Samyang AF 85mm F 1 4 EF Review | 54 Data compared

The Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF for Canon is a compact and remarkably lightweight portrait lens, weighing just 485 grams, which is less than half the weight of many competing f/1.4 lenses. It features a clean design with a weather-sealed rubber gasket at the lens mount, fixed lens elements that prevent dust buildup, and a 77mm filter thread. Designed for full-frame cameras like the Canon 5D Mark IV, the lens captures images with beautiful colors and a smooth, pleasing background bokeh that keeps the focus firmly on the subject. Additionally, its autofocus motor operates quietly and quickly—comparable to the Canon 135mm f/2.0 L—making it well-suited for silent environments like wedding ceremonies, while flare handling during sunset shoots remains minimal and visually appealing. However, the reviewer notes that the lens’s sharpness at its maximum aperture of f/1.4 is relatively soft and does not perform exceptionally well, though image sharpness improves significantly when stopped down to f/4. In a direct comparison within the comments, the reviewer states that the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 operates on an entirely different level regarding extreme sharpness...

The Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 review by DigitalPHOTO highlights the lens as an incredibly budget-friendly option that underperforms at its maximum aperture but shines when stopped down. Priced at a very affordable €535 compared to Canon's expensive €1,459 flagship alternative, the lens boasts high-quality, weather-sealed construction, a compact body, and a lightweight footprint of just 488 grams. Optically, it excels at managing lens distortions and chromatic aberrations, achieving superb vignette and distortion control with only 1.1 stops of light falloff when shooting completely wide open. However, the primary drawback is its subpar sharpness at f/1.4, where the lens resolves a weak 66% of its maximum theoretical resolution in the center of the frame. Manual adjustments using the Live View on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV reveal that images consistently lack bite at maximum aperture, and it entirely lacks a built-in optical image stabilizer. Sharpness improves drastically once stopped down, reaching its peak performance of 1,818 line pairs per picture height at f/4. Despite the poor wide-open performance, the lens receives an overall rating of 89% ("VERY GOOD") and is...

The Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF lens stands out in the full-frame portrait lens market primarily due to its impressively compact, lightweight design and affordable price point of 700 USD/600 EUR. Measuring just 72mm in length and weighing 485g, it is significantly smaller than major competitors like the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art and even lighter than the slower Tamron 85mm f/1.8. Mechanically, the lens is very well built with a constant physical length, a smooth focus ring, and built-in weather sealing. Its linear ultrasonic autofocus motor operates quickly and quietly, and it features a "focus-by-wire" system for manual focusing. Despite these advantages, the reviewer highlighted notable drawbacks, particularly regarding autofocus accuracy on DSLRs. The tested sample suffered from significant back-focusing issues, though accuracy was perfect in Live-View mode. Resolving this out-of-the-box inaccuracy requires users to purchase Samyang’s optional "lens station" for calibration. Additionally, the packaging and the included lens hood feel relatively cheap. In summary, while the lens offers excellent physical handling, weather sealing, and great value, users may face autofocus calibration hurdles depending on their specific sample.