Mike Danahy wrote:
I'm looking for the best ever made autofocus 35mm prime. Currently using the Nikkor 1.4 g. Seems like I'm still missing some pop.
I'm willing to buy any camera body to achieve this.
Mike...
I own and use the Sigma 35mm ART Lens on my Nikon D800. IMHO, it is a great lens, I love it. Best 35mm ever made... I don't know, but check out this review on the Photography Life website. Read the last sentence in section 14, summary.
https://photographylife.com/reviews/sigma-35mm-f1-4/When you ask a question like you asked on a forum, you are going to get a lot of different opinions, some from users of the lens on the same brand body, and others who simply have opinions. If you think the Sigma 35mm Art may be the lens you want, before buying it, rent one and try it out for a week or two. See how you like it and if it meets your expectations.
Good luck.
No contest here.
Leica 35mm f/2.0 Summicron M Aspherical
Debating lens sharpness divorced of reference to the receiving sensor is dancing in the dark.
whitewolfowner wrote:
One of the sharpest lenses made is the Sigma 70mm f2.8 macro lens that they made several years ago. Link provided below for Amazon. Also, a very sharp prime lens is the Nikon 85mm f1.8 AF lens introduced in 1988 and upgraded to the "D" chip in 1994. It is as sharp as the 85mm f1.4 lens but at a much cheaper price. And one of the sharpest of all time is the older 105mm f2.5 lens Nikon put out in 1959-60. If you seek this lens make sure it is AI or has been modified for today's camera models.
Sigma 70mm F/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (OLD MODEL)
One of the sharpest lenses made is the Sigma 70mm ... (
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I know most here go by DXO marks. Personally, I have found them not be at all accurate. I go by the reality of what a lens can do and a good sound proper reality test done by competent people using a sound scientific method who's results match what I see.
zoomphoto wrote:
No contest here.
Leica 35mm f/2.0 Summicron M Aspherical
Thanks... gonna check it out.
Should note.
You only asked for best 35mm.
If you need for a specific camera application that is an entirely different issue.
Mike Danahy wrote:
Thanks... I have looking "over the fence" at the medium format world. (120 film is where I started.) The Mamiya is highly regarded as are the S-K lenses.
Well... If it is the 35mm on "FF" field of view you are seeking, you probably wouldn't actually want the S-K 35mm on a full-frame 645 sensor, as it's equivalent to 22mm on the smaller sensor. I think the 55mm would be the lens you would want.
I made the jump last year to a used (and about 10 years old!) Phase One P30, instead of buying a 5DmkIV. Yes, the Canon would be a better camera in almost every regard, but it provided a point of entry at a price I could tolerate, and I love the way the Mamiya body feels to use, which as a hobby funded by a non-photography career is the only justification needed! I've built myself a little trinity of lenses: the Mamiya 35mm, 80mm, and 210mm. Not used the 35mm yet, the other two perform awesomely if the focus is right though: veins in the eyes from 5m right!
Vince68 wrote:
I own and use the Sigma 35mm ART Lens on my Nikon D800. IMHO, it is a great lens, I love it. Best 35mm ever made... I don't know, but check out this review on the Photography Life website. Read the last sentence in section 14, summary.
https://photographylife.com/reviews/sigma-35mm-f1-4/When you ask a question like you asked on a forum, you are going to get a lot of different opinions, some from users of the lens on the same brand body, and others who simply have opinions. If you think the Sigma 35mm Art may be the lens you want, before buying it, rent one and try it out for a week or two. See how you like it and if it meets your expectations.
Good luck.
I own and use the Sigma 35mm ART Lens on my Nikon ... (
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Thank you very much. Great article! Another piece of good news for the Sigma.
Mike...
ken_stern wrote:
I shoot Canon & enjoy my 35mm 1.4 L --- as said - I agree - That Sigma could be a good one --- However since your talking "The Best Ever" -- My take on lenses are --- if your lens does not have Leica or Zeiss stamped on it then there are always better lenses --- Only downside is cost, weight & manual focus
I agree. Years ago, the camera club I was in would run monthly competitions, I started noticing that no matter what the subject matter was of the photo, I could always tell that certain photos were one of the members that shot with Leica. The colors (we were judging slides) where more vibrant especially the reds, they would look 3D, the subject was always razor sharp. Most of my own serious early work was from a twin lens Rollei with Zeiss and I'm now using a Sony with 55mm Zeiss that I would not trade for any Canon or Nikon and for that matter Leica.
Vince68 wrote:
I own and use the Sigma 35mm ART Lens on my Nikon D800. IMHO, it is a great lens, I love it. Best 35mm ever made... I don't know, but check out this review on the Photography Life website. Read the last sentence in section 14, summary.
https://photographylife.com/reviews/sigma-35mm-f1-4/When you ask a question like you asked on a forum, you are going to get a lot of different opinions, some from users of the lens on the same brand body, and others who simply have opinions. If you think the Sigma 35mm Art may be the lens you want, before buying it, rent one and try it out for a week or two. See how you like it and if it meets your expectations.
Good luck.
I own and use the Sigma 35mm ART Lens on my Nikon ... (
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Just ordered the Sigma. Too many positive reviews not to give it a try since its the least expensive of all my options.
Mike..
Mike Danahy wrote:
Just ordered the Sigma. Too many positive reviews not to give it a try since its the least expensive of all my options.
Mike..
I think you made a good decision with the Sigma. I love mine. Good luck.
Vince
Robert Bailey wrote:
https://www.dxomark.com/lenses/launched-between-1987-and-2017/focal-from-35-to-35/launch_price-from-0-to-13000-usd/lens_zoom-prime#hideAdvancedOptions=false&viewMode=list&yDataType=global
This is the list of 35 mm lenses that dxomark has tested.
Someone recommended a Nikon lens- the top ranked one only gets a score of "36" compared to the Sony Carl Zeiss with a score of "44".
I was going to say, Zeiss. Robert beat me to it. At B&H it goes for $1843.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/733916-REG/Zeiss_1871765_35mm_F_1_4_Distagon_T.html
srfotog
Loc: Northeast Pennsylvania
Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art lens has really good reviews. If I needed a 35 that is what I would get for my Nikon FX. I have a Tamron 1.8 And it is super sharp and quite a bit less.
Mike Danahy wrote:
Just ordered the Sigma. Too many positive reviews not to give it a try since its the least expensive of all my options.
Mike..
When you get it, post a couple of shots so we can see what you can do with it :-)
It might even be interesting if everyone posted shots with their recommendation.
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