Test/ First Impression Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary

[Pete_W]

I've just received my first Sigma lens today - the 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary.

I usually shoot with zoom lenses and all my other L-mount lenses are Panasonic, so this is a first for me. The 35mm focal length is a favourite of mine and the price was great. It's a really well-built little lens, solid and compact. Great quality finish. And I love the aperture ring, something I used on the PL15 lens on MFT.

I took the lens out with my S5 on a short walk this afternoon close to home. Really happy with the photos. They look sharp and I enjoyed shooting with just one prime.

Moored by Peter Watters, on Flickr

Between the flags by Peter Watters, on Flickr

Resting by Peter Watters, on Flickr

Winter sun by Peter Watters, on Flickr

End of the line by Peter Watters, on Flickr

 

[xaviergut]

Excellent pictures, Peter!!

 

[Pete_W]

Thanks Xavier!

 

[pdk42]

Lovely shots Peter. I really like my 35/2. It's a very nice overall package. I have zero complaints about its IQ.

 

[Pete_W]

Thanks Paul. Yes, it really is a nice piece of kit, and so compact.

 

[Pete_W]

I thought I would add a few short video clips using this lens. The first is regular speed and the second is slow-motion using S&Q mode.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

The Sigma 35/2 is one of my favourites - a magical little lens with great image quality and a real pleasure to use.

 

[Pete_W]

FYI to owners of the Sigma 35mm F2 lens: a firmware update was released just over a week ago. It is version1.3 2024.11.21 and provides stability improvements:

• The exposure stability has been improved.
• The operational stability has been improved when continuous shooting is performed in continuous AF (AF-C) mode.

35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary | Firmware Download | SUPPORT | Sigma

This page is about Sigma's 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary.

www.sigma-global.com

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

FYI to owners of the Sigma 35mm F2 lens: a firmware update was released just over a week ago. It is version1.3 2024.11.21 and provides stability improvements:

• The exposure stability has been improved.
• The operational stability has been improved when continuous shooting is performed in continuous AF (AF-C) mode.

35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary | Firmware Download | SUPPORT | Sigma

This page is about Sigma's 35mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary.

www.sigma-global.com

Thanks for this. I can't say I've experienced any stability problems with mine and I'm not sure what it means by stability improvements when in AF-C - does that mean better AF performance? I don't think it does.

 

[Pete_W]

Thanks for this. I can't say I've experienced any stability problems with mine and I'm not sure what it means by stability improvements when in AF-C - does that mean better AF performance? I don't think it does.

Yes, it's a bit cryptic. Maybe they found some bugs in how the lens works on newer cameras.

 

[pdk42]

Yes, it's a bit cryptic. Maybe they found some bugs in how the lens works on newer cameras.

Never had a problem with mine. But then again, I don’t use it for video or BIF!

 

[Babylonia]

Thanks for this message. Did a download and update the lens.

Just a "manual" focused picture a week ago. (Edited picture).
The oldest Dutch - inn - cafe - beer house (since 1478) - https://www.waagdoesburg.nl/en/

• Panasonic - DC-S1R
• Sigma 35mm F2 DG DN | C (L-Mount)
• 35.0 mm
• ƒ/2
• 1/50 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• 0.3
• ISO 1000

-

 

[rollsman4]

Excellent Colors and Sharp. That lens is on my list to get

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

Nice images, Pete. I especially like the first one.

I love the "Sigmacrons." I only have the 65, but I dream about having a 20-24-35-50-65-90 kit.

But could I live without my zooms??? LOL.

 

[Pete_W]

Nice images, Pete. I especially like the first one.

Thanks George.

I love the "Sigmacrons." I only have the 65, but I dream about having a 20-24-35-50-65-90 kit.

Don't forget the 17mm!

But could I live without my zooms??? LOL.

Yes, I hear ya!
I couldn't live without my 24-105 and 70-300 zooms , specially for train photography. I use the Sigmas the most on my S9 now, and I have to keep reminding myself that I don't need any more!

 

[Oíche]

Don't forget the 17mm!

Nobody has this, I'd need to do flickr searches to find photos from it but flickr is pretty poor for this, all you can do is a general search or try meta data tags. I had a similar lens in Pentax APSC eq. to 22.5mm, f4, relatively tiny.

 

[Travis Butler]

Nice images, Pete. I especially like the first one.

I love the "Sigmacrons." I only have the 65, but I dream about having a 20-24-35-50-65-90 kit.

The 35 certainly looks better than my experiences with other Sigma lenses!

 

[The Rigger]

The 35 certainly looks better than my experiences with other Sigma lenses!

Arooo?
The Sigma Art 135/1.8 is just amazing.
...But then, for what it costs and what it weighs, it bloody well should be.

 

[Pete_W]

I posted a few night photos on the harbour with the 35mm at f/2 (higher ISO of course) with the S5:

 

[Travis Butler]

Arooo?
The Sigma Art 135/1.8 is just amazing.
...But then, for what it costs and what it weighs, it bloody well should be.

This was in the "Latest 'this system has it'" thread; but I've owned several of the Sigma mid-range primes for E-Mount and M4/3 (i.e. the 30/2.8 DN Art and 60/2.8 DN Art), as well as the L-Mount 45/2.8 Contemporary, and none of them have wowed me. They've all been bland to one degree or another, clinically neutral in rendering (when I prefer a lens with vivid color/contrast), and the M4/3 editions were seriously lacking in tonality (subtle things like gloss on smooth water, or tonal shifts on a rounded surface) compared to counterparts like the Panasonic 20/1.8.