When it comes to full frame 35 mm f/1.2 lenses, their production has always been problematic, both in the era of analogue reflex cameras and also later, in the digital era. Why? The difficulty lies in a combination of small mount diameter and the presence of a mirror chamber that forces a significant distance between a rear element and the sensor. To get the f/1.2 aperture fastness and the 35 mm diameter, the construction would have to be very big and heavy.
Small wonder the first 1.2/35 devices were designed for rangefinders and the Japanese Cosina is considered to be the trailblazer in this area. In 2003 they released the Voigtlander Nokton 35 mm f/1.2 Aspherical that, by the way, has had as many as four successors and the latest version, marked with the Roman numeral 'IV,' was shown not so long ago, in April 2025.
What's interesting is that the first 1.2/35 models designed for digital reflex cameras were launched nearer the end of that era. The Chinese DZOptics (Shenzhen Dongzheng Optics Technology) was a leader here. In 2016 they announced the launch of the manual KERLEE 35 mm f/1.2 that was available as Canon EF, Nikon F and Sony FE mount versions. Also, Samyang was brave enough to introduce the XP 35 mm f/1.2 model in 2018 as the Canon EF version.
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With the appearance of full frame digital mirrorless cameras, we saw a lot of changes. Without a mirror chamber, the diameters of mounts are bigger than in times of reflex cameras. Sigma was the first to decide to profit from this fact and already in 2019 they presented the A 35 mm f/1.2 DG DN. It was a very brave move because the majority of their rivals had to work several years longer in order to present their answer. Of course there were some exceptions, like the Nokton 35 mm f/1.2 SE shown in 2020 and the very impressive Venus Optics LAOWA Argus 35 mm f/0.95 FF, released in 2021. The real proliferation of launches in this segment we saw only in 2025-2026 in the form of models produced by Nikon, Viltrox, and Leica. As if it wasn't enough, Sigma decided to show the successor of their first lens and in February 2025, during the CP+ fair, they announced the A 35 mm f/1.2 DG II model, significantly lighter and smaller than its predecessor.
As we had tested the first Sigma 1.2/35 we were very keen on testing its successor. It became possible courtesy of K-Consult, the Sigma distributor for Poland, They managed to send us one specimen of this lens for testing purposes – thank you very much!
