Sony FE Distagon T-Star 35mm f/1.4 ZA Full-Frame E-Mount
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm
What Buyers Say
Sony FE Distagon T-Star 35mm f/1.4 ZA Full-Frame E-Mount
The Sony/Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 FE lens is praised for its exceptional optical quality, delivering tack-sharp images with smooth bokeh and minimal chromatic aberration. Users love it for wedding and portrait photography, but note it is very large and heavy for a mirrorless lens, making it less ideal for casual walk-around use. The build quality is rock-solid, and the aperture ring with de-click option is a nice bonus, though the price is high and the lens is specialized.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness wide open
- Smooth and pleasing bokeh
- Minimal chromatic aberration and distortion
- Rock-solid build quality
- Aperture ring with de-click option
Cons
- Very large and heavy for mirrorless
- Expensive price point
- Not ideal for casual walk-around use
- Focus-by-wire system
- Heavy for long carry
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm
The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm f/2.8 lens is widely praised for its excellent optical performance, sturdy yet lightweight build, and fast autofocus. Users highlight its versatility as a workhorse zoom for both photo and video, with particular appreciation for the linear focus mode on compatible cameras. A few note the shallow depth of field is limited due to the Micro Four Thirds system, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.
Pros
- Excellent optical performance
- Sturdy yet lightweight build
- Fast and reliable autofocus
- Versatile zoom range
- Linear focus mode for video
Cons
- Limited shallow depth of field
- Focus-by-wire system not linear
- No built-in gear ring for cine use
- Slight chromatic aberration in high contrast
Scores
Specifications
| Sony FE Distagon T-Star 35mm f/1.4 ZA Full-Frame E-Mount | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 35 mm | 12 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 14 |
| Groups | 10 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/1.4 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.4 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | full-frame★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.52 kg | 0.31 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | SSM | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 35 mm★ | 150 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.23x★ | 0.21x |
Pros & Cons
Sony FE Distagon T-Star 35mm f/1.4 ZA Full-Frame E-Mount
- Strong bokeh (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong aperture (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong af (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong macro (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm
- Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong optical (86th percentile)86th %ile
Pricing
Verdict
Both products are closely matched - Sony FE Distagon T-Star 35mm f/1.4 ZA Full-Frame E-Mount wins 4 specs while Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm wins 3.
