Sony 35mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8, and 85mm 1.8 lenses vs. Panasonic counterparts

Aleksander Kozak · Dec 29, 2023

Hi All,

I am mainly an M43 shooter, but I am considering adding an FF system and thinking about Sony or Panasonic systems. Panasonic has introduced a few 1.8 primes, and I wonder if anybody used to use the same counterparts in the Sony system or has access to any tests to show how they compare to each other.

PS: Anyone with the 24-105mm f/4 lenses in both systems?

Thank you in advance for some comments.

Alek

JoeQuinoa · Dec 29, 2023

Aleksander Kozak said:
Hi All,

I am mainly an M43 shooter, but I am considering adding an FF system and thinking about Sony or Panasonic systems. Panasonic has introduced a few 1.8 primes, and I wonder if anybody used to use the same counterparts in the Sony system or has access to any tests to show how they compare to each other.

For those specific lenses, the Panasonic products are significantly better.

Mostly because they're years newer, and simply more expensive.

Aleksander Kozak said:
PS: Anyone with the 24-105mm f/4 lenses in both systems?

Yes, the Panasonic is better, quality is about the same but the Panasonic focuses much closer.

Mr_Win · Dec 29, 2023

JoeQuinoa said:
Aleksander Kozak said:

Hi All,

I am mainly an M43 shooter, but I am considering adding an FF system and thinking about Sony or Panasonic systems. Panasonic has introduced a few 1.8 primes, and I wonder if anybody used to use the same counterparts in the Sony system or has access to any tests to show how they compare to each other.

Click to expand...

For those specific lenses, the Panasonic products are significantly better.

Mostly because they're years newer, and simply more expensive.

JoeQuinoa said:

PS: Anyone with the 24-105mm f/4 lenses in both systems?

Click to expand...

Yes, the Panasonic is better, quality is about the same but the Panasonic focuses much closer.

I do agree, the panasonic's are generally better, but they are also pro grade style lenses that are larger and more expensive.

sony's need digital correction and generally much smaller

if I was only to shoot pro level stuff 100% of the time, I'd be looking into Panasonic, but since I do a mixture of paid/leisure, sony is far more favorable for me. I do have some M43 just in case, but only the long lenses in m43 win it for me, and I'm not much of a wildlife shooter......... my sony gear can be made nearly as small as m43 while being able to accumulate a lot more light.

Interceptor121 · Dec 29, 2023

The 50/1.8 Sony is not the same quality of the 35 and 85

Panasonic lenses are newer very sharp and better built they are also not expensive. Both 35 and 85 are bigger than Sony lenses

None of them has amazing rendering put it that way

Choose which format suits you better and then look around. Emount has many more lenses however if you don't need long telephoto and special use cases L Mount has very good basics

Impulses · Dec 29, 2023

The Sony 50/1.8 has terrible AF, the 35/1.8 has awesome AF and no focus breathing and short MFD but kinda meh rendering, worth comparing with the Sigma 35/2 which is available on L mount. There's some much smaller and just as good (if not better) alternatives to the 85/1.8, the Samyang 75/1.8 in particular caught my eye early on when looking at E mount (it's the size of the Oly 75/1.8) and coming from M4/3 as well... It's the size of the Sony 35/1.8. There's also the Sigma 90/2.8 which focuses closer.

For a ~50 I'd look at used 55/1.8 ZAs, the Samyang 45/1.8 which is tiny, or the Sigma 50/2... I have the Samyang but I basically just use it as a smaller alternative to my 35/1.4 GM. There's a few more FF E mount primes that can equal the size of M4/3 ones, tho most are from Samyang & Sigma and the latter are available on both L & E.

alphaZ · Dec 30, 2023

Aleksander Kozak said:
Hi All,

I am mainly an M43 shooter, but I am considering adding an FF system and thinking about Sony or Panasonic systems. Panasonic has introduced a few 1.8 primes, and I wonder if anybody used to use the same counterparts in the Sony system or has access to any tests to show how they compare to each other.

PS: Anyone with the 24-105mm f/4 lenses in both systems?

Thank you in advance for some comments.

Alek

The Panasonic and Sony 24-105 will be pretty much identical on an equivalent body, check dxo results for both, its pretty much defined by the lens type imo.

The primes, Sony 85 1.8 is significantly better and probably cheaper than the Panasonic but things like mfd might be better on Panasonic. In the 35/50mm range, again don't epect anything special iq wise from the Panasonic, they seem decent but nothing special. The Sony 1.8's are generally smaller, lighter, cheaper and technically better with better image quality.

Overall, it will depend on what you want to do, the new S5ii seems ok, but is 24mp enough and is it's af good enough?

Interceptor121 · Dec 30, 2023

Alpha user said:
Aleksander Kozak said:

Hi All,

I am mainly an M43 shooter, but I am considering adding an FF system and thinking about Sony or Panasonic systems. Panasonic has introduced a few 1.8 primes, and I wonder if anybody used to use the same counterparts in the Sony system or has access to any tests to show how they compare to each other.

PS: Anyone with the 24-105mm f/4 lenses in both systems?

Thank you in advance for some comments.

Alek

Click to expand...

The Panasonic and Sony 24-105 will be pretty much identical on an equivalent body, check dxo results for both, its pretty much defined by the lens type imo.

The primes, Sony 85 1.8 is significantly better and probably cheaper than the Panasonic but things like mfd might be better on Panasonic. In the 35/50mm range, again don't epect anything special iq wise from the Panasonic, they seem decent but nothing special. The Sony 1.8's are generally smaller, lighter, cheaper and technically better with better image quality.

Overall, it will depend on what you want to do, the new S5ii seems ok, but is 24mp enough and is it's af good enough?

The Panasonic 85/1.8 is extremely sharp

In fact on similar pixel count is better than the Sony

Sony FE 85mm F1.8 on Sony A7R II vs Panasonic Lumix S 85mm F1.8 on Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R | DXOMARK

www.dxomark.com

The Panasonic 35/1.8 is also very sharp

I was on lmount at its early days the lenses are very sharp the rendering so so but they are well built and cost effective

What did not do it for me on lmount is that other than your classic lenses there is nothing else and I use my camera underwater where sony has an edge

If you are after the classic 2.8 24-70 70-200 for events and look for cost effective 1.8 primes Panasonic has a great offering

Go into something more specific like fast AF tele lenses and there is no game they are all sigma 3rd party and are not great

Puppy2007 · Dec 30, 2023

The 50/F1.8 is the worst Sony lens ever. Slow AF and unsharp wide open. The 85/F1.8 is much better, the 35/F1.8 is ok but some people doesn't like its too contrasty rendering for portraits.

Fortunately there are plenty of third-party alternatives in that price range, if you don't want to go for the GM lenses. For instance this site https://sonyalpha.blog/ has comprehensive reviews.

Samyang F1.8 tiny series are nice for the price. Two problems, the center sharpness is usually very good, but not the corners. There is known sample variance so you may get a bad copy. Make sure you can return it.

Sigma F2 ones are also good (especially the 65mm), but more expensive. The build quality is better than Samyang, but heavier because of metal casing.

Aleksander Kozak · Dec 13, 2024

I see. But I played with Sony 35/85mm 1.8 versions on A7 IV and A7 c II and to be honest results are really fine. Maybe Panasonic equivalent are better, it would be perfect to combine Panasonic S5 II(x) and Sony A7 IV features...

Aleksander Kozak · Dec 13, 2024

Puppy2007 said:
The 50/F1.8 is the worst Sony lens ever. Slow AF and unsharp wide open. The 85/F1.8 is much better, the 35/F1.8 is ok but some people doesn't like its too contrasty rendering for portraits.

Fortunately there are plenty of third-party alternatives in that price range, if you don't want to go for the GM lenses. For instance this site https://sonyalpha.blog/ has comprehensive reviews.

Samyang F1.8 tiny series are nice for the price. Two problems, the center sharpness is usually very good, but not the corners. There is known sample variance so you may get a bad copy. Make sure you can return it.

Sigma F2 ones are also good (especially the 65mm), but more expensive. The build quality is better than Samyang, but heavier because of metal casing.

I see. I just wonder how Sigma lenses perform on latest Sony bodies keeping in mind AF EYE tracking.

And thank you for pasting Sonyalpha blog!

tqlla · Dec 13, 2024

Puppy2007 said:
The 50/F1.8 is the worst Sony lens ever. Slow AF and unsharp wide open. The 85/F1.8 is much better, the 35/F1.8 is ok but some people doesn't like its too contrasty rendering for portraits.

This is true. I had that lens on my A7R2, it was slow and hunted in "low" light (not really low IMO). I gave it away to a friend who could wait for the AF.

After 5 years and no FF 50mm F1.8s, I let people convince me that the problem was the older A7Rii body. Bought it again 2 weeks ago. Still slow and loud.

I hate that lens. I dont know how Tony Northrup possibly rates that lens higher than the Sony/Zeiss 55mm

Puppy2007 said:
Sigma F2 ones are also good (especially the 65mm), but more expensive. The build quality is better than Samyang, but heavier because of metal casing.

The Sigma 50mm F2 looks good, but IMO too pricey for a 3rd party F2.

Aleksander Kozak · Dec 13, 2024

Mr_Win said:
JoeQuinoa said:

Aleksander Kozak said:

Hi All,

I am mainly an M43 shooter, but I am considering adding an FF system and thinking about Sony or Panasonic systems. Panasonic has introduced a few 1.8 primes, and I wonder if anybody used to use the same counterparts in the Sony system or has access to any tests to show how they compare to each other.

Click to expand...

For those specific lenses, the Panasonic products are significantly better.

Mostly because they're years newer, and simply more expensive.

Mr_Win said:

PS: Anyone with the 24-105mm f/4 lenses in both systems?

Click to expand...

Yes, the Panasonic is better, quality is about the same but the Panasonic focuses much closer.

Click to expand...

I do agree, the panasonic's are generally better, but they are also pro grade style lenses that are larger and more expensive.

sony's need digital correction and generally much smaller

if I was only to shoot pro level stuff 100% of the time, I'd be looking into Panasonic, but since I do a mixture of paid/leisure, sony is far more favorable for me. I do have some M43 just in case, but only the long lenses in m43 win it for me, and I'm not much of a wildlife shooter......... my sony gear can be made nearly as small as m43 while being able to accumulate a lot more light.

Thank you. Thast is why I am leaning toward Sony.... I liked Sony A7 IV while playing with some Sony both GM and cheaper lenses. Output is really fine - both video and photo.

Aleksander Kozak · Dec 13, 2024

Interceptor121 said:
The 50/1.8 Sony is not the same quality of the 35 and 85

Panasonic lenses are newer very sharp and better built they are also not expensive. Both 35 and 85 are bigger than Sony lenses

None of them has amazing rendering put it that way

Choose which format suits you better and then look around. Emount has many more lenses however if you don't need long telephoto and special use cases L Mount has very good basics

I played with Sony 35/85mm 1.8 lenses and I think that they are fine. I used Sony A7 IV and 7 c II. I am afraid to buy Lumix due to video moire, there are some videos showing this undesirable effect as well opticall limits showed both results and gave some explanation. I think Sony A7 IV has much less problems due to the presence of AA filter.

Aleksander Kozak · Dec 13, 2024

tqlla said:
Puppy2007 said:

The 50/F1.8 is the worst Sony lens ever. Slow AF and unsharp wide open. The 85/F1.8 is much better, the 35/F1.8 is ok but some people doesn't like its too contrasty rendering for portraits.

Click to expand...

This is true. I had that lens on my A7R2, it was slow and hunted in "low" light (not really low IMO). I gave it away to a friend who could wait for the AF.

After 5 years and no FF 50mm F1.8s, I let people convince me that the problem was the older A7Rii body. Bought it again 2 weeks ago. Still slow and loud.

I hate that lens. I dont know how Tony Northrup possibly rates that lens higher than the Sony/Zeiss 55mm

Maybe due to the sample variation.

tqlla said:
tqlla said:

Sigma F2 ones are also good (especially the 65mm), but more expensive. The build quality is better than Samyang, but heavier because of metal casing.

Click to expand...

The Sigma 50mm F2 looks good, but IMO too pricey for a 3rd party F2.

Pity there is no new Sony 50mm 1.8 lens like in the case of Nikon or Panasonic.

Aleksander Kozak · Dec 13, 2024

Impulses said:
The Sony 50/1.8 has terrible AF, the 35/1.8 has awesome AF and no focus breathing and short MFD but kinda meh rendering, worth comparing with the Sigma 35/2 which is available on L mount. There's some much smaller and just as good (if not better) alternatives to the 85/1.8, the Samyang 75/1.8 in particular caught my eye early on when looking at E mount (it's the size of the Oly 75/1.8) and coming from M4/3 as well... It's the size of the Sony 35/1.8. There's also the Sigma 90/2.8 which focuses closer.

For a ~50 I'd look at used 55/1.8 ZAs, the Samyang 45/1.8 which is tiny, or the Sigma 50/2... I have the Samyang but I basically just use it as a smaller alternative to my 35/1.4 GM. There's a few more FF E mount primes that can equal the size of M4/3 ones, tho most are from Samyang & Sigma and the latter are available on both L & E.

Yes, plenty of options... I can see you also have m43 gear along with Sony FF. Do you think there is significant difference in image quality etc?

QuietOC · Dec 13, 2024

Aleksander Kozak said:
tqlla said:

Puppy2007 said:

The 50/F1.8 is the worst Sony lens ever. Slow AF and unsharp wide open. The 85/F1.8 is much better, the 35/F1.8 is ok but some people doesn't like its too contrasty rendering for portraits.

Click to expand...

This is true. I had that lens on my A7R2, it was slow and hunted in "low" light (not really low IMO). I gave it away to a friend who could wait for the AF.

After 5 years and no FF 50mm F1.8s, I let people convince me that the problem was the older A7Rii body. Bought it again 2 weeks ago. Still slow and loud.

I hate that lens. I dont know how Tony Northrup possibly rates that lens higher than the Sony/Zeiss 55mm

Click to expand...

Maybe due to the sample variation.

Yes, quite the problem with older Sony lenses and some others.

Aleksander Kozak said:
Aleksander Kozak said:

Aleksander Kozak said:

Sigma F2 ones are also good (especially the 65mm), but more expensive. The build quality is better than Samyang, but heavier because of metal casing.

Click to expand...

The Sigma 50mm F2 looks good, but IMO too pricey for a 3rd party F2.

Click to expand...

Pity there is no new Sony 50mm 1.8 lens like in the case of Nikon or Panasonic.

Sigma DN Contemporary lenses make a good argument for L-mount. I now have the 17/4, 35/2, 45/2.8, 50/2, 65/2, 90/2.8, 16-28/2.8, 28-70/2.8, and 100-400.

But I quite liked the Sony FE 1.8/50 and would probably use it often if I still owned it.

Lan · Dec 13, 2024

QuietOC said:
But I quite liked the Sony FE 1.8/50 and would probably use it often if I still owned it.

The AF is slow and noisy, and it's not great wide open, but it is very sharp across the frame when stopped down to f/5.6. As a portrait lens, definitely not my first choice, but as a landscape lens, I think it's good value

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Sony 35mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8, and 85mm 1.8 lenses vs. Panasonic counterparts

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Sony FE 85mm F1.8 on Sony A7R II vs Panasonic Lumix S 85mm F1.8 on Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R | DXOMARK

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