A Perfect Lightweight Full Frame Combo? Sony a7C With the Samyang 35mm f/1.8

Several years ago, Sony told the world that full frame cameras would be smaller and lighter. Pairing the new Sony a7C with the Samyang/Rokinon 35mm f/1.8 definitely fulfills that promise, so how does this combination perform?

In this short video, photographer Julia Trotti shares her experience of this compact set up and she is impressed with the results. You’ll find a few photographs that show ghosts as a result of the sunlight bouncing around the interior of the lens. Clearly, Trotti doesn’t mind the effect as they lend themselves to the look and feel that she’s trying to achieve. In my experience of using the lens over the last three months, it’s not as pronounced as this video might suggest though I tend not to shoot into the sun quite as much as Trotti! It’s there if you need it but easily avoided if not.

The Samyang 35mm f/1.8 is currently my walk-around lens of choice, being wonderfully compact and offering fantastic quality given its size and weight. Along with the a7 III, it joins me on the dog walk most mornings, especially when the skies are clear or we’re blessed with some gloriously foggy conditions. 

If you need something even smaller, don’t forget that Samyang also offers an even tinier f/2.8 version, though without any of the sealing.

Andy Day's picture

Andy Day is a British photographer and writer living in France. He began photographing parkour in 2003 and has been doing weird things in the city and elsewhere ever since. He's addicted to climbing and owns a fairly useless dog. He has an MA in Sociology & Photography which often makes him ponder what all of this really means.

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8 Comments

I imagine the combo is so much less intimidating than a large DSLR with subjects.

Seriously? Julia's videos are so much filler and she doesn't say much to anyone who knows a little about photography. Her videos are more for people just deciding to get into photography. Has she ever even held a camera properly in her life?

Maybe you could show your skills, her photos and editing are really nice. Are you better than her? She has a consistent style, and the way she directs models is quite good

Perfect? With no proper dials? More like a toy than the camera of "perfect combo" to me.

Everyone has different requirements in their tools. Calling one a "toy" because it does not meet your specific needs is unnecessary.

Unnecessary? LOL

Someone said their opinion on the camera being perfect and I gave the opposite opinion. Was either expression of opinion necessary? Nope. =)

The 7C is not for me, for several reasons. I would note that the original A7 is lighter weight and — aside from the protruding EVF hump — a smidge more compact. The A7 with the Samyang 35mm F2.8 is almost the same size and weight as my "plastic fantastic" old Konica TC-X with its 40mm F1.8 kit lens.

I looked at the original A7 when considering an upgrade from APS-C (a6000). Two things put me off: it was too big and the shutter could wake the dead. I am waiting to get the a7C in my hand before making the jump if it is small enough.