Samyang AF 50mm F1.4 FE II review

Small but mighty, the Samyang AF 50mm F1.4 FE II is a really nifty fifty

Samyang AF 50mm F1.4 FE II
(Image: © Matthew Richards)

Digital Camera World Verdict

A fast 50mm lens is arguably the most versatile and essential prime lens to buy, no matter how much you use zoom lenses. With its classic focal length and fast aperture rating, the Mark II edition of Samyang’s 50mm f/1.4 for Sony E-mount mirrorless delivers superb image quality and all-round performance. It’s a brilliant standard prime for full-frame bodies and works equally well as a short telephoto on APS-C format Sony cameras, with a 75mm ‘effective’ focal length. And it’s great value at the price.

Pros

  • +

    Relatively compact and lightweight

  • +

    New and improved autofocus

  • +

    Excellent build and performance

Cons

  • -

    ‘Slower’ than Sony’s f/1.2 option

  • -

    No dedicated aperture control ring

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

The original edition of the Samyang AF 50mm F1.4 FE II was Samyang’s first ever autofocus lens, launched in celebration of the company’s 50th year in the business. Five years down the road, the Mark II features a new and improved autofocus system which is faster and more consistently accurate. It’s only one-third of an f/stop slower than the highly acclaimed Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 G Master lens, but barely more than half the weight and only half the price to buy.

Specifications

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

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.