Sony SEL 35mm f/1.8 OSS

Here are some crops from my new ISO 12333 DCR4 test chart. I will first post results for most of the lenses separately, and if there will be interest, I might post some direct comparisons later.SEL 35mm f/1.8

Crop zones:

Center 100% Crop:

Zone A 100% Crop:

Zone B 100% Crop:

 

Zone C 100% Crop:

Sony SEL 3518 is quite sharp, with a peak center performance at f4 and f8 across the frame. Wide open it could be slightly sharper in the center, but due to the very small field curvature, corners are very good already. That can be useful for astro photography i.e.

Bokeh is smooth but somehow neutral, I dare to say – boring. More images will come, but here is the sample for now.
(You might also want to check for the bokeh comparison here.)

Upcoming comparisons – real life shot, medium distance (close to infinity)
Sample shot (From CZJ Tevidon 35 f1.9)

Following crops compare four 35mm lenses from the scene above. I didn’t have time to finish this comparison, so I will try to get there again and add few more lenses, especially Carl Zeiss Planar T* 35mm f2 for Contax G, that I simply forgot to put on the camera. (Even if I carefully packed it in my bag) Sorry. It will come…

Conclusion:

Sony SEL 3518 is a typical modern consumer lens – it does everything well, nothing exceptional.  But for most NEX users, convenience of light weight, AF and OSS, should be strongly considered.
There are certainly few 35mm lenses with a more specific rendering, but SEL 3518 has its own, discrete charm.

Buy this lens if:

a) You want moderately fast, native E mount 35mm lens
b) You need AF to make a shot
c) You rely on OSS (and know what that means)
d) You are happy with “very good” IQ in most aspects, and don’t need superb IQ to create superb image
e) You care about weight
f) You are shooting “everything” around, including family, friends and pets.

Don’t buy this lens if:

a) You believe in a lens “character”
b) You need faster lens
c) You are looking for the “bokeh” machine
d) You consider it to be expensive
e) You are looking for very short MFD
f) You want ultimate resolution across the frame
g) You are mainly landscape photographer

Links to other 35mm tests:
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 35 f/2 (Contax G)
Canon FDn 35mm f/2
Canon FD 35mm f/2 (Thorium) 
A.Schacht Ulm Travegon 35mm f3.5 R 
Voigtlander Nokton Aspherical 35mm f/1.2 II