Showcase Samyang/Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 AF

[ionian]

I can't believe this lens doesn't have a thread already! Just a couple from testing it out with my daughter, both wide open. Sharpness is acceptable at f/1.4:

ILCE-7    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.4    1/5000s    ISO 100

That high contrast bokeh top left is busier than I expected, but I'm nit-picking.

ILCE-7    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.4    1/250s    ISO 200

 

[Tifoso]

I got it only since a few days, but getting more and more used to it...

ILCE-7M2    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.4    1/2000s    ISO 100

ILCE-7M2    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.4    1/2500s    ISO 100

ILCE-7M2    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.4    1/1600s    ISO 100

 

[MAubrey]

View attachment 94650

Just lovely.

Great light for B&W, too!

 

[NickCyprus]

I’ve been using it at weddings for the last 6 months or so... Its not an outstanding lens but it does the job. Personally I find it rather soft at f1.4 but I guess it could always be user error

 

[Tifoso]

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sunset walk by Giuseppe Terrazzino, auf Flickr

 

[Tifoso]

Sony A7iii and Samyang AF 35mm f1.4...

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.4    1/8000s    ISO 100

DSC02336 by Giuseppe Terrazzino, auf Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.4    1/8000s    ISO 100

DSC02341 by Giuseppe Terrazzino, auf Flickr

 

[Tifoso]

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/11.0    1/1250s    ISO 640

DSC02449 by Giuseppe Terrazzino, auf Flickr

 

[Tifoso]

a 2nd one from that shooting:

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/11.0    1/1250s    ISO 640

DSC02450 by Giuseppe Terrazzino, auf Flickr

 

[JonathanF2]

I just pulled the trigger on this lens! I shot a wedding engagement session last week with my 85mm 1.4 FE and the results were excellent. I figure the 85mm 1.4 needs to be paired with the 35mm 1.4 for the best results!

 

[JonathanF2]

I received my Samyang 35mm f1.4 FE lens yesterday. Everything checks out. The AF motor while not that audible, makes a somewhat annoying low pitch buzzing sound when focusing, something I noticed that neither my 18mm, 45mm or 85mm Samyang lenses have. Though I received the lens used for fairly cheap, so I'll probably just overlook that issue! I'll probably put it through it's paces this weekend since I have a portrait shoot scheduled!

 

[Tifoso]

That‘s ok. The AF motor makes some noise but works well with the newest firmware. The lenses you mention are neewer generation. Show us some of your weekend shoot ?

 

[JonathanF2]

That‘s ok. The AF motor makes some noise but works well with the newest firmware. The lenses you mention are neewer generation. Show us some of your weekend shoot ?

Hi Giuseppe,

Have you tried AF fine tuning the lens via the USB dock or adjusted your camera's AF priority settings? I find the lens will somewhat hunt at 1.4, so I set my A7III to prioritize AF as opposed to release or balance emphasis. I want to make sure it doesn't do any last second micro adjustments which might result in an OOF image.

 

[Tifoso]

Hi, when my lens arrived it was set to plus or minus 1. I set it to 0 and it was perfect.
Which firmware version is your lens running?

 

[JonathanF2]

Hi, when my lens arrived it was set to plus or minus 1. I set it to 0 and it was perfect.
Which firmware version is your lens running?

My lens is running firmware 4. Shooting it today, focus was slightly off. I just AF adjusted it to -1 and focus seems to be much better. I'll post photos soon!

 

[JonathanF2]

Yesterday I went on a bike ride with my kids and took the Samyang 35mm 1.4 with me! Optically the lens is pretty good, I'd rate it slightly under the Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art, but a step up from Sony 28mm f/2 FE. Auto focus is okay, but the Sam 85mm 1.4 FE is definitely an improvement in terms of AF performance. In fact I see room for Samyang to do a 35mm 1.4 ver. II with an improved AF motor. My lens needed an AF fine tune of -1 via the USB dock, in fact two of my Samyang lenses needed adjustments, and the other two came AF fine tuned from the factory! I don't mind it though, because I like the ability to calibrate my lenses without having to send it to the manufacturer or play the lottery with multiple lens samples! Also I find it's safer to shoot the lens at f/1.8 and only use f/1.4 for close-ups or for more carefully posed photos. Overall I'd still recommend this lens, but I'd definitely get a USB dock especially if you're pairing it with other Samyang lenses to maximize performance. Also they're selling fairly cheap used, making it an even better deal!

A couple quick samples with my A7III + Samyang 35mm 1.4 FE lens:

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.8    1/2000s    ISO 100

Sample photos taken with the Sony A7 III + Samyang 35mm 1.4 FE Lens by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.8    1/640s    ISO 100

Sample photos taken with the Sony A7 III + Samyang 35mm 1.4 FE Lens by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.8    1/500s    ISO 100

Sample photos taken with the Sony A7 III + Samyang 35mm 1.4 FE Lens by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/2.0    1/160s    ISO 100

Sample photos taken with the Sony A7 III + Samyang 35mm 1.4 FE Lens by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.8    1/400s    ISO 100

Sample photos taken with the Sony A7 III + Samyang 35mm 1.4 FE Lens by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/4.5    1/200s    ISO 100

Sample photos taken with the Sony A7 III + Samyang 35mm 1.4 FE Lens by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.8    1/1000s    ISO 100

Sample photos taken with the Sony A7 III + Samyang 35mm 1.4 FE Lens by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

 

[JonathanF2]

A few street snaps today!

Sony A7III + Samyang 35mm 1.4 FE:

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.8    1/160s    ISO 100

Sample photos taken with the Sony A7 III + Samyang 35mm 1.4 FE Lens by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.8    1/400s    ISO 100

Sample photos taken with the Sony A7 III + Samyang 35mm 1.4 FE Lens by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4    35mm    f/1.8    1/200s    ISO 100

Sample photos taken with the Sony A7 III + Samyang 35mm 1.4 FE Lens by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

 

[mnhoj]

Nice images Jonathan.
How's AF on the Sigma compared to the Samyang?

I think I'd like to add a fast 35mm eventually.

 

[JonathanF2]

Nice images Jonathan.
How's AF on the Sigma compared to the Samyang?

I think I'd like to add a fast 35mm eventually.

Haha, I noticed you sold your 18mm and 45mm on FM!

The Sigma is a bit more precise in AF, but in terms of optics the Sam 35mm 1.4 is very close. I got a great deal on the lens off FM, so I couldn't pass it up. I highly recommend taking the time to focus tune the lens via the USB dock, because mine was slightly front focused. After that, it's now perfect. In fact, I'm even more glad I'm using Samyang lenses due to the USB dock, I've had a handful of 1st party lenses that were slightly off and there's no way to adjust them on a Sony body unless you send them in for repair or exchange them and hope you get a better copy.

Overall it pretty much smokes any other prime in it's price range like the Sony 28mm f/2 and the Sony 35mm 1.8 FE (which the Sam 35mm is shown to be sharper) in terms of value and performance.

 

[mnhoj]

Thanks.
I sold the 45 but still have the 18.
I think I'd really like the slightly wider and faster lens.

 

[JonathanF2]

Thanks.
I sold the 45 but still have the 18.
I think I'd really like the slightly wider and faster lens.

Size wise it's a tad big, but it's about the same size as every other 35mm 1.4 if not a tad lighter and most definitely cheaper. Best bang for buck 35mm on any system!