In Calgary, we have an annual Japanese festival named Omatsuri. It is a fun event with a lot of vendors, great food and performance of Japanese culture. It is also an excellent test ground for the new Samyang 85 mm f/1.8P Fe.
I took this compact full-frame portrait lens for a spin. At $ 450, the latest Samyang Prima Lens promises excellent optics in an affordable package. However, there is a lot of tough competition in the world of 85 mm lens and I was curious how to pay rent against a ocean of Samang options.
Samyang 85 mm F/1.8 Prima Fe Review: How it feels
Well, the first thing this lens is next to your camera bag. At only 9.6 ounces (272 grams), Samyang is 85 mm F1/.8 Ultra-compact and is very convenient to carry. The filter threads are cut for 62 mm filter, and there is a very basic hood that comes with the lens. It has a good manual focus ring, but not much.
There is an AF/MF selector switch, but no adaptable button or external aperture ring. This lens does not have any image stabilization facility and involves some meteorological cinematography to protect it. Simplicity is important here, and plastic manufacture of 85 mm lens keeps at least weight. With such a basic lens, I further tested to see if there could be a difference in image quality.
Samyang 85 mm F/1.8 Prima Fe Review: How it shoots
Samyang 85 mm is powered by a fairly simple step motor, which keeps things smooth and calm. I found that autofocus is very accurate and fully compatible with Sony A7RV I used for testing. The speed of focusing, overall, was a slightly thoughtful case that is still perfectly acceptable for pictures and road work.
When shooting to bright light sources, the flare is well controlled with a slight loss of contrast. A little ghosts exist, but the lens does a good job of controlling it. Bokeh is also beautiful for such a inexpensive lens, with the effect of a good cat’s eyes on f/1.8, and clean highlights free from onion rings or soap bubbles. The focus transition is smoothly from far away, and the background is pleasant blur. This lens has a wonderful rendering of focus that is beyond its value tag.
Loca, or longitudinal chromatic aberration, exists but is modest. You get some color fringing in focus areas, but it is easy to deal with the result. Do not use this lens to draw any focus, however. The breathing lens is unpleasant. Dramatically changes throughout your area because you focus from far from far from far. Photographers might not be very bad with this portrait lens, but video shooters will get angry.
It is a very fast lens, with amazing central performance at F/1.8. To prevent the lens, only brought minor benefits from detail. I also like corner sharpness on F/1.8, which I did not expect to see. Stopping the lens down a little helps, but this optic is clearly designed for wide open shoots which are good to see. However, if you are focusing at a minimum distance, the lens may be slightly soft. Stopping the lens helps, so consider this in these rare situations where you are trying to get closer as possible.
Samyang 85 mm f/1.8 prima Fe review: distributes goods without breaking the bank
What a convenient small lens, which is very fast and presents beautiful bokeh. I loved mild feel and optical performance, and it is quite easy to work around DownSides. By all accounts, this lens should be a winner, but the real issue here is what is more available for a similar price.
Viltrox 85 mm f/1.4 Pro is one of my favorite images lenses with interesting character at f/1.4, and razor-sharp results. In addition, you are receiving a f/1.4 maximum aperture for only $ 600. Sirui Arora 85 mm f/1.4 is often found for $ 500, and I am one of the cleanest and fastest lens I have tested. Again, you get double light for almost the same price. Di, these f/1.4 lenses will be heavy and large, but Sirui is the top of only 19 ounces, which is hardly prohibited. Nevertheless, if you are fine with a simple lens and want to keep the size and weight a full minimum, the Samyang distributes the goods without breaking the 85 mm f/1.8P Fe Bank.
What are the options?
Sony 85 mm f/1.8 Fe is a great lens and costs around $ 600. Otherwise, consider the options of Wiltrox and Sirui, which give you more lighter and excellent optical performance.
Should you buy it?
Yes. The f/1.4 lenses can be understood as practical, Samyang 85 mm F/1.8 is alternatively great and is an excellent choice for photographers who want the lightest options possible.
