May 17, 2022

Gear Guide: Yongnuo 35mm f2 Sony Full Frame Lens Review

Photography Tips, Gear Guide

Camera Gear: Yongnuo 35mm f2 Lens for Sony Full-Frame Camera


Anytime a photographer can click a new lens on their camera is like Christmas morning. The anticipation of trying a new lens out in the field is full of optimism, excitement, as well as wonder.


To preface this article, I am a Sony photographer. I favor my Sony a7c as well as my Sony a6000. However, I do shoot with the Sony a7rii too. Aside from a 25 & 24 mm f 2.8 Tamron lens, all of my lenses are made by Sony.


If you follow me on Twitter {@chef_katelyn} or on Instagram {@katelynchefphotography_} or read my journal entries, I am a lifestyle photographer who enjoys cars, nature, street, as well as product photography. I was really excited to try one of my first non-Sony lenses, the 35mm f 2 lenses by Yongnuo.


My all-time favorite focal length is the 85 mm. However, for lifestyle as well as client photography, I use my 35mm {Tamron}. The Tamron 35mm aperture is an f 2.8 & the Yongnuo is an f2, which is really nice for even smoother-blurred backgrounds as well as lower light shooting situations.


This isn't a 'technical' review of the Yongnuo lens, but a review from me taking it out in the field at various times of day, lighting conditions, as well as subjects to get a feel as a photographer using a non-Sony native lens on her full-frame camera.


I was gifted this lens, but am sharing my honest review with you, so you can decide if this is a lens you'd like to add to your kit.


The Lens at First Glance


Opening the Yongnuo 35mm f 2 lens from the box, it's a solid lens, on the heavier side, definitely heavier than the Tamron 35mm f2.8. However, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It is a solid lens, 10.4 oz/295grams. It has both autofocus as well as a manual focus switch on the lens body--which is nice! There is no image stabilization {not an issue on the Sony a7c} It is a full-frame Sony E lens, angle of view, 61.3, minimum focus distance, 13.78''/0.35m, maximum magnification, 0.13x, filter size, 52mm. The minimum aperture is f/2 & the maximum aperture is f/16. There is a USB port on lens for Firmware updates.


The lens comes with a rear-end cap as well as a lens hood {which I used often}.


User Experience


I had no idea what to expect when mounting this 355mm lens to my camera. Overall, I was delighted. I always shoot somewhere between the widest aperture opening to around f5. I took this lens out photographing in that aperture range in a variety of lighting conditions as well as times of the day. It performed well in a dimly light barn and radiant outdoors on a bright sunny day.


The lens is sharp with great eye focus if you're into portrait photography. I love how the images looked good no matter if I was shooting food or self-portraits on my camera's self-timer. The autofocus, especially shooting self-portraits on a self-timer, was quick, and sticky on my eye. The only focusing issues I experienced were when I was trying to get close-close to subjects.


In Lightroom, you manually have to add 'Yongnuo' in the Lens Correction section, however, after manually adding, the software makes the adjustments. I noticed the lens colors are on the cooler side if you're in Manual White Balance. Overall, the photos were edited beautifully in Lightroom.


I bought a clear UV Hoya Filter {but didn't arrive on time for these photos} & I would have typically used a CPL Polarizer in the bright sun situations, however, I did not as I don't have any with the 52mm filter size. However, I would recommend investing in both, if you want to add this lens to your kit.


Who is this Lens For?


This is considered 'a Wide-Angle' Prime Lens. The lens has one 'low dispersion ' element to reduce color fringing & chromatic aberrations. The images I photographed as well as edited were sharp, crisp, & clear. I thoroughly enjoyed photographing with this 35mm lens.


For someone like myself who enjoys lifestyle photography, this is a cost-effective & efficient lens to have in your kit. For people who are portrait photographers, it is a great lens to capture people, as the eyes are sharp & pictures, look good when shot wide open at f2. While it is a bit heavy, the wide-angle view of this lens makes it a good walk-around lens for street & casual nature shots.


The Photos


I have included a variety of photos in the entry including; RAW Unedited images, lifestyle, food, as well as animal, & {self} portrait images. The photos are what tell the story about this lens & focal length.


You can follow Yongnuo on Instagram for a look at their lenses as well as upcoming lenses.


For more images by me, follow me on Twitter @chef_katelyn.


Yongnuo 35mm f2 Sony E Full Frame Lens

YONGNUO 35MM Full Frame Sony Lens

YONGNUO

Street photography
pink and orange tulips
baby ducklings
baby yellow duck
light brown horse
children playing outdoors
brown and cream alpacas
three alpacas
grilled peppers

1/1000, f/4.0, ISO 100, 35MM

Grilled peppers and steak

1/800, F/4.0, ISO 100. 35MM

Women in light pink cat eye frames

1/1000, F/2, ISO 100, 35MM

YONGNUO 35MM Wide Angle Lens

Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake

1/200, f/2.0, ISO 640, 35MM

Asian Barbie

1/400, f/2.0, ISO 100, 35MM

Yongnuo 35mm Lens

1/400, f/3.5, ISO 100, 35MM

Unedited RAW: 1/400, F/4.0, ISO 100, 35MM

Purple lilacs

1/2500, F/2.0, ISO 100, 35MM

woman near lilac bush

1/400, f/4.0, ISO 100, 35MM

1/500, f/4.0, ISO 100, 35MM

Wide Angle 35mm f/ 2.0

Yongnuo 35mm Lens

Yongnuo YN 35MM F2 Lens