Sony 35mm F/1.8 FE Lens Hands On Review

In this video published a few weeks ago by photographer, Christopher Frost, takes a look at the new Sony 35mm f/1.8 FE lens designed for Sony Full Frame cameras.

For a long time, Sony had a “hole” in its lineup missing an f/1.8 35mm affordable lens. This missing lens had finally arrived earlier this year and Frost had a chance to test it as well as do some comparison to the faster Samyang 35mm F/1.4.

Sony has a very good build quality that has an AF/MF switch and a hold button, it is also very compact and the only real drawback of it externally might be the lack of a rubber gasket for sealing around the mount.

AF with this lens is fast and quiet, image quality, on a full-frame body, Sony 35mm f/1.8 FESony 35mm f/1.8 FE is good but not excellent wide open not in the center or in the corners. You will need to close down to get the most of this lens at around f/2.8 (at least).

Close up image quality wide open is fine but you will need to close down a bit to get really sharp and contrasty image. Flare performance is also pretty decent but not beyond. Bokeh looks nice though.

All in all the Sony FE 35mm F1.8 is a pretty nice all-around performer (although it falls short of excellence) and possibly a little bit overpriced at $750.

Bonus video: Gerald Undone looks at the Sony 35mm f/1.8 vs. Sigma 35mm f/1.2

You can find many more previews and reviews on our Photography review section here on LensVid and you can find more of Frost’s videos here on LensVid.

Iddo Genuth

Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.