Oshiro 35mm f/2 LD UNC AL Full Frame for Sony E-Mount (kind of) Review
Updated: Oct 11, 2019
Oshiro 35mm f/2 + Canon ef to Sony e-mount adapter
The Oshiro 35mm f/2 lens is one of the cheapest 35mm available for the Sony full-frame E-mount cameras. We ordered this lens thru eBay, and they sent us the Canon ef-mount with the Sony adapter. We contacted the seller to get the right lens, but they informed us that they sent the right lens since the adapter is a direct e-mount... We realized that they would probably send us the same lens if we returned it so decided to test what we had. There is a clear reason why people are turning away from eBay... Order yours thru Amazon since you can complain about the problem to them.
SPECIFICATIONS
· Focal Length: 35mm
· Maximum Aperture: f/2
· Minimum Aperture: f/22
· Angle of View: 63 degrees
· Format: Full Frame & APS-C
· Structure: 7 elements in 5 groups
· Aperture Blades: 9 blades
· Focusing Distance: 9.8" to infinity
· Focusing: Manual
· Filter Thread: 55mm
· Dimensions: 2.75" X 2.5" (with adapter 3.75" X 2.5")
· Weight: 10.9 oz
Lens in my hand with the adapter attached. The Sony e-mount version should be the same size. The lens has a moisture and dustproof seal on the all-metal mount and barrel according to the manufacturer.
It has 9 aperture blades and uses a 55mm filter.
The rear side of the lens without adapter. It has a metal mount that feels solid but no rubber gasket.
Let's see what the lens official name means.
Oshiro 35mm f/2 LD UNC AL
· 35mm: 63 degrees of angle of view
· f/2: Maximum aperture for low light shooting.
· LD: Low Dispersion glass offers superior sharpness and color correction by minimizing chromatic aberration.
· UNC: Ultra Nano Crystal multi-coating eliminates lens element reflections and reduces ghost and flare.
· AL: Aspherical lens element for high image quality with improved performance.
KEY FEATURES
· Manual focus prime lens
· Compatible with full-frame sensors as well as APS-C sensors
· Low dispersion ultra nano crystal multi-coating anti-reflection optical glass
· AL aspherical lens element for high image quality with improved performance
· 7 lens elements in 5 groups
· All metal body and mount ensures durability and rigidity
· Equivalent to 53.5mm in the 35mm APS-C format
· Available in Canon EOS, Nikon and Sony mount
· 5-year parts and labor warranty
LENS TESTING
The lens testing is for demonstrations only, and it's not a true scientific test.
The lens has a slight barrel distortion
Look at the straight yellow lines on the top and bottom of the picture above. You will see a slight bow up on the top and down on the bottom.
Vignetting and Sharpness
F/2: Vignetting-Bad, Corner Sharpness-Bad, Center Sharpness-Soft
F/2.8: Vignetting-Poor, Corner Sharpness-Bad, Center Sharpness-OK
F/4: Vignetting-Some, Corner Sharpness-Bad, Center Sharpness-Good
F/5.6: Vignetting-OK, Corner Sharpness-Poor, Center Sharpness-Excellent
F/8: Vignetting-Good, Corner Sharpness-Good, Center Sharpness-Excellent
F/11: Vignetting-Excellent, Corner Sharpness-Excellent, Center Sharpness-Excellent
F/22: Vignetting- Excellent, Corner Sharpness-Excellent, Center Sharpness-Excellent
Full resolution test pictures here -> http://bit.ly/oh35f2test
Minimum focusing
The Minimum Focusing Distance is 7.8" (20cm)
This is how close you can get into a quarter.
Bokeh Ball Test
The test photos are from F2 -> F2.8 -> F4 -> F5.6 -> F8 -> F11 -> F22
Bokeh is one of those things that everyone has a different opinion about. You decide what you like.
Flare Testing and Star Effect
The test photos are from F2 -> F2.8 -> F4 -> F5.6 -> F8 -> F11 -> F22
Flare control is simply bad and the star effect is not desirable to me...
Chromatic Aberration
You can see purple and green chromatic aberration from this picture.
Bokeh
Produces soft Bokeh, but it has a little swirl effect (busy bokeh) @ f2. The lens is very soft at f2.
SAMPLE PHOTOS
Sony a7rii @ 1/40 sec, F2.8, ISO 400, Cropped
Sony a7rii @ 30 sec, F11, ISO 50 + ND Filter
Sony a7rii @ 10 sec, F11, ISO 100 + ND Filter
Sony a7rii @ 1/60 sec, F8, ISO 200
Sony a7rii @ 1/8000 sec, F2, ISO 100
Sony a7rii @ 1/250 sec, F2.8, ISO 100, Cropped
Sony a7rii @ 1/160 sec, F2.8, ISO 100
Sony a7rii @ 1/200 sec, F2.8, ISO 100, Cropped
Sony a7rii @ 1/60 sec, F2.8, ISO 2000, Cropped
CONCLUSION
The picture above is the E-mount version on sale from Amazon. It's the same seller I purchased from eBay. I'm not sure which version the seller is going to send you when you get one, but I am going to assume that you get the same one as I did (Canon ef-mount + Canon to Sony adapter).
It's a solid lens that feels like it might outlive the camera body. The optics are poor at f2 as you can see on our test, but it becomes useable around f8. The center sharpness is soft at f2 to f2.8 but sharpens starting at f4. The corner sharpness is terrible at f2 to f8 but becomes usable starting at f11. The bokeh is a swirling cat-eye shape that I don't like that much. The star effect is not desirable thanks to the lack of flare control and shape. This lens will be hard to use for people shooting fast action since it's a manual focusing lens.
It seems like I put down a lot of negatives down, but the most important part of this lens is the price. It goes for $150 on eBay and Amazon. The lens puts out clean pictures at f11 & f22. If you are a street shooter who likes to use f11, this lens is for you. Landscape photographers will like this lens as well, but I don't know that many of them using this focal length.
The price is the most attractive part of this lens, but I cannot recommend this lens at this time.
Pro
Price ($150)
Image quality at f11 & f22
Solid Built Quality
Con
Manual Focusing
Focus Ring not as smooth as competition
Image Quality is poor at f/2 to f/5.6
Lack of flare control
Chromatic Aberration
Image is very soft at f2