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.
6 Comments
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