p.1 #1 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
I recently acquired the 35, 85, and 135mm versions to be used on a Nikon Z7II and Megadap ETZ21 Pro adapter and am pretty happy with balance of sharpness and bokeh and overall rendering. My first attempt to adapt a Sony E mount and was pleasantly surprised on AF results. Eye focus was really good, close to a native lens but yes there were some slow points on AFC focusing but very usable for no sports activity. Curious what some of the Sony users think about these lenses. I like the lighter weight of the 135 and it out resolved the Zeiss 135 Sonnar. The bokeh on these lenses is very good and I do not detect some of the clinical look that I see on some of the recent Chinese made lenses. I actual prefer the rendering of the 35 to the Nikon Z equivalents. Any experiences out there? The third party lens market is getting interesting in the past couple of years. Sigma/Tamron no longer have a lock on the after market.
I am curious how well these lenses perform for focus speed on Sony cameras.
p.1 #2 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
The 3 lenses you picked are all very good or better. The 135 is an absolute bargain at the prices it can be found. I only have v1 of the 85 but the bokeh on that is excellent. Same with the 135. I don’t use the 135 much but when I do I’m always pleased.
p.1 #4 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
Thanks for the replies. I am sort of curious why this brand does not get more attention given the results vs price. Seems like a best buy to me. I love the balance of rendering properties, the eye focus works great on my adapted Nikon. Well will just keep it our little secret then.....
p.1 #5 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
They still have some alignment variation copy-to-copy. FWIW: the 35mm and 85mm F1.4 II models reuse the optics of the older AF versions. Maybe the steppers help reduce some of the variation.
p.1 #6 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
i really like samyang af lenses. most of the time they tick the right boxes for me.
plus side:
bokeh, weight, price
i still have and love: 24mm 1.8, 75mm 1.8, 50mm 1.4 II
sold:
14-24mm okayish but my sony 12-24 f4 is much sharper
sy 45mm 1.8. a great niffy fifty but bokeh is a love/hate relationship
135mm great but not my focal length.. also too heavy for a7c use
never had a problem with a samyang... guess i was lucky.
p.1 #7 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
The series II 85mm f/1.4 AF is remarkable on Sony native E-mount. There is only one version of the 135mm AF. But its design clearly matches the "Series II" aesthetic of the 85mm. Optically it is as good as I need. The Sony GM 135 focuses much faster. So for action The Sony wins out. For portraits, there's really no reason not to use the Samyang at 1/2 the price.
Anyone who wants to nitpick can find tiny differences where Sigma Art or Sony GM glass might offer optically superior results in specific situations. But without side by side comparisons, no one could really tell the difference without being told that a given image came from a Samyang lens.
A decade ago, lower tier third party lenses like Samyang were 25% the price and 50% the quality of first party and upper echelon third party options like Sigma. Today they're 50% the price and 95% the quality. You're paying slightly more for Samyang or Viltrox now. But the results are nearly indistinguishable from lenses costing 2x or 3x as much.
p.1 #8 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
mudlake wrote:
I have the 85/1.4II and it’s one of my favorite lenses. And I have many GM lenses. This 85/1.4 always gives beautiful results.
Im looking at the 85/1.4 - the pictures im seeing are so phenomenal! The Pop is unreal!
Not sure if anyone has researched the effect/differences between these v1 / v2
From what Im reading the main update was the slight reduction in weight and updated housing/focus ring, anything else?
Samyang is probably lumped together in peoples minds as a “China” product, even though its from S.Korea. And those Koreans works hard like no-one else.
Since its not made in Japan or Germany, theres probably some stigma surrounding it, maybe thats why theres not much more talk about them.
They mold their own glass, instead of outsourcing - which I find very favorable indeed!
Edit: Noticing that for the 85/1.4 the upgrade includes:
From 2 Linear AF motors in V1 to “Linear STM” AF Motor in V2
Reduced filter size from 77->72mm and reduced diameter and weight from 568g-509g
Addition of the mode switch on v2
So i suppose AF, mode switch, casing design, filter thread & weight are the differences….
p.1 #9 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
Happydan wrote:
Im looking at the 85/1.4 - the pictures im seeing are so phenomenal! The Pop is unreal!
Not sure if anyone has researched the effect/differences between these v1 / v2
From what Im reading the main update was the slight reduction in weight and updated housing/focus ring, anything else?
Samyang is probably lumped together in peoples minds as a “China” product, even though its from S.Korea. And those Koreans works hard like no-one else.
Since its not made in Japan or Germany, theres probably some stigma surrounding it, maybe thats why theres not much more talk about them.
They mold their own glass, instead of outsourcing - which I find very favorable indeed!
Edit: Noticing that for the 85/1.4 the upgrade includes:
From 2 Linear AF motors in V1 to “Linear STM” AF Motor in V2
Reduced filter size from 77->72mm and reduced diameter and weight from 568g-509g
Addition of the mode switch on v2
So i suppose AF, mode switch, casing design, filter thread & weight are the differences…....Show more →
I had both versions of SY85/1.4
It was a long time ago, so I don't remember it that well but the 2nd version:
* got mostly rid of that warm/yellowish cast
* reduced size (mostly diamater I think?)
* improved somewhat in the AF department (my 1st verison had odd "off" days where it would miss a lot more than normally).
In the end, I was kinda disappointed with the AF, as it was pretty bad for video (maybe early firmware?) and it was not any better than my old Sigma when shooting (photo) moving (esp. towards the camera) targets.
I do have to say that for portraits, Samyang's rendering is hard to beat though .
p.1 #10 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
Marc of Sony Alpha Blog rates v1 as a little sharper than v2, but that may just be due to copy variation. I've had both versions but didn't do a side by side comparison. Both were very sharp. However, I much prefer the autofocus and overall design of v2. Also, the v1 had that noticeable yellow cast, as j4nu notes above. I don't have either currently, but would buy the v2 again.
p.1 #11 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
Thanks for your input! Very valuable!
I’m considering v1 as it is cheaper and has a larger filter thread size
This obviously lets in more light and fits the many 77mm filters that I already own (selling some on the board atm fyi)
I don’t mind the larger size and weight as it is a specialist lens and I just got the Samyang 75/1.8 for walk around
The slower AF doesn’t bother me much
The color cast is easy corrected when shooting RAW obviously, right!?
p.1 #12 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
As I remember, the color cast was easy to correct, but a bit of an annoyance when using several lenses (like at a wedding) because that one lens would look more yellow and usually needed correction. I don't feel that lenses must match color exactly, but when one lens always looks off in color, it can become an annoyance. The v1 is excellent optically, but the v2 lens autofocus feels more modern and more quiet. Whichever one you buy, be sure to update to the latest firmware.
p.1 #13 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
The lens design trend is obviously leaning towards „the smaller the better” - which only a few companies totally ignore - like Viltrox (although their new 85/2 Evo is all about light and small)
I’ll go with the larger lens that has a greater filter thread size, as that must obviously let in more light
Thanks for your comments - also ordering a lens station from the FM board right now
p.1 #14 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
Happydan wrote:
I’ll go with the larger lens that has a greater filter thread size, as that must obviously let in more light
Hi Dan. I don’t believe filter thread size has anything to do with a lens letting in more light. In this case, it’s probably due to the lens barrel size. The optics for version one and two are identical. So no, it won’t let in more light.
p.1 #15 · Samyang Series II primes - Any user feedback?
Thanks Mudlake
It just makes sense to my mind that a larger barrel would let more light in as it is wider, but obviously this is limited by the aperature size, ultimately determining the diameter of the entry pupil and thus the amount of light that reaches the sensor. Of course
Anyhow, I went with the 75/1.8 v1 ($158 net via eBay) - love how the focus ring doubles as the aperature ring!!
And the 85/1.4 v1 ($333 net including lens station eBay)
Here’s some therapy dogs I met at the airport on Halloween with the 85 v1
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