Sony FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA Review: A Street Photography Classic
I’ve had a bit of downtime lately and therefore decided to do a quick review of a little lens that is slowly becoming a favourite of mine. I recently got a hold of the Sony FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA, again, after over 8 years since selling it away. The lens was initially purchased brand new to pair with the first iteration of the Sony A7R some time between 2013 and 2014. That was also when I sold all my Nikon gear to switch over to Sony mirrorless cameras, mainly due to its form factor and size. While I enjoyed the compact size of the Sony 35mm Zeiss at that time, I was always chasing for a faster and bigger lens for super creamy bokeh, just like the images of the lens in this post. Quite frankly, the only reason I picked up this 35mm f2.8 was because it was one of the only two prime lenses available at the time. It wasn’t until later when the Sony 35mm F1.4 (also made with Zeiss glass) was released at a pretty hefty price.
Size matters.
And in this context, smaller seems to feel a lot better. The more I’ve shifted to capturing everyday moments and casual street photography during my travels, the more important size and weight has become. Perhaps time and age have had a hand in this realization as well. Since my last post, I’ve gone through several changes in the gear I use, and this was triggered from extensive use of the extremely compact and simple Fujifilm X100V. Since my last post (over 1.5 years ago), I’ve cycled through several cameras and lenses, such as the Fujifilm X-T5 and a set of stellar prime lenses: the Fujifilm 18mm F1.4, Fujifilm 33mm F1.4, and Fujifilm 90mm F2. Of these, the 90mm stood out as a true gem—an absolute lightweight beast and pleasure to shoot with. I also bid farewell to my Sony A7SIII, a powerful video camera that I always dreamed of using since getting into video content.
So, where did I land for my daily driver, with a key focus on enjoyment? I switched over the the Sony A7CR, which I believe provides the best of both worlds, and offers a convenient form factor. Paired with the Sony FE 35mm Zeiss, it’s a setup that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly versatile, making it the ideal companion for my style of photography.
Key Specifications
In case you were wondering, let’s get the basics out of the way:
Focal Length: 35mm
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Minimum Focus Distance: 0.35m
Filter Size: 49mm
Weight: 120g (incredible!)
Elements/Groups: 7/5
Dimensions: 61.5mm x 36.5mm
Sony E-mount (Full Frame)
The perfect everyday companion
For everyday street and travel photography, I believe size and form outweigh specs. For those looking to get the most use of their gear, eliminating barriers to taking them along is key. I was always hesitant to taking street candid photos with larger lenses due to getting too much attention from people around. With this setup, it can almost pass as a point and shoot camera.
Here’s a screenshot generated with camerasize.com comparing 4 setups. From left to right:
1. Sony A7RV with the Sony 35mm F1.4 GM (total 1.25 kg)
2. Sony A7CR with the Sony 35mm F1.4 GM (total 1.04 kg)
3. Sony A7RV with the Sony 35mm F2.8 ZA (total 0.63 kg)
4. Fujifilm X100V (total 0.48 kg)
Just look at the difference in physical size, form factor and weight! #3 (my current everyday setup), weighs just about 150 grams more than the highly-sought-after Fujifilm X100V.
5 days in Bangkok with the Sony A7CR and the 35mm F2.8 ZA
A few days after Christmas, we decided on an impromptu trip to Thailand, primarily to catch up with a close friend who was visiting his in-laws for the holidays. We spent five days and four nights there, making it the perfect opportunity to put my new setup to the test.
Choosing a riverside stay
Normally, I’d book a place around Siam for convenience, but this time I opted for something a little more special—a spot closer to the river for its stunning views. I decided to book Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel for the two of us and we were pleased with the view from the room and the breakfast included during our stay. The hotel also has a free shuttle boat included that can take you to ICONSIAM where you can spend nearly an entire day eating in restaurants and local street food in an area inside the mall called SOOKSIAM, located in the G floor (ground level). Just to be clear, this isn’t a sponsored mention—I simply enjoyed my stay and thought it was worth sharing.
Beyond reconnecting with my friend, this trip also marked a chance for me to unwind and reflect on the last 5 years, as I prepare to transition out of my current job. For better or for worse this role has definitely reshaped my view of the world and I am looking forward to taking my learnings to my future ventures.
Note that all of these images are shot with the Sony 35mm F2.8 ZA and are edited in Lightroom with my presets and adjusted to current taste and style. The images are by no means a way of technically examining the quality of the lens and glass. This blog post is clearly not a technical review, but rather geared towards its functionality and usability as a travel and street photography lens.
The Sony 35mm F2.8 ZA in action: Amazing, fun, versatile
Amazing, fun and versatile is everything you need to know about this 35mm that can nearly pass as a pancake lens. While it may not have the clinical sharpness or technical perfection of modern GM lenses, it delivers more than enough sharpness for travel and stree~t photography. There’s a bit of barrel distortion that is noticeable closer to the edges, which adds to its character. I’m guessing that this aspect also adds to the “Zeiss pop,” which could be a thing of the past by now. Regardless of the lens’ flaws, street photography is meant to be imperfect in many ways. Traveling and documenting moments with a camera is meant to be fun, which is what this 35mm lens offers best.
In conclusion, whether you’re looking into purchasing this lens is dependent on your current ambitions in the hobby. As mentioned at the beginning of this post, I previously sold this lens several years ago since I was looking for the best 35mm lens, regardless of its size and form. If you’re in this mindset, then the Sony 35mm F1.4 GM (which I own as well) is probably the better option. But if you’re looking for a fun lens to carry around with your compact full-frame Sony body, like the A7CR or A7Cii then I can’t recommend anything better than this.
I hope you enjoy the photos of our relatively restful trip to Bangkok.
Camera Stuff
Sony A7CR
Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA Lens
Editing
Color and B&W, film-like, with a touch of grain for a nostalgic vibe.
If you enjoy these photos, you can get the Lightroom preset I created here for a small fee. Every download and contribution supports my work and allows me to keep going 😃