Samyang 35mm F 1 8 FE Review | 54 Data compared

The ePHOTOzine review highlights the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE as a compact, 210g lens delivering excellent sharpness and fast, silent autofocus, making it a high-value option for Sony full-frame users. Key strengths include superb edge-to-edge resolution, low distortion, virtually no flare, and a useful custom mode switch. While performance is stellar, the lens exhibits noticeable vignetting at f/1.8 and higher lateral chromatic aberration in the corners, though it still earns a "Highly Recommended" award. The bokeh is pleasant but not as smooth as a telephoto lens, yet its overall, performance, weather-sealing, and competitive price make it a strong contender.

The Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 FE is a highly compact, lightweight (210g), and budget-friendly prime lens designed for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras, serving as a direct competitor to the pricier Sony FE 35mm F1.8. It represents a significant step up for Samyang's "Tiny Series" by introducing weather sealing in four areas and a customizable control switch on the barrel, which allows users to map the focus ring for seamless aperture adjustments. Equipped with a linear autofocus motor, the lens delivers fast, quiet, and reliable stills tracking—including dependable Eye AF for humans and animals—alongside smoothly damped focus pulls that perform effortlessly during video work without any audible motor noise or pulsing. Optically, the lens stands out for its exceptional center-to-corner sharpness and resolution, particularly when stopped down to F2.8 or smaller, outperforming the native Sony alternative in corner clarity. However, its standout optical performance is accompanied by a few distinct cons, including noticeable color fringing (longitudinal chromatic aberration) and a slight lack of contrast when shot wide open at F1.8. Additional drawbacks include a moderate 2.5-stop corner vignette at wide apertures,...

In their head-to-head comparison review, LensVid evaluated the Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 FE against the native Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 lens for Sony E-mount cameras. The reviewer found that the budget-friendly Samyang (priced under $400) surprisingly outperforms the Sony in overall image quality, delivering better sharpness across the frame and significantly sharper corners, even when stopped down. Additional pros for the Samyang include its highly compact design—measuring 7cm tall and weighing an ultra-lightweight 245 grams—along with built-in weather sealing and a unique multipurpose custom switch for smooth, click-less aperture adjustments. However, its drawbacks include visible chromatic aberrations wide open, a somewhat confusing custom switch layout, and a longer minimum focusing distance of 29 cm compared to its native rival. On the other hand, the Sony lens (priced just under $700) justifies its higher price tag with superior build quality, a better macro magnification ratio (focusing down to 23 cm), and flawless chromatic aberration control wide open. For video creators, its standout advantages are an unbeatable autofocus tracking system and practically zero focus breathing, making it vastly superior to the Samyang...

The Rokinon/Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE serves as a "Goldilocks" lens for Sony full-frame cameras like the A7 III and A7c, successfully balancing size, price, and performance where other brands fall short. The reviewer praises its exceptional sharpness, which rivals more expensive native Sony options, along with its fast, silent, and highly accurate autofocus system. Image quality is a major highlight, rendering photos with vibrant colours and a unique, almost vintage film look while maintaining modern technical proficiency. Additionally, it boasts excellent ergonomics, featuring a functional two-mode custom switch to control focus or aperture, and it includes weather sealing—a feature missing from competitors like the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8. It also provides great value by including a lens hood and a carrying case right in the box for $150 less than the Canon alternative. While the review is overwhelmingly positive, a few drawbacks and contextual limitations are noted when compared to alternative options. The f/1.8 maximum aperture sacrifices a small amount of light-gathering ability and shallow depth of field compared to the brand's larger f/1.4 variant, though it easily holds...

The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE is a highly capable and affordable autofocus prime lens designed for Sony full-frame E-mount mirrorless cameras, functioning also as a 52.5mm standard lens on APS-C bodies. Weighing only 210g and measuring 65x64mm, this compact, robust optic is well-suited for candid street photography and includes weather-sealing against dust and moisture. It features an advanced internal design consisting of 10 elements in 8 groups, including two aspherical and two high refractive index elements, alongside a fast, near-silent linear stepping motor for responsive autofocus tracking. A distinct handling feature is its dual-mode Custom switch, which allows users to easily repurpose the electronic control ring from standard manual focusing to smooth, stepless aperture control when filming videos. In terms of performance, the lens provides impressive central image sharpness and pleasant bokeh even when shooting wide-open at f/1.8. However, the review notes a couple of drawbacks, specifically that its corner sharpness lacks definition at wide apertures and requires stopping down between f/2.8 and f/11 to achieve optimal clarity across the full frame. Furthermore, there is noticeable longitudinal chromatic aberration...

The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 is a highly capable, lightweight prime lens for Sony systems that offers an affordable alternative to the much more expensive Sony 35mm f/1.8. Weighing just 7.4 ounces (210 g), it features an upgraded design with four weather-sealing gaskets to protect against adverse conditions. Mechanically and optically, the lens impresses with its fast f/1.8 aperture, pleasant bokeh, and excellent sharpness that reportedly outperforms Sony’s equivalent version. Its autofocus is quiet, eye-tracking is reliable, and flare is well-controlled even when shooting directly into bright sunlight. Despite its strengths, the lens has a few notable drawbacks. The lightweight plastic housing gives it a less refined, less solid structural feel compared to premium options. Additionally, visible chromatic aberration and fringing are present in high-contrast situations, though they can be mitigated during post-production. The autofocus system can also occasionally struggle to lock onto poorly-lit subjects when relying strictly on the camera's "Wide" focus mode. Ultimately, at a retail price of $399, it is highly recommended as a portable and cost-effective choice for enthusiasts and semi-pro travel photographers.

The ePHOTOzine review of the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE lens highlights excellent sharpness, with central performance rated as top-tier from f/1.8 to f/11, alongside quick, quiet autofocus and low distortion. Additional pros include effective flare control, a customizable switch, and lightweight handling. Conversely, the performance analysis notes that edge sharpness drops to "fair" at f/22 due to diffraction, and lateral chromatic aberration becomes visible at the edges, particularly at wider apertures. Other potential cons include a sensitive control ring prone to accidental adjustments and the lack of built-in optical image stabilization.

However, the lens does have a few drawbacks, notably its moderate ruggedness. It lacks the heavy-duty weather sealing and build durability found in premium flagship options, meaning it may have a shorter lifespan if heavily abused in harsh environments like heavy rain or snow. Furthermore, a significant con is that unlocking its full potential requires buying a separate $60 USB lens docking station accessory, which is mandatory

The WideScenes review highlights the Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 FE as a high-value, lightweight lens featuring superior corner-to-corner sharpness and necessary weather sealing. Ideal for travel, it offers excellent optical performance with only minimal vignetting, positioning it as a strong alternative to native options. Conversely, the lens shows slight softness when shot wide open at f/1.8 and is physically larger and heavier than its f/2.8 counterpart. Furthermore, the design lacks built-in optical image stabilization, requiring reliance on camera-based IBIS.

The DPReview sample gallery highlights the Rokinon/Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 FE as a budget-friendly, full-frame prime for Sony E-mount that delivers excellent sharpness across the frame. It features fast, responsive autofocus via a linear stepping motor and controls aberrations well, offering high value at approximately $350. While the lens offers impressive optical performance, the review notes a, lightweight, less solid build quality to maintain its lower price point. Ultimately, it is presented as a compelling, budget-conscious choice that sacrifices premium construction for superior image results.