35 mm - the ultimate fight

For people that use 35 mm very often, most of the time - what would be your call? Did you just get one lens and it is THE ONE or you tried different versions, different Brands (Samyang, Sigma, Zeiss) until you have found the one that works best for you.
What was the deciding factor - the bokeh, weight, AF or MR, overall IQ, sharpness?
What do you use it for?

Also...can you post your best shot produced by this lens?

And finally...........what do you think about the coming Sigma 35 f/1.4?

I am not MF guy. So I like my 35L.

Lots of questions there Pilgrim - maybe if you can narrow it a bit more........tell us your goal.

As far as the best shot produced by a particular lens, that's a tough one since I do a fair amount of PP to any image that I consider suitable for exhibit or print competition. By the time I'm done it's almost irrelevant which lens I used other than what was necessary for the initial capture.

Convenience is a major factor as well as the demands of the particular assignment. Cost will always temper my decision too. I have the Canon 35 f/1.4 but don't know anything about the Sigma version.

sapearl wrote in post #15254243
Lots of questions there Pilgrim - maybe if you can narrow it a bit more........tell us your goal.

As far as the best shot produced by a particular lens, that's a tough one since I do a fair amount of PP to any image that I consider suitable for exhibit or print competition. By the time I'm done it's almost irrelevant which lens I used other than what was necessary for the initial capture.

Convenience is a major factor as well as the demands of the particular assignment. Cost will always temper my decision too. I have the Canon 35 f/1.4 but don't know anything about the Sigma version.

No goal I was after IQ and so picked the Zeiss - please with IQ, but I can't properly focus Looking forward for something with as good IQ as Zeiss and AF It is not 35L, so for me it is either the new Sigma (yet to be seen what it can do) or the 35L II

35L has bad IQ?

I don't get it why can't you focus proper you got one of the best 35mm out!

Seriously if one wants to use manual focus, buy a camera designed for manual focus. The 35L is great and very sharp.

The Samyang, Canon, and Zeiss are all optically very good. Not sure about the Sigma, but it probably is too. No huge reason to pick based any one based on optical performance.

The Samyang and Zeiss will be equally difficult to focus. You really need a focus screen.

Otherwise, wait for the Sigma and see how it compares to the Canon for an AF version of this lens.

Got 35L and waiting for Sigma 35 review but I don't think it will perform better than 35L

bobbyz wrote in post #15254298
35L has bad IQ?

Sorry....was not clear Not as good as Zeiss

pkilla wrote in post #15254302
I don't get it why can't you focus proper you got one of the best 35mm out!

Do not know, maybe I have no skills...who knows? Just can't on my 5D MKIII - do not see what is in focus and what is not. Was better with MKII and EG-S, but still not good enough. You want to enjoy photography, right? Enough stress in life

omegaone wrote in post #15254584
Got 35L and waiting for Sigma 35 review but I don't think it will perform better than 35L

I think Sigma will not target current 35L users...it is mostly for new users or somebody who wants 35 mm with AF and is waiting for 35L II as it can be released soon or cannot work with MF...or for those who want to have great lens for a lot less ($899).

For you it will not change anything in life, I think-)

omegaone wrote in post #15254584
Got 35L and waiting for Sigma 35 review but I don't think it will perform better than 35L

In terms of IQ, I think it will. Why do I think this? The current Sigma 30 1.4 already gets close to the 35L in that regard. The Sigma 35 1.4 is better than the 30, and from the samples I've seen, has already shown itself to be sharper than the 35L. Other aspects of IQ, and AF though, remains to be seen.

AF with Sigma's large aperture primes is always going to be the question. I love my 85 but it's been a battle to get a reliable one. I expect the same of the 35 but maybe with the dock it'll be less of a hassle.

I think you need the Leica M9 with the 35mm 1.4 summilux.