Samyang/Rokinon Mirrorless Lenses

This leading, third-party brand responds quickly to the market trends and it shows just how closely they watch and work to meet the demands of the industry’s needs. Samyang (or Rokinon depending on where you are purchasing from) quickly started responding to Canon’s new RF mount in the full-frame mirrorless camera market, not only proved Samyang’s competitiveness as an optical manufacturer but also introduced the 1st RF mount lenses among the 3rd party brands in the world. In today’s test and tutorial, we will be focusing on the Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 and the 14mm f/2.8.

• Rokinon 14mm F2.8
• Rokinon 85mm f/1.4
• Canon R6

Some notable features for both lenses are that they are compact and lightweight and HIGHLY affordable compared to competitive focal lengths. I want to see how they perform with movement so we brought along Bushra, a Desi dance artist here in SoCal to really put these lenses through their paces.  As I walk through each scene I will explain the intention behind the images and what feature of the lenses we are testing.

Bokeh & DOF

The 85mm focal length is easily one of the most used lenses for portraiture because of its framing capabilities and depth. Naturally, I wanted to test out the bokeh and compression you see typically when shooting with this lens. I placed Bushra against a tree that was a few feet behind her and you can see just how beautiful the bokeh is on the Rokinon 85mm.

Autofocus & Movement

What kind of lens review would this be without testing the accuracy of the autofocus and sharpness of the lens? I had Bushra add some movement to the shots by flicking the dress and also physically moving to see just how tack sharp the 85mm was. I also tested this with the 14mm, which you’ll see if you scroll down a bit further. Both lenses were quick to focus and produce incredible results. Both the 85mm and 14mm support IBIS and have trustworthy autofocusing for moving subjects such as dancers.

Wide Angle Portraits

The Rokinon 14mm has 113.9 degrees of angle of view with minimum distortion. I actually love using wider focal lengths like this to capture a unique perspective for portrait subjects, especially dance portraits. Since Bushra is a dancer, this is a perfect way to showcase movement by getting low to the ground, letting her limbs extend to the edge of the frame to elongate her body. The lens performed perfectly for my intended purpose, creating tack-sharp imagery while showcasing minimal edge distortion.

To learn more about these incredible new lenses make sure to check out Samyang’s lineup. If this is just the start of their mirrorless lens options, I truly can’t wait to see what the future holds. These two prime lenses, the 14mm and 85mm, are incredibly popular choices for photographers, and early adopters to the Canon mirrorless ecosystem should have some exciting options on their way from Samyang.

Since there are two new third-party 85mm f/1.4 lenses for full-frame mirrorless systems this year, we thought we’d do a quick comparison to show you how the bokeh compares, and particularly, the look of “bokeh dots”

The Contenders | Sigma VS Rokinon Mirrorless 85mm f/1.4 Comparison

• Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art (Sony E-mount) – $1,199, B&H
• Rokinon/Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 RF (Canon) – $699, B&H (presently on sale for $679)

The Sigma is an all-new optical design, and is lighter and smaller than its (let’s be honest, utterly massive) DSLR sibling, which has received rave reviews over the years. (This new mirrorless version looks downright TINY for an f/1.4 portrait prime!)

The Rokinon (Samyang) is, apparently, the same design as the existing Roki-Yang 85mm f/1.4 which has been available for the Sony E-mount for a while now, and has also received rave reviews.

(By the way, if you’re a Sony shooter who is trying to decide between the E-mount version of this Roki-Yang and the new Sigma, keep in mind that the E-mount version of our RF-mount lens is on sale or just $529!)

85mm f/1.4 Christmas Light Bokeh Comparison – Sigma VS Rokinon/Samyang

Of course, dogs never sit perfectly still while you change lenses, so we had some difficulty in getting a truly precise comparison. In short, when actually using these lenses in the real world, we had a lot of fun with both lenses, and got a lot of cute pics! (Hopefully, that’s what you’ll be doing as soon as you’re done reading this article… Get off your computer and go take pictures!)

To be scientific about it, we locked things down on a tripod and created a more fixed, ceteris-paribus test:

Right off the bat, we do see that the size of the bokeh dots is essentially identical at f/1.4. The Rokinon/Samyang might appear to have slightly larger bokeh dots, however, it looks like the result of a faint bit of additional aberration, not the actual diameter of bokeh dots. This might be to the Rokinon’s advantage, though, as other (not “dot”) bokeh character does appear to be a faint touch smoother if you look very closely.

Either way, if you’re looking to make gorgeous bokeh with an 85mm f/1.4 prime, both lenses deliver the goods, especially in the other, more tricky zones where there is background “clutter”. (Patterns, textures, …Christmas present ribbons?)

When stopping down, it seems as if the Sigma may very well have slightly smaller bokeh dots, but again, this could be due to the fact that although the cameras are tripod-mounted in the exact same spot, the actual angle of view may have a slightly different closeness. What does this mean? It means that, in the real world, you’ll get more bokeh out of either lens by simply leaning forward just one inch, especially when shooting very close-up. (At a great distance, the difference in bokeh, or we should say the difference in shallow depth, is imperceptible.)

Comparison: Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art VS Rokinon/Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 RF/FE

What other quick conclusions were we able to draw during this test, you might ask? We’ll have full reviews of each lens coming soon, however, we have found a few things to be very clear already, based on our initial handling and testing of each lens. In no particular order, here are some comparison notes:

• Both lenses are incredibly sharp, even wide open at f/1.4, (SEE ABOVE) with the edge going to the Sigma.
• Both lenses are well-built, with metal in most of their construction, but the Sigma Art-series build quality is definitely much more robust and likely to be “indestructible” (that is, very, very durable) in the long run.
• The Sigma seems to have better autofocus performance, however that may be due to the Sony AF system simply being more friendly with, or downright superior to, the Canon, since Canon’s mount protocols are not officially open.
• For the price tags, both lenses present an impressive value compared to any name-brand 85mm f/1.4, let alone an 85mm f/1.2.

For the Canon RF-mount Rokinon/Samyang 85mm prime lens, the closest competitor is actually the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, which has incredible image quality, macro capability, and stabilization to make up for the 1-EV slower brightness.

For the E-mount Sigma 85mm prime lens, the closest competitor is likely the Roki-Yang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE, if you’re on a bduget, or the DSLR-to-E-mount version Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM, which usually costs exactly the same, and has similar performance, but weighs a whole pound more, and is massively front-heavy due to its DSLR optical formula.

Sigma VS Rokinon/Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Comparison | Conclusion

In conclusion, both of these lenses deliver impressive results, considering their price. The bokeh characteristics are similar, but the Rokinon/Samyang shows a bit more aberration in some of its bokeh while the Sigma shows a little more crisp, well-defined bokeh dots. This is a highly subjective area of image quality, so all photographers are welcome to draw their own conclusions! (Please leave a comment below with your thoughts…)

Both lenses exhibit beautifully soft, smooth bokeh in other areas, and both lenses have naturally pleasing characteristics in terms of flare and vignetting. (Stay tuned for additional sample images in our full reviews coming soon!)

Considering the significant price difference, we might be inclined to only recommend one lens, however, the overall quality of the Sigma is great enough that we absolutely view it as a desirable alternative to the flagship name-brand lenses which cost significantly more. We can’t wait for this Sigma lens to become available on Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts!

Having said that, of course, if you’re on a tight budget then the Rokinon/Samyang will absolutely deliver gorgeous images; just be sure to take good care of the slightly less robust, ruggedly built lens and you’ll be fine.

Thanks for reading, and happy holidays!

Firmware Update Details for Samyang FE Lenses

• Download Firmware Updates Here

* Note: Firmware can be updated by using the separate Samyang Lens Station.

These updates reflect changes in the market toward videography. Especially, the improved face detection performance allows persistent tracking of a moving subject, to create seamless footage.

Also, Samyang recently updated the firmware for its RF mount lenses: AF 14mm F2.8 RF and AF 85mm F1.4 RF. Samyang is the first 3rd party lens company to introduce an autofocus lens lineup for RF mount. Both these products were released prior to the announcement of R5 and R6 cameras (AF 14mm in October 2019 and AF 85mm in May 2020), but the firmware was updated right after the new cameras hit the market in August, to provide the best possible customer experience.

Firmware Update History for Samyang RF Lenses

* Note: Firmware can be updated by using the separate Samyang Lens Station.

Any new and upcoming firmware releases are announced on Samyang’s social media channels and website, as follows:

• Samyang Website: https://www.samyanglensglobal.com
• Samyang Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samyanglensglobal
• Samyang Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samyanglensglobal

…That is what I’ve been telling myself, again and again, throughout the past year as I review each new Samyang (Rokinon) ultra-compact, affordable prime lens for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. The most recent lens I have been excited about is the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE, and it is turning out to be a delight to use.

It is also a perfect complement to the Samyang/Rokinon siblings in the compact, lightweight, affordable category. When paired with the Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8 FE, and maybe the Samyang AF 18mm f/2.8 FE or Samyang AF 24mm f/2.8 FE, the AF 35mm f/1.8 FE seems to get even more perfectly made for my camera bag.

In this review, we are going to focus on the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE, of course. It joins a rather crowded category of 35mm primes for the Sony E-mount, and (spoiler alert) considering the price and performance, it’s definitely one of the top choices that you should consider!

It’s a modest lens, that’s for sure; compared to its larger sibling, the older Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE, it is downright tiny. Don’t let that fool you, though; it delivers incredible images, and is perfect for a lot of different types of photography, especially if you value portability.

Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE Specifications

• FOCAL LENGHT & ANGLE OF VIEW: 35mm, 63.6°
• LENS MOUNT(S): Sony E-mount (FE full-frame)
• APERTURE & RANGE: f/1.8 to f/22, 9-blade, rounded aperture
• STABILIZATION: No
• AUTOFOCUS: Integrated linear STM motor
• MANUAL FOCUS: Electronically controlled
• OPTICAL CONSTRUCTION: 10 elements in 8 groups, 2 extra-low dispersion, 2 aspherical elements, Ultra-Multi-Coating
• MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION: Metal mount, metal & plastic barrel
• MAGNIFICATION & FOCUS DISTANCE: 12″ (290 mm), 0.17x magnification
• FILTER THREADS & HOOD: 58mm, plastic hood
• SIZE: 2.6 x 2.5″ (65 x 63.5 mm)
• WEIGHT: 7.4 oz (210 g)
• PRICE: $399 (B&H | Adorama | Amazon)

Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE Review | Who Should Buy It?

This is the “nifty fifty” of 35mm primes, basically. If you want a casual walk-around lens that doesn’t hurt your wrist or wallet, if you’d rather not attract attention with a giant, heavy lens, then look no further! In the price range, there is no better choice. In fact, to find something similar, you have to jump from $399 for the Samyang, all the way to the $748 Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 to find our next-closest recommendation.

(Of course, something similar” is referring to compact, portable lenses; if you’re OK with carrying a much larger lens, you might find the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE goes on sale for just $499; that’s $300 off!)

With that said, let’s talk about which types of photography you might find this particular lens useful for.

Wedding Photographers

Wedding photographers often need as much low-light capability as possible, so, maybe an AF 35mm f/1.4 FE is a better choice. But, it also depends on what your favorite lens focal length is, too! If you almost always use a ~50mm or ~85mm prime, and just want a small, affordable 35mm to have in your bag, this 35mm f/1.8 is frankly the only lens you should consider, because the price and portability are just unmatched.

Having said that, what if 35mm is actually your favorite focal length, and you use it all the time? You might be inclined to think that you should skip this lens and go straight to something much bigger and more expensive, however, think of it this way: If 35mm is your bread and butter, why not have a backup? This is something we often suggest to full-time professionals because if you ever accidentally damage your pride-and-joy workhorse lens, it can really be a lifesaver if you’ve got a small, cheap backup option in your bag, just in case.

Thus, this lens is effectively a “must-consider” for any wedding photographers who are considering a 35mm prime, no matter what!

Portrait Photographers

For portraits, you might not need to go faster than f/1.8, and this lens could be perfectly suited to what you do, as long as f/1.8 is adequate for your creative and technical style. If you do a lot of work in extremely low light, or if you just plain love shallow depth in your portraits, then you might consider an f/1.4 prime instead, and, like with wedding photography, let this f/1.8 prime be a “break the ice” prime lens to get you started. (Even if it turns into your backup lens later if you decide you really love 35mm and want something even better.)

Another thing that both portrait and wedding photographers face is, of course, durability. If you break the lens sooner than later, is the price really a “good value”? With these latest Rokinon AF FE lenses, they may not be not built as sturdily as the expensive flagship lenses, such as you could expect with a Sony GM lens, however, they do have metal in all the right places, and they do seem to be much more ready for years of hard work compared to their earliest, older manual focus lenses that were prone to breaking.

All in all, the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE would make a great portrait lens, as long as you’re okay with the f/1.8 aperture (Spoiler: it’s very sharp wide-open!) …and as long as you take decent care of it.

Candid & Street Photographers

This is one of the best things to use a lens like the 35mm f/1.8 for. Maybe you’re walking around all day, every day, for a week on vacation with your family, and don’t want to lug around a heavy 24-70mm f/2.8 or 35mm f/1.4. Maybe you’re just hanging out around the house, and want a camera+ lens combo you can simply have at the ready for misc snapshots of your life. Maybe, even, you’re doing very serious work of a candid nature, like documentary journalism of a major event or something, and you want a portable option that you can move quickly with, be incognito, and still get professional results from.

Either way, all of these things are exactly what I like to have a small, lightweight, unassuming lens around for. In other words, unless you really do need a slightly faster aperture, don’t hesitate, just get a 35mm f/1.8 like this one…

Landscape, Outdoor, & Travel Photographers

The other category of photographers who also will really appreciate a portable lens that has great image quality is landscape photographers, or basically, anyone who does outdoor, nature, and other types of photography that demand maximum image quality when stopped-down.

Then, anyone who carries their gear on their backs for hours every day will appreciate a lens that is also as portable as possible, too.

Here’s the spoiler: Despite its tiny size and low price tag, the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE is, in fact, incredibly sharp, and especially when stopped-down, resolution and other aspects of image quality are superb.

[Related Reading: Samyang AF 85mm F/1.4 RF Review – What Makes The 85mm Focal Length Special?]

Nightscape & Astrophotographers

One of the most demanding things you can do with any lens is to try to photograph the night sky. A 35mm prime is often very useful for medium-close but still wide-angle nightscape or astro-landscape photos, and since nightscape photography may often involve just as much hiking and even mountain-climbing as traditional landscape photography, once again weight is a concern. Generally speaking, though, image quality at wide-open apertures obviously becomes extremely important to a nightscape photographer, and thus these photographers are usually much more willing to lug around a heavy lens if that is required to get sharp detail in the corners of their images.

Simply put, the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE isn’t perfect in the extreme corners when photographing a night sky at f/1.8-2.8, however, considering it’s size and price, we have to say that it is truly shockingly good! For traveling light, hiking up a mountain in the dark, and photographing the Milky Way or some other celestial scene, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach for this lens and leave the giant, heavy 35mm’s at home.

Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE Review | Pros & Cons

Let’s list the Pros & Cons all at once, and then break them down. It’s pretty clear that there’s a lot to like about this lens, and not much to complain about. If you’ve read the above sections and found the type of photography you do, you might already know whether or not you’re seriously considering this lens. Still, let’s see how it stacks up…

Pros:

• Image Quality
• Autofocus Performance
• Incredible Portability
• Overall Reliability
• Features & Customizations
• Value

Good things do come in small packages. Good things don’t always come in affordable packages, though, so for the price of $399, and with such a small form factor, you’d be justified to wonder if the lens is “any good”. Simply put, it really is. Image quality is superb, in terms of overall sharpness at every aperture, and both at far and close-up distances. Plus, other aspects of image quality are quite impressive, too!

Image Quality

For portrait photographers, the bokeh is beautiful; even when we tested it on the most challenging type of subject of all–a bunch of sticks! Also, the flare & vignetting are pleasing, too…

For nightscape photographers, the coma, astigmatism, and color fringing are minimal, even towards the corners of the image. In fact, there is a massive improvement in the extreme corners (sagittal astigmatism) between f/2 and f/2.2, and it puts the lens on par with some of the most exotic competition around! That’s an incredible feat for such a compact optical formula, let alone at such a good price.

In addition to the significant improvement in coma/astigmatism between f/2 and f/2.2, there’s also incredible overall sharpness by f/2.5, making the lens officially a great choice for nightscapes, indeed!

Last but not least, sunstars with this lens can appear absolutely incredible, as long as you frame the shot just perfectly and have the right type of spectral highlight…

Autofocus Performance

Of course, moving on to the next “Pro”, (and going back to portrait photography) …remember that sharpness and image quality don’t mean much if the picture isn’t in focus! With this in mind, the autofocus of the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE is up to the task of tracking subjects in candid, close-up environments. The AF motors are nice and smooth, quick, and relatively silent.

To test the autofocus reliability of this lens, I went straight for the most grueling environments possible- near-total darkness, where ISOs are around 12800 and 25600, and hand-holding is just barely possible. Indeed, the Samyang didn’t falter any more than a tiny bit worse versus a native Sony brand lens…

[Related Reading: Samyang Adds To Their “Tiny Series” Sony Lineup With A New Ultra-Wide 18mm f/2.8]

Portability

Now, about that third “Pro”, the portability. Usually, there are just two types of photographers when it comes to a lens’ size and weight: those who care quite a lot about portability, and those who don’t care at all. Simply put, until now, the most popular trend in lenses, even in mirrorless realms, has been bigger, bigger, and heavier… We see lenses like the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 Art popping up for the Sony E mount, and we realize, “that weighs more than a 24-70mm f/2.8! Wasn’t the whole point of a prime to be fast AND portable?”

Indeed, the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 is a delightful departure from this trend of ever-increasing weights and sizes. So, for those of you who have been waiting, eager, and maybe even frustrated by now by the lack of good compact, portable prime lenses for full-frame mirrorless, …here’s your lens! Again, pair this lens with something like the Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8 FE, and you have a kit even smaller than quite a few crop-sensor APSC kits!

Functions & Accessories

Moving on, overall, the lens itself operates very smoothly. In addition to having great autofocus and image quality in a compact package, the lens just works, reliably.

This wasn’t always the case with third-party lenses on name-brand DSLRs, for whatever reason, there were always issues with front-focus or back-focus, or there were sometimes even worse issues that destroyed image quality due to faulty vignetting correction profiles, or other things.

There is also one useful customization, for those photographers who wish they had a high-end flagship lens with additional functions, but are on a budget: That is, the switch on the side of the lens doesn’t just control autofocus versus manual focus, it actually changes the function of the focus ring itself. In one configuration, the default, the focus ring does what you think it would-manual focus. (Depending on the configuration on the camera body itself, of course.)

But, flip the switch, and all of a sudden the focus ring will allow you to control your aperture! Pretty neat function, however, as we’ll get to in the Cons section, you can only change the function with the additional USB dock accessory. (Say, for example, you wanted to make “Mode 2” perform ISO control instead of aperture, or do EV compensation…)

Other than that small disclaimer, the overall value for the Samyang is unmatched. We’ll get into the competitors in a minute, but basically, if your budget is around this price range, there’s really no question- the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE is your best bet.

Cons:

• Moderate Ruggedness
• Accessory required for Fn customization

Now, when I say “moderate ruggedness”, that means that this lens is probably going to be considered the perfect balance of lightweight affordability VS durability to many, however, to some it might not seem durable enough. Simply put, if you do a lot of work in truly terrible environments, getting splashed by waves on the beach, or working in the rain, snow, or other inclement weather all the time, then you’ll probably get a better lifespan out of a lens that costs much more. Will you get more than twice the lifespan out of a 35mm prime that costs about twice as much, though? Maybe, but you’re likely much better off just taking good care of whichever lens you do buy.

Other than that, the only other thing that stood out to us was the fact that if you want to re-program the Fn switch on the side of the lens, you’ll have to get the accessory USB dock. (~$60)

Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE Review | Compared To The Competition

What other lenses are out there for you to consider? Let’s just get right to the most obvious two categories of competition: You’re either constrained by budget and/or size & weight, …or you don’t care about size/weight, have a decent budget, and just want the best option you can afford. So, which category do you fall into?

First and foremost, if you’re shopping for an affordable and lightweight 35mm f/1.8 lens, with autofocus, this Samyang/Rokinon is pretty much it. The next-closest, portable and similarly-priced lens (that has autofocus) is Samyang’s own AF 35mm f/2.8 FE, for about $300. It’s only f/2.8, though, so it’ll be a whole different type of lens in most people’s eyes. (Tamron also has a 35mm f/2.8 for about the same price, but its autofocus motor is a bit less impressive, so we recommend the Samyang if you’re looking for an f/2.8 prime.)

Alternately, what if you’re not even sure that 35mm is right for you, and you’re just looking for a “normal” focal length prime that is very compact and affordable? Just add 10mm, and consider the Samyang/Rokinon AF 45mm f/1.8 FE, which goes for around $330-400

Of course, there are quite a few manual focus 35mm lenses you could consider, but as far as we’ve seen, all of the ones in this price range aren’t going to be significantly better.

Other than that, for under $400, there is literally nothing (again, with autofocus) we can recommend. Also, beware, a lot of the manual focus and/or autofocus lenses that are down in that price range are not full-frame lenses, they’re APS-C E-mount lenses!)

If you’re willing to jump up in price quite a lot, Sony’s own FE 35mm f/1.8 is indeed a very good lens. It’s one of the sharpest 35mm lenses around, and it is also quite portable. However, it’s a $700-750 lens, which is nearly double the price of the Samyang. Is it twice as good, you might ask? No, it’s only a little bit better. Thus, the Samyang is a significantly better value, as long as you don’t heavily abuse it and break it in less than half the time you’d break a Sony.

In our experience, if you heavily abuse your gear, you will suffer the consequences soon either way, so we’d rather go for the best value, and just take decent care of our gear!

Of course, there’s the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE, which usually costs around $800. HOWEVER, you might be lucky enough to find it for $499 or so, if it’s on sale, (which it is right now around Christmas 2020!) …but otherwise, indeed, get ready to pay around $800. Is it worth that much? Yes, absolutely, if you want f/1.4 and are willing to carry a much larger lens.

All in all, no matter what price range you’re able to shop in, no matter what your requirements are for image quality, or portability, …in every case, the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE turns out looking very attractive. It’s that simple.

Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE Review | Conclusion

You could be a beginner who just bought their first full-frame mirrorless camera, maybe a Sony A7III or the brand-new, lightweight, and compact Sony A7C, and the Samyang would be a perfect match. But, you could also be a hard-working professional who loves using 35mm for everything, and own a high-end 35mm f/1.4 (or f/1.2!) prime that you use most of the time, …and yet still want to have the Samyang 35mm f/1.8 around for more casual situations!

Either way, you should probably consider this lens if you’ve EVER been in a situation where you wanted a compact prime lens in this “slightly wider than normal” focal range, whether casual candids or serious professional work!

Check Pricing & Availability

You can find the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE at all the usual retailers for around $399 as of right now, and you can also pick up the Samyang USB lens docking station for about $59

• Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE – B&H | Adorama | Amazon
• Samyang USB Lens Dock Station – B&H | Adorama | Amazon

Samyan says the lens is ‘specifically designed for 3 main targets: street photographers, vloggers and Instagrammers,’ but will make a great affordable addition to any photographers gear bag.

The new lens provides outstanding corner-to-corner image quality from a maximum F1.8 aperture and its quiet autofocus and tenacious tracking performance make it a great choice for both stills and movie shooting.

Weighing in at just 210g/7.4oz and measuring 65mm/2.55in in diameter by 63.5mm/2.5in in length; this new lens sets a new standard for portability as a Samyang Tiny Series lens. It supports full-frame mirrorless cameras in Sony E mount with outstanding image quality throughout the corner to corner of the image. It makes an ideal lens for street photographers, bloggers, and Instagrammers who expect a high-resolution image from a portable lens. Its optical construction including an aspherical element to suppress aberration and deliver high resolution throughout the entire image frame

Technical Specifications

• Focal Length 35mm
• Maximum Aperture f/1.8
• Minimum Aperture f/22
• Lens Mount Sony E
• Format Compatibility Full-Frame
• Angle of View 63.6°
• Minimum Focus Distance 1′ / 29 cm
• Maximum Magnification 0.17x
• Optical Design 10 Elements in 8 Groups
• Diaphragm Blades 9, Rounded
• Focus Type Autofocus
• Image Stabilization No
• Filter Size 58 mm (Front)
• Dimensions (ø x L) 2.6 x 2.5″ / 65 x 63.5 mm
• Weight 7.4 oz / 210 g
• Price $399

Thanks to the newly researched and developed Linear STM (Stepping Motor), a larger and heavier focus lens group can be controlled more quietly and precisely, providing excellent image quality in photos and videos.

This new Tiny Series lens, the AF 35mm F1.8 FE, features a weather sealing for 4 spots to protect from light dust, rain, and snow and provide the ability to capture stunning images in less than perfect conditions.

Visit the official product page here to learn more.

Check Pricing & Availability Here

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Who Is This Lens For?

The 85mm focal length is highly desirable for photographers who prefer not to be too close to their subjects. Its lack of distortion makes it a favorite of portrait photographers, as it produces slimming effects on subjects. Additionally, the 85mm’s compression combined with its fast f1.4 (or f1.2) aperture creates a desirable, creamy bokeh.

In sports photography, the 85mm is an excellent choice because it offers an intermediate length that allows the user to get closer to the action while still having the flexibility to capture shots of the entire field. Compared to other popular telephoto lenses such as the 135mm or 200mm, the 85mm is a more affordable, compact, and portable option.

Why Samyang/Rokinon?

In today’s market, photographers have a wide range of options when it comes to 85mm lenses, and third-party lenses have become increasingly popular due to their ability to deliver high-quality results at more affordable prices. Among these third-party manufacturers, Samyang, a Korean lens manufacturer known for its manual-focus lenses, has recently been expanding its line-up to include high-quality autofocus lenses.

Samyang’s 85mm lens for Canon‘s new RF mount is the first of its kind from a third-party company, and is based on the manufacturer’s extensive experience in producing similar lenses for other brands. Despite offering comparable performance to Canon’s EF version, Samyang’s lens comes at a lower cost, with a price tag below $1,599.00.

By creating lenses for the new EOS R system, Samyang is clearly demonstrating its commitment to staying ahead of the curve and producing quality lenses that will be relevant for years to come. As Canon continues to launch new mirrorless cameras, Samyang is poised to continue developing high-quality lenses for this mount.

As Samyang specifies “Samyang’s RF series is known for its outstanding image quality, since the AF 14mm F2.8 RF was awarded the prestigious TIPA award in 2020 as ‘best mirrorless prime wide-angle lens.’ The new AF 85mm RF also makes no compromise in image quality: A total of 11 elements in 8 groups, with 4 high-refractive (HR) optics and an extra low-dispersion (ED) lens, have been designed to create impressive image quality from corner to corner.”

Samyang 85mm F/1.4 RF Specifications

• Model name AF 85 mm F1.4 RF
• Aperture range F1.4 ~ 16
• Lens optical
  • Construction 11 Elements in 8 Groups
  • Special lens HR 4, ED 1
• Coating UMC
• Minimum focusing distance 0.90m (2.95ft)
• Maximum magnification ratio x 0.11
• Filter size Φ 77.0
• Maximum diameter Φ 88.0
• Number of blades 9
• Mount Canon RF
• Angle of view
  • Full Frame 28.9˚
  • APS-C 19.1˚
• Length 99.5mm
• Weight without lens cap, hood 582g
• Weather Sealing o
• AF/MF mode switch o
• AF Motor LSM

Build and Handling

As is typical with Samyang’s autofocus and manual-focus lenses, the build quality of this lens is of a high standard. The metal mounting plate and high-quality plastic barrel feel sturdy and well-engineered, with weather-seals providing protection against the elements. Inside, the optical path consists of nine elements in seven groups, including a hybrid aspherical element. The lens is also coated with “Ultra Multi-Coating” to minimize ghosting and flare.

Despite its high-quality build, the Samyang lens is easy to manage and much lighter than the latest Canon 85mm lens. As the first third-party option for the RF mount, it is likely to be compared to Canon’s own offerings.

It’s worth noting that the RF version of the lens is larger and heavier than the EF version. This is due to the need to adapt lenses to the 54mm RF mount, which allows wider lens elements to be placed closer to the sensor. This reduces chromatic aberrations and facilitates more effective lens arrangements.

The onboard controls for this lens are minimal, consisting only of a switch to toggle between autofocus and manual focus and a manual focus ring. The autofocus system utilizes a Dual LSM (Linear Supersonic Motor), which operates quickly and quietly. However, the manual focus ring is electronically coupled rather than mechanically coupled, unlike with an ultrasonic ring-type arrangement. As a result, the focus ring only functions when power is supplied from the camera, such as after a light press of the shutter button.

Performance

Like its EF counterpart, the RF version of this lens autofocuses quickly and with high accuracy, even in low-light indoor conditions. The fly-by-wire manual focus ring allows for very precise adjustments, particularly when using a magnified preview in live view mode. While center-sharpness is not exceptional at f/1.4, it improves significantly at f/2 and becomes excellent from f/2.8 onwards. Lateral chromatic aberration is reasonably well-controlled at f/1.4, but may become more noticeable at narrower apertures.

Despite shooting wide-open at f/1.4, the lens produces impressive contrast, and center-sharpness is quite acceptable, although it does drop off somewhat towards the edges. This is not a significant issue for portraiture, and the noticeable vignetting can even be seen as a bonus, as it can be avoided during post-production. When stopping down slightly to increase the depth of field, the bokeh remains excellent, aided by a well-rounded nine-blade diaphragm.

Autofocus

Samyang is a relatively new player in the autofocus aspect of lens design, which has been their Achilles heel so far, particularly when compared to other manufacturers with more extensive lineups of EF/RF AF lenses. However, the company has 40 years of experience in manufacturing high-quality glass, and they frequently release firmware updates to address any issues.

Samyang has begun incorporating dual Linear Sonic Motors into their designs, resulting in much quieter and refined autofocus. The AF-S performance produces a small amount of sound, but it is the fastest mode for stills. There is a brief moment where the momentum builds up before the focus occurs very quickly. The overall focus speed in AF mode is actually quite fast, comparable to many other 85mm lenses on the market.

One area where the Samyang lens truly excels is Eye AF. The release of the AF 85mm coincided with one of the most significant highlights for Canon’s new cameras, which included improved focus algorithms and enhanced tracking in the form of Real-Time Eye AF and Real-Tracking. This makes the Samyang AF 85mm an excellent choice for portraiture.

What We Liked

• Quite compact and lightweight
• Relatively inexpensive
• Good image quality

What Could Be Better

• Centre-sharpness isn’t overly impressive at f/1.4
• No optical stabilizer
• Ring control, such as Canon´s original

Conclusion

The release of the Samyang AF 85mm / 1.4 RF is a pleasant surprise for Canon shooters. Especially for those ones who already moved to the mirrorless system or to those ones who are still considering and waiting for the new cameras or lenses to be introduced.

For many novice photographers, the high price tag of some brand-name lenses is simply not feasible. Additionally, some photographers prefer not to deal with the bulk and weight of these lenses. This is where the new option from Samyang becomes an attractive choice, as it is more affordable and lightweight. The lens measures less than 10cm in length and weighs 582g without the lens cap and hood.

Despite its lower price point, the Samyang 85mm is still able to capture the finer details of portraiture while delivering a smooth and creamy bokeh with a seamless transition between focused and defocused areas. The lens strikes a good balance between price and build quality, offering solid autofocus performance and near-perfect image quality for portrait work.

Special Note

In combination with the Samyang AF 85mm / 1.4 RF, I did this shooting with the Godox AD200 Pro, the new AD300 Pro, Magbox, and other MagMod´s tools, a set-up that I recommend personally without hesitation for portrait photography.

Check Pricing & Availability of the Samyang 85mm F/1.4 RF Here:

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

The updated lenses feature the same optical designs as the previous versions, but they’ve added new features to provide a more robust user experience. Both lenses now have a switch for de-clicking the aperture without the need to tear it apart, weather-sealing, and an updated focus ring for better grip. The 14mm F2.8 MK2 also has a new focus lock switch for ensuring the focus doesn’t get bumped out of place while you’re shooting!

14mm F/2.8 Mk2 Technical Specs

• Focal Length 14mm
• Maximum Aperture f/2.8
• Minimum Aperture f/22
• Lens Mount Sony E
• Format Compatibility Full-Frame
• Angle of View 115.7°
• Minimum Focus Distance 11.02″ / 28 cm
• Optical Design 14 Elements in 10 Groups
• Diaphragm Blades 9
• Focus Type Manual Focus
• Image Stabilization No
• Filter Size None
• Dimensions (ø x L) 3.43 x 4.81″ / 87 x 122.1 mm
• Weight 1.56 lb / 708 g
• Price – $499 Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Sample Image from the 14mm f/2.8 Mk2

85mm f/1.4 Mk2 Technical Specs

• Focal Length 85mm
• Maximum Aperture f/1.4
• Minimum Aperture f/22
• Lens Mount Sony E
• Format Compatibility Full-Frame
• Angle of View 28.3°
• Minimum Focus Distance 3.61′ / 1.1 m
• Optical Design 9 Elements in 7 Groups
• Diaphragm Blades 9, Rounded
• Focus Type Manual Focus
• Image Stabilization No
• Filter Size 72 mm (Front)
• Dimensions (ø x L) 3.07 x 3.96″ / 78 x 100.7 mm
• Weight 1.32 lb / 599 g
• Price $399 – Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Sample Image from the 85mm f/1.4 Mk2

Both lenses are available for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, Fujifilm X, Canon M & MFT mount cameras. We’ve already ordered these lenses to review but until we get them and get the review done, is there anything you’d like to see tested or covered once we do get hands-on with these new pieces of glass? Let us know in the comments below so we can be sure to address them.

(We’re not sure what the reason for the price difference is, as we’re 99.9% certain that it’s exactly the same optic, in fact, if you look closely you’ll see that B&H used the Rokinon product image for the Samyang listing!)

AF 14mm f/2.8 RF Press Release

Offering a super wide field of view along with an autofocus design, the AF 14mm f/2.8 RF from Samyang is a prime wide-angle lens for Canon RF-mount mirrorless cameras. Its relatively fast f/2.8 maximum aperture suits working in difficult lighting conditions, and its optical design incorporates three aspherical and two low dispersion elements to help reduce distortion and color fringing for improved clarity and sharpness. An Ultra Multi-Coating has also been applied, as well as an integrated lens hood, to suppress flare and ghosting for greater contrast and color accuracy when working in strong lighting conditions. Additionally, the lens’ autofocus motor provides quick and precise focusing performance, and manual focus override is also available for more refined control.

AF 14mm f/2.8 RF Key Features (Rokinon & Samyang)

• Super wide-angle prime is designed for full-frame Canon RF-mount mirrorless cameras.
• Three aspherical elements are incorporated in the optical design to control spherical aberrations for increased clarity and resolution from edge to edge.
• Two extra-low dispersion glass elements work to reduce chromatic aberrations; improve overall image sharpness, clarity, and color fidelity; and help to minimize the overall weight of the lens.
• An Ultra Multi-Coating has been applied to individual elements in order to reduce flare and ghosting for increased contrast and a neutral color balance.
• The integrated autofocus motor provides quick, accurate, and precise AF control. Manual focus override is also available for refining your focus position.
• Rounded seven-blade diaphragm contributes to a smooth and pleasing bokeh quality.

Compact design compared to f/2.8 zooms

Accepts rear drop-in gel filters

Optional USB lens dock

Other Specifications

• RF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
• Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
• Three Aspherical and Two ED Elements
• Ultra Multi-Coating

Technical Specifications

Matt’s Initial Reaction

I always thought it would be helpful to Canon and Nikon if they either made their lens mount communication protocol public, or at least made it easy to reverse-engineer, because to be honest, Sony’s FE system wouldn’t be where it is today without a whole lot of third-party lenses.

In fact, right now, at least half the lenses that I really like on Sony’s FE mount are actually third-party lenses, such as the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 and 28-75mm f/2.8, or Rokinon’s other impressive AF FE f/1.4 primes, such as their 35mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.4.

I can understand, of course, that Canon and Nikon would want to get as much time as possible with exclusivity of lens sales for their new mounts; there is certainly pent-up demand among existing users who have held out with their Canon/Nikon DSLRs and just recently switched to full-frame mirrorless.

Actually, I didn’t expect third-party AF lenses this soon! The Canon EOS R was announced just over one year ago, so Rokinon/Samyang must have gotten to work right away in order to bring this lens out now. (Well, early November; see below!)

I hope Tamron, Sigma, and Tokina are also working on lens communication for the Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts. In my opinion, this will be a key factor in keeping all three of the major full-frame mirrorless systems competitive, especially with Panasonic entering the market with a (high-dollar) bang, and Sigma entering the (full-frame body) market too, in their own usual quirky way.

Either way, we can’t wait to get our hands on this lens here at SLR Lounge, and give it a complete review! It may perform similarly to the existing Sony AF14mm f/2.8 FE, but who knows, it could also be slightly better! (Or slightly worse?)

What do you guys think? Will you rent/buy this lens for your EOS R/RP systems? Which autofocus lens do you want Rokinon & Samyang to develop next for Canon (and/or Nikon) full-frame mirrorless cameras?

Check Pricing & Availability Of the Samyang & Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 for Canon RF Here

The lens is available for pre-order now and is expected to start shipping in early November.

Samyang: Adorama | B&H | Amazon 

Rokinon: Adorama | B&H | Amazon