Sigma 35mm F1.2 DG II | Art

Reviewers find it clearly sharper than the original at f/1.2, with strong edge performance by f/2 and well-controlled colour fringing. Bokeh is smooth and creamy, with little colour bleeding in out-of-focus areas. The size reduction is seen as the biggest change, as it makes the lens manageable on A7-series bodies.

The linear-motor AF is a major step up from the first version's HSM, quick and accurate for stills and video. The main reservations are price, its weight compared with f/1.4 alternatives, and vignetting wide open that profiles need to correct.

Owners of the first version who upgraded say the weight saving alone justifies it, and that AF tracking now feels close to first-party lenses. Wedding and event shooters like the rendering at f/1.2 and the low breathing for hybrid work.

The complaints are mostly about price and size compared with the newer 35mm F1.4 DG II, and some owners say that stopping to f/1.4 makes the cheaper lens the more practical choice.