LA-EA4: Best 35mm lens options?

[eleskin]

I just got the LA-EA4 for my A7r, and want to know what are the best AF lenses in 35mm focal length? I am eyeing the Maxxum 35mm f1.4, the Maxxum 35 f2.0, and the Sigma Art 35mm f1.4. Both Minoltas look great, but for the same cash I can get a brand new Sigma ART lens with the latest optics, warranty, etc,,. Any thoughts are welcome!

 

[GaryLH]

Not a af Minolta user.. I have played w/ the manual focus Minolta lenses of the past.. If u are looking for a more modern look, then the Sigma Art would be the choice. A lot on the Sony Alpha lenses (unless it says Zeiss) are really the modern Minolta lenses.. Someone once told me how to recognize them, but I forgot.

I use the Sigma Art series on my m43, Sony e mount and Sigma SD1 Merrill. The Art series is hard to beat.. With that all being said... Since this is the Fuji sub-forum..u will most likely get more answers on this in the Sony NEX sub forum or the slr one.

Good luck
Gary

 

[_lou_]

I have the Sony 1.4G 35mm (same as Minolta). It's a very nice lens, I use it on my A900 where it balances quite well (read : it's a heavy beast !). The DoF can get really thin and make you miss critical focus. It is quite sharp wide open (if you can nail the focus down), has nice colors and contrast. Internal focusing is nice, too. Only annoying thing is chromatic aberration on very high contrast, but they can be pretty well controlled in post-production. I think there is a lot to like about this lens, it makes a fantastic portrait tool. No doubt that if you pixel-peep with the 36MPixels, you will find some issues with microcontrast, but don't stop there, there's more to this lens than sheer resolution.

Sample picture at f/2.8 :

and a crop

As you can see the lens focuses quite close.

That said, the Minolta f/2 also has very good reputation. I would think it is equally good, if you can get one...

 

[Dirk]

Both 1.4 lenses are big and heavy. That may or may not matter to you, but if it were me, I'd go for the 2.0 lens, which is great optically, rather compact … and very hard to find.

 

[Addy101]

Big is what you compare it to.... The Sony/Minolta 35/1.4 is the smallest AF 35/1.4.

To sum these lenses up:
Sony/Minolta 35/1.4 - not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but nice color. Those who like it, LOVE it.
Minolta 35/2 - considered the best Minolta 35mm, it makes a nice trio with the 28/2 and 100/2.
Sigma 35/1.4 - it is the best 35/1.4 on the market these days, but it has more modern rendering.

If you click on the lens, you go to the Dyxum page of that lens (in case of the Minolta 35/1.4 the first version). There you can click on to reviews and samples.

I would probably buy the 35/1.4 - I've been tempted many times - as it has the most character. Otherwise I would take a good look at the Zeiss 35/2.8 native FE mount.