Samyang XP 50mm f/1.2 Review

Samyang XP 50mm f/1.2 Performance

With a lens designed with 50MP camera bodies in mind, we would expect a high level of performance. Central sharpness delivers this in style, starting off being very good at f/1.2. Sharpness then becomes excellent from f/2 through the f/11, before falling back slightly to very good at f/16.

The edges exactly follow the pattern of the centre, being very good at f/1.2, excellent from f/2 to f/11 and very good at f/16. This is a very impressive and even performance.

CA (Chromatic Aberration) is is also impressive, with central measurements being around two tenths of a pixel. The edges are slightly less well controlled, but still deliver impressively low figures. If required, this could be further reduced using software.

A fast 50mm lens would be expected to show some barrel distortion and the Samyang measures -1.57%. This is a good performance and there were no real signs of CA in the sample pictures. There are also software solutions.

Flare does not seem to be a problem, backlight causing no reduction in contrast.

Bokeh, the smoothness and gradation of the out of focus areas in an image, is an important consideration and the Samyang offers a very pleasant and smooth look.

Overall, a very high standard of performance and a lens that can deliver the goods with the largest pixel count sensors.

Value For Money

The Samyang XP 50mm f/1.2 costs £799. There are a handful of f/1.2 lenses for full frame cameras, including:

Nikon 50mm f/1.2 AIS, manual focus, £699
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, £1339

There are quite a few f/1.4 lenses:

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, £349
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, £571
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4 G, £415
Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4, £2699
Zeiss Milvus 50mm f/1.4 T* Distagon, £940
SMC Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, £399
Samyang 50mm f/1.4 AS UMC, £340

For more options have a look at the Top 21 Best Samyang Lenses or the Top 23 Best 50mm Standard Lenses.

Add your message