Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Launch MSRP
$800- Weight
- 120g
- Filter
- ⌀49mm
- Min focus
- 0.35m
- Max mag.
- 0.12×
- Formula
- 7E / 5G
- Released
- 2013
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 3x Aspherical
- ZEISS T* Coating
- Aperture range
- f/2.8 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 120g
- ⌀ × length
- 61.5 × 36.5mm
- Filter
- ⌀49mm
- Weather sealed
- Yes
- Aperture ring
- No
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- 8.0 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.35m
- Max magnification
- 0.12× (1:8.3)
Optical character
One of the two launch primes for the original A7 and A7R, the Sonnar is a 120g, 36.5mm-long pancake-style 35 in an aluminium barrel. Seven elements in five groups, three of them aspherical, plus ZEISS T* coating give crisp, contrasty centre detail in a lens that barely changes the size of the camera.
It focuses internally with a quiet linear motor and is dust and moisture resistant. The f/2.8 aperture and 0.35m close focus limit subject isolation, so it suits street, travel and documentary work more than portraits.
Reviewer consensus
Reviewers found excellent centre sharpness from f/2.8 and low lateral colour fringing, with corners that lag behind and improve noticeably stopped down. Distortion is low but not perfectly uniform. Autofocus is quick and silent, and flare resistance is good for the price class.
The consistent complaint is heavy vignetting, close to two stops in the corners wide open and still visible at f/8. Several testers also noted reports of decentred copies and felt the price was high for an f/2.8 prime.
Owner sentiment
Owners love how small and light it is, and many keep it as the always-on-the-camera lens for travel and street shooting. Contrast and colour straight out of camera get frequent praise.
Recurring gripes are the strong vignetting, busy bokeh from the 7-blade aperture, the hood that costs extra or feels flimsy, and the price compared with the brighter FE 35mm F1.8. A few users report soft corners on their copy.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Only 120g and 36.5mm long
- +Sharp, contrasty centre from f/2.8
- +Quiet, quick internal focusing
- +Dust and moisture resistant metal barrel
Weaknesses
- −Heavy vignetting (about 1.8 stops wide open)
- −Soft corners until stopped down
- −Limited background blur at f/2.8
- −Expensive for an f/2.8 prime
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 8.2
- Bokeh Rendering
- 6.8
- Autofocus Speed
- 8.0
- Flare Resistance
- 8.2
- Build / Sealing
- 8.6
- Value / Size
- 7.0
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Sony E (FE) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 35mm |
| Category | Wide |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 |
| Construction | 7 elements in 5 groups |
| Special elements | 3x Aspherical · ZEISS T* Coating |
| Aperture blades | 7 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Linear Motor |
| Minimum focus | 0.35m |
| Max magnification | 0.12× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 120g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 61.5 × 36.5mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀49mm |
| Weather sealing | Yes |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2013 |
| Launch MSRP | $800 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- sony.com.tw/en/electronics/camera-lenses/sel35f28z/specifications
- sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL35F28Z/feature_1.html
- imaging-resource.com/lenses/sony/fe-35mm-f2.8-za-carl-zeiss-sonnar-t-sel35f28z/s
- digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/sony-fe-35mm-f28-za-carl-zeiss-sonnar-t-review
- phillipreeve.net/blog/review-carl-zeiss-sonnar-fe-2-835-za-t/
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSSonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA vs 35mm F1.4
- VSSonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA vs 35mm F1.4 Mark II FF
- VSSonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA vs 35mm F1.4 Mark III
- 7Artisans
35mm F1.4
35mmF1.4- WT
- 298g
- FLT
- ⌀46mm
- MFD
- 0.40m
- MSRP
- $199
MFRING - 7Artisans
35mm F1.4 Mark II FF
35mmF1.4- WT
- 284g
- FLT
- ⌀52mm
- MFD
- 0.33m
- MSRP
- —
MFRING - 7Artisans
35mm F1.4 Mark III
35mmF1.4- WT
- 274g
- FLT
- ⌀52mm
- MFD
- 0.33m
- MSRP
- $189
MFRING·DC
