8 Best 35mm Lenses for Sony in 2024

If you’re looking for the best 35mm lenses for Sony cameras, then you are in luck, because there are many excellent options. From capturing the subtle nuances of street life to the grandeur of landscapes, the right 35mm lens can significantly enhance your photography, offering a blend of versatility and image quality that’s hard to beat.

Our top pick, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8, stands out for its balance of performance and portability, making it an ideal choice for everyday use. Alongside this top contender, we’ve selected a list of seven other lenses, ensuring there’s an option for every type of photographer and budget.

What Is the Best 35mm Lens for Sony?

Selecting the best 35mm lens for Sony involves considering factors like low light performance, bokeh quality, and autofocus speed. Brands like Sony, Sigma, Samyang, and Tamron offer lenses that excel in these areas. This list prioritizes lenses that deliver sharp images, handle low light well, and offer both fast and accurate autofocus, ensuring they meet the needs of a wide range of photography styles, from street to professional portraits.

Our Favorite 35mm Lenses for Sony

Let’s take a closer look at our favorite 35mm lenses for Sony. From low-light champions to budget-friendly options, there’s a lens here to suit all needs.

The Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 impresses with its wide f/1.8 aperture, making it a good option for low light and creating a shallow depth of field. This lens is lightweight at 10 ounces (280 g), making it easy to carry around for long periods. Its quick and accurate autofocus is a big advantage for capturing spontaneous moments in street photography.

There’s no built-in image stabilization, but with a 35mm lens this isn’t such a problem, and the camera’s stabilization will always help. The fast aperture also means you can use faster shutter speeds to avoid blur. The lens handles chromatic aberrations well, ensuring images are clear and sharp.

Compared to the Sony FE ZEISS Distagon T* 35mm f/1.4 ZA, the FE 35mm f/1.8 is lighter and more compact, making it better for travel. While the ZEISS offers a wider aperture, the FE 35mm f/1.8 is a more affordable and practical choice for everyday use. Its minimal distortion and good edge-to-edge sharpness make it a versatile lens for a variety of photography styles.

The Sony FE ZEISS Distagon T* 35mm f/1.4 ZA is notable for its f/1.4 aperture, which makes it easier to shoot in darker settings. This feature also helps create a smooth background blur, which is perfect for portraits. The lens is a bit heavy for a 35mm at 1.4 lbs (630 g), but its build quality is solid, offering durability and a premium feel.

Optically, this lens is impressive. It delivers sharp images, especially when the aperture is narrowed down a bit. The ZEISS T* coating reduces glare and ghosting, improving image clarity. However, it does show some vignetting at wide apertures, which can be fixed in post-editing.

Autofocus is quick and reliable, making it a good choice for capturing fleeting moments. The lens doesn’t have image stabilization, but many Sony cameras do, which helps reduce camera shake. Overall, the Sony FE ZEISS Distagon T* 35mm f/1.4 ZA is a good option for photographers looking for quality in low light and portrait photography.

The Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN | A is a standout lens in the Sigma ‘Art’ series, known for its exceptional optical quality. Its f/1.2 aperture is notably wide, allowing for impressive low-light performance and the ability to achieve a shallow depth of field. This makes it a powerful tool for photographers aiming to isolate their subjects with a smooth, pleasing bokeh. Despite its considerable size and weight at 2.4 lbs (1 kg), the lens is built to last, featuring a robust construction with weather sealing for reliability in challenging conditions.

Optically, this lens is a marvel, offering sharp images across the frame, even when shooting wide open. The inclusion of aspherical elements and special low-dispersion glass ensures minimal aberrations and distortion, making it ideal for professional photography where detail and accuracy are paramount. The autofocus is quick and precise, perfect for street or event photography.

However, the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN | A’s size and weight may not suit everyone, especially those who prefer a more portable setup. But for those who prioritize image quality and creative control in low light, this lens is a compelling choice. Its compatibility with Sony E-mount cameras adds to its appeal, offering a blend of high-end performance and versatility.

The Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is a prime lens known for its sharpness and fast aperture. Weighing 1.16 lbs (524 g), it’s light enough for daily use yet built solidly to handle tough conditions. Its f/1.4 aperture excels in low light, allowing photographers to capture crisp images with a shallow depth of field. This lens is ideal for those who need to isolate their subjects or want to shoot in dim settings without sacrificing quality.

Optically, this lens impresses with minimal distortion and excellent edge-to-edge sharpness. Chromatic aberration is barely noticeable, thanks to its high-quality glass and coatings. The bokeh it produces is smooth, making it a favorite for portrait photographers. Its autofocus is quick and reliable, perfect for capturing spontaneous street scenes or fleeting expressions in portraiture.

Like most 35mm lenses, there’s no built-in image stabilization, but the lens benefits from Sony’s camera bodies equipped with IBIS, helping to keep shots steady. The Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM stands out for its versatility, making it a top choice for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Its combination of portability, optical performance, and durability makes it a valuable tool for a wide range of photographic styles.

The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE is a prime lens that strikes a balance between affordability and optical performance. Weighing just 7 ounces (210g), it’s an easy companion for day-long shoots, making it perfect for travel and street photography. Its f/1.8 aperture performs well in low light, allowing photographers to capture sharp, detailed images with a pleasing background blur.

Optically, this lens impresses with its sharpness and control over chromatic aberrations, thanks to its two aspherical elements. While some barrel distortion and vignetting are present at wide apertures, these can be easily corrected in post-processing. The autofocus is notably quick and silent, ideal for capturing fast-moving events without drawing attention.

Despite lacking built-in image stabilization, the lens’s wide aperture and compatibility with Sony’s stabilized bodies help mitigate this. The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE stands out as a good option for those seeking a lightweight, versatile lens without breaking the bank. Its weather sealing adds to its reliability, making it a practical choice for photographers who find themselves shooting in various conditions.

The  Samyang 35mm f/1.2 ED AS UMC CS for Sony E is a manual prime lens that offers a very fast f/1.2 aperture, making it a standout choice for photographers who prioritize low light performance and depth of field control. Its manual focus design encourages a more deliberate approach to photography, appealing to those who enjoy the tactile experience of focusing by hand. Weighing just under a pound at 0.95 lbs (433 g), it is relatively lightweight, enhancing its appeal for day-to-day use and travel photography.

Optically, this lens impresses with minimal distortion and excellent control over chromatic aberrations, ensuring images are sharp and colors are true. The bokeh produced is smooth and aesthetically pleasing, thanks to its nine-blade diaphragm, making it a good option for portraits and close-up shots where subject separation is desired.

However, the lack of autofocus might deter some users, but for those who value the precision and satisfaction of manual focusing, it’s a rewarding choice. The Samyang 35mm f/1.2 is a solid option for APS-C Sony E-mount users looking for a high-quality, fast prime lens without the high cost typically associated with such specifications. Its build and optical performance make it a valuable addition to any photographer’s bag, especially those focusing on street, portrait, and low-light photography.

The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE II is a great value fast prime lens. Its f/1.4 aperture excels in low light conditions and provides a shallow depth of field, perfect for creating beautiful bokeh in portraits. Weighing in at 1.45 lbs (659 g), it’s heavier than some, but still very portable.

Optically, this lens delivers sharp images with minimal distortion, thanks to its advanced construction that includes aspherical elements. Chromatic aberration is well-controlled, ensuring that photos are clear and sharp. The autofocus is notably quick and reliable, suitable for capturing spontaneous moments in street photography.

Despite lacking built-in image stabilization, the lens’s wide aperture and compatibility with Sony’s in-body stabilization mitigate this issue. The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE II stands out as a good option for photographers seeking quality and performance at a reasonable price. Its weather-sealing adds an extra layer of reliability, making it a versatile tool for both indoor and outdoor shooting.

The Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD is a close-focusing prime lens that marries compactness with optical excellence. Its f/2.8 aperture, while not the widest, offers sufficient light intake for most shooting conditions, balancing low-light capability with a design that remains lightweight and unobtrusive. This lens shines in its ability to deliver sharp, detailed images across the frame, making it a solid choice for professional photography where clarity and color accuracy are paramount.

Weighing just 0.46 lbs (210 g), it’s an ideal travel companion, ensuring photographers can capture high-quality images without being weighed down. The added close focusing, while not true macro, offers a 1:2 magnification ratio. This opens up a world of close-up detail, extending its versatility beyond street and landscape photography into the realm of macro. Despite lacking built-in image stabilization, its performance on Sony’s stabilized bodies ensures sharp images even in challenging light. Overall, the Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD is a valuable asset for photographers looking for a blend of portability, image quality, and versatility at an accessible price point.

Conclusion: The Best 35mm Lenses for Sony

We think that you’ll find something in this review of the best 35mm lenses for Sony cameras. We have considered key features, such as aperture size, weight, and special characteristics like image stabilization and autofocus speed. We hope it provides a comprehensive guide for photographers looking to find a lens that suits their style, whether it’s for low light conditions, street photography, or creating beautiful bokeh effects. Each lens is evaluated for its performance, build quality, and compatibility with Sony cameras, offering options for both professionals and enthusiasts.

Our top choice, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8, is selected for its balance of wide aperture, lightweight design, and quick autofocus, making it very useful for a variety of photography styles. It stands out as a practical option for everyday use. If it’s not quite right for you, then there are also seven other lenses to choose from, catering to different needs and preferences, ensuring you can find the right tool for your art.