latest Sigma 35, because I think there will be room in the budget for both of them if they are as great as expected. There are distinct applications where each is perfect for my needs. Great review. I rang the notification bell so I don’t miss any of your content.
Thanks for another great review. I have had to put off my camera shopping till after the virus is under control, but your reviews have been a nice reminder of how important it is for me! Really have been enjoying your book “in camera”!
Hi Gordon, Great review! I would love to see a comparison between this and the Olympus 17mm 1.2 Pro. Being my favourite lens on MFT, it would be interesting to see how this compares in terms of sharpness and weather sealing, as it's full frame alternative, Thank you!
Thanks for the review of this beautiful lens. It would be interesting to see if there is actually a difference in light transmittion with the 1.8s because if there is I would probably go for the more affordable samyang, which apparently is also optically very good , the only thing missing being weather sealing.....
well, Leica has a 35 f2 for L-mount, you probably missed that one when you showed the options for L-mount... 10 times the price though, so it better be good :)
Would love to know your thoughts of this new 35mm f2 compared to the Sony 35mm f1.8. I’ve just bought the Sony, but I really like the aperture ring on the Sigma.
Good stuff Gordon. For sure a geat opption for Sony shooters on a budget. I love my Sigma lenses on my crop sensor Sony bodies and would definitely pick these once I get my a7 series down the road. Keep it up
Been looking for a good walk around lens for my Lumix S1R. I have the S Pro 24-70 F2.8 and combined with the huge body of the S1R I just end up taking my Sony a7ii with my old Zeiss 35mm out instead, lol. The S Pro 24-70 is phenomenal for what I need, but if I'm just casually shooting it's somewhat of a burden to carry around. Now I'm conflicted on getting the Sigma 35mm F/1.2 or F/1.4 because the bokeh looks just astounding. But then of course if I do that then I'll run into the same problem of having a lens thats too big - which is why I'm looking for another one in the first place. My god photography is expensively annoying. Great video though - I'll probably end up with the 35 F/2 just for the metal construction!
The mf/af button plus aperture ring will be handy on the A7C, because of the lack of front dial. Plus the size fits with that type of camera. My choice would be the 24 and 65 versions.
If, instead of fixing distance to reveal magnification variances, you had set the lenses to magnify to the same degree the f:2.0 would have needed to be closer to the subjects. Wouldn't that have affected the bokeh? The closer the focus distance the greater the background circles of confusion, I think, and might that not have resulted in much more similar bokeh at those apertures that are common to both lenses. Or maybe I'm wrong...
Yes, moving closer would affect the bokeh. this is the issue with testing anything - you try to be consistent and match one thing, but then realise it mismatches another, so there's always a compromise. So you just have to present as many different tests as you have time and hope it's a useful piece.
Thanks for the review, Gordon. That first element seems to be convex. Not sure if that’s a trend, but I’ve seen a few new lenses with the same convex-out design. Interesting.
It will be much nicer with comparison to the more compact alternatives (for those of us not going for neither 1.4 or 1.2 options), fx Sony 35mm 1.8 and alike even more compacts...
Hi! how do these 'middle range' FF lenses compare to pro level lenses in M4/3 and aps format? Better a sigma 35 f2, a fuji 23 1.4 or an olympus 17 1.2? :)
Both Sigma and Samyang have been putting out compact primes recently. Sigma has the solid, luxurious build quality, but Samyangs are cheaper and lighter weight. I'm not sure which way to go.
One day there will be an imputed/ calculated F stop effect wherein you will set the desired F value for the effect, just as you set ISO and the camera will give you shallow or wide depth of field and bokeh as computed for your selection and produced it in-camera. It will just be another lens profile setting. You will be able to set your F2 lens to "simulated" or imputed F 1.2 and the image will be adjusted accordingly, it is inevitable. They will compete on how slow a lens can be in reality and still produce an F1.2 or whatever effect. The giant sized fast lenses they have been cranking out are getting ridiculous they will need a tripod mount and their own shoulder strap at the rate they are going. OR just make them fast, small, imperfect, and let the software in camera deal with it. The camera company with the best algorithm wins. OR find some new materials and methods to make the lenses smaller and better. There needs to be a movement: stop the lens induced hernias NOW, before the lawyers decide to sue for injury in a class action law suit 30 years out. I can see the ads now.....Did you ever own a camera.....was that lens too heavy..... do you know or have you ever had a hernia? do you now have arthritis? ....... call 1-800-sueNOW. It has to happen. I can't turn up the volume on my phone without the damn thing warning me! You can't get a cup of hot coffee anymore! Lawyers is the reason, and any pretense is doorway. All this, from a lens review. See, there is a butterfly effect.
Good review Gordon. Just a couple of questions about the 35mm. In manual focus, is it a linear focusing? I intend to use it for video, is it responsive and repeatable? Is there some tactile indication that you hit infinity?
Sigma 35mm 1.2 maybe look closer because is a longer lens ? with 35mm in your opinion is the best for Sony full frame Emount ? if you would not have to look on the price.
The new contemporary series lenses are better than the previous EX, etc. lenses before. You can tell the differences between Art and EX lenses,but now the Contemporary is getting closer to Art. That's great!
The lens is great but my copie has front or back focusing problems wide open on my S5, The focus is sometimes done on the edge of the subject instead of the center. I only get 100% sharp pictures with MF. I already found two people with the same issue. Firmware is 1.1.
@@cameralabs Panasonic S5. Not yet, I receveid the lens on friday. I really love this lens and I'm afraid to ask a replacement if the lens has the same focus problem.
Am a Canon 6D owner. Are you aware of any plans to manufacture this range of lens in Canon 6D etc & even new RF mounts. This lens has far more practical appeal than the 35/1.2 Art lens. The Art 35 1.2 is clearly a superb lens, but is simply too expensive and heavy for the type of shooting I tend to do using a 35mm FF prime.
The DG DN lenses will only work on mirrorless cameras, so we all hope for RF and Z versions, but DSLR versions are impossible with this series. But there's no shortage of EF-mount 35mm lenses
Sigma 35mm f/1.2 is certainly a special tool, relatively wide-angle with so much depth, something that's not possible to achieve even with real medium format.
@@cameralabs yeah, true. In fact, I look at the price delta, and see if that's something I can live with........especially, if what one gets for the additional price, is worth it for the long term. I already have the 20/1.8 and the Tamron zoom, and the filters are interchangeable with the 35/1.4, so some savings there, while I need to buy new 58mm filters for the Sigma 35/2. I think Sony has done a marvellous job in their new 35/1.4, by being able to shrink it down, while maintaining top performance. Ditto with the Sigma 35/2, in its price/aperture segment......and I especially love the Sigma's classic design (while not being overly enthusiastic of the Sony 35/1.8's design language). Difficult decisions ! :)
@@ak4939 I just ran across your comment from 5 months ago. You seem very thoughtful about your camera gear, so I was wondering what you decided between the Sigma 35/2 and the Sony 35/1.4 GM. I'm trying to make the same choice too! And I want to get the Sony 20/1.8 G as well . . . So I'm curious how you made the decision and how you like your chosen 35mm lens.
@@halschnee9862 I did get both the Sigma 35/2 and the Sony 35/1.4GM, kept the Sony and returned the Sigma. If you can swing the extra money for the Sony, I would get the 35GM. Optically it is better right from wide open, in addition to the f/1.4, and it is not too much larger or heavier than the Sigma.
@@ak4939 Thanks so much for your quick reply, and for sharing your experience! Cost is certainly a factor, but the size is my biggest reason for considering the Sigma, and the fact that I don't expect to use f/1.4 very much.
Great review! Anyone know if the S5 can set this lens to linear focus? My 45mm 2.8 doesn’t seem to be affected by the linear option on the S5. Hoping the new 35 and 65 are capable of taking advantage of the S5 menu option.
Hopefully not a dumb question, but why is the Sigma f/1.2 punched in tighter than the Sigma f/2? They are both suppose to be 35mm? Can anyone explain please?
Lenses vary in actual focal length due to their design, so it's not uncommon to find one being a little tighter or wider than another even if they both claim the same focal length. Different lens corrections can also apply varying crops.
Yes it is, although like all lenses on the A6000, it will be cropped by 1.5x, so will become 45mm equivalent. PS - I have visited Morocco and loved it!
@@cameralabs have you tried asking a shop for a loan in exchange for marketing? You get a free camera for a week and they get a mention on your channel.
this was an... odd comparison. i feel like different focal lengths of the same aperture is a more useful comparison, than the same focal length with vastly different apertures
@@cameralabs yeah, but compare it to a f/1.8 or a f2.8 variant. or, compare it to a 45 f/2.8 for street photography. comparing a $500 f/2 to a $2000 f/1.2 is like shopping between a civic and a ferrari.
I guess Canon users don’t care about Sigma or other third party lenses because if they want quality they buy RF mount and if they want low price they buy EF mount and adapt it, and both are great and eliminate the need for outsiders
I think Canon owners very much care about Sigma, (they certainly did a LOT for DSLR lenses in the EF mount) but I suspect Sigma is unable to make RF lenses right now, perhaps due to licensing. I bet all DG DN lenses will arrive in RF and Z mounts at some point though.
F2 is a little too low for me. I wish they would have went with 1.8. I love the aesthetic of the lens itself, and it seems to have more character than the Sony 35 1.8 Guess I'll be waiting for the 35 1.4 GM.
