Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN vs Sony 35mm f/1.8 FE (Photo & Video Review)

[@kapilesh14]

That insane video af is the reason I went for Sony. It simply has the best video autofocus of any 35mm I researched.

[@TomCalton]

It's pretty rapid. Great video lens for sure!

[@philipkwon3710]

What the hell is wrong with KZbin algorithm??? This channel deserves at least 100k subs by now. Need more hashtags or something?

[@TomCalton]

😂 Slow and steady brother, slow and steady 💪🏻

[@dukecha]

This aged really well. Congrats, Tom!

[@Dave-65]

Made my decision, thanks so much! You show what the other channels miss out on, much appreciated :) Why you don't have more subs, I do not know!

[@TomCalton]

Thanks, really appreciate it! The channel is still pretty new (not even 2 years old yet) so we'll get there eventually. It all takes time. But thank you for the support! 🤜🤛

[@EdRobles1]

Convinced me to buy 35 mm 1.8. I subscribed. Your other 35 mm g master comparison was also great. Outstanding.

[@TomCalton]

Thanks Eddie! Welcome aboard sir 🤜🤛

[@rithvikar2526]

What are your thoughts on the nifty Samyang 35 1.8?

[@TomCalton]

It's on my list of lenses to test, so I'll get back to you on that one once I've had a chance to play with it! ☺️

[@chesslover8829]

It's interesting to note that Dustin Abbott felt that the Sigma was better than the Sony, and Matt Osborne (Mr. Leica) felt that the Sigma was simply too sharp for female portraits. The Sigma now sells for $589 at B&H; whereas, the Sony sells for $748.

[@TomCalton]

Saying a lens is "too sharp" is a little odd in my opinion as you can very easily and quickly soften photos in PS or LR, if you really wanted to. Sharping a soft photo however is not quite as easy and often makes the photo look super fake. Personally, I'd rather have a super sharp lens than a super soft one.

[@chesslover8829]

@TomCalton From my perspective, I fall into the sharp camp and would choose either the 35mm f/1.4 Sigma Art or the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. (I currently own the Sigma 40mm f/1.4 Art). For street work, I would select the Voigtländer 35mm f/2 APO Lanther and zone focus. All three of these lenses are sharper than either the Sigma 35mm f/2 or the Sony 35mm f/1.8.

[@nogerboher5266]

Lol am I the only one in the world who likes the feel and look of the images of sigma f2 over the sony 1.8? Too bad it's an f2... Got the 135, 100, 85 and 50... Now I need the 35 and I'm done... But I can't decide over the sigma f2 or Sony 1.8... I would get the GM 1.4 but since I don't use 35mm lenses that much, it would be a waste of money. Help me decide peeps? f2 or 1.8?

[@AlexCruzHaha]

Which did you go with? I’m in between the Sony and sigma right now. I love aperture rings

[@nogerboher5266]

@@AlexCruzHaha After doing a little bit of research I ended up going to my local camera store and trying out a bunch of lenses... Then... I ended up splurging the hell out of my savings... I bought the Sigma 35mm f2, Sony 50mm GM, Sigma 85mm 1.2, Sigma 105mm 1.4 and Sony 135mm 1.8 GM... This switch to Sony was quite expensive for me lol... Oh and I forgot to say; As for the 35mm f2, the images are just 10/10, images are artsy/filmic no matte what kind of lighting you shoot in, you can obliterate the exposure and colors on purpose and the image would still have that filmic look, the only downside is that it's an f2, not an 1.4 or 1.2 but hey... unless you do shots specifically for bokeh pushing, the f2 and f1.4 difference is literally not noticeable. As for autofocus, we tested the AF in front of the shop and it was as fast as both Sony and other Sigma 35mm and if there is any AF difference in speed, it's 100% unnoticeable in real world use. Price to performance taken into account, together with Nikons 35mm, sigmas 35 f2 is the best 35mm that I have ever shot with

[@Tzadeck]

The most important thing in comparing 35mm lenses is really the subjective character of the bokeh in real images. 35mm is a great focal length, but a lot of lenses have ugly separation between the subject and the out of focus background. This is much more important that bokeh balls.

[@Gascoigne74]

What is your favorite 35mm lens?

[@TomCalton]

I haven't tested them all (yet) but so far, the Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM is just awesome! Apart from its severe focus breathing issue, it's otherwise pretty perfect 👌🏻

[@Johns-lp9en]

Tom, Any chance you will review the gigantic Sigma 40mm f1.4 art lens vs Zeiss Batis 40mm f2 (or other lens) or the Sigma 28mm f1.4 vs Zeiss Batis 25mm f2 (or other lens). These Sigma Art lenses get a lot of attention for sharpness and correction, but would love to hear your review of the 40mm & 28mm. Thanks 👍 And Love the Channel!

[@kristianbabjar1666]

Is it just me or is the Sony 35 F1.8 really much shorter than the other 35mm? It seemed to me in all your 35mm comparisons. It looks more than 38mm compared to the other 35mm lens.

[@Mattrossphoto]

Your b roll work is goals man! Great inspiration for how is still guys have to keep up. I personally hate video but it’s your shorts that showed me the groundwork of what to go for when I’m at a shoot and the girls demand video lol

[@TomCalton]

Thanks dude, really appreciate it. Though I can't take all the credit - Paul and George (my two partners in crime) usually film the B-roll sections. I just edit it all together. Team work makes the dream work bebe 💪🏻

[@ChrisGower]

Did the Sony go up in price? It's $748 now

[@zacharypump5910]

Thanks for this review! This is probably too subjective a question, but did you feel like the manual aperture ring added any perceived user experience to the Sigma? I actually already have the Sony one, but I'm considering the sigma because for street photography I wanted as compact as I can get with a 35mm, I might also like the aperture on the lens rather than the camera wheel, and I doubt f2 will feel that much more restrictive over 1.8 for day to day use... Would love your thoughts on any of those factors!

[@TomCalton]

Good question. For me, no, but that's only because I never use manual aperture rings so it's no use to me. But if you personally like the manual control, I can see it being a nice addition

[@poccophoto]

@@TomCalton for street photography, manual aperture ring is beneficial as you can set aperture before camera is turned on for capturing the decisive moment 😊

[@matpap]

@@poccophoto If you want to capture the decisive moment, setting aperture before your camera is turned on won't help, by the time your camera will be turned on, decisive moment will be long gone :PP

[@antoniofoni5224]

I bought the Sony 35mm 1.8 for 475 euros (New). Not bad at all for this price. But the Sigma Art 35mm 1.4 was also tempting

[@TomCalton]

For the price, the Sony is such a solid little lens!

[@lorenzo4262]

It seems instead that sigma 35 have Better Creamy blur transiton from in focus area and background

[@anbar5675]

Very nice, fully comprehensive review. Being an owner of the Sony lens, I would like to have in my archive the comparative test charts. Is there any link available?

[@Jm3rv]

Nice comparison. I would've got the Sony but I found the Sigma for 200usd and couldn't pass on that.

[@kifley19]

I got the Sony 35mm 1.8 for video and the Sony 35mm 1.4 GM for photos.

[@TomCalton]

I have the exact same setup 👍🏻

[@diptiman2008]

Wonderful way of presentation..not boring.

[@TomCalton]

Thank you

[@philipkwon3710]

but then I use 35mm GM...yet love your vid

[@TomCalton]

Appreciate the support as ever Philip 👍

[@charruaporelmundo]

I have the Gm but I got this sigma to pair it with it big brother 65

[@petrolpoodle]

May I ask which lens you're using when talking to camera? It's outrageously good!!! Love the review too, I'm so drawn to the Sigma still for some reason, I've found one that's £85 cheaper than the used Sony. Is the Sony worth that extra cash?

[@darrenhaken]

What did you pick?

[@petrolpoodle]

@@darrenhaken I went for the Sigma 35mm with no regrets! I'm aware that the Sony is considered slightly superior but the images I get are always stunning and I love the look and feel of the Sigma. It feels premium and satisfying to hold!

[@darrenhaken]

@@petrolpoodle so a generally enjoyable lens to use then?

[@petrolpoodle]

@@darrenhaken absolutely! I never sit there and feel like something is missing or that the AutoFocus is letting me down or anything. If you don't need the F2 part and F2.8 will do then people rave about the tiny Samyang 35mm which I've been tempted by just for being able take a 35mm in a fraction of the carrying space

[@darrenhaken]

@@petrolpoodle I’m actually looking to buy this lens as my compact 35mm alongside the GM I own!

[@rodrigofernandezgajardo5348]

Really enjoyed watching your video! Straight to the point, and funny. I think there is a natural 2nd part of it, which is sigma 65 vs zeiss 55 or Sony 85.. hopefully you feel the same haha GL!

[@TomCalton]

Thanks bro, appreciate it! I like the sigma Vs Sony suggestion. I might have to add that one to the list 👍🏻

[@fcurcic]

On what body did you test them on?

[@TomCalton]

Sony A7III

[@fcurcic]

@@TomCalton af-s or af-c mode?

[@TomCalton]

AF-C

[@fcurcic]

@@TomCalton thanks!

[@Gjuby]

It would have been nice to throw in the Samyang 35/1.8 into the comparison.

[@jbeats02]

Haven’t used the sigma but love my Sony 35mm 1.8

[@TomCalton]

The Sony 35mm f/1.8 takes some beating. It's brilliant for the price

[@MarcelVolker]

Same here. The Sony 35mm does everything so effortlessly. My only gripe is the bokeh is often a bit harsh, but few 35mms have good bokeh. I got mine at a steal too through grey import.

[@AfF3lix]

nice video, as always!

[@TomCalton]

Thanks bud, appreciate it 👍🏻

[@albertogvphoto]

Love the SONY 35MM 1.8

[@TomCalton]

For the price, it's really hard to beat!

[@mikey7326]

Well done Thomas.

[@TomCalton]

Thanks Michael

[@mphosis]

i have use the sony and then sold and bought the sigma..somehow i like the sigma more..

[@TomCalton]

Both are decent to be fair. The build if the Sigma is just awesome 👌🏻

[@sh4rkhappy]

This sonys 35mm lense reminds me of nikons z 35mm 1.8s lense. Good performer

[@80-80.]

Ok, Sony wins in most things except build quality.

[@BrentODell]

Uh... spoiler warning? lol

[@80-80.]

@@BrentODell lol, just my opinion.

[@TomCalton]

Just to be clear though, the Sony isn't badly built, just that the Sigma is the better of the two.

[@ElementaryWatson-123]

What's the deal with the colors in this video? They all look quite unpleasant, putting it mildly.

[@TomCalton]

What's with your negative attitude? Quite unpleasant, putting it mildly.

[@ElementaryWatson-123]

@@TomCalton Interesting choice of words. It's only negative from your point of view, deal with it yourself, I'm not a shrink.

[@TomCalton]

In life it's usually not what you say, but the way you say it. You're of course aloud to not like what you see, very few things in life are to everyone's taste, but most decent people would either offer some constructive criticism, or just accept they don't like it and move on with their lives. I find it really odd when people watch a video and the only thing they comment on is the thing(s) they don't like, rather than the positives. You're right, I'm not a shrink, but I think that's something they refer to as "being an asshole"?

[@JesusQuintanna]

😂😂😂