Samyang 50mm F 1 2 AS UMC CS Review | 54 Data compared

The Samyang 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC CS is a robustly built, manual-focus short telephoto lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras, offering outstanding central sharpness and smooth bokeh at f/1.2, ideal for portraiture. Key advantages include exceptional build quality, low chromatic aberration, and a precise, smooth focusing action. Conversely, the lens lacks autofocus and electronic contacts, resulting in no EXIF data, while exhibiting significant vignetting and softer corner performance at wider apertures, necessitating stopping down for edge-to-edge sharpness.

The Samyang 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC CS is a highly affordable, manual-focus fast prime lens designed specifically for mirrorless camera systems. Priced at under £300, it serves as a budget-friendly option for photographers seeking a short, fast telephoto lens for close-cropped portraits. Depending on the crop factor of the camera sensor used, the lens provides a focal length equivalent to 75mm on standard APS-C sensors, 80mm on Canon EF-M mounts, and 100mm on Micro Four Thirds systems. It is available in multiple mounts to accommodate Sony E, Fujifilm X, Canon EF-M, and Micro Four Thirds users. A major pro of this lens is its exceptionally bright f/1.2 maximum aperture, which is rare for products under the four-figure price mark. It delivers highly impressive image quality that builds on the strong performance of its sister lens, the 21mm f/1.4. However, a notable con is that the lens is strictly manual focus, requiring users to rely on manual adjustment rather than an automated system. Overall, the lens represents an excellent bargain for compact system camera owners who want a fast, portrait-length prime...

The Samyang/Rokinon 50mm f/1.2 CS is a lightweight, compact, and robustly built manual focus portrait lens designed for mirrorless cameras, though it delivers mixed optical performance. On the positive side, the lens features a precise, pleasant-to-use mechanical focus ring and a well-operating aperture ring that moves in 1/2 steps. Optically, it excels at close-up shots with a 50cm minimum focusing distance where details look sharpest, and it provides good subject-to-background separation with a decent, swirly bokeh rendering at f/1.2. Furthermore, it shows strong resistance to chromatic aberration and flare, and its price point remains highly accessible at under $500. However, the lens suffers from notable drawbacks, particularly regarding its wide-open sharpness and usability. Image quality is distinctly soft at its fastest f/1.2 and f/1.4 apertures, requiring users to stop down to f/4 or f/5.6 to achieve peak performance. This softness worsens at medium-to-long distances, and consistently weak corners make it poorly suited for landscape photography. Additionally, the lack of electronic contacts means no EXIF data is transmitted to the camera, meaning that vignetting and pincushion distortion cannot be automatically corrected...

The Samyang/Rokinon 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC CS is a highly capable, fast manual-focus prime lens designed for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras. It features an optical construction of nine elements in seven groups, a nine-blade aperture for circular bokeh, and ultra-multi-coating (UMC) to reduce reflections and flare. On the plus side, the lens delivers exceptional value, retailing under £300 new and around £150–£170 pre-owned, with a reassuringly solid, high-quality build that weighs less than 400g. Optically, it excels at rendering straight lines with zero barrel or pincushion distortion, exhibits impressive corner shading control for an f/1.2 lens, and offers perfectly matched center-and-corner sharpness when wide open, hitting its absolute sweet spot around f/4. However, the lens has several notable drawbacks that may not suit all photographers. It is entirely manual focus and lacks optical image stabilisation, meaning achieving pin-sharp results at f/1.2 requires extra effort, typically necessitating camera tools like focus peaking and magnified view. There are no metal electronic contacts on the mount, which prevents the camera from recording any focal length or aperture metadata into the...

The Photodo review characterizes the Samyang 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC CS as a budget-friendly (£299) manual focus lens with robust build quality and a smooth, classic manual focus feel. It highlights the ultra-fast f/1.2 aperture as a key strength for shallow depth-of-field, effectively reducing costs compared to competitor lenses. Conversely, the review notes significant drawbacks, particularly the extreme difficulty of achieving critical focus at f/1.2, which is exacerbated by the lack of autofocus and electronic features. The lens is also criticized for lacking weather sealing, having a 75mm equivalent focal length that can feel restrictive, and offering minimal light transmission gains between f/1.4 and f/1.2.

The Rokinon 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC is lauded for its exceptional optical performance and class-leading image quality, offering high resolution and contrast even when shot wide open at f/1.2. It features a solid, compact metal construction and produces a beautifully soft bokeh, making it an excellent, affordable portrait option. However, the lens is fully manual with no electronic communication, requiring manual focus and resulting in a lack of EXIF data, which can make focusing at f/1.2 challenging. Other drawbacks include slight mount rocking, a 62mm filter thread, and stiff focus ring resistance, according to the review.

The Trusted Reviews evaluation identifies the Samyang 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC CS as a lightweight, well-constructed manual focus prime for mirrorless cameras that delivers excellent bokeh and strong center sharpness. It is highly regarded for its bright f/1.2 aperture and solid, metal-mount construction. Conversely, the review highlights significant drawbacks, including a complete lack of autofocus, no electronic EXIF data communication, and challenging manual focusing at wider apertures. Additionally, the manual aperture ring is limited to half-stop increments.

The Photodo review characterizes the Samyang 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC CS lens as a well-built, affordable manual focus option for APS-C mirrorless cameras, offering excellent craftsmanship with a robust metal mount. Its primary advantages include an extremely bright f/1.2 aperture for creative low-light shooting and smooth, creamy bokeh, paired with precise, smooth manual focusing. Photodo Conversely, the lens operates fully manually, lacking electronic contacts for EXIF data and requiring manual aperture control, which can be challenging for quick shooting. Additionally, achieving accurate focus at the razor-thin depth of field of f/1.2 often requires a tripod and stationary subjects, making it a specialized tool rather than an all-purpose optic.

The Samyang (Rokinon) 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC is a compact, manual-focus prime lens designed for mirrorless camera systems, offering exceptional optical performance that rivals or exceeds far more expensive native options. Built with engineered plastics over a sturdy metal frame, it features a striking glossy finish, a 62mm filter thread, and a dense, substantial feel that complements small mirrorless bodies. Its standout pros include remarkable sharpness, strong contrast, and high resolution even when shot wide open at f/1.2. The nine rounded aperture blades produce smooth, pleasing real-world bokeh for portraits, while stopping down creates sharp landscapes with distinct 18-pointed sunstars. Additionally, vignetting, chromatic aberrations, and pincushion distortion are well-controlled for an APS-C optimized optic of this speed.