Your lens probably needs a firmware update. You might be able to send it to Samyang to do that, or you can purchase the Lens Station and do it yourself. I put some linkage to grabbing the Lens Station off Ebay in the description.
@SwitchRich That's what I've heard. I do intend to do a head to head with the Batis and Sony 85mm lenses sometime in 2019. I wouldn't mind if Samyang through a new 85mm into the mix there.
In manual for this particular lens there's explicit notice that the IBIS shall be used in Manual mode (despite the presence of electronic comm with camera). Otherwise the lens may malfunction, it says. Have you used it in Auto mode?
I'm pretty sure that I have, as I assumed that since it electronically connected that the information would be transmitted to it. I'll have to test that - thanks for the info!
@@DustinAbbottTWI You're welcome. It looks like most Samyang AF lenses (including 35/2.8, AF 14/2.8...) require the Manual IBIS mode, according to respective manuals. I find this really inconvenient.
Im struggling to decide whether to go with the sayang 35mm 1.4 or the sayang 35mm 1.8. They are currently both around 320$. I am wondering if the 1.4 extra light is worth the much bulkier build, will it really help that much in night time photography and is it sharper. Or should I go with the small compact 35mm 1.8?? to put on my Sony a7iv?
A question in November 2019 as to the state of Samyang AF now that the lens has been out for some time and, if my memory is correct, in other videos you may have said ??, that a number of firmware updates were released improving AF in particular. For my part, am not a real fan of update firmware for the lens, OK for Fuji bodies, but generally not for glass.
Autofocus is strongly improved via firmware. I'm curious as to why you would not be in favor of firmware updates, since they improve the performance of the lens.
@@DustinAbbottTWI I am certainly in favour of firmware updates. As the owner of 2 Fuji X bodies, I think the major changes Fuji made to the operation to this line of cameras via firmware updates speaks for the real benefits. I would say again though, that my clear preference would be for photographic equipment to be released at a stage of development that the type of significant improvement effected via Fuji with firmware updates over recent years had been inbuilt to the cameras at the time of release.
I get your preference, but remember that Samyang has just started developing autofocus in the past 4-5 years. They've made huge strides quickly, so while I have taken them to task over the very thing you cite, I appreciate the fact that they are improving legacy lenses as their autofocus technology improves.
I am looking for a 35mm lens but don't know which one to choose. I am between this Samyang 35 1.4 and Tamron 35 2.8. While Tamron is very good and focuses closer, I think I would miss that f1.4 for the bokeh. But since Tamron focuses closer, do you think it would give me the same bokeh as Samyang? I have the Tamron 24 2.8 and I am happy with it, but not sure which 35 to choose.
Hi there, you ask if it will give you the "same bokeh". The short answer is no. The Samyang has a maximum aperture that is twice as large, so it will produce more bokeh in many more situations. The close focus of the Tamron means that there are certain situations where it can produce as much if not more, but that's only going to be true in very close focus situations. The Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 might also be an alternative for you. The magnification isn't as high as the Tamron, but it is higher than the F1.4 version and is a better lens overall.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for the answer. I have seen your review of the Samyang 35 f1.8. It is a really nice lens, but it focuses only 1cm closer and the bokeh of 1.4 is better. Recently I saw a video of Julia Trotti here on youtube where she compares all 35mm lenses, and 1.4 lenses looks much better. The bokeh is very important for me. I had the Sony Zeiss 35 f2.8, which is a sharp lens and has beautiful colours, but I was not happy with it, because of being 2.8 and its very low magnification, so I sold it. For now it seems that Samyang 35 1.4 is the only choice for me. There is also a 1.4 manual focus version of Samyang, which is an older lens, cheaper, and it takes 77mm filters. But I think that AF version is better.
Meaningfully is a strong word. Slightly better is more accurate. A little quieter in operation, perhaps a bit faster. Both lenses are a little jittery in AF-C or video AF modes.
Dustin ... although I'm a fairly recent subscriber, I have over 35 years of experience in photography and own well over 100 '35', Medium & Large Format lenses & an arsenal of cameras ... there are a number of excellent reviewers of photographic equipment & techniques posting on TH-cam ... but when it comes to thoroughness & detailed incite ... you, Mon Ami, are clearly at the top ...Bart
@@DustinAbbottTWI Yeah, I guess they mean point, but regardless, I thought that sort of setting wasn't needed with mirrorless. photos.app.goo.gl/21H46s3NkQtDXRU96
That's typically not needed, but if you did have a consistent front or back focus issue, you could adjust for it there. I've never heard the word "punt" used in that context.
I have had this lens for about a month and it worked great one day,the next the auto focus doesnt work.It says the lens is'nt compadable or is'nt connected.I tried everything.My other len's work fine so it's not the camera.The manual focas doesnt even work,I turn the ring and it does nothing.
Have you tried cleaning the electronic contacts on the lens? It sounds to me like you are having an issue with communication from the lens, and dirty contacts can sometimes cause that. If that doesn't fix it, you should still be under warranty. Get the lens repaired or replaced.
Hello, I’m using the Samyang 35mm 1.4 with a Sony a7iii and a crane 2 (shotting in HLG2 actually) I’m not happy with the AF-C, (eye track in photo mode is AMAZING), in video mode the track face is not very fast, is not very precise and sometime is pulsing. I have tried every setup, fast, responsive normal, and every kind of focus mode. Do you think can I improve my AF-C with the Zeiss distagon? Or do you have any tips? I bough also the Samyang station and update at v3. Thank you :)
Yes, there is still some pulsing in some video situations though the face tracking for photos is strongly improved. The Zeiss is probably better, but I haven't tested it.
Nice review. I think this lens is underrated from the sample images I’ve seen, especially considering the pricing. The only thing which concerns me is the omission of any weather sealing. At around 7:17 I see you were filming while it was snowing. Did you have any protection around the lens? Even if it’s only light to moderate snow, big snow flakes can melt away quickly. Do you think it’s safe to use this lens exposed in the same weather and with some light rain? Is there more risk to the lens or camera? I guess even without sealing around the mount, the metal mount should be a tight fit and prevent water going in as easily.
I've read the interview of the CEO Hwang, and financial articles about Samyang Optics. The Samyang earned more net profit because of AF lenses. The ceo said MF lenses would get chased by Chinese optic companies, so Samyang is now focusing on AF lenses, even though the market competition is quite severe. Anyway Samyang optics has limited capacities of making lenses, so it might be affect the QC issue. Now I'm still waiting for testing out XP 35mm F1.2 lens. Thanks for the good summing up your experiences about 35mm F1.4 and Have nice holidays!
That's interesting...and makes sense. It seems like there is a new Chinese optical company making decent manual focus lenses all the time. Mirrorless seems to have created opportunities for these companies that weren't there when Samyang started out.
@@DustinAbbottTWI I read this article. Samyang focused E-mount AF lenses first, because E-mount protocol is open source and Samyang didn't need to pay any royalty fees. translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.naver.com%2Fmain%2Fread.nhn%3Fmode%3DLSD%26mid%3Dsec%26sid1%3D101%26oid%3D003%26aid%3D0008826826
Someone please explain why it is good to have such a low aperature with a wide(ish) angle lens? It seems to me you are going to want to increase depth of field to get more in focus because you will have more people/objects in a 35mm lens...?
I see where you're coming from. I'd say the main reasons would be low light performance benifits, good DoF for full body people portraits and good DoF when doing close up macro type shots (the lens can focus very close to a subject).
@@SONYAdicto wow.. I checked her out. I have a lot to learn from her. My go-to portrait lens is not the 35, but the Canon 135 lol. This will broaden my horizons for sure. I do have a Canon 35mm f2. IS USM I use for video.
That's good advice you've received. I find a 35mm F1.4 one of the most versatile lenses in my kit. You can do a LOT of things with one, and I also love being able to switch to a normal framing in Crop mode on my a7R3.
I haven't used the lens a lot recently (I review so many lenses that I often don't have time to use my own), but focus does seem to be considerably improved.
Sir Samyang 35mm 1.4 or sony 35mm 1.8 which is better for photo and video in wedding...i heard from my friends that their samyang 35 has some issue of focus lock,black screen..after taken 700-800 photos per day... I love this lens,this lens is cheap,1.4. But in my place there is no samyang service centre
I think I would go with the Sony for critical focus. I've had good success with many other Samyang AF lenses, but I found the AF on the 35mm a little inconsistent in AF-C mode.
I doubt DSLRs are done yet. In fact, Canon and Nikon would be foolish to abandon DSLR space (where they are well entrenched and the market leaders [particularly Canon]) and go entirely into mirrorless where they are playing catchup to Sony.
Great review Dustin... I tried this lens with version 1 firmware a while back and the video AF just lagged when tracking a person. And the lens station was unavailable at the time, so I returned it. Have you noticed a big difference in video AF performance with firmware 3? It kind of looks to still be a bit laggy from your example.
Few lenses are really fast in that kind of test, and I have the a7R3 tuned for smoother transitions rather than quick ones. I would say for video AF the V3 firmware works quite well
I had so many slight missed focus shots from the samyang after trying two different copies of the lens i eventually purchased the sigma 35mm f1.4 FE version and so far it's been great, not sure about the focus for video as i only really use it for photo but the focus on the sigma is much better for me personally, but i still regret selling the 35f2.8 zeiss because of it's small form factor, as sometimes i find the size and weight of these f1.4 lenses are just a little out of balance with sony bodys, great review and can't wait to see you compare the other 35mm lenses against each other.
@@DustinAbbottTWI mostly Af-c i did try Af-s but i still had a number of missed focus shots so i just used my normal prefered Af-c, the lens actually caused me to miss some really amazing shots so i didnt think i could rely on the lens after that!
I've had much higher success in AF-S mode (it's pretty much as good as any of my other lenses with the V3 firmware). I found that AF-C did a lot of micropulsing that could throw off focus.
Hi Dustin, nice work on these Samyang reviews. I've noticed there is a version 4 of the firmware for the 35mm 1.4: can you tell us what you think about it after some tests? I really like this lens but I can't decide if It's a bargain or not. Thank you!
It's definitely a bargain. I've done the firmware update, and autofocus is definitely becoming increasingly confident. Eye AF now works really reliably.
Hey Dustin, thanks for your review. I'm wondering whether you've had a chance to get your hands on the Sigma 35 1.4 e-mount version yet? I'm a Wedding Photographer and shot 2018 with the Samyang 35 1.4 with no complaints on the A7III. On my A7RIII however, I have noticed a lot more difficulty with AF 'micro pulsing' and curious to see how the Sigma does in comparison. For now, I'll keep the Samyang attached to the A7III only as it genuinely seems to suffer from the problem less from my own personal experience. I can't really justify the Zeiss - I rented it a couple of times but I prefer the image coming out of the Samyang tbh. Keep up the great work!
My experience with the Sigma ART lenses in E-mount has been that they behave similarly in similar situations (a bit of pulsing). I haven't done the 35ART yet, but I do plan to do a 35mm shootout somewhere in the next month or two including the Sigma, Samyang, and hopefully the Zeiss.
@@DustinAbbottTWI looking forward to that. I'll hold onto the Samyang for now then - got me through a whole Wedding Season last year just fine on the A7III. It was only when I shot on the R3 during the final Wedding of the year that I noticed some missed shots for no apparent reason. Might just be my imagination or the scenario I was in but I'll play it safe for now.
Very good review as usual. After almost two years from this video came out, what is your best 35mm out there or which lens do you prefer for sony ( AF. sharp , price )? thank you.
The Sigma 35mm F1.2 is definitely the best 35mm on Sony, now, though it is large, expensive, and heavy. I would say the Sony FE 35mm F1.8 is the best compact option. The Samyang has nice optics but can have inconsistent focus, so I think there's still room for a moderately sized, high performing F1.4 option.
I was about to buy my First Sony FE lens and i was between the Tamron 28-75 and the Samyang 35 1.4... I bought the samyang alongside the new sigma 70-200 sports with the mc11 adapter. Next one probably will be the Samyang 18mm... Good review as usual
I know many of us are eagerly waiting for for your review of the mark 2 version of the samyang 35 mm 1.4. when can we expect the video sir? Please make a review video of the samyang 35mm 1.4 mark 2. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thanks Dustin for your clear and effective reviews. Helped me with purchasing this lens. About Steadyshot function, if you read the lens user manual (who reads it after all...) Well, they claim that you can set : Steadyshot - on Steadyshot adjustment - manual Steadyshot focal langth - 35mm **If it will remain on - automatic it may malfunction. Maybe these settings could solve the issues with AF-C & Steadyshot micro adjustments. (I couldn't test it on mine A7 mk1, no ibis...)
The problem of samyang/rokinon is that it will lock up/freeze the auto focus. It is not a rare issue. I have seen many cases in the community. No question about the image quality. Can’t accept this issue on v3, v4 firmware as well. Eventually , after using it for half a year, I sold it out.
The Milvus 35/1.4 isn’t that sharp wide open similar to its 85mm brother. I think Zeiss did it on purpose, since these lenses are designed for portraits and both have a wonderful Bokeh probably because of that!
@@DustinAbbottTWI Sadly I don't know! I went ahead and bought the lens station after seeing your video. Lets see how it functions after I make sure its updated! One thing I'd like to mention, this lens has a yellowish tint to it compared to others in the market... Thank you sir for great reviews always helpful!
@@TrenchfootSalvador I sold that lens due to another issue. It seems like it was very common since multiple people reported it in photography group. The lens causes the camera to freeze randomly. It happens in random times. I missed many great moments because of it. All in all, I recommend the sigma 35mm instead or the new sony 35mm f1.8 over this one.
Dustin, I've come back to watch this 3 times now along with a few other reviews comparing this to the Sony and the Sigma.(no one does as good a job as you!) In totality I've deduced the Sigma is probably the best and this is a close second and the Sony lags way behind. Where the Sony excelled was in minimum focal distance and it blew away the Samyang there. After a few feet it flipped back in favor of the Samyang. They all have little quirks like you mentioned. In watching and examining them all yours was really the only one where I saw onion bokeh on this lens. When I posted a commment earlier you had mentioned it being nice except for the "oniony" situations. My question is what are those situations and do you think the oniony look could be a copy specific thing? In comparison to the other two lenses in most images I saw the Sigma was ever so slightly creamier but a little faster to cats eye and the Sony always had onion.
Onion really only shows up with very bright bokeh highlights (Christmas lights or similar). I actually like this lens quite a bit (particularly for the price), though I don't love the jumpiness during video recording (which the Sigma is also guilty of).
@@DustinAbbottTWI As always thanks for your reply. I don't do video much at all so it isn't something I ever worry about but I just watched a video on this lens and video focusing and the guy suggested putting video focusing on "slow" as it is default to "quick or fast". I may have the nomenclature incorrect but I'll just assume you know what I mean as I never mess with video like I mentioned. If you still have the lens give it a go and see what happens and if it fixes that issue. I still wonder why your copy showed the onion with the lights as the examples I've seen from others with similar Christmas style lights didn't exhibit that effect? I wonder what the variable is that did it?
Great review Dustin, thanks! I have these 3 Samyang lenses 24mm.f.2.8 and 45mm.f.1.8 plus 85mm.f.1.4 for my Sony A7III, and I am extremely pleased with them all and I also love the colors and bokeh the lenses provide, which is why I now have ordered the Samyang 35mm.f.1.4 as I also love shooting at 35mm. although the Samyang 45mm.f.1.8 also is a good compromise! So for me there is no need to buy more expensive prime lenses from Sony and Sigma, as the users of my images have not yet complained, and that is the most important thing for me ..... Cheers from Denmark
I recently purchased this lens because of Black Friday promos and positive reviews. I have been testing it (firmware ver. 02) with a Sony A7ii. And although the optical quality was pretty good, it usually misfocused when I tried shooting portraits (focus was on the nose instead of the eye). Maybe firmware 03 would help me, but unlike other lenses, the ones from Samyang cannot be updated through the camera body. As I didn't have enough time to purchase the lens station, I decided not to risk it and just ask for a refund before buyer protection runs out. Compared to Tamron 28-75 which I usually use the AF is nowhere near as good. What's more, the Tamron zoom wide open is much more sharp and contrasty than Samyang 35 wide open. Although, personally speaking, if the focus worked properly that wouldn't be an issue. If you have an older body like me, beware and try before you buy.
I would say both the newer firmware and newer bodies make using this lens a better experience. I have found that in AF-S mode it is as good as anything I use, but I get more misses than what I like with AF-C.
@Foto4Max Well, hard to say where the issue lies, but it was misfocusing pretty regularly. And it wasn't that the focus was struggling - it seemed to work relatively fast, but upon inspection pictures were misfocused. Maybe I'll try another copy in the future.
At the current price it's hard not to take a flier on it. Here's my challenge - I got a copy of this lens myself, but I also have the amazing Canon. Do I use it adapted, or the native lens?
Ahh, minimalism. I believe there is some validity to that, though my personal philosophy is that moderation is the sustainable lifestyle. Extremism in either direction can become destructive.
What? You were supposed to tell me it was perfect. The quintessential lens. Alas, it has flaws :-( Seriously thanks for another great review. This lens was on my Christmas list hoping the price point didn't scare my wife away compared to all the other gear I want lol. I was surprised to see the onion effect after so many other videos and the beginning of your series that showed pretty creamy bokeh. I'll give it a go if I get it and maybe evaluate it harder if I don't and make a purchase in the future. Merry Christmas!!
I wish I had seen this video a month ago... The AF-C is really bad. When it focus, the lens is amazingly sharp, but you're never sure it will hit the mark. Strangely, before I bought one myself, I rented the lens from another photographer and his copy didn't had this problem. And his lens was on firmware v2. After I got mine and found this problem, I rented the same lens from the same guy just to be sure it wasn't something I hadn't noticed... And nop. His lens is much more precise with the V2 than mine with the new V3 firmware. Same camera, same settings, same situation, and his copy would hit the eye almost every time. I tried turning IBIS to manual and even OFF, and no significant improvements. In 10 photos, 2 or 3 perfect, 3-4 acceptable and the rest clearly out of focus. Shooting on a Sony A7RIII with V2.1 firmware I've sent the lens back to samyang to see if it has a problem with my copy, but apparently it's something common.... If they tell me the lens is OK, I'll have to sell it, because it's simply unacceptable. You talked about a V4 firmware. Any idea when that would drop?
Thanks. Let's see what happens. :) The sigma really isn't my first choice, but it's impossible to work with a lens like this. And I was super happy with how sharp the lens is even wide open.
Hi @@DustinAbbottTWI, I've got my lens back from samyang's official repair center in the UK. Had a quick test this afternoon and the difference is like night and day. Much more precise in AF-C with eye-af. I don't think I'll be looking at the sigma anytime soon. :)
Сцену ужасно выставил, на кресле тряпка, окно отвлекает, картинка плоская видно 2й источник. Задний план режет голову, огонь отвлекает тоже. При том, что футажи хорошие) Это такой юмор?)
I bought one on Black Friday here in the UK and running FW 2.0 and the AF has actually locked up a few times in AF-C on my A7Rii body. The only way to get focus working again (AF or MF) is to turn the camera off/on. I really don't want to pay for a lens station but it's looking like a MUST buy for owners so take that into account when purchasing. I can't fault the image quality of the lens wide open though - instagram.com/p/Brk0hW1HHQH/?igshid=1q2j1ten4f0qi
I haven't experienced any lockups, so that may be something that is solved by the V3 firmware. I do think owning the Lens Station is probably wise. I would just mentally accept it as part of the cost of the lens.
You're going to guy for a solid lens review! And I always watch until end to get a flash of those pearly whites! I love this 35mm lens.
LOL - glad to hear you hang out until the end!
Hi. Do you never experienced some camera freezing when using this lens? It happens on my A7 III. :/
I haven't, actually
Hi, I also have such a lens, is it a rule to hear the autofocus engine when taking photos?
The focus motor in this lens is not completely quiet. There is a bit of noise when focusing, though not loud.
How to get EAF through this lens (samyang 35mm f1.4) ? My camera (a7 iii) says that this mode is not supported with this lens... :(
Your lens probably needs a firmware update. You might be able to send it to Samyang to do that, or you can purchase the Lens Station and do it yourself. I put some linkage to grabbing the Lens Station off Ebay in the description.
We need a review for samyang AF 85mm f1.4 EF please!
Thanks for the great reviews
I've got a conversation with Samyang going about that. Hopefully early in the new year.
@SwitchRich That's what I've heard. I do intend to do a head to head with the Batis and Sony 85mm lenses sometime in 2019. I wouldn't mind if Samyang through a new 85mm into the mix there.
Great review. Quick question for those that have this lens, have the firmware updates improved the lens?
Hi Charlie, the answer is yes to some degree, though there is a new Series II version of this lens that is more reliable.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for the reply Dustin! My copy of the 35 1.4 seems to do a pretty strong back focus before it locks on. Is that normal?
In manual for this particular lens there's explicit notice that the IBIS shall be used in Manual mode (despite the presence of electronic comm with camera). Otherwise the lens may malfunction, it says. Have you used it in Auto mode?
I'm pretty sure that I have, as I assumed that since it electronically connected that the information would be transmitted to it. I'll have to test that - thanks for the info!
@@DustinAbbottTWI You're welcome. It looks like most Samyang AF lenses (including 35/2.8, AF 14/2.8...) require the Manual IBIS mode, according to respective manuals. I find this really inconvenient.
Odd. I wonder why that is.
Im struggling to decide whether to go with the sayang 35mm 1.4 or the sayang 35mm 1.8. They are currently both around 320$. I am wondering if the 1.4 extra light is worth the much bulkier build, will it really help that much in night time photography and is it sharper. Or should I go with the small compact 35mm 1.8?? to put on my Sony a7iv?
Of those two lenses, I personally though the 35mm F1.8 the better choice. Much more compact, better features, better AF
How to set manual focus in this lenses? I try to set manual focus on camera (focus mode menu), focusing ring is hard to move, is it normal?
You can make some tweaks to the MF ring through the Samyang Lens Station, but the focus ring is unfortunately not excellent on the 1.4/35
A question in November 2019 as to the state of Samyang AF now that the lens has been out for some time and, if my memory is correct, in other videos you may have said ??, that a number of firmware updates were released improving AF in particular. For my part, am not a real fan of update firmware for the lens, OK for Fuji bodies, but generally not for glass.
Autofocus is strongly improved via firmware. I'm curious as to why you would not be in favor of firmware updates, since they improve the performance of the lens.
@@DustinAbbottTWI I am certainly in favour of firmware updates. As the owner of 2 Fuji X bodies, I think the major changes Fuji made to the operation to this line of cameras via firmware updates speaks for the real benefits.
I would say again though, that my clear preference would be for photographic equipment to be released at a stage of development that the type of significant improvement effected via Fuji with firmware updates over recent years had been inbuilt to the cameras at the time of release.
I get your preference, but remember that Samyang has just started developing autofocus in the past 4-5 years. They've made huge strides quickly, so while I have taken them to task over the very thing you cite, I appreciate the fact that they are improving legacy lenses as their autofocus technology improves.
Thanks! Looking at this and the Sigma 1.4 ART. I know the Sigma is better, but is it nearly double the price better?
That really depends on your priorities. I will say that the new Sigma is a much better lens overall.
I am looking for a 35mm lens but don't know which one to choose. I am between this Samyang 35 1.4 and Tamron 35 2.8. While Tamron is very good and focuses closer, I think I would miss that f1.4 for the bokeh. But since Tamron focuses closer, do you think it would give me the same bokeh as Samyang? I have the Tamron 24 2.8 and I am happy with it, but not sure which 35 to choose.
Hi there, you ask if it will give you the "same bokeh". The short answer is no. The Samyang has a maximum aperture that is twice as large, so it will produce more bokeh in many more situations. The close focus of the Tamron means that there are certain situations where it can produce as much if not more, but that's only going to be true in very close focus situations. The Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 might also be an alternative for you. The magnification isn't as high as the Tamron, but it is higher than the F1.4 version and is a better lens overall.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for the answer. I have seen your review of the Samyang 35 f1.8. It is a really nice lens, but it focuses only 1cm closer and the bokeh of 1.4 is better. Recently I saw a video of Julia Trotti here on youtube where she compares all 35mm lenses, and 1.4 lenses looks much better. The bokeh is very important for me. I had the Sony Zeiss 35 f2.8, which is a sharp lens and has beautiful colours, but I was not happy with it, because of being 2.8 and its very low magnification, so I sold it. For now it seems that Samyang 35 1.4 is the only choice for me. There is also a 1.4 manual focus version of Samyang, which is an older lens, cheaper, and it takes 77mm filters. But I think that AF version is better.
Thank you Dustin for this final review, now I can go ahead with samyang 35 1.4 purchase confidently. Best regards.
The prices right now are amazing on it.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thank you so much for the info dear.
Would you expect the autofocus to be meaningfully better on the Rokinon 35mm e-mount than the Sigma 35mm with an MC-11 adapter?
Meaningfully is a strong word. Slightly better is more accurate. A little quieter in operation, perhaps a bit faster. Both lenses are a little jittery in AF-C or video AF modes.
Thank you.
Dustin ... although I'm a fairly recent subscriber, I have over 35 years of experience in photography and own well over 100 '35', Medium & Large Format lenses & an arsenal of cameras ... there are a number of excellent reviewers of photographic equipment & techniques posting on TH-cam ... but when it comes to thoroughness & detailed incite ... you, Mon Ami, are clearly at the top ...Bart
That's high praise - thank you
Being very thorough, have you figured out the punt(?) setting in the lensstation software?
I'm not quite sure what you are asking. Punt?
@@DustinAbbottTWI Yeah, I guess they mean point, but regardless, I thought that sort of setting wasn't needed with mirrorless. photos.app.goo.gl/21H46s3NkQtDXRU96
That's typically not needed, but if you did have a consistent front or back focus issue, you could adjust for it there. I've never heard the word "punt" used in that context.
I have had this lens for about a month and it worked great one day,the next the auto focus doesnt work.It says the lens is'nt compadable or is'nt connected.I tried everything.My other len's work fine so it's not the camera.The manual focas doesnt even work,I turn the ring and it does nothing.
Have you tried cleaning the electronic contacts on the lens? It sounds to me like you are having an issue with communication from the lens, and dirty contacts can sometimes cause that. If that doesn't fix it, you should still be under warranty. Get the lens repaired or replaced.
What full frame E mount lenses have given you the best autofocus experiences?
G Master lenses, obviously. The 24-105 G was very good. My Planar 50 is generally very good, as was the Sonnar 55 that I tested.
Upgrade station readily available now in the USA.
That's true.
Hello,
I’m using the Samyang 35mm 1.4 with a Sony a7iii and a crane 2 (shotting in HLG2 actually)
I’m not happy with the AF-C, (eye track in photo mode is AMAZING), in video mode the track face is not very fast, is not very precise and sometime is pulsing.
I have tried every setup, fast, responsive normal, and every kind of focus mode.
Do you think can I improve my AF-C with the Zeiss distagon?
Or do you have any tips?
I bough also the Samyang station and update at v3.
Thank you :)
Yes, there is still some pulsing in some video situations though the face tracking for photos is strongly improved. The Zeiss is probably better, but I haven't tested it.
Hey, how is the V4 firmware?
Nice review. I think this lens is underrated from the sample images I’ve seen, especially considering the pricing. The only thing which concerns me is the omission of any weather sealing. At around 7:17 I see you were filming while it was snowing. Did you have any protection around the lens? Even if it’s only light to moderate snow, big snow flakes can melt away quickly. Do you think it’s safe to use this lens exposed in the same weather and with some light rain? Is there more risk to the lens or camera? I guess even without sealing around the mount, the metal mount should be a tight fit and prevent water going in as easily.
That’s right. I wouldn’t use it in heavy rain but would have no concerns using it in moderate weather
I've read the interview of the CEO Hwang, and financial articles about Samyang Optics. The Samyang earned more net profit because of AF lenses. The ceo said MF lenses would get chased by Chinese optic companies, so Samyang is now focusing on AF lenses, even though the market competition is quite severe.
Anyway Samyang optics has limited capacities of making lenses, so it might be affect the QC issue. Now I'm still waiting for testing out XP 35mm F1.2 lens.
Thanks for the good summing up your experiences about 35mm F1.4 and Have nice holidays!
That's interesting...and makes sense. It seems like there is a new Chinese optical company making decent manual focus lenses all the time. Mirrorless seems to have created opportunities for these companies that weren't there when Samyang started out.
@@DustinAbbottTWI
I read this article. Samyang focused E-mount AF lenses first, because E-mount protocol is open source and Samyang didn't need to pay any royalty fees.
translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.naver.com%2Fmain%2Fread.nhn%3Fmode%3DLSD%26mid%3Dsec%26sid1%3D101%26oid%3D003%26aid%3D0008826826
Sony was smart to do that, as some of these lenses have helped fill a gap in their lineup without them having to do the development.
Someone please explain why it is good to have such a low aperature with a wide(ish) angle lens? It seems to me you are going to want to increase depth of field to get more in focus because you will have more people/objects in a 35mm lens...?
I see where you're coming from. I'd say the main reasons would be low light performance benifits, good DoF for full body people portraits and good DoF when doing close up macro type shots (the lens can focus very close to a subject).
Bryan Little Take a look at Julia Trotti’s portraits at 35mm... you’ll see why
@@SONYAdicto wow.. I checked her out. I have a lot to learn from her. My go-to portrait lens is not the 35, but the Canon 135 lol. This will broaden my horizons for sure. I do have a Canon 35mm f2. IS USM I use for video.
That's good advice you've received. I find a 35mm F1.4 one of the most versatile lenses in my kit. You can do a LOT of things with one, and I also love being able to switch to a normal framing in Crop mode on my a7R3.
would you go 35mm 1.8 sony or 1.4 from sammy?
I actually found the Samyang a little inconsistent to focus, so I would prefer the F1.8. It's a more attractive package, too. Very small and light.
How did Continuous AFC improve w/ v4 firmware?
I haven't used the lens a lot recently (I review so many lenses that I often don't have time to use my own), but focus does seem to be considerably improved.
Sir Samyang 35mm 1.4 or sony 35mm 1.8 which is better for photo and video in wedding...i heard from my friends that their samyang 35 has some issue of focus lock,black screen..after taken 700-800 photos per day...
I love this lens,this lens is cheap,1.4.
But in my place there is no samyang service centre
I never saw focus lock or black screen. Occasionally I saw some erratic focus.
Sir maybe they have bad copy...is samyang reliable over sony 1.8 for photo and video in wedding?
I think I would go with the Sony for critical focus. I've had good success with many other Samyang AF lenses, but I found the AF on the 35mm a little inconsistent in AF-C mode.
Dustin, do you think there will be another iteration of 5d series or Canon kills DSLR in favour of Eos-R series ?
I doubt DSLRs are done yet. In fact, Canon and Nikon would be foolish to abandon DSLR space (where they are well entrenched and the market leaders [particularly Canon]) and go entirely into mirrorless where they are playing catchup to Sony.
Great review Dustin... I tried this lens with version 1 firmware a while back and the video AF just lagged when tracking a person. And the lens station was unavailable at the time, so I returned it.
Have you noticed a big difference in video AF performance with firmware 3? It kind of looks to still be a bit laggy from your example.
Few lenses are really fast in that kind of test, and I have the a7R3 tuned for smoother transitions rather than quick ones. I would say for video AF the V3 firmware works quite well
Dustin Abbott thanks for the insight! Looks like Samyang has pulled down all their firmware updates for the lens???
I’m not sure about that. You need to reach out to Samyang and ask them about that.
I had so many slight missed focus shots from the samyang after trying two different copies of the lens i eventually purchased the sigma 35mm f1.4 FE version and so far it's been great, not sure about the focus for video as i only really use it for photo but the focus on the sigma is much better for me personally, but i still regret selling the 35f2.8 zeiss because of it's small form factor, as sometimes i find the size and weight of these f1.4 lenses are just a little out of balance with sony bodys, great review and can't wait to see you compare the other 35mm lenses against each other.
Just out of curiosity: what was the primary focus mode you used?
@@DustinAbbottTWI mostly Af-c i did try Af-s but i still had a number of missed focus shots so i just used my normal prefered Af-c, the lens actually caused me to miss some really amazing shots so i didnt think i could rely on the lens after that!
I've had much higher success in AF-S mode (it's pretty much as good as any of my other lenses with the V3 firmware). I found that AF-C did a lot of micropulsing that could throw off focus.
Have you used the smaler Samyang AF 35 2.8?
No, I haven't. I think it is pretty decent, though.
Hi Dustin, nice work on these Samyang reviews. I've noticed there is a version 4 of the firmware for the 35mm 1.4: can you tell us what you think about it after some tests? I really like this lens but I can't decide if It's a bargain or not. Thank you!
It's definitely a bargain. I've done the firmware update, and autofocus is definitely becoming increasingly confident. Eye AF now works really reliably.
Would the 04 firmware benefit an old A7 mk1? Heard different storys about that. So i dont want to mess things UP...
Hey Dustin, thanks for your review. I'm wondering whether you've had a chance to get your hands on the Sigma 35 1.4 e-mount version yet? I'm a Wedding Photographer and shot 2018 with the Samyang 35 1.4 with no complaints on the A7III. On my A7RIII however, I have noticed a lot more difficulty with AF 'micro pulsing' and curious to see how the Sigma does in comparison. For now, I'll keep the Samyang attached to the A7III only as it genuinely seems to suffer from the problem less from my own personal experience. I can't really justify the Zeiss - I rented it a couple of times but I prefer the image coming out of the Samyang tbh. Keep up the great work!
My experience with the Sigma ART lenses in E-mount has been that they behave similarly in similar situations (a bit of pulsing). I haven't done the 35ART yet, but I do plan to do a 35mm shootout somewhere in the next month or two including the Sigma, Samyang, and hopefully the Zeiss.
@@DustinAbbottTWI looking forward to that. I'll hold onto the Samyang for now then - got me through a whole Wedding Season last year just fine on the A7III. It was only when I shot on the R3 during the final Wedding of the year that I noticed some missed shots for no apparent reason. Might just be my imagination or the scenario I was in but I'll play it safe for now.
Thank you Mr Abbott
Very good review as usual. After almost two years from this video came out, what is your best 35mm out there or which lens do you prefer for sony ( AF. sharp , price )? thank you.
The Sigma 35mm F1.2 is definitely the best 35mm on Sony, now, though it is large, expensive, and heavy. I would say the Sony FE 35mm F1.8 is the best compact option. The Samyang has nice optics but can have inconsistent focus, so I think there's still room for a moderately sized, high performing F1.4 option.
@@DustinAbbottTWI thank you.
So Dustin, how long until the FE Zeiss 35mm 1.4 and Sigma variant? ;)
Maybe late January or early February.
@@DustinAbbottTWI good to go Dustin, looking forward to it!
I was about to buy my First Sony FE lens and i was between the Tamron 28-75 and the Samyang 35 1.4... I bought the samyang alongside the new sigma 70-200 sports with the mc11 adapter. Next one probably will be the Samyang 18mm... Good review as usual
Enjoy the lens. It's capable of producing some beautiful results.
We will see soon !
I know many of us are eagerly waiting for for your review of the mark 2 version of the samyang 35 mm 1.4. when can we expect the video sir? Please make a review video of the samyang 35mm 1.4 mark 2. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I have been unable to get Samyang loaners in 2022. I don’t know what’s happened to my contacts at Samyang.
Thanks Dustin for your clear and effective reviews. Helped me with purchasing this lens. About Steadyshot function, if you read the lens user manual (who reads it after all...) Well, they claim that you can set :
Steadyshot - on
Steadyshot adjustment - manual
Steadyshot focal langth - 35mm
**If it will remain on - automatic it may malfunction.
Maybe these settings could solve the issues with AF-C & Steadyshot micro adjustments.
(I couldn't test it on mine A7 mk1, no ibis...)
The problem of samyang/rokinon is that it will lock up/freeze the auto focus. It is not a rare issue. I have seen many cases in the community. No question about the image quality. Can’t accept this issue on v3, v4 firmware as well. Eventually , after using it for half a year, I sold it out.
Interesting. I never had that happen. I didn't find that autofocus was as consistent as more recent Samyang lenses, though.
The Milvus 35/1.4 isn’t that sharp wide open similar to its 85mm brother. I think Zeiss did it on purpose, since these lenses are designed for portraits and both have a wonderful Bokeh probably because of that!
The bokeh from the Milvus 35mm F1.4 is the best I've seen from any 35mm lens - it's gorgeous!
I have this lens, miss focus a lot specially in close ups with human. It focus on shoulder instead of eyes sadly
What firmware does your lens have? Newer firmware seems to be give improved focus.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Sadly I don't know! I went ahead and bought the lens station after seeing your video. Lets see how it functions after I make sure its updated! One thing I'd like to mention, this lens has a yellowish tint to it compared to others in the market... Thank you sir for great reviews always helpful!
@@khaleel_as SO DID YOU UPDATE?
@@TrenchfootSalvador I sold that lens due to another issue. It seems like it was very common since multiple people reported it in photography group. The lens causes the camera to freeze randomly. It happens in random times. I missed many great moments because of it. All in all, I recommend the sigma 35mm instead or the new sony 35mm f1.8 over this one.
@@khaleel_as And you had what, an A7iii?
good review - excellent comments
Thank you!
Dustin, I've come back to watch this 3 times now along with a few other reviews comparing this to the Sony and the Sigma.(no one does as good a job as you!) In totality I've deduced the Sigma is probably the best and this is a close second and the Sony lags way behind. Where the Sony excelled was in minimum focal distance and it blew away the Samyang there. After a few feet it flipped back in favor of the Samyang. They all have little quirks like you mentioned. In watching and examining them all yours was really the only one where I saw onion bokeh on this lens. When I posted a commment earlier you had mentioned it being nice except for the "oniony" situations. My question is what are those situations and do you think the oniony look could be a copy specific thing? In comparison to the other two lenses in most images I saw the Sigma was ever so slightly creamier but a little faster to cats eye and the Sony always had onion.
Onion really only shows up with very bright bokeh highlights (Christmas lights or similar). I actually like this lens quite a bit (particularly for the price), though I don't love the jumpiness during video recording (which the Sigma is also guilty of).
@@DustinAbbottTWI As always thanks for your reply. I don't do video much at all so it isn't something I ever worry about but I just watched a video on this lens and video focusing and the guy suggested putting video focusing on "slow" as it is default to "quick or fast". I may have the nomenclature incorrect but I'll just assume you know what I mean as I never mess with video like I mentioned. If you still have the lens give it a go and see what happens and if it fixes that issue.
I still wonder why your copy showed the onion with the lights as the examples I've seen from others with similar Christmas style lights didn't exhibit that effect? I wonder what the variable is that did it?
That wouldn't change from lens to lens.
thank you !
You're welcome.
the bob ross of photography gear reviews!
That's two new comparisons in a day. Wow!
Great review Dustin, thanks!
I have these 3 Samyang lenses 24mm.f.2.8 and 45mm.f.1.8 plus 85mm.f.1.4 for my Sony A7III, and I am extremely pleased with them all and I also love the colors and bokeh the lenses provide, which is why I now have ordered the Samyang 35mm.f.1.4 as I also love shooting at 35mm. although the Samyang 45mm.f.1.8 also is a good compromise!
So for me there is no need to buy more expensive prime lenses from Sony and Sigma, as the users of my images have not yet complained, and that is the most important thing for me .....
Cheers from Denmark
The Samyang AF lenses have been great budget alternatives to more expensive lenses. I'm a big fan of what they've done
thank you
I recently purchased this lens because of Black Friday promos and positive reviews.
I have been testing it (firmware ver. 02) with a Sony A7ii. And although the optical quality was pretty good, it usually misfocused when I tried shooting portraits (focus was on the nose instead of the eye). Maybe firmware 03 would help me, but unlike other lenses, the ones from Samyang cannot be updated through the camera body.
As I didn't have enough time to purchase the lens station, I decided not to risk it and just ask for a refund before buyer protection runs out. Compared to Tamron 28-75 which I usually use the AF is nowhere near as good. What's more, the Tamron zoom wide open is much more sharp and contrasty than Samyang 35 wide open. Although, personally speaking, if the focus worked properly that wouldn't be an issue. If you have an older body like me, beware and try before you buy.
I would say both the newer firmware and newer bodies make using this lens a better experience. I have found that in AF-S mode it is as good as anything I use, but I get more misses than what I like with AF-C.
@@DustinAbbottTWI my use case is AF-S. Oh well, I'll wait for some alternatives, because I will not be changing my body soon.
@Foto4Max Yeah, that was just an observation. Focusing is the main issue.
@Foto4Max Well, hard to say where the issue lies, but it was misfocusing pretty regularly. And it wasn't that the focus was struggling - it seemed to work relatively fast, but upon inspection pictures were misfocused. Maybe I'll try another copy in the future.
At the current price it's hard not to take a flier on it. Here's my challenge - I got a copy of this lens myself, but I also have the amazing Canon. Do I use it adapted, or the native lens?
I got rid of all my photography gear...and feel GREAT!!! BYE BYE CAMERAS. A feeling of freedom filled me.
Wow - that seems a little extreme. It makes one wonder why you are still watching these videos, though.
I also got rid of my amateur (Ham) radio gear. I'm stripping my life down to bare essentials. It's like a release from materialism.
Ahh, minimalism. I believe there is some validity to that, though my personal philosophy is that moderation is the sustainable lifestyle. Extremism in either direction can become destructive.
And yet here you are watching and commenting on a gear review
@@DustinAbbottTWI Yes, moderation in everything, INCLUDING moderation :)
What? You were supposed to tell me it was perfect. The quintessential lens. Alas, it has flaws :-( Seriously thanks for another great review. This lens was on my Christmas list hoping the price point didn't scare my wife away compared to all the other gear I want lol. I was surprised to see the onion effect after so many other videos and the beginning of your series that showed pretty creamy bokeh. I'll give it a go if I get it and maybe evaluate it harder if I don't and make a purchase in the future. Merry Christmas!!
The bokeh is pretty nice, except for in the "oniony" kinds of situations. The current price is fantastic on the lens for what it gives.
First, bow before me peasants! The focus damping sensitivity can be adjusted via the Samyang Lens Station apparently (as well as update FW).
That's correct.
You are the Jordan Peterson of the camera world. Merry Xmas from Australia to you and your family.
I'm familiar with Jordan, but don't quite know the connection. Merry Christmas to you, too!
It means you are the best in your field. And you tell it like it is. We trust you.
@@DustinAbbottTWI
I wish I had seen this video a month ago... The AF-C is really bad. When it focus, the lens is amazingly sharp, but you're never sure it will hit the mark.
Strangely, before I bought one myself, I rented the lens from another photographer and his copy didn't had this problem. And his lens was on firmware v2. After I got mine and found this problem, I rented the same lens from the same guy just to be sure it wasn't something I hadn't noticed... And nop. His lens is much more precise with the V2 than mine with the new V3 firmware. Same camera, same settings, same situation, and his copy would hit the eye almost every time. I tried turning IBIS to manual and even OFF, and no significant improvements. In 10 photos, 2 or 3 perfect, 3-4 acceptable and the rest clearly out of focus. Shooting on a Sony A7RIII with V2.1 firmware
I've sent the lens back to samyang to see if it has a problem with my copy, but apparently it's something common.... If they tell me the lens is OK, I'll have to sell it, because it's simply unacceptable.
You talked about a V4 firmware. Any idea when that would drop?
I haven't heard anything recently from Samyang on that front. They did tell me they were continuing to work on it, though.
Thanks. Let's see what happens. :) The sigma really isn't my first choice, but it's impossible to work with a lens like this. And I was super happy with how sharp the lens is even wide open.
I would give it time...or reach out to Samyang and complain about your issue and see if they'll do anything about it.
Hi @@DustinAbbottTWI, I've got my lens back from samyang's official repair center in the UK. Had a quick test this afternoon and the difference is like night and day. Much more precise in AF-C with eye-af. I don't think I'll be looking at the sigma anytime soon. :)
@@deim That's great! I'm glad your lens is improved.
Сцену ужасно выставил, на кресле тряпка, окно отвлекает, картинка плоская видно 2й источник. Задний план режет голову, огонь отвлекает тоже. При том, что футажи хорошие) Это такой юмор?)
I bought one on Black Friday here in the UK and running FW 2.0 and the AF has actually locked up a few times in AF-C on my A7Rii body. The only way to get focus working again (AF or MF) is to turn the camera off/on. I really don't want to pay for a lens station but it's looking like a MUST buy for owners so take that into account when purchasing. I can't fault the image quality of the lens wide open though - instagram.com/p/Brk0hW1HHQH/?igshid=1q2j1ten4f0qi
I haven't experienced any lockups, so that may be something that is solved by the V3 firmware. I do think owning the Lens Station is probably wise. I would just mentally accept it as part of the cost of the lens.
They just steal design from all Zeiss lenses. The same as with the 35 2.8 )))
Not sure I follow. I don't think this lens is actually optically similar to any Zeiss lens I've used.
Found one for $300!
Great price.