Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM sample gallery

Sadly, that's what it looks like during this time of year in the PNW :-( There's only so much any photographer can do with these conditions.

What's more sad is that this lens is only $100 less than the Fuji 50mm f1.0 which garnered "worst lens of 2020" for fringing and LoCa that wasn't as bad as a couple of the shots we've seen here. I bet we don't hear much about how ludicrous this lens is in price for what it is and does though, because it's full frame. And Sony.

I think I'll save $400 to give up one stop of Toneh at the same capture speed with the optically excellent Fuji 23mm f1.4.

Jan 21, 2021*permalink

Woo C

Fuji 50 mm F1 has much worse LoCA than this lens.
Fuji: https://www.lenstip.com/596.5-Lens_review-Fujifilm_Fujinon_XF_50_mm_f_1.0_R_WR_Chromatic_and_spherical_aberration.html
Sony: https://www.lenstip.com/598.5-Lens_review-Sony_FE_35_mm_f_1.4_GM_Chromatic_and_spherical_aberration.html

Jan 22, 2021permalink

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4448022

So it seems the Fuji doesn't fare as well against a shoe sizer at its minimum focus distance. Fair criticism. Now go look at the purple fringe around that out in the real world shot of the wire/lights ball and then tell me how much better the Sony is.

Put this way: This is a 35mm lens and it's $1400. So.. would a similarly optically excellent 23mm by/for Fuji at this price garner as much unvarnished praise?

I'll bet not. We'd be hearing about how ludicrously expensive it is, and how Tamron is better and cheaper. But you know.. full frame. And Sony.

Jan 22, 2021permalink

Malling

I where thinking the exact same thing...

These images look like something shot by a person new to photography, and those who say it’s due to environment of the year... oh please give me a break you can make great photos 365 days a year no matter where you are.... it’s all about framing and composition.

But sadly test shots are typically just casual crappy shots, I will never understand why they don’t put more effort and pride into it.

Jan 24, 2021*permalink

Melindra

It's typical of DPR, not only are the sample images boring but they're technically usually average also.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

Fairlane

Seems pretty good. Almost up to Sigma DG DN standards.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Clavewifi

I can't say i am pleased by the colours very much. Downloading some of the files and opening them in C1 did't change that impression, the files seem somehow, well, "oversaturated", or maybe it's the a7rIV?

Jan 18, 2021permalink

DuxX

According to all respected reviewers color rendition is most accurate so far with best contrast and details... maybe it is just your eyes or your personal color perception.

Jan 19, 2021*permalink

Based

Unfortunately thats just Sony color science.

Jan 20, 2021permalink

MILC man

there is no such thing as "sony color science", because sony didn't write the c1 raw developer software, and raw files don't have any color.

lets review the facts:

-The camera is responsible for the image data recorded in the raw file
-The data in the raw file is not colors, but responses of the camera’s sensor to light
-The raw developer is responsible for turning that data into colors
-Both the camera and the raw developer influence the colors in the final image
-Of the two, the raw developer has the greater impact
-The part of the raw developer that most affects the colors in the final image is the color profile

Jan 20, 2021*permalink

DannyJeffers

Even though that's true, it's only part of the story. Correct me if I'm mistaken but part of the way the image records data is how it interprets color. That data is then extrapolated by a given software. Certain brands are known for interpreting color in a way that appears to be more pleasing to a broader number of people.

Jan 22, 2021permalink

Spectro

Overall looks like a fine lens. I use the Tammy 35mn f 1.4 for environmental portrait. Yes the Tammy is relatively huge but affordable. Otherwise any zoom will do fine for most situations, landscape.

Jan 17, 2021permalink

mkochano

Why is that dog orange now?
Now: https://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/9955503845/sony-35mm-f1-4-gm-sample-gallery/4464157235
Before: https://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/0329383169/nikon-z6-ii-sample-gallery/9372302580

Jan 15, 2021permalink

photofan1986

That's called the Donald Trump effect 😁

Jan 15, 2021permalink

Dan Bracaglia

Belvedere's fur also changes color with the seasons.

Jan 15, 2021permalink

probert500

I see it takes cute dog pictures, but I have a cat - will it still work?

Jan 15, 2021permalink

remrebus

For the cat, U have to wait for the fish-eye.

Jan 15, 2021permalink

photofan1986

Wow! The lens can resolve the very high resolution of the sensor with fingers in the nose. Impressive.

Jan 14, 2021permalink

Jhaakas

Good lens and very nice photos, great IQ.
I do wonder though that is the dof too thin?
And, perhaps a f2.0 or f2.4 might also do a good job ..when combined with computational bokeh

Jan 14, 2021permalink

Based

Mirrorless cameras arent advanced enough to have computational AI like smartphones do. The tech isnt there yet.

Jan 16, 2021permalink

DarnGoodPhotos

They don't have to have artificial depth of field, because they have real depth of field. CP is there to overcome the physical limitations of a tiny sensor; in this case depth of field which is too deep to provide subject separation.

Jan 20, 2021*permalink

adegroot

This particular lens is much softer on the right side and seems perfectly OK on the left side of the images. See e.g. the image right after the big yellow letters details.

Jan 14, 2021permalink

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2020/06/the-great-flange-to-sensor-distance-article-part-ii-photo-cameras/

It might also be because of bad sensor or mount alignment in the camera.

Jan 14, 2021permalink

mkochano

I don't really see this. Could you please give some hints?

Seem I'm in target group for that lens ;)

Jan 15, 2021permalink

For example, image #37 is clearly blurry on the right side of the image (vs. the left size). Easily seen with 100% maginification.

Either the lens or camera seem misaligned.

Jan 15, 2021permalink

Based

Might just be Sonys normal quality control issues unfortunately. The previous Sony Zeiss 35/1.4 was notorious for being decentered and took several copies to get an acceptable one without issues.

Jan 16, 2021permalink

https://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/9955503845/sony-35mm-f1-4-gm-sample-gallery/8930595024

Well I wish I could say it was just one vendor.. but even my beloved Fujifilm had a recent showcase here of their 10-24mm zoom and the left side was obviously soft, even to an easy grader like myself. Still though, the G Master is supposed to be Sony's top of the line so you'd expect more consistency.

Jan 21, 2021permalink

M4NH4CK

Looks great. I find the bokeh on my Sigma 35mm F1.2 DG DN Art marginally smoother, especially in challenging conditions like that chain-link fence in the background. The Sigma also remains butter smooth when stopped down, with adjacent bubble highlights usually merging into nice solid lines.

Other than that, however, the Sigma suddenly feels very heavy and large to carry around. Oh, well.

Jan 14, 2021permalink

mike lix

The lens itself is fine. But I don´t like how the sensor flares. I thought with this generation of cameras it was already gone. But it appears it´s still here.

Jan 14, 2021permalink

celipessoa1971

Good lens, without more ;

Jan 14, 2021permalink

kewlguy

Image 30 and 37, some blurriness on the right side of the frame at infinity, decentering?

Jan 14, 2021permalink

Reilly Diefenbach

Very nice lens. One of very few 35s with good bokeh.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

GinoSVK

I just love 35mm field of view, this lens serves at its finest.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

mike lix

It looks very good. I´m not used to liking Sony lenses very much in terms of rendering, but I actually like this one.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

dw2001

I'm mostly impressed by that you seem to shoot @ high shutter speeds with EFCS turned ON, completely destroying the bokeh. What is this, kinder garden?

Jan 13, 2021permalink

It would help if Sony introduced an auto option for EFCS, like pretty much everyone else has... One of the things I knew would bother me about the A7R going in.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

dw2001

Yeah, it's a mess. It's typical Sony to never fix such a thing. I have mine turned OFF all the time because of this.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Typical f#cked up Sony. They know there is a better way and are just to stubborn to fix their stuff

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Is there even a point to having EFCS available past like 1/2000? Is shutter shock ever an issue at that SS? I thought the trouble range was lower even for really long FLs...

Some manufacturers don't even make it an option, they just auto disable it past like 1/500. I think 1/1000 might be a safer threshold, anything would be better than having to remember about it and manage it tho.

Jan 13, 2021*permalink

Seems better at medium to close distances than at infinity. But it may just be the samples. Right edge looks different.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Sunstars looks also quite "hot" with so many spikes. Maybe not the best lens for landscapes, but more useable for other uses.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

DrCastle

Unbelievably smooth bokeh, albeit with a bit of vignetting noticeable from wide-open shots. I'm sure the profile correction will take care of it though. Also overall the colors in the sample images are amazing!

Jan 13, 2021permalink

jkokich

Could be great for video!

Jan 13, 2021permalink

photofan1986

Hmm, not so much as it suffers quite severe focus breathing.

Jan 14, 2021permalink

jkokich

I rarely, if ever, change focus while recording video. I just feel safer setting focus, and leaving it for a particular shot, so focus breathing has never been a problem for me.

Jan 15, 2021permalink

mxx

Nice!

Jan 13, 2021*permalink

Henry McA

Looks really good, sharp, great colours and some magic but why this aggressive image processing? Even shots at iso 100 show some noise.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

I wouldn't call 25% sharpening aggressive. Don't forget these were shot on a 62MP camera that isn't the ideal choice if you want noise-free images.

Jan 13, 2021*permalink

The pixel pitch is finer than most APS-C and that, as the equivalence police so enjoyed telling us APS-C/m43 shooters for the last decade, is why the images have noise. It's just a bigger image with noise.

Jan 21, 2021permalink

Atsel

The lens has blurry right side.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Yes, there is some apparent decentring visible in one of the landscapes at F2.8. It would be interesting to see other samples of the lens.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

I think they should all be showing that effect !

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Bashir Lunat - I once had a Canon 17-40mm that behaved in a similar manner. Some of the frames were sharp all over, but others exhibited decentring/tilting artefacts.

I guess this was because changing the focal length or focus position on my lens, meant that at certain settings the optics aligned in a position where decentring and/or tilting and/or curvature combined to become especially detrimental.

But Roger Cicala would be the best person to comment on this inconsistency.

Jan 13, 2021*permalink

entonman, thanks.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Right edge seems more blurry also in "The center for wooden boats".

Jan 13, 2021permalink

hfolkertsma

The results look excellent!

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Bokeh looks really nice at all apertures, flare very well controlled, nice sunstars, excellent sharpness. A nice release from Sony.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

BrentSchumer

A7RIV + 35mm GM: For when you want to crop 200% and then print.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

But wouldn't that be just like shooting a 16mp m43 and printing that, right down to the similar pixel pitch?

Jan 21, 2021permalink

BrentSchumer

The idea is that you get more options from carrying each lens. Obviously bringing 15 different primes would maximize IQ, but...

Jan 21, 2021permalink

IamJF

Still plenty of CA in #8 ...

DPreview - could you do a comparison esp. of CA of the 35Z, 35F1.8 and this new one? And maybe some other companies if you have the time ;-)

Jan 13, 2021permalink

That one and #39 (in the water) probably show the worst instances of CA in the gallery, but they were both shot wide open in pretty punishing conditions for any lens... I'm definitely looking forward to heads up comparisons.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Many comparisons on the web available. The GM has far less CA than both other options. (It's also a lot sharper)

Jan 13, 2021permalink

CA is already corrected by the embedded profile and still looks bad on some shots.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

I thought DPR never posted Sony samples with the corrections applied because they aren't forced or turned on by default in LR? (unlike other systems)

Jan 13, 2021permalink

@Impulses
correct

Jan 13, 2021permalink

https://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/9955503845/sony-35mm-f1-4-gm-sample-gallery/4752874057

The embedded profile is applied like it or not. When you click on the exclamation sign in ACR, you see a specific reference to CA (corrected).

An honest RAW converter reveals more of it.

Now, that correction, combined with the strong aliasing, creates funny artifacts like monochrome (in reality) bars having a dashed red-green-red pattern.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

MikeRan

JACS unless this gallery is somehow different than all the other Sony lens reviews the embedded lens corrections are not applied.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Maybe then lens corrections are applied in the others as well? ACR is very clear about the embedded profile being applied and you cannot turn it off, why are disputing this?

BTW, I tried two other converters, as well.

Here is what it says: "This raw file contains a built-in lens profile for correcting chromatic aberration. The profile has already been applied to this image." This is with the lens profile OFF!

Jan 13, 2021*permalink

Maybe Adobe finally updated their Software and treats Sony now like the other manufacturers with default corrections enabled

Jan 13, 2021permalink

MikeRan

Capture One doesn’t force corrections on Sony ARWs.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Michael Ma

I like the CA, except when it's purple. It gives life and vibrancy to the image. For the same reason, I find my Canon 35mm 1.4 L II a bit sterile. But different strokes for different folks. Sometimes you want it, sometimes you don't. Depends on what you are shooting. Purple fringing is always bad though. This lens seems to have a lot of it when pushed.

Jan 14, 2021*permalink

IamJF

Looking at other reviews and samples CA and LoCA seems pretty good? Maybe we just zoom in closer here?

Seems like I have to test this lens by myself ... ;-)

Jan 14, 2021permalink

At first glance of this gallery: pretty impressed. That's a good lens with good potential for many situations. I wonder how much Zeiss influence is involved in the design?

Jan 13, 2021permalink

BrentSchumer

Interestingly, the 55mm ZA was actually designed at Sony referencing previous Zeiss lenses.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Michiel953, Probably none. Whem Sony tookover Minolta, they also "bought" the eitire lens team and tools.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Bashir: I know that, and still Sony collaborated with Zeiss to produce credible lenses. I was just curious what Zeiss influence is recognizable in this lens.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Thanks Michel, Just wondering if it is similar (in image quality) to Summilux 35 F1.4 ASPH

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Bashir: Summilux for M or L mount? There is a difference. You'll have to find out... Anyway, I'm never interested in maximum sharpness, but I am in overall rendering quality, and this Sony certainly convinces there.

Jan 13, 2021*permalink

Boeing skipper

Looks like an excellent performer. I think the price is actually quite reasonable compared to Canon EF 35 1.4 II for example.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Do you mean its time for Canon to roll out mark III with a couple of elements shuffling round ? !

Jan 13, 2021*permalink

Boeing skipper

Canon's is excellent already but it costs a lot more, and Canon's future RF 35 f1.4 L will probably cost even more.

Jan 14, 2021permalink

Yes, agreed.

Jan 15, 2021permalink

Bokeh looks pretty good for a compact and very sharp f1.4 IMO.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

LookintotheMirrorlessoften

Yep.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

mferencz

Another stellar 1.4 GM. I would expect the 50 to be an outlandish 1.2, but Sony spot on with super high quality with size in mind.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

MartynasMartynas

Image #6 - Nose AF

Jan 13, 2021permalink

because you always want the eye sharp... not

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Eugene A

Well, I can count spidey's legs on top-left corner of #43 - very sharp (wonder where the focus point was :)

Jan 13, 2021*permalink

TheRealYeats

Punchy.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

tinternaut

Looks great. And I want beat the trolls to be first to say COLOUR SCIENCE.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Relaxed

It’s COLOR science in Seattle. 🤣

Jan 13, 2021permalink