Two of the most talked about lenses right now are the Viltrox 35mm f/1.2 and the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art. Both are full frame, both are designed with serious build quality, and both are capable of the kind of shallow depth of field that makes backgrounds melt away. Choosing between them is not straightforward, which makes this head-to-head comparison worth paying attention to.
Coming to you from Mark Bennett's Camera Crisis, this detailed video puts theiltrox 35mm f/1.2 and the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art side by side. The Sigma stands out for its smaller size and lighter weight, which is impressive for a lens this fast. It comes in at 746 g compared to the Viltrox’s 923 g, and the difference is noticeable when holding both. The Sigma also includes an aperture ring with markings, a programmable focus hold button, a lockable iris ring, and weather-sealing. The Viltrox is no slouch, though: it feels premium with a matte finish, also has a weather-sealed design, and includes two customizable buttons. Instead of marked aperture numbers, you see settings through the camera or its small LCD display, which some will find useful in low light.
When it comes to performance, both lenses are razor sharp wide open at f/1.2. Autofocus is fast and reliable on both, behaving almost like native Sony glass, but neither lens supports continuous autofocus above 15 frames per second, which is a limitation of third-party designs. In Bennett’s tests, the Sigma proved slightly more consistent when tracking subjects, though the Viltrox had the edge in autofocus silence. For video shooters, focus breathing is another difference. The Sigma shows almost none, while the Viltrox reveals a bit during fast pulls. That makes the Sigma the stronger pick for demanding video work.
Color fringing and chromatic aberrations are well controlled by both lenses, though some longitudinal aberration is visible at f/1.2. As you stop down, it quickly disappears. Flare and ghosting resistance are nearly identical thanks to high-quality coatings, though Sigma’s rendering of sunstars is particularly striking. Both lenses produce smooth bokeh, with cat’s-eye effects near the frame edges, which is expected at this aperture. On price, Sigma comes in at $1,649 while Viltrox is $999, often with discounts available. That’s a significant gap for lenses that in many cases perform almost equally. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Bennett.
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