Sony E35mm f/1.8 OSS lens (SEL35F18)

The Sony E 35mm F1.8 OSS is the company's standard-angle lens for its APS-C mirrorless camera system. The compact prime—it doesn't offer zoom—opens all the way up to f/1.8, so you can capture better shots in dim light and blur backgrounds behind your subject. It also sports optical stabilization, a plus for both stills and video. The only thing missing is weather protection, a feature that rival Fujifilm builds into its APS-C mirrorless lenses, but Sony reserves for full-frame glass. If you use a sealed camera, consider pairing it with the full-frame FE 35mm F1.8. but be aware you'll lose stabilization and pay a premium.

The E 35mm F1.8 OSS is a featherweight, measuring just 1.8 by 2.5 inches (HD) and weighing in at 5.4 ounces. It supports 49mm front filters, the same size used by many other of the lenses Sony sells for its APS-C mirrorless system. A reversible lens hood is included, along with front and rear caps.

When paired with an APS-C camera, the E 35mm captures a very similar angle of view to a 50mm on a full-frame system. It's the classic standard angle of view, and when shot at a wider aperture your images will show a shallow depth of field, with a sharp plane of focus and blurred background. If you mount the lens to a full-frame camera you can use it with just the APS-C sensor area (at a reduced resolution to match the crop), or with the full-frame angle of view. There's a big vignette on a full-frame sensor, shown below.

The rounded seven-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality when employing selective focus techniques

One extra-low dispersion glass element is featured in the lens design to help reduce chromatic aberrations and color fringing for improved clarity and color neutrality

Optical SteadyShot image stabilization helps to minimize the appearance of camera shake for sharper imagery when shooting handheld with slower shutter speeds