35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Artvs A6400
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35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (2012)
Starting from £499 new
Best for Street, documentary & low-light photography
View 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street, Documentary & Low-Light Photography — 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (2012): The lens that proved third-party glass could beat first-party — world-class optical quality at a significantly lower price than Nikon equivalents.
Content Creation & Vlogging — A6400 (2019): The best value APS-C Sony you can buy — especially used. Real-time Eye AF at this price point was transformative when it launched and still makes it one of the most reliable autofocus systems in the lineup.
Who should buy what
A6400 (2019)
- Vloggers and content creators who need a flip screen and reliable AF
- Photographers upgrading from a compact or smartphone
- Beginners who want room to grow into a full E-mount lens ecosystem
- Anyone prioritising autofocus performance at an accessible price
Quick take: The 35mm f/1.4 dg hsm art is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (2012) | A6400 (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £499 | £899 |
| Sensor | f/1.4 (max aperture) | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS BSI |
| Resolution | — | 24.2MP |
| Video | 30cm minimum focus distance | 4K/30p (6K oversampled, no crop), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) — fast and near-silent with full-time manual override | Phase-detect, 425 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on body VR if available) | None (no IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 11fps mechanical, 8fps with AF tracking |
| Battery Life | N/A | ~410 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 665g | 403g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 77mm diameter × 94mm length | 120.0 × 66.9 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | N/A | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 180° flip for selfie/vlog, 921k dots |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount (FX / DX) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | N/A | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | N/A | Micro-USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art | A6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
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Camera family history