Pentax A 35mm F2.8 vs Sony Zeiss FE 35mm F2.8

kindakaa · 05-23-2015, 12:09 PM - **1 Like**

Today tested and compared Sony A7 + Pentax A 35mm F2.8 and Sony A7 + Sony Zeiss FE 35mm F2.8
Pentax A 35mm F2.8 is very interesting lens.
Optical formula not same as new Pentax DA 35mm F2.8 lens and don't have autofocus analogues.
This is not a full test and comparison of lenses, and simply amateur images (sorry for different sizes and positions).
Just did two shots: first Zeiss 35/2.8, then Pentax 35/2.8.
At the same ISO and aperture. All shots on ISO=200. Click image to view full size.
Summary:
I am amazed. I thought that the new lens will be better in every way. Pentax was able to do a good lens!

f=10

f=10 (crop from bottom left corner of first photo)

f=10

f=2.8

Dlanor Sekao · 05-23-2015, 04:20 PM

Shhhhh......"A" lenses are all Garbage.....didn't you know that ? Especially the 35mm that isn't very easy to find.....all have already been thrown away ! Shhhhhhh........lol.

Stagnant · 05-24-2015, 03:26 PM

The images produced by Sony lens look surprisingly bad. I have a suspicion, that something is wrong with it.

**RobA_Oz** · 05-24-2015, 03:34 PM

Can you please post 100% crops from the centre and opposite edges of the same photo, for each lens? That way we can see if there's a decentring issue or perhaps just a focus adjustment needed for the Zeiss lens. Those old A series lenses are no slouches, just the same.

Edit: My apologies. I just noticed you'd linked the photos to full-sized images. I reckon there is some focus adjustment needed for the Zeiss lens, at least. I've seen images from this lens elsewhere, and they're much better than your photos show.

**ChrisPlatt** · 05-24-2015, 03:57 PM

The M35/2.8 and A35/2.8 are both fine lenses, until the diaphragm gets sticky...

Chris

yusuf · 05-24-2015, 08:09 PM

looks like some misfocus in the first picture and the associated crop.

Dlanor Sekao · 05-24-2015, 10:27 PM

I cant speak for the Zeiss....but the K 35 3.5 is a very good lens in its own right. The A 35 3.5 a tad less. Both are very capable and I use them a lot for lanscapes

pinholecam · 05-24-2015, 11:08 PM

I had the FE35.
It can't be that bad.

For near items, it is as sharp wide open at f2.8 on its off center rules of thirds point as my FA35/2 at f2.8 in the center.

Perhaps there was a focus area or something wrong with the lens.

The FE35 does have its set of problems, namely very large vignette and potential colored rings on the corners if the files are pushed hard in PP.
I did not feel it justified the cost for those issues and it's already a f2.8 lens

Anyway, stopped down, a lot of old lenses are good and the FE35 is usually only better at f2.8

**ChrisPlatt** · 05-25-2015, 05:40 AM

Originally posted by Dlanor Sekao

The A 35 3.5

???

Chris

Neo_ · 05-25-2015, 06:00 AM

In my experience I have the Da 35mm 2.8 and the Sony mount Sigma 30mm 2.8. The pentax is very good but the e-mount Sigma is stunning

**clackers** · 05-25-2015, 06:05 AM

Originally posted by Neo_

In my experience I have the Da 35mm 2.8 and the Sony mount Sigma 30mm 2.8. The pentax is very good but the e-mount Sigma is stunning

Not the same as the OP's situation.

The Sony FE is a full frame lens.

The Sigma is a quite cheap (but good) lens designed for m4/3 and APS-C.

**RobA_Oz** · 05-25-2015, 07:08 AM

Originally posted by Neo_

In my experience I have the Da 35mm 2.8 and the Sony mount Sigma 30mm 2.8. The pentax is very good but the e-mount Sigma is stunning

Originally posted by clackers

Not the same as the OP's situation.

The Sony FE is a full frame lens.

The Sigma is a quite cheap (but good) lens designed for m4/3 and APS-C.

Doubly not so. The DA35/2.8 is a macro lens (not to mention an APS-C lens that happens to be pretty good at non-macro work) whereas the Sigma is not. What either has to do with this thread is unclear.

osv · 05-25-2015, 09:16 AM

Originally posted by kindakaa

Today tested and compared Sony A7 + Pentax A 35mm F2.8 and Sony A7 + Sony Zeiss FE 35mm F2.8
Pentax A 35mm F2.8 is very interesting lens.

good news is that you proved your point about the pentax lens, i want one! that copy you have looks clean across the frame in the second pic, it's a keeper.

bad news is that you totally mis-focused the fe35 lens in the first shot... since you were able to focus the pentax lens manually, how come you couldn't focus the fe35 lens? did you deliberately mis-focus it?

regardless, thx for the post, that second pic is the only thing that matters.

Dlanor Sekao · 05-25-2015, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

???

Chris

Ohhh...A 35.2.8....sorry.

05-23-2015, 12:09 PM - 1 Like	#1
kindakaa Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Tatarstan, Russia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 307	Pentax A 35mm F2.8 vs Sony Zeiss FE 35mm F2.8 Today tested and compared Sony A7 + Pentax A 35mm F2.8 and Sony A7 + Sony Zeiss FE 35mm F2.8 Pentax A 35mm F2.8 is very interesting lens. Optical formula not same as new Pentax DA 35mm F2.8 lens and don't have autofocus analogues. This is not a full test and comparison of lenses, and simply amateur images (sorry for different sizes and positions). Just did two shots: first Zeiss 35/2.8, then Pentax 35/2.8. At the same ISO and aperture. All shots on ISO=200. Click image to view full size. Summary: I am amazed. I thought that the new lens will be better in every way. Pentax was able to do a good lens! f=10 f=10 (crop from bottom left corner of first photo) f=10 f=2.8 f=2.8 f=2.8

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05-23-2015, 04:20 PM	#2
Dlanor Sekao Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,457	Shhhhh......"A" lenses are all Garbage.....didn't you know that ? Especially the 35mm that isn't very easy to find.....all have already been thrown away ! Shhhhhhh........lol.

05-24-2015, 03:26 PM	#3
Stagnant Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 603	The images produced by Sony lens look surprisingly bad. I have a suspicion, that something is wrong with it.

05-24-2015, 03:34 PM	#4
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Can you please post 100% crops from the centre and opposite edges of the same photo, for each lens? That way we can see if there's a decentring issue or perhaps just a focus adjustment needed for the Zeiss lens. Those old A series lenses are no slouches, just the same. Edit: My apologies. I just noticed you'd linked the photos to full-sized images. I reckon there is some focus adjustment needed for the Zeiss lens, at least. I've seen images from this lens elsewhere, and they're much better than your photos show.

05-24-2015, 03:57 PM	#5
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	The M35/2.8 and A35/2.8 are both fine lenses, until the diaphragm gets sticky... Chris

05-24-2015, 08:09 PM	#6
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	looks like some misfocus in the first picture and the associated crop.

05-24-2015, 10:27 PM	#7
Dlanor Sekao Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,457	I cant speak for the Zeiss....but the K 35 3.5 is a very good lens in its own right. The A 35 3.5 a tad less. Both are very capable and I use them a lot for lanscapes

05-24-2015, 11:08 PM	#8
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	I had the FE35. It can't be that bad. For near items, it is as sharp wide open at f2.8 on its off center rules of thirds point as my FA35/2 at f2.8 in the center. Perhaps there was a focus area or something wrong with the lens. The FE35 does have its set of problems, namely very large vignette and potential colored rings on the corners if the files are pushed hard in PP. I did not feel it justified the cost for those issues and it's already a f2.8 lens Anyway, stopped down, a lot of old lenses are good and the FE35 is usually only better at f2.8

05-25-2015, 05:40 AM	#9
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	Originally posted by Dlanor Sekao The A 35 3.5 ??? Chris

05-25-2015, 06:00 AM	#10
Neo_ Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 153	In my experience I have the Da 35mm 2.8 and the Sony mount Sigma 30mm 2.8. The pentax is very good but the e-mount Sigma is stunning

05-25-2015, 06:05 AM	#11
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by Neo_ In my experience I have the Da 35mm 2.8 and the Sony mount Sigma 30mm 2.8. The pentax is very good but the e-mount Sigma is stunning Not the same as the OP's situation. The Sony FE is a full frame lens. The Sigma is a quite cheap (but good) lens designed for m4/3 and APS-C.

05-25-2015, 07:08 AM	#12
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Originally posted by Neo_ In my experience I have the Da 35mm 2.8 and the Sony mount Sigma 30mm 2.8. The pentax is very good but the e-mount Sigma is stunning Originally posted by clackers Not the same as the OP's situation. The Sony FE is a full frame lens. The Sigma is a quite cheap (but good) lens designed for m4/3 and APS-C. Doubly not so. The DA35/2.8 is a macro lens (not to mention an APS-C lens that happens to be pretty good at non-macro work) whereas the Sigma is not. What either has to do with this thread is unclear.

05-25-2015, 09:16 AM	#13
osv Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: So Cal Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,080	Originally posted by kindakaa Today tested and compared Sony A7 + Pentax A 35mm F2.8 and Sony A7 + Sony Zeiss FE 35mm F2.8 Pentax A 35mm F2.8 is very interesting lens. good news is that you proved your point about the pentax lens, i want one! that copy you have looks clean across the frame in the second pic, it's a keeper. bad news is that you totally mis-focused the fe35 lens in the first shot... since you were able to focus the pentax lens manually, how come you couldn't focus the fe35 lens? did you deliberately mis-focus it? regardless, thx for the post, that second pic is the only thing that matters.

05-25-2015, 03:49 PM	#14
Dlanor Sekao Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,457	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt ??? Chris Ohhh...A 35.2.8....sorry.