Samyang AF 35mm F 1 4 FE Review | 54 Data compared

The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE is a high-performance, solidly built lens for Sony mirrorless cameras, offering outstanding central sharpness from f/1.4 and exceptional results across the frame when stopped down. It features low distortion, minimal chromatic aberration, high resistance to flare, and excellent value for money. Conversely, the lens is heavy at 700g, features soft edges at wider apertures, lacks physical switches, and has a loose electronic manual focus ring.

The DPReview article reviews the $800 Rokinon AF 35mm F1.4 FE lens, noting it is a budget-friendly competitor to the Sony 35mm F1.4 ZA, matching it in size and build while providing excellent sharpness at f/1.4, especially on high-resolution sensors like the Sony a7R III. Key advantages include the affordable price point, solid build quality, and strong optical performance at wide apertures. Compromises for the lower price point include noticeable longitudinal chromatic aberration, showing purple/green fringing, and slightly slower autofocus compared to native lenses. Additionally, the lens produces cat's-eye bokeh near the edges and only average sunstars, though it handles distortion and vignetting well with camera profiles.

The Samyang AF 35mm f1.4 FE is an affordable wide-angle prime lens designed for full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras, offering strong value with solid optical traits. Tested on a 42MP Sony A7R II, it stands out for delivering good to very good resolution, minimal longitudinal chromatic aberrations, and reduced color fringing. Its bright f1.4 aperture creates large bokeh balls and a shallow depth-of-field, bundled into a body that remains reasonably light and compact for its class. Additional pros include a 67mm filter thread, an included reversible lens hood, and a significantly lower price tag compared to its Sony and Sigma rivals. However, the reviewer experienced major frustrations with the lens's focusing mechanisms. The autofocus proved less reliable than its competitors, yielding a low 92.8% repeatability score with six distinct focus outliers during close-up testing. Manual focusing via the focus-by-wire system was erratic, and the autofocus drive emits a noticeable low ticking noise rather than operating silently. Other notable cons include the lack of thorough weather-sealing, the omission of an AF/MF physical switch, and a slightly nervous or less smooth bokeh quality.

In this Eric L. Woods gear review, the author evaluates the Rokinon/Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE lens for Sony, praising it as an exceptional value option that competes strongly against native Sony and Sigma alternatives. The prominent pros highlighted include its outstanding, flawless image quality, impressive low-light performance that accurately retains color information, and high corner-to-corner sharpness. Furthermore, its fast and silent autofocus smoothly snaps onto targets, outperforming the slightly more expensive Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens which was prone to hunting during close-focus testing on thin subjects. Coupled with Samyang's commitment to regular firmware updates via version 4, the reviewer notes its overall financial value is unmatched compared to alternatives like the $700+ native Sony f/1.8 options. Conversely, the main cons of the prime lens focus heavily on its bulky physical footprint. The author initially avoided buying the lens due to its massive physical size, observing that it matches the dimensions of much more expensive f/1.4 glass and is weirdly identical in length to a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 zoom lens. Another slight downside compared to the Sigma Art competition...

The LensTip review of the Samyang AF 35 mm f/1.4 FE highlights it as a highly competitive option for full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras, primarily due to its exceptional value-to-performance ratio. Priced at roughly $800 at its launch, it cost less than half of its direct competitor, the Zeiss Sony FE 35 mm f/1.4 Distagon T* ZA. Optically, the lens stands out with excellent image quality in the frame centre that is sharp practically from the maximum aperture wide open. It also delivers good resolution on the edges of an APS-C sensor, decent full-frame edge resolution when stopped down, and exhibits very low lateral chromatic aberration with minimal spherical aberration. Furthermore, LensTip praises its silent and accurate autofocus performance, making it a highly recommended choice for photographers seeking a fast 35mm prime without a steep price tag. However, the review identifies clear compromises made to achieve this budget-friendly price point. The primary optical downsides include huge vignetting on full-frame sensors and relatively weak performance when shooting against bright light, which leaves room for improvement regarding ghosting and flares. Additionally, the lens...

The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE is a bright, minimalistic autofocus lens designed for Sony full-frame cameras, but it performs exceptionally well as a 50mm-equivalent standard lens on Sony APS-C bodies like the A6300 and A6500. While it is physically large and lacks external controls like an aperture ring or AF/MF switch, it boasts a sleek design, a smooth fly-by-wire focus ring, and internal data contacts that fully support Sony's camera functions. Optically, the lens delivers incredibly high sharpness right from its maximum f/1.4 aperture, with virtually non-existent vignetting and well-controlled lateral chromatic aberrations when used on an APS-C sensor. The bokeh is also highly attractive with nicely rounded circles, though the inside of the bokeh balls can appear somewhat busy with visible ring patterns. The core advantages of this lens include its excellent image quality, exceptionally high brightness, robust build quality, reliable focus performance, and a highly competitive price-to-quality ratio that is roughly half the cost of Sony's native version. However, the lens does have a few drawbacks, most notably its complete lack of weatherproofing or a rear rubber...

The Shotkit review highlights the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE as an excellent value, fast-aperture lens for Sony mirrorless users, offering quick, near-silent autofocus and sharp imagery with beautiful bokeh at f/1.4. It provides high-end optical capabilities, making it a compelling alternative to more expensive native lenses. However, the lens is noted for being large and heavy, which may cause fatigue during extended use and limit its suitability for discreet street photography. Additionally, the review highlights the lack of weather sealing as a limitation for shooting in, unpredictable conditions.