C300: Canon 35mm f/1.4 vs Sigma A 35mm f/1.4 vs zeiss 35mm f/1.4

anatusa

anatusa

Veteran
Hello

I am looking to get a fast 35mm lens , but i d like to ask how are they for manual focusing ? is it nice to rotate? how long is the focus throw? its seems like zeiss should be better among other, but there were so many great words about the new sigmas A series lenses + the price is very tempting....

normally i would just buy canon 35mm , but after i got my 100mm L macro f2.8 lens , i was very surprised about the focus throw..... its just crazy short, maybe few mm, thats all , to me it almoust unusable!

Regards
 
I am not in the "long throw" camp for every situation. Depends on your operating style. If I am operating and pulling my own focus, I prefer a short throw. When working handheld, long twists take too long, and destabilize the shot. The main thing is having good feedback. Many auto lenses have too much play. I do not own many auto lenses for that reason. I also prefer operating with stills lenses when I have to pull my own focus for two reasons: 1. the short throw allows for quick focus adjustments and more stable shots hand held. 2. Owning stills lenses is cheaper and an operator can get to know the lenses very well. More reliable focus.

I like the Zeiss lenses for the good consistent feedback (and compared to cine lenses, the focus is short and snappy) and they have a good blend between mojo and modern.

So, I would recommend the zeiss.
 
I should mention that the major problem with the Canon 35L is the CA. Of all of the fast primes, it has the most.
 
If you're not looking at using it on a full frame I'd SERIOUSLY consider the Sigma 18-35mm 1.8. I'm a 35mm fan and I use the Sigma 35 1.4 on my DSLR for photography which I'll most likely replace with the Canon 35mm ii whenever it gets released (i'd like weather sealing and better low light AF). But on the C300 there really isn't any reason to not use the 18-35mm 1.8.
 
draculr said:
If you're not looking at using it on a full frame I'd SERIOUSLY consider the Sigma 18-35mm 1.8. I'm a 35mm fan and I use the Sigma 35 1.4 on my DSLR for photography which I'll most likely replace with the Canon 35mm ii whenever it gets released (i'd like weather sealing and better low light AF). But on the C300 there really isn't any reason to not use the 18-35mm 1.8.
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This.
My second favorite lens - and my most used.
Favorite is the Zeiss 50mm Makro - but indoor shooting limits it at times.
The Sigma is just amazing.
 
You should really look into the Rokinon/Samyang 35 1.4. I have used it side by side to some of the L glass optics and in some cases it out performed them in sharpness. It's a legit lens. The Rokinon/Samyang lenses de-clicked appature ring. This is really cool as it is also threaded for focus pulling devices. Also check out Sigma 18-35 1.8 There is a thread on that lens here as well. All of these options are under $1000, the Rokinon/Samyang are under $600. If money is not an issue....well, you might want to look at Canon's cine primes, or the Zeiss Cp2 primes.:D

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=884099&Q=&is=REG&A=details
 
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There is a lot of love for the Samyang lenses, which I understand based on price and performance. I had both the 24mm and the 35mm and sold them. I just couldn't take the construction. There was a lot of play in the focus ring before the focus gear would engage. They both started to fall apart after about a year due to bad lubrication and the plastic casing deforming. In the end, I sold them and bought the Canon L glass and I honestly consider the Canon lenses to be a better value.
 
cpreston said:
There is a lot of love for the Samyang lenses, which I understand based on price and performance. I had both the 24mm and the 35mm and sold them. I just couldn't take the construction. There was a lot of play in the focus ring before the focus gear would engage. They both started to fall apart after about a year due to bad lubrication and the plastic casing deforming. In the end, I sold them and bought the Canon L glass and I honestly consider the Canon lenses to be a better value.
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I agree. It is hard to argue with the price/performance ratio on these optics. Did you have the Cine versions? I had a lot of play in the first 35mm that I purchased, and noticed a big difference in the Cine version.
 
I didn't have the cine version. Maybe they changed the design. I took the lens apart to figure out the problem. Both the 35 and 24 had a groove in the lens body and plastic guide that moved the element up and down. The groove was not a fixed width so the plastic guide was not a perfect fit and it allowed quite a bit of play in the focus ring. I couldn't find a fix and it seemed like a really cheap design. It was not nearly as well built as my old all metal manual lenses.
 
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