Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 FE II review

The Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 FE II goes toe to toe with Sony’s competing G Master lens

5 Star Rating
Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 FE II
(Image: © Matthew Richards)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The second edition of Samyang’s E-mount 35mm f/1.4 prime delivers exceptional sharpness and excellent all-round performance. It also adds some neat handling extras, compared with the original lens, yet still sells for around half the price of Sony’s own-brand FE 35mm F1.4 G Master. All in all, the Samyang is a fabulous lens and outstanding value at the price.

Pros

  • +

    Excellent handling and image quality

  • +

    Customizable controls

  • +

    Weather-seals

Cons

  • -

    Larger than the competing Sony GM

  • -

    Not a zero-distortion lens

  • -

    Bokeh could be smoother

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As a fast 35mm prime, the Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 FE II will appeal to street photographers and it’s also ideal for anyone who likes a modestly wide viewing angle coupled with a wide aperture for maintaining quick shutter speeds under low lighting conditions and gaining a tight depth of field in close-ups. The Samyang also works really well as a fast ‘standard prime’ on Sony’s APS-C format E-mount bodies, on which it gives an effective focal length of 52.5mm.

Specifications

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.