> My priorities are sharpness (especially in the center wide open), nice-looking bokeh… reliable autofocus… and I care about size/weight… Budget… under $1,200.

yo i feel u, 35mm on the a7 IV is like the “never leaves the camera” lens… I went down this exact rabbit hole before a trip and ended up settling on Sony FE 35mm f/1.8.

For your situation, that’s my pick. It’s usually around like $600 new (less used), it’s sharp in the center wide open (seriously usable at f/1.8), AF is reliable for people walking/talking and casual action, and it doesn’t make the a7 IV feel like a brick. Bokeh’s nice for environmental portraits — not “1.4 creamy everything,” but clean and not distracting.

I tried a couple 35/1.4 options (friends’ lenses) and yeah, the extra stop is real… but you pay for it in size/weight and cost. For street/travel, i honestly noticed the bulk more than the light gain. Also f/1.4 corners wide open are often meh anyway, and you said center sharpness matters most.

If you want a budget killer alternative, Sigma 35mm F2 DG DN Contemporary is usually ~$600 too and has great build/character, but AF felt a tiny bit less “Sony-native” to me (not bad, just… slightly different).

Lesson learned: lighter lens = more shots. i shoot more when it’s comfy, period. gl!

For your situation, I’d go with a compact 35mm f/1.8 from Sony or Samyang—usually sharper wide-open in the center, faster/safer AF, and way less front-heavy than most f/1.4s; corners are “good enough” stopped down, idk

Regarding what #6 said about Bump - same question here

• I have analyzed several of these optics and unfortunately, most 35mm options for the a7 IV involve significant technical compromises. The suggestions provided so far prioritize convenience over actual optical performance, which is disappointing given how good the a7 IV sensor really is. Based on my long-term testing and data, here are the drawbacks of the current front-runners:
• The Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 displays unacceptable levels of longitudinal chromatic aberration in high-contrast transitions, which is a nightmare for portraits.
• Most compact f/2.8 alternatives lack the resolving power necessary for high-frequency detail when you crop or use APS-C mode.
• The Samyang options often show poor thermal stability, leading to minor focus shifts during long outdoor shoots. If you want a lens that actually matches the a7 IV autofocus speed and resolution, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is technically superior to the f/1.8 models. It is a bit heavier, but the glass quality is much higher. Honestly, if you can find a used Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, that is the only lens in this class with truly reliable XD Linear motors. Anything less will eventually feel like a bottleneck for your camera body.

I'd be really careful about the weight balance on the a7 IV. If you go too big, your wrist will definitely feel it after an hour of street shooting. You might want to consider how much you value the Sony-specific features like breathing compensation too.

• The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is optically incredible but its pretty chunky... definitely makes the setup feel front-heavy.
• If you find a used Sony Zeiss Distagon T* FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA, watch out for decentering issues where one side of the frame is blurrier than the other. I've seen some people swear by the Sony 35mm f/2.8 Sonnar T* FE ZA for travel since its tiny, but you'll lose that creamy bokeh you're after. Just make sure whatever you pick handles the a7 IV's high-speed AF tracking smoothly... some older motor designs tend to hunt more than you'd expect in low light.

+1 to the compact 1.8 idea—be careful chasing 1.4 “character”: bigger glass = more front-heavy + more AF hunting wide-open. I’d rent first, and test eye-AF + corner sharpness at f/1.8–2.8 on ur a7 IV.

Commenting to find later

> I want sharp center wide open, nice bokeh, reliable AF, and not front-heavy… under $1,200

For ur situation I’d go Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 vs Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM vs Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2. The 1.8 is the “safe” pick: quick AF, light, sharp at f/1.8, usually $500–$650 used. GM’s amazing but pricey/heavier (used ~$1,000–$1,200) and wide-open misses cost more. Tamron’s cheap (~$200–$300) but AF/low-light isnt as confidence-inspiring. idk, I’d buy used + test eye-AF hard, right?

Can confirm

Ok so I am totally a beginner at this and was super worried about getting a "lemon" or a lens with focus issues because I dont really have the money to keep swapping gear. I decided to try a more DIY approach to save some cash and it actually worked out pretty well for my a7 IV. Here is how I handled it: * I went with the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE II which is the newer version and it feels much more reliable than the older ones people talk about plus it has that "custom switch" you can set yourself.
* Since I was worried about AF accuracy I also grabbed a Samyang Lens Station so I could basically be my own technician and update the firmware as soon as I got it which really helped the eye-AF stay sticky.
* I did a bunch of DIY "brick wall" tests at home just to make sure the sharpness was even across the frame before my return window closed because I’m paranoid like that lol.
* If you want even lighter there is also the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 FE which is really affordable and surprisingly sharp for the price. Doing the setup and testing myself made me feel way more confident than just trusting a random review!

Bump - same question here