I’ve owned the Sony 35mm F1.4 GM for about four years, and I think it is one of the best 35mm lenses ever made.  It’s small and compact, focuses quickly, has great optics, and even has great magnification.  The Viltrox LAB 35mm F1.2 is the new heavyweight, however, with even more features, quad focus motors, incredible optics…and a price tag that comes at a full $400 less (even cheaper with code DA3512LAB5).  Both lenses have unique advantages relative to the other…so which is today’s champion?  Let’s dive in and find out.

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I purchased the Sony GM lens from retail about three years ago and the LAB lens was provided to me for this review by Viltrox. As always, this is a completely independent review. *The tests and most of the photos that I share as a part of my review cycle have been done with my Sony a7RV or Sony Alpha 1 cameras.

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GM Reviews: Text | Video

LAB Reviews: Text | Video

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Similarities

• Professional grade build quality with thorough weather sealing
• Mostly similar feature set (Aperture ring, AF | MF, Function)
• About equal coma performance
• Flare resistance

Neutral Differences

• Different approach to aperture (I prefer traditional)

Reasons to Choose LAB:

1. Price (currently $999 ($949 with discount), so -$450
2. Faster maximum aperture
3. Better light transmission
4. Bigger, softer specular highlights
5. More customizable – LCD screen allows you to set A – B focus, App, extra function button)
6. LCD screen shows distance scale
7. Quad vs Dual focus motors
8. Bigger, softer bokeh
9. Sharper center, mid-frame, (corners by F1.4)
10. Consistently better contrast

Reasons to Choose GM

1. Much lighter at 525g (395g less than LAB [920g])
2. Much smaller (13mm diameter and -25mm in length)
3. Much higher magnification level
4. Can do smooth aperture racks
5. Manually focuses smoother
6. Faster burst rate and focus breathing compensation*
7. Less fringing (wide open)
8. Less complex distortion | slightly lower vignette
9. Sharper wide open corners

Conclusion

My findings were pretty remarkable.  The Sony gets high mark for being such a high performing lens in such a compact package, while the Viltrox gets high marks for basically being better optically at F1.2 than the GM is at F1.4.  What’s more, the Viltrox gets even higher marks for being probably the fastest focusing 35mm F1.2 lens the world has seen, giving us even faster AF than the GM at F1.4.    Go with the GM if you want to keep things light or if you don’t trust third party lenses.  Go with the LAB if you want to save $400+ or if you want that extra bit of “special sauce” that an F1.2 lens brings..

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GEAR USED:

Purchase the Sony 35mm F1.4 GM @ Sony USA | B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Sony Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany

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Purchase the Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB FE @ Viltrox (use code DA3512LAB5 for 5% off) | B&H | Adorama | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Pergear

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Purchase the Sony a7RV @ B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon | Camera Canada | Sony Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany 

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Purchase the Sony a7IV @ B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon | Camera Canada | Sony Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany 

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Purchase the Sony Alpha 1 @ Camera Canada | B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon | Sony Canada | Amazon Canada |  Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay 

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