Today, we will discuss the 35mm Sony Lenses (F/1.4 vs F/1.7 vs F/1.8 vs F/2.8). First, this photography lens has a focal length of 35mm. A 35mm lens is the standard choice in film photography. Many cameras use it as their typical lens format. If you are a professional photographer who wants to create soft, artistic pictures, a 35mm lens is a brilliant choice.
A top choice for APS-C and Full Frame cameras with an APS-C sensor, this lens style is flexible. A 35mm lens is a prime lens for general shooting. You should know the field of view your type of photography requires. When considering prime vs zoom lens for video, you will encounter the 35mm lens many times.
But what aperture selections are the best? A 35mm length can use different aperture settings. However, the most prevalent ones are F1.4, F1.7, F1.8, and F2.8.
We will discuss four products featuring these apertures shortly.
Contents
What is a 35mm Camera Lens Good For?
First, it is a standard lens ideal for different photography genres. Due to its versatility, the 35mm lens allows you to shoot at different angles and capture the whole background.
A large aperture on this lens can let you shoot images in low light conditions. A 35mm lens can shoot distant items, such as extensive landscapes, buildings, or wild animals.
Sony 35mm Lenses (F/1.4 vs F/1.7 vs F/1.8 vs F/2.8) In Details
01. Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM Full-Frame Best Wide Angle Lens
Features
- Weight: 1.16lbs
- Size (Diameter x Length): 76mm x96mm
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Filter Diameter: 67mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.89 Ft (Af), 0.82 Ft (Mf) (0.27 M (Af), 0.25 M (Mf))
Pros
- Seamless and easy aperture control
- Portable
- No-flare pictures
- Due to Extreme Dynamic (ED) linear motors, it is compatible with any auto speed.
Cons
- Some users experienced a problem when using the f1.4
Purpose of Uses
We feel that the Sony SEL35F14GM is the best for professional results. Sony G Master is a lightweight, portable lens that works well with the APS-C and Full Frame camera bodies.
Boasting an Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass element, this lens minimizes chromatic aberration and other flare elements from your photos.
As it has Sony’s top optical design, this standard lens consists of an ED glass, two extreme Aspherical (XA) elements, and a Nano AR coating II. Three of these ensure high resolution and contrast in your photos.
A 52.5mm equivalent focal length, the G Master lens fits a small APS-C camera body and is perfect for still photography, street shooting, landscape shooting, etc.
We also love its aperture ring because it comes with switchable click stops. So, you can turn it ON when about to shoot still scenes and OFF when making movies or shooting concerts, theater scenes, or any other event.
Moreover, it consists of an 11-blade circular aperture that helps the subject stand out in a defocused background and foreground. After choosing this Sony lens, expect no more polygonal defocused light areas in your images.
02. Neewer 35mm F1.7 Large Aperture Focus Prime Fixed Lens
Features
- Weight: 6.20z
- Size (Diameter x Length): N/A
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Filter Diameter: 49mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: N/A
Pros
- A wide compatibility camera lens
- One can shoot in the dark and generate bright photos
- Many coats protect the lens from dust and boost resolution
- An easy-to-control depth of field.
Cons
- Some users had a problem with a wobbly f-stop ring.
Purpose of Uses
Here is another 35mm focal length lens from Neewer. A highly versatile lens, the Neewer f1.7 is perfect for portrait photography. However, you can still use it to shoot still life, landscape sceneries, weddings, wildlife, and more.
Achieving a blurred background effect in dark lit areas is possible, thanks to the oversized aperture. Moreover, the lens can allow lighter to enter the wide aperture hole and make evening and night photography possible.
A multicoated lens, the Neewer Prime Lens produces glare-free images, and its rings promote accuracy when focusing and adjusting the aperture. Having a metal body increases longevity without raising the weight of the product.
Thus, you can easily carry this item to any outdoor photoshoot area. Compatible with APS-C mirrorless cameras, this lens is ideal for anyone with a Sony A7IIIA9NEX camera. Ensure you check the selection of compatible Sony cameras before purchasing this lens.
03. Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Best Prime Lens
Features
- Weight: 5.5ounces
- Size (Diameter x Length): N/A
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Filter Diameter:49
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.99ft/0.3m
Pros
- You can use it with an APS-C camera
- Several cameras can use this lens
- Easy to transport
- Perfect for portrait photography.
Cons
- One person received the wrong box, and the lens lacked the back cover
- Sony SEL35F18 is a non-zoomable lens, and some users disliked it.
Purpose of Uses
Sony has many high-quality lenses, including the SEL35F18 lens. Unlike our first choice, a standard lens, the SEL35F18 is a wide-angle option. If you love shooting at night or capturing moving items, this lens might help as its maximum aperture is bright.
Also, you can choose it for portrait shots and more. Users of Hasselblad Lunar Sony camera models will find this lens especially useful. As it is a wide compatibility camera, check if your model can use it.
Besides, the SEL35F18 is lightweight and portable, which makes it ideal for outdoor photoshoots. Defocusing the background to generate a blurred effect (bokeh) is easy due to the circular aperture blades.
Unlike your conventional optical glass lenses, this one does not produce chromatic aberration and low contrast images. Instead, its ED glass helps increase contrast, resolution, and image clarity at any aperture setting.
Moreover, the aspherical lens minimizes spherical aberration without making the lens heavier or larger.
Lastly, this Sony lens has built-in Gyro sensors that detect even the smallest movements to prevent image blurring.
04. Sony 35mm F2.8 ZA Best Full Frame Prime Fixed Lens
Features
- Weight: 4.23ounces
- Size (Diameter x Length): N/A
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Filter Diameter: 49mm
- Minimum Focus Distance:0.35mm
Pros
- Three double-layered aspherical elements reduce aberration
- Produces sharp images
- Maximum F2.8 aperture
- Compact and portable.
Cons
- An expensive Sony lenses
- No image stabilization.
Purpose of Uses
Another wide-angle camera lens by Sony is the SEL35F28Z model. One noticeable feature of it is the F2.8, the brightest maximum aperture we have seen. As a versatile lens, the Sony SEL35F28Z has a 35mm focal length and a minimum aperture setting of 22mm.
Also, its minimum focus distance is 0.35m and offers a maximum magnification ratio of 0.12 xs. Ideal for the Carl Zeiss E-mount Full Frame camera, this lens fits 5/7 lens groups. We also love this lens’ design as it can resist dust and water, which makes it suitable for harsh outdoor surroundings.
Consisting of a 49mm filter diameter, and an angle of view of forty-four degrees, this lens also suits an APS-C camera body. And while not zoomable, the Sony SEL35F28Z lens is the easiest to use because it offers a user manual and product documentation in PDF format.
As an all-glass lens with a metal body and a plastic lid, we expect it to endure any environment and last longer.
Which One Is The Overall winner?
Even if all the four 35mm focal length lenses are perfect, we chose the Sony SEL35F14GM as the winner. Besides being a portable lens, the Sony SEL35F14GM has a unique design and excellent construction. Apart from shooting photos in any situation, including sports photography, it also makes top-quality videos.
Also, features such as aspherical elements and extra-low dispersion ensure corner-corner sharpness in any image. Also affordable, this standard lens can fit different Sony camera models. So, we admire its wide compatibility and more.
Is a 35mm Lens Good for Portraits?
A 50mm lens might work better than a 35mm lens in portrait photography. Its wide frame can distort your portraits somehow, which can affect your work ethic. A 35mm lens may be ideal for everyday shooting and travel photography.
A 35mm focal length lens is more prevalent and will work with crop sensor cameras or the Full Frame ones. While you can shoot portraits with a 35mm lens, it is not the best choice overall.
At the end of the day, choosing a 35mm lens or a 50mm one for portrait shooting is a personal decision.
Can You Zoom in with a 35 mm Lens?
Unfortunately, a 35mm lens is a prime lens with a fixed focal length. Zooming in this lens is impossible, which is their main demerit. Regardless, fixed focal length lenses are ideal for taking photos and shooting videos in low-light conditions. You can get close to the subject and use the same amount of light.
Using a 35mm lens with your DSLR camera with cropped sensors is fantastic. You can produce excellent photographs and videos if you are a photojournalist.
Due to its small size, the 35mm lens fits your job because it can let you work privately in small spaces. Besides, you can pick it in different forms, including wide-angle, standard, fisheye, macro, and telephoto, among others.
Offering an aperture range of f1.4 to f2.8, these flexible lenses can allow you to create a shallow depth of field effect in your work. You need it for your travel photography, street photography, and landscape photography.
Important FAQs
What types of prime lenses exist?
A prime lens is an item with a fixed focal length and is the most common option. Without moving parts, a prime lens works fast because it can draw lighter than any other lens type. If you do amateur photography or have a professional career, you can use a prime lens for your work.
Not only are prime lenses easy to use but also versatile because of their wide range. Although the 35mm and 50mm focal lengths are so prevalent, you will find 85mm, 100mm, and 135mm options too. If you like taking shots of expansive landscape sceneries, you might want to select the wide-angle prime lenses.
But when considering prime vs zoom lens, your photography styles should matter the most. Zoom lenses have moving parts and extend outward when zooming in or out. These moving parts work independently of each other if you alter the lens’ focal lengths.
Will a 35mm lens be better than a 50mm one?
Both are prime lenses, meaning that they retain their size when changing focal lengths. When selecting the best between them, you must consider where you are in your photography journey.
Prime or zoom lens for beginners is available. Nevertheless, if you have made up your mind to select a 35mm or 50mm prime lens, you might not know which one to choose.
In both cases, what matters is how wide any of these lenses can open at their highest aperture setting. Thus, check the focal length and the aperture setting.
A 35mm lens usually has an f1.4 aperture setting, a viewing angle of 60 degrees, and a minimum focus distance of 45mm. It can work perfectly indoors without flash or outdoors when taking close-range shots.
In contrast, a 50mm prime lens will be a better choice for architectural photography or portrait photography because it produces natural-looking images.
Since it has a fixed focal length, the 50mm prime lens does not have a moving barrel that could trigger distortion. As a beginner, or a professional, this lens might be better than a 35mm lens.
If you want a lens for sheer professional work or general shooting, a 35mm lens is the standard choice for many.
Can I use a 35mm prime lens when shooting in tight places?
Yes, a 35mm lens has the most versatile focal length. Great for professional shooting, a 35mm lens is flexible enough for shooting privately or in tight places. When you do not want the subjects to notice you when shooting, a 35mm lens may work best.
No wonder it is the best choice for photojournalists who needs to do investigative work. Also, because of its wide angle of view, a 35mm lens is ideal for indoor settings with low lighting conditions.
Rounding Up
We are about to end our 35mm Sony Lenses (F/1.4 VS F/1.7 VS F/1.8 VS F/2.8) discussion. So far, you have learned something about a 35mm lens. Although there are other brands, a Sony 35mm lens works for most professional photographers.
Sony 35mm lenses have excellent designs and features that never disappoint. Before making a choice, read further on each recommended product to see if it fits your photography camera.