Samyang, long known for producing highly affordable but sharp manual focus lenses, has expanded into autofocus offerings in recent years while still keeping their lineup at prices well below first-party options. The new AF 135mm f/1.8 FE offers a popular portrait focal length with a pleasingly wide maximum aperture, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Coming to you from Julia Trotti, this great video review takes a look at the new Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE lens. At $999, the 135mm f/1.8 is impressively affordable and offers a longer focal length that is a popular alternative to the classic 85mm lens. Beyond that, it comes with a range of features, including:
- Three extra-low dispersion elements for reduced chromatic aberrations and increased clarity
- Ultra-precision aspherical element for better bokeh
- Ultra multicoating for reduced flares and ghosting and increased contrast
- Linear STM autofocus for fast and quiet autofocus
- Customizable lens switch
- Customizable focus hold button
- Focus limiter for faster autofocus
- Astro-focus mode for astrophotography
- 11-blade diaphragm for smoother bokeh
- Weather-sealing
Altogether, for the price, the 135mm f/1.8 looks like quite the nice offering. Check out the video above for Trotti's full thoughts on the lens.
My GAS is kneeing me in the ribs!
The images in the intro where shot on the Sony 135 GM 1.8 though. Not sure if that's mentioned but I feel that's misleading
If you'd bothered watching the video, you'd know the answer to that.
Spoiler Alert: The intro and images were not misleading. :D She explains it.
I cannot take someone seriously who holds the camera in front of them and shoots using the LCD like it's a smartphone. Don't "OK boomer" me either. That makes an inherently unstable platform compared to holding it against your face and using the viewfinder.
OK boomer. 🤷♂️
I cannot take someone seriouisly acting like a know-it-all when they have an empty profile. Probably one of those "I've been shooting for 30+ years...blah blah blah...".
Shooting using the LCD is only unstable if:
1. You're shooting with a DinoSLR.
2. Your camera system does not any kind of image stabilization.
3. You camera system weighs a ton because you're compensating.
4. You have shaky hands.
I actually used to think like you...until my knees started killin' me. :) All the squatting, crouching, kneeling, standing up, squatting, crouching, kneeling, standing up. So, instead of crouching, squatting, or kneeling, I just use the LCD with the camera around waist level. It's actually much quicker...and, painless. :D