Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE lens review with samples (Full-frame & APS-C)

[@klu_productions]

After 7 years, finally, a small budget full frame autofocus 35mm comes to the e-mount. There must have been a conspiracy for all these years that one was never made. Samyang finally came through! I have their 45mm f1.8. I'm excited for this 35!

[@PetrKlapper]

I blame Sony RX1 - my theory is Sony knew very well what's the essential #1 lens for a full frame camera, but "reserved" it for this "failed luxury camera".

[@trym2121]

And there's still nobody touching 50mm range except samyang.

[@klu_productions]

@@trym2121 thats true. all the fe 50mm for sony are either impractical for everyday use, cost nearly a grand, or mediocre autofocus...thank goodness samyang finally answered the call with a descent nifty fifty.

[@klu_productions]

@@PetrKlapper sounds like a plausible theory to me!

[@PatrickWeichmann]

@@klu_productions The 55mm F1.8 Sony Zeiss is an awesome lens, costs about € 750 and is very practical for everyday use. The AF on my A7iii works just fine. Even the very cheap 50mm f1.8 Sony for under € 200 is quite good. The AF may not be the best but it's definitely usable. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to test the Samyang 35mm f1.8 as I haven't been fully convinced that the Sony 35mm f1.8 is worth more than € 700. If just the Sigma 35mm f1.2 would be cheaper... and smaller... hehe have a nice day :)

[@SirRelith]

I've been comparing sony fe 35mm lenses this past week and you release this video. What a coincidence! I almost pulled the trigger on the sony 35 1.8, but now I think i'll wait for your comparison with samyang's. Love your videos as always. :) thx!

[@theizza68]

This is like the Sony a7iii of samyang lenses. Exciting times!

[@nashsok]

Seems like a great lens to pair with Samyang's 18/2.8 & their 75/1.8!

[@HGQjazz]

I wonder how it clmpares with the 45mm 1.8

[@Pablo-bo6cp]

Please, make also a comparison with Samyang 35mm 1.4 Thanks!

[@alvarob17]

Thanks for the initial review. Yeah, a comparison video against the Sony 35 1.8 would be great. Actually, even against the Samyang 1.4 would be nice to see...

[@stuartfit]

The core concepts of mirrorless has been small and light with similar or better photographic results. Those are the reasons why I moved to Sony mirrorless back in 2012 and why I stayed away from those big Sigmas and even the Samyang FE 35/1.4 and went with Zeiss 55/1.8. This lens shows Samyang is moving towards those core values, in fact the recent Sigma's 85/1.4 also indicated similar path.

[@stefan_becker]

No it wasn't. The core concept was to save money for the mirror and the mechanics. The nice side effects were better viewfinders with preview of the image, eye autofocus, better video, better optics because of smaller flange distance and so on. Smaller and lighter cameras were also a side effect, but not the primary reason to develop mirrorless cameras. And if you ask me, it's still not the main reason to buy a mirrorless camera. The other positive effects are imho far more important.

[@gamingwithbee9258]

How do I see no comments mentioning the dropping acid line? I literally burst into laughter. Great review!

[@j16m02]

Now, if Samyang would just make a tiny 400mm f1.8! ;-)

[@csabagrunfelder]

HAHAHAHA... I want a 135mm 1.8 FE AF 🤪😆😍

[@xdrew707x]

I heard they have it in development, same size as the 85mm 1.8 🙌 👏 ....but the front element and filter thread is also 400mm hahaha 😆 🤣

[@alexaudiovisuals]

@@csabagrunfelder it would be the best day if they ever just decide to stick an AF Motor in their amazing 135mm f2

[@Anarki2U]

@@csabagrunfelder Sony 135mm 1.8 GM are the best

[@Anarki2U]

I will be happy with a 400mm 4.5 or 5.6

[@mpcbsar]

So many budget lenses now. Makes me happy.

[@stefan_becker]

Thanks for the great review. This Samyang seems to have a better bokeh than the Sony version. For me this would certainly be a reason to prefer the Samyang over the Sony.

[@maximme]

thanks for a VERY GOOD presentation with good vocals and clear pronunciation. Obviously well prepared scripts and you seem to know the product well and the confidence shows. keep it up.

[@fjp2000]

Thats the video ive been waiting for!!😍🙏🏼

[@willcrespo24]

Excellent, your the only revewer I actually trust fully! Keep up the good work.

[@pauldb5]

I was eagerly waiting for your review, thank you! I'll buy it as soon as possible

[@venom5809]

LMAO at the "dropping acid" comment, you are the last person I ever expected to make a joke like that. 😂

[@InterMaus]

Can't wait 'till Nikon and Canon mirrorless mounts start getting these 3rd party AF lenses adapted to them natively.

[@RealRaynedance]

Samyang have at least managed to get their AF 85mm f/1.4 onto the RF mount. So maybe there's hope that something will happen on the Z mount around when the Z6 and Z7 get replaced.

[@LuigiVN]

My RP is CRAVING some third party affordable glass. I mean I love having the EF adapter but it makes some lenses huge. My 16-35 f2.8L II looks more like a 200mm f2.8L on it.

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

Switch to Sony if you really can't wait. Samyang, Sigma, Tamron, all the affordable but great performance lenses are available for Sony.

[@RealRaynedance]

@@shang-hsienyang1284 I would say the same thing if someone has small enough hands. But as someone currently on Sony with big hands and fat thumbs, I also wish Canon and Nikon could get the more affordable lenses because of how much better the other cameras fit in my hands.

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

@@RealRaynedance Sony cameras out of the box is too small for me too. But I have paid US$50 and got myself a metal bottom plate from China. Problem solved. Nikon cameras don't even support vertical grips, which is even more unacceptable for me.

[@lamontgilliland9664]

Chris, another very well done review that is a pleasure to watch with a morning cup of coffee. Looking forward to your comparison review with this Samyang and Sony's 35 f/1.8.

[@christiansperling9615]

Great review as always and the first one of this lens I have seen online! Appreciated. Really looking forward to the comparison video with the Sony 35mm F1.8. If you could also include at least briefly Samyang's 35mm F2.8 in your upcoming video that would be fantastic!

[@RealRaynedance]

My problem with this is that their 35mm f/1.4 is only $100-$150 more (it never sells for the listed $800). But at the same time, you're paying for the size and weight savings and the focus speed with this, so I can't really fault it for that.

[@avishmayovitsh5038]

great review as usual! i was looking forward to this review just before i’m ordering this lens. it will be nice to see how it compares to the sony 35mm 1.8 :)

[@driftx2]

My absolutely favorite lens. On my camera about 95% of the time.

[@hagentrondheim3675]

the wait was worth it. Finally Super review

[@davejpr]

Great reviews Christopher and I purchased the Samyang 35mm f2.8 based on an earlier review as well as the 18mm and 75mm from more recent reviews of yours. I wondered if you could compare the Samyang 35mm f2.8 lens to the Samyang 35mm F1.8. I mainly shoot landscapes so the fast aperture is not necessary, but I wondered if the f1.8 is sharper in the corners at f5.6 to f16. I have a 42 mp camera, the same as your Sony but your original test for the 35mm f2.8 was on a 24mp APS C camera.

[@amaday84]

Can't wait Nikon Z version!

[@thirdmort]

Please do a comparo vs the Sony 35 1.8!!!!!!!!

[@hasanmaherashid]

I love Samyang!!

[@mattltech]

Chris just made a "dropping acid" analogy. Interesting.

[@nicolask.3825]

not the first time he did, either, though I forgot where the first one came in. It was during one of his tests against bright lights, and thus probably on a weird/budget lens.

[@j16m02]

Hmmm. Still waters run deep. LOL

[@llagona]

@@nicolask.3825 Please, Could someone comment any hidden meaning of the joke for non english native speakers? As I understood he is meaning he was encouraged to abandon drugs... but I'm far from sure

[@nicolask.3825]

@@llagona "dropping acid" just means taking the drug. I don't know why dropping is used for acid, but it is.

[@JerryWilliam63]

@@llagona as Nicolas K. points out, dropping acid means consuming LSD, Chris Imagined that if one were to use LDS while reading from Greek text, that it would look similar to the longitudinal chromatic aberration that the Samyang lens is projecting. LoCA, LoCA mesmo!

[@jakeyulo8738]

Thanks for another great vid! Would love to see the comparison with the Sony version, specifically with AF speed

[@michaelgoodwin4480]

Thank you! Would you consider comparing this lens to the 45 f1.8? And maybe even the 75 f1.8? Great video as always 😁

[@ActuallyMeister]

Chris, how does this compare to the Samyang 35mm f1. 4? Is it worth the extra $120?

[@alexaudiovisuals]

This is amazing, blows both sonys (the full frame and the APSC) out of the water for that super cheap price. Such a shame I don't like the 35mm focal length and their 45 isn't nearly as sharp, gonna have to stick with my bigger and prohibitively expensive Sony Zeiss 55

[@acouragefann]

The 45mm is sharper at equivalent apertures. check lenstip.

[@torbenlysholm1]

Oh, please do compare those two 35/1.8 lenses, Chris! That's a very relevant comparison in every way. I'm eager in particular to see how the colour fringing compares. I think I spot the same kind of nice colour rendition (very nice green nuances) in this lens as in their 45 and a bit of the same depth perception/3D-like look ... I hesitate to call it background separation, because it's not just from subject to blurry background. Anyways, I'd love to see your comoarison of those two.❤️

[@bijujohn8814]

I am also using A7rii, planning to buy Samyang 35 f 1.8 after your review. Greetings from India, Kerala.

[@zollieuncle9647]

I always watch your well structured informative lens reviews, it serves me a respected reference point. This time I was a bit suprised when you covered the close focusing performance of this lens, claiming that the lens is rather soft at f1.8 at its minimum focusing distance, however, shows excellent image quality when stopped down to f4. Even this moderately wide angle lens has just 7mm DoF at f1.8 and even at f4, the DoF is just 20mm. What is the relevance of being soft at f1.8 at 29cm focusing distance? It almost seems like, you intended to balance all the pro's by at least one, or two con's (softness @MFD and LoCa) in order to make your review more relaistic.

[@geonerd]

That is surprisingly compact!

[@CHTFilms]

brother.. is the manual focus mechanical.. I mean is it changing speed if you rotate the manual focus ring faster/slower or the speed is constant? that's very important because I want to calibrate it with a focus motor of a gimbal.. and if it is changing speed it is unusable!

[@GaryJahman]

Looks like a nice walk around prime lens. Thanks again for the video mate. The thing with Samyang lenses is that after using it, you somehow are longing for the more expensive Sony or Sigma lenses

[@acouragefann]

I went back to my samyang lenses after lugging around heavy and somewhat flashy Sigma lenses. I'd rather shoot the 85mm 1.4 from Samyang all day than the same lens from the art series (Sigmas color also tend towards the cool and sterile)

[@tebscat]

Another excellently executed review. I've this year bought the Sony 35mm f1.8, but I'm not kicking myself too much, as I've had some great images from it. But for my use case, it looks like I could have had a month of groceries as well this lens. And... Given your take on colour fringing at 8'10", I'd love to see your review of the Adobe Capture phone app...

[@dominic-ryan]

Thanks so much for reviewing this prime, really been looking forward to it as its performance (especially for video) is a key part of my decision as to wether or not to migrate to the A7C or A7S III from my current Panasonic M43 kit. Crazy to think this lens is only 90g heavier than my Olympus 17mm f/1.8 lens which is really the M43 eqivilent. For your comparison with the Sony 35mm f/1.8, it would be great to see some continuous AF examples for video. Coming from Panasonic whose CDAF DFD auto focus is close to unusable, I would love to get a better understanding of the video AF on this new Samyang lens is bad outright, or just bad compared to the best Sony lenses for Video AF.

[@sselh]

Looks like a breathtaking lens for the price!

[@legend240891]

can you please test it con AF-C as well? I believe it's way faster than AF-S since it's use phase instead of contrast-detection autofocus.

[@kaushaltiwari9773]

How is the performance on a A6000 series body?? Compared to the Sigma 30 f1.4? I already have the Sigma 30 f2.8. It is quite sharp but slow in less than ideal light. I just sold the Sigma 30 f1.4 because my copy had AF issues even after the firmware update.

[@jobveldhuis8168]

Please make the video about comparing the sony and the samyang lens! Excellent reviews!!

[@cyril4494]

Thank you for this complete review.

[@hdigermul]

Are you planning to review the Samyang 35-150mm? If so, could you also check if the zoom range is as claimed? SoMe says it’s actually 38mm

[@patrichclausen3827]

This seems like its gonna be a best seller! Im definetly getting one

[@ΚωνσταντίνοςΠαπάς-ψ4β]

Would love to see a review on nikon z50 or any lens that can adapt to it like meike 25mm 1.8

[@nealrichmond4588]

IMHO the EOS R platform doesn't need this particular lens given the already excellent 35mmRF (with image stabilising), but would like to see this small form factor and cheaper prices at the extreme wide angle on RF mount. Weight and price really do come into play with Canon's current other offerings (i.e. heavy and prohibitive). As ever, thanks for a thorough fair minded review

[@ipahlev]

Hi Chris, nice video! I wonder if your lens has any noise at autofocus motors?

[@HappyHubris]

Christopher, can you please add some thoughts about the 45mm Samyang vs 35mm Samyang in the comparison video?

[@christopherfrost]

Take a look at my review of that lens :-)

[@shuravlasov]

Watching this review side by side with Sony FE 35 1.8 review it seems to me that Samyang is actually better. Also weather sealing in this one looks better. And it's quite easy to defringe in post. Samyang has more noticeable vignetting though.

[@darkprofile]

Chris you may ask fuji 50mm f1.0 demo from fujifilm to test few days. I aprraciate your reviews. And waiting for first fuji film f1.0 lens review.

[@nisar_adil]

Cant wait for Samyang and Tamron lenses for Z mount !

[@shazbk7616]

Thanks for the great review, and as always! By the way which school did you go to? Thank you and God bless!

[@johnnytwo-shoes9798]

Long time viewer, first time commenter. Do you think the samyang 35mm 1.8 is worth the upgrade if you own the samyang 35mm 2.8? In terms of sharpness mainly. I kinda like the idea of weather sealing and having 1.3 stops more light but love the size of the 2.8 on the Sony A7r body for a nostalgic film sized camera set up.

[@CrossfeetGaming]

I should have invested on Samyang

[@JeanV1986]

Thanks for the great review(s). I have a question: can you tell me if the build quality is comparable to the 45mm from the same company? Though I really like the optical performance of the lens, this is the very first time I am genuinely unimpressed with its build quality. I don't have anything against plastic, but this lens really feels cheap.

[@christopherfrost]

They're quite similar

[@mikhail5647]

I am wondering how would an image from Samyang 35 1.8 on full frame compare to Viltrox 23 1.4 on a cropped sensor in terms of bokeh. Should be virtually the same, though I would love if anyone could share their thoughts!

[@JB_Hobbies]

I may have missed it in the video, but how does the custom switch operate in manual mode? Does it work as an AF/MF switch? Or if that is not the default operation of the switch, can AF/MF functionality be programmed with the dock? Thanks.

[@TheDogogd]

Looks like it could be a good astro lens, if you still have it, any chance of a stary sky sample and what is it like to manually focus on a star with its focus ring

[@paulbeckmann]

Great review!

[@stars7931]

Samyang should make a 35mm 1.4 AF for Canon RF mount. There is only the 35mm 1.8 or options with the mount Adapter. Would be great with native RF and f1.4

[@mr.dikkens]

How would it compare with the samyang 35mm 1.4? I can purchase the 1.4 for only 50 euros more in NL. (aside from the size difference)

[@TheRedSatan10]

Cutest lens ive ever seen!!

[@mrbaiser4133]

Did they improve the autofocus via firmware updates?

[@charliobrown3960]

How compares with a loxia 35mm? I don’t find any vs of this two lenses

[@reddawn87]

Haha did not expect the dropping acid while reading the Bible.. Will be eagerly awaiting for the comparison video! I'm right on the fence between the samyang and the Sony equivalent now. There's only about 100usd difference between the Samyang new and a 2nd hand FE35 where I live.

[@knnku]

Hi Chris, is this lens worth switching to from the samyang 35mm 2.8? Do you think the speed and the bokeh is worth it compared to the smaller form factor of the 2.8?

[@christopherfrost]

I think it's worth the upgrade, yes, unless you really want small

[@CodeTravelwithRizwan]

Nice. Can u plss review of tamron 28-200mm. Also on nikon z 24-200mm. Thanks..

[@JonniArmani]

Great review C,) Samyang is a great lens I love that you and I are both still using the A7Rii lol it’s still a top notch camera 🙌🙌 cheers,)

[@turkey744]

I can confirm, that definitely looks like texts after dropping a lowish/mediocre dose of acid.

[@korson333]

I’m courious how it’ll behave in a low light situations. I already ordered mine 😉

[@raphaelserrano4086]

Great review Chris, its good to know that Samyang is adding some amount of weather sealing on these budget lenses. I find the coating on the 85mm 1.4 AF showing a reddish hue on my raw photos, do you notice a similar hue with the 35mm 1.8?

[@christopherfrost]

Not really

[@raphaelserrano4086]

@@christopherfrost thanks for the response Chris, that is good to know.

[@nicknick099]

Hi, Can the Samyung use in body correction jpg? On the sony a7 series???

[@HacDau]

great review as usual! could you compare this lens against the samyang 45mm f1.8?

[@christopherfrost]

Check out my review of that lens :-)

[@himanshuvisuals1325]

how good is it for video?

[@Wakodaf]

It looks very ok! But should i wait for viltrox FF or buy this one?

[@ShutterKnack]

Josef Vak Samyang is more mature in the market so you can’t go wrong with it.

[@johnniebao6163]

I bought samyamg 75mm 1.8 which is in the same line with this lens. Exactly same design. Dust between the elements, exchanged another copy, got more dust into the lens after half day of use. Maybe I'm the individual case or I had bad bad luck, but il stay away from samyang af lenses although their manual ones are very good.

[@dionamuh]

Don't do this Samyang, I don't want to replace my tiny 24mm and 35mm f2.8 lenses with f1.8 ones! I think I'll stick with the f2.8 version though. Super small, and great image quality.

[@Philodrone]

I'm still on the fance whether to buy 2.8 with small form factor or go brighter and twice as big, ahh...

[@torbenlysholm1]

I've had both the 24 and 35 f/2.8 and sold them again. I found the 35 a bit boring and the 24 unuseable with it's very mushy corners. Both have quite narrow barrels and I believe that's the source of the problems. Too little glass to handle the light and it has to project the image onto the sensor at too steep an angle. Too cheap (for full frame lenses) to expect excellent quality, but 1. they're still great for Instagram, regular Facebook stuff, vacation stuff, and I think the 35 sure does have qualities. Particularly if you shoot b&w, then the "boringness" is gone. I don't think it resolves colour particularly well. Especially greens. (Goes for the 24 too.) I have described it's rendition before as being "coarse" and when experimenting with composing the same images with that and much bigger glass, the 35 seemed almost ... well, not "grainy" but ... "coarse" and not nearly as smooth and clear. Anyways, I loved the size of them and I saw that Sean Tucker gets great images out of his 35/2.8, so how could I, clearly his inferior, not be happy with that lens. Well, I wasn't. But I have and love their 45/1.8. It's slightly bigger barrel does it for me. I can still spot a tiny bit of the same phenomenons, but here it's not as pronounced and it's only the pixelpeeper in me that is a tiny bit bothered by it. The true photographer in me is very happy with that lens, and it has several other great characteristics that makes it punch above it's weight class. 3D-like rendering, excellent colour rendition (love the greens), low distortion, very good resolution ... It sure ain't a boring lens. This 35/1.8 seems to share many properties with the 45. I'm only a little worried about the colour fringing.

[@ArikGST]

Wow, that`s an impressive Lens for the price! Wish you would have given us a sample of how the autofocus works and sounds in video mode :/

[@dandy.pradana]

It looks like a very good lens! Any information on how does this lens perform in eye-AF mode in A7Rii or A7iii? Compared to the Sony equivalent

[@christopherfrost]

Should be fine :-)

[@dandy.pradana]

@@christopherfrost thanks for the reply!

[@avishmayovitsh5038]

hi christopher, of topic - what is the best small 24mm lens you’ve tested?

[@christopherfrost]

I quite like the Samyang 24mm f/2.8

[@PatrickWithCamera]

Im considering this samyang for my aps-c, is it sharper at 1.8 than sigma 30mm f/1.4 @ 1.8 ?

[@Burritodeguacamole]

Is this len good for still life/product photography??

[@malkhaz88]

Great review! what do you think about this samyang vs sigma 35mm art 1.4 ?

[@christopherfrost]

Take a look at my recent review of that lens :-)

[@anoop.225]

Is that the same 35mm focal length if we use it for APS-C E mount Camera?

[@marc_likes_marketing]

it's 52.5mm on aps-c

[@francisjameskho937]

I have aperture ring issue with that lens right now. i love the lens but there is aperture ring issue.

[@hans-jrgenbernhardtsen8506]

What is longitudinal chromatic aberation?

[@dwmspace]

@2:11 Can the custom buttons be customized for smooth aperture changes for video using the USB dock?

[@christopherfrost]

I don't think so

[@kian8382]

Is LOCA still bad at "normal" focus distance or is it most apparent shooting close?

[@christopherfrost]

Most apparent shooting close

[@souljazz3563]

HELP! I'm buying Sony A7 III. Should I go with the kit lens (28-70mm) or buy the Samyang 35mm f1.8?

[@arditmbrati1724]

If you shoot just for fun (street Photography, landscape) go for the 28 70mm but if you shoot something else more professional or portrait people go for the 35 1.8 it make your work looks more professional ✌️

[@trym2121]

Will you review Viltrox 56mm any time soon?

[@christopherfrost]

There should be a review out now

[@jlexploretheworld1164]

Please make a comparison with Sony 35mm.

[@youuuuuuuuuuutube]

The bokeh/rendering seems better than the Sony version, but it has more color fringing, and is less sharp. Still, great option.

[@circleofattention6021]

Nice pouch!

[@agostinoscordo8802]

This lens or Sony 35mm f1.8 oss? (I have a Sony a6400)

[@christopherfrost]

Take a look at my review of that lens :-)

[@Cihanozdamar]

chris is there any chance that you can do comparison with samyang 35mm 1.4 fe for this one?

[@christopherfrost]

Take a look at my review of that lens :-)

[@spirithealershamanism]

Logos on acid. Yes I was paying attention. Funny!!! Thanks for the review

[@Mebtaku]

And there it is available! £279!