11/14/10
Check out the full review of the new Sony DT 35mm F/1.8 SAM. This lens is superb, and based on price vs performance, is easily the best bargain in the Sony lens line-up. It’s also on sale now for $175!! with free shipping (in US), up ’till the end of the year.
The Sony DT 35mm F/1.8 SAM is a lens to get excited about. It’s small, light-weight, inexpensive and fast! It’s also sharp in the centers wide open, and stopped down to F/5.6-8 is sharp enough over the entire image to please the fussy, pixel peeping landscape shooter. In fact, in some ways, it
out-performs the Sony 35mm F/1.4 G that sells new for $1369! See the conclusion for details.
out-performs the Sony 35mm F/1.4 G that sells new for $1369! See the conclusion for details.
Some readers are wondering which lens is better for them, the new Sony 35mm F/1.8, Sigma 30mm F/1.4, or the Minolta 35mm F/2. I don’t know which one is best, it all depends on what’s important
to you, but here’s my quick take; my review copy of the Sigma 30mm was pretty sharp in the centers, but very soft along the sides, even stopped down; It’s also 2/3 of a stop faster than F/1.8. The Minolta 35mm F/2 is sharp all over, but suffers from poor ghosting control, and is much more expensive than the Sony 35/1.8. If high optical performance with a low price tag is important, the Sony DT 35mm F/1.8 SAM is a no brainer.
to you, but here’s my quick take; my review copy of the Sigma 30mm was pretty sharp in the centers, but very soft along the sides, even stopped down; It’s also 2/3 of a stop faster than F/1.8. The Minolta 35mm F/2 is sharp all over, but suffers from poor ghosting control, and is much more expensive than the Sony 35/1.8. If high optical performance with a low price tag is important, the Sony DT 35mm F/1.8 SAM is a no brainer.
Although the DT 35mm F/1.8 makes a great walk-around lens, Sony is mistakenly marketing
it as a “wide angle.” On a full-frame camera 35mm is wide angle, but the APS-C crop factor makes this lens equivalent to 52.5mm, that’s not wide angle, but is much more appropriate for everyday use in my opinion than the recently released Sony DT 50mm F/1.8 SAM, which is being marketed as a “portrait” lens.
it as a “wide angle.” On a full-frame camera 35mm is wide angle, but the APS-C crop factor makes this lens equivalent to 52.5mm, that’s not wide angle, but is much more appropriate for everyday use in my opinion than the recently released Sony DT 50mm F/1.8 SAM, which is being marketed as a “portrait” lens.
 |
| Click for review page |