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

The Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 FE II is an outstanding, high-value full-frame prime lens for Sony E-mount cameras that delivers exceptional sharpness across the entire frame, especially when stopped down to f/2 and beyond. Ideal for street photography and low-light shooting, the Mark II edition introduces highly useful physical controls, including an autofocus-hold button and a customizable two-way switch that permits stepless, de-clicked aperture control tailored for videographers. The lens boasts a solid, weather-sealed build and a fast, virtually silent linear stepping autofocus motor that integrates seamlessly with Sony's advanced camera tracking modes. While the lens offers remarkable performance for roughly half the price of the native Sony FE 35mm F1.4 G Master, it does come with a few trade-offs. On the downside, the Samyang is noticeably larger and heavier (659g) than its Sony G Master counterpart, making it feel quite chunky on mirrorless bodies. Additionally, it is not a zero-distortion optic, exhibiting a slight -1.69 barrel distortion, and its bokeh can look a bit fussy or distracting when shooting close-ups against high-contrast, detailed backgrounds. Despite these minor flaws, its...

The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE II is described as an "Editor's Choice" for its exceptional, uniform sharpness across the frame and excellent build quality, featuring a fast, quiet linear STM motor. The lens provides low chromatic aberration, great flare control, and, while having some barrel distortion, it is easily corrected in post-processing. It features a weather-sealed construction, a useful customisable focus hold button, and an electronic control ring for precise adjustments. The main drawbacks are the aforementioned distortion and a very light-acting control ring that can lead to accidental setting changes.

The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE II lens offers exceptional sharpness, smooth bokeh, and fast autofocus, making it a high-performance, weather-sealed option for Sony E-mount cameras. Key strengths include excellent control over chromatic aberration and flare, paired with useful, customizable on-lens controls for an enhanced shooting experience. Conversely, the lens is notably bulky and heavy, featuring a 72mm filter thread and some corner softness alongside vignetting at the maximum f/1.4 aperture. While optical performance improves rapidly upon stopping down, users should note the weak close-focusing capabilities and the lack of compatibility with older Sony camera bodies.

Performance and Specifications Overview The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 Series II is a budget-friendly prime lens priced around $800 USD, tested here on a Sony A7R III camera. Structurally, this updated lens introduces critical hardware advancements, including an integrated weather seal on the end mount, a dedicated focus hold button, and a custom control switch on the barrel that allows users to reassign the focus ring to control alternative settings like aperture. In terms of practical handling, the lens boasts a quiet autofocus motor and a close-focusing minimum distance of 29cm. However, users should note that the lens is physically on the larger side for a 35mm focal length, lacks internal image stabilization, and caused occasional camera crashes during autofocus testing. Image Quality and Verdict Image quality tests present a mix of strengths and notable optical trade-offs. The lens delivers pleasing background bokeh and decent sharpness and contrast, but its wide-open performance at f/1.4 suffers from a visible vignette, less-sharp close-up details, and noticeable light flaring when pointed directly at a light source. Fortunately, narrowing the aperture down to f/2.8...