SAL35F18 reviews and photos samples

[GSi6576]

i was trying to compare which is a better buy for my nex-5. my thinking was these 2 have quite similar focal length and F.

actually i have already made up my mind to get the SAL35F18. the main thing is that i can have AF function with it. whereas for the voightlander i dont have it completely.

what are you trying to compare? the 35mm has a shorter focal length than 40mm, larger aperture at 1.8 vs 2. also if im not wrong Voigtlander is a manual focus lens too.

 

[avo]

What do you guys think of the SAL30M28 Macro lens with SAM for RRP $319? It can go down to only f2.8 but it can do macro. And I assumed macro lens are sharper?

 

[candycaine]

ps: ...if you mount the camera on a tripod, SWITCH OFF the IS ...on a tripod, IS could possibly cause motion blur especially with long exposure shots.

Just to make things a bit clearer, I don't think IS causes motion blur on long exposure shots per se. But rather, since the camera is mounted on a tripod, turning on your IS may cause the camera to compensate for movement when in fact movement is minimal. This causes your picture to be softer than expected.

 

[Rurouni]

Here's my very quick review of the 35/1.8 SAM on NEX5:

Pros:
- Cost effective lens with A-mount adapter. Still cheaper than a M-mount 35/1.4 with M-mount to NEX adapter
- AF possible, AF lock is accurate with no apprant focus errors (though I expect this with CDAF)
- From a rough gauge of sample shots, seems in the ballpark range of expected sharpness for a entry/mid prime lens
- Not too big, around same length as 18-55E mount kit, though a bit fatter
- Nice close focus distance of 23cm
- Good for low light photography

Cons:
- AF while possible is slow. It will take approx 5 secs to lock on (It does a 2 sec focus, followed by a 3 sec juddering focus) Don't expect to use this for more than stills or simple portraits/group shots
- AF is not optimised for video, its too noisy for video though will be fine for general shooting. (To set expectations, the NEX shutter is louder than the lens focus)
- Plastic lens mount rear
- Build quality does not feel great
- AF/MF switch needed, no full time override
- Not as tiny as an NEX with M-mount lens

Overall however, I really like this lens for the 52mm focal length equiv and that nice thin DOF, it does make a difference. I will probably shoot with this as my main standard lens and use the 16/2.8 as a prime wide.

Good lens for seasoned enthusiasts, but the cons may make it less palatable for novice NEX users. If you have a A-mount APS-C SLR though, this is a def must have lens imo.

Some sample shots below. This was done after a long day at work so mostly shot in dim lighting indoors handheld (Had to handhold the kit lens at ard 2/5sec, but the IS works v well) at ISO1600 or ISO3200. Jpeg straight out of cam no PP : P

Close focus on my keyboard

Rough comparison with 18-55mm shot at 35mm F4.5

Another 35/1.8 SAM shot (Shot at F1.8)

Yet another 35/1.8 SAM shot - Thin DOF (Shot at F1.8)

35/1.8 SAM shot - Thin DOF, focus is on the lens cap letter 'N'

 

[Ghostfit]

Just to make things a bit clearer, I don't think IS causes motion blur on long exposure shots per se. But rather, since the camera is mounted on a tripod, turning on your IS may cause the camera to compensate for movement when in fact movement is minimal. This causes your picture to be softer than expected.

Sorry ! ...you have not made anything clearer ! ...so are you advocating to switch on IS with camera mounted on tripod ?

What is the difference between 'motion blur' and 'softer' (Softness) above ? are they not the same thing ?

Not flaming you or anything, just trying to clarify what you're saying :bsmilie:

 

[candycaine]

Sorry ! ...you have not made anything clearer ! ...so are you advocating to switch on IS with camera mounted on tripod ?

What is the difference between 'motion blur' and 'softer' (Softness) above ? are they not the same thing ?

Not flaming you or anything, just trying to clarify what you're saying :bsmilie:

Mm I am advocating turning off IS with camera mounted on tripod, although to be fair, I don't see much visible difference with it on or off.

Very briefly,

Motion blur refers to moving objects appearing blurred on your photo. Obviously your IS does not cause this- it's more a result of your long exposure.

Camera shake refers to the camera body shaking leading to a blurred photo. IS compensates for some of the camera shake. Details, you can read here.

Softness simply refers to the photo lacking sharpness.

 

[Ghostfit]

Mm I am advocating turning off IS with camera mounted on tripod, although to be fair, I don't see much visible difference with it on or off.

Very briefly,

Motion blur refers to moving objects appearing blurred on your photo. Obviously your IS does not cause this- it's more a result of your long exposure.

Camera shake refers to the camera body shaking leading to a blurred photo. IS compensates for some of the camera shake. Details, you can read here.

Softness simply refers to the photo lacking sharpness.

Thanks for your clarifications ...we are actually in agreement, my fault for the wrong use of the word "Motion Blur" ...should have perhaps said "IS shake" instead ! :bsmilie:

I have tried IS/SSS on while mounted on tripod and don't see much different with the higher shutter speed of above 1/4s but anything 1s and longer and it becomes a hit or miss affair.

 

[candycaine]

Thanks for your clarifications ...we are actually in agreement, my fault for the wrong use of the word "Motion Blur" ...should have perhaps said "IS shake" instead ! :bsmilie:

I have tried IS/SSS on while mounted on tripod and don't see much different with the higher shutter speed of above 1/4s but anything 1s and longer and it becomes a hit or miss affair.

Really? I usually shoot at around 30s/60s for my +1/+2 EV exposures when I do exposure blending, and see not much difference. Not sure if the mechanism for my Olympus Body IS is the same as Sony though.

 

[albertri]

Really? I usually shoot at around 30s/60s for my +1/+2 EV exposures when I do exposure blending, and see not much difference. Not sure if the mechanism for my Olympus Body IS is the same as Sony though.

i have experience some blurring/shake on my night shot using A33+18-250 I didn;t turn off the IS as like I normally do for my E620 14-54 I just keep the IS on as always. But I have not replicate this again as I have not had a chance to go back to the same spot where I did my last night shot...

Normally my settings are 20-30Sec 18mm and playing between F11-20, this is the same setting I normall used with my Oly gear.

Like I said I have not replicate the issue yet so I cant really say if the blurring or shake in my night landscape was cause by IS or me hehehe

 

[cagivaplanet]

Thanks for the review!

 

[taeivon]

Just got my SAL35F18 this afternoon.
My sample photo to share.
Hope you guys don't mind my noob skills (just got my A33 for 4days only)

SAL35F18 f/1.8 1/1000s ISO100

 

[JiEeEe]

Just got my SAL35F18 this afternoon.
My sample photo to share.
Hope you guys don't mind my noob skills (just got my A33 for 4days only)

SAL35F18 f/1.8 1/1000s ISO100

looks good

 

[ekin82sg]

Where did you get the 35mm F1.8. All seem to tell me out of stock.

Just got my SAL35F18 this afternoon.
My sample photo to share.
Hope you guys don't mind my noob skills (just got my A33 for 4days only)

SAL35F18 f/1.8 1/1000s ISO100

 

[taeivon]

ekin82sg:
I got mine at Funan Sony Style Level 3. Its the one and only piece there.
I saw it Tuesday afternoon and hesistated to get it, then went back to get it on Friday and was lucky that no one bought it

The photos taken using this lens is really sharp compared to my kit lens.
Well at least it looks super sharp to a noob like me

 

[ekin82sg]

ekin82sg:
I got mine at Funan Sony Style Level 3. Its the one and only piece there.
I saw it Tuesday afternoon and hesistated to get it, then went back to get it on Friday and was lucky that no one bought it

The photos taken using this lens is really sharp compared to my kit lens.
Well at least it looks super sharp to a noob like me

Thank for your reply yeah.

So envy. I was there today and was told that it was sold out :-(

 

[taeivon]

Thank for your reply yeah.

So envy. I was there today and was told that it was sold out :-(

wow, heng i was one day earlier than u

 

[cthep2]

Thank for your reply yeah.

So envy. I was there today and was told that it was sold out :-(

You can call Sony Style IMM, I got my 35f1.8 there

To share some sample shots..

both resized, add border and signature only.

built is just relative to its price but quite a goods lens nonetheless :thumbsup:

 

[Watchman64]

I gotta get one of these lens too.

 

[Aimevous]

You can call Sony Style IMM, I got my 35f1.8 there

built is just relative to its price but quite a goods lens nonetheless :thumbsup:

Oh I was at IMM Sony Style last night and it was sold out btw.. was just asking for fun though.

 

[ekin82sg]

I got mine from Sony Jurong Point yesterday afternoon.

I was told that was the last piece