Samyang 85mm f/1.4 AS IF UMC Lens Review

Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Sample Photos

Although this lens certainly isn't going to win any awards for sharpness at f/1.4, the effect it produces could be quite pleasing for portraiture | 1/125 sec | f/1.4 | 85.0 mm | ISO 2500 High-Res	Stopped down, the performance is much better | 1/200 sec | f/6.3 | 85.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
Clarity reaches good levels at f/2 in the centre of the frame | 1/320 sec | f/2.0 | 85.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	The minimum focus distance of 1m can be a little restrictive | 1/160 sec | f/2.0 | 85.0 mm | ISO 220 High-Res
1/160 sec | f/5.6 | 85.0 mm | ISO 400 High-Res	1/500 sec | f/2.8 | 85.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
1/160 sec | f/5.6 | 85.0 mm | ISO 500 High-Res	1/160 sec | f/5.6 | 85.0 mm | ISO 900 High-Res

Value for Money

Comparing this lens to camera manufacturer's 85mm f/1.4 lenses is quite futile. The Samyang lens is so inexpensive, costing around £240 and optically imperfect, that it simply cannot be compared like for like. In the same way that LensBaby lenses have established themselves for their optical imperfections, this Samyang is an inexpensive way of having a wide aperture 85mm to experiment with. Some people may actually prefer the optical imperfections... it's a matter of taste.

A closer comparison would be between this lens and an 85mm f/1.8 lens from either Canon or Nikon. Priced at between £3-400, they are still almost double the price of this Samyang optic, but will give greater sharpness and autofocus.

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