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35mm prime recommendation for A7SII that won't cost an arm and a leg?

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bceye

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SEL35F14Z looks really nice, but at $1600 it is too much..

What do you guys recommend, I am open to adapter + lens approach also.
 
Sony FE 35mm f2.8

J
 
bceye said:
SEL35F14Z looks really nice, but at $1600 it is too much..

What do you guys recommend, I am open to adapter + lens approach also.
Click to expand...
I bought a Canon 35mm f2.0 an EF mount. I tested it on an A7II with PDAF feature, this combo worked very well, fast and accurate focus, the results: very good to excellent images, I would recommend it, I will be using it when I buy an A7**** in future. You can use it with either Viltrox II or Fotodiox adapter.

The price for a 2nd hand unit is about US$250. This is a non IS lens which is ok cos A7SII has IBIS.
 
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I've the 35 fe 2.8 which is an amazing lens. It should cost way less now.
 
Minolta 35/2. Used to be a legendary lens, very good IQ, compact, reliable. Will need a motor adapter LA-EA4 if you want AF.

Surprisingly good for video. I don't have one online, but I have 4K sample with Minolta 28/2, which is almost exactly the same lens (I have both).


Kirill
 
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I agree, I've had one of these for years and now use it on the A7r with metabones IV, gives the shallow dof at f2 and gets very sharp at f4, combine it with in body stabilisation and you've got a bargain.
 
bceye said:
SEL35F14Z looks really nice, but at $1600 it is too much..

What do you guys recommend, I am open to adapter + lens approach also.
Click to expand...
Small, light ... sharp wide open. F2.8 is fine ... you probably don't need micro-thin DOF at 35mm, and your camera is already tops in low light.
 
Leica M Summicron 35mm 2.0 Type IV - has gone up in price in recent years, but you might get lucky and get a bargain. Great rendering, tiny and feather-light.

Leica R Elmarit 35mm 2.8 Type II (avoid Type I) - A dark horse: little known, therefore sometimes relatively cheap. Very high acutance.

Canon FD 35mm 2.8 TS - Very sharp. Has Canon FD colors (slightly warm). Will tilt and shift. Has a steampunk aesthetic.

Not what you asked for, but the following zooms can come close to, equal or even exceed very good 35mm primes from f/4.0:

Contax N Zeiss 24-85

Minolta AF 24-85 (you need to find a good sample!!!)

Canon EF 16-35 4.0 (yes, very good at 35mm from f/4.0)

Contax Zeiss 35-70

Someone recommended a Nikon 35 2.0 AIS. Had that lens for years (still have it), but it can't hold a candle to the 3 primes I mentioned (or any of the zooms either).
 
Rokinon Cine Lens I hear are pretty good for both video and photo. A lil soft wide open but what lens isn't for cheaper prices? Manual only...don't know if you need AF.
 
Ive got a vivitar 35mm 1.9 on the A7ii and for the $90 I spent on it a few months ago i'm pretty happy. It vignettes quite a bit and is extremely large but for the price you cant really complain.
 
bceye said:
SEL35F14Z looks really nice, but at $1600 it is too much..

What do you guys recommend, I am open to adapter + lens approach also.
Click to expand...
Near Otus IQ on Canon 5ds/r so probably about equivalent IQ to zony FE 55mm f1.8:

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www.dxomark.com

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www.dpreview.com

Paid about $450 full MSRP from B&H with frequently available instant rebate.

Works very well with FotodioX adapter.
 
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