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Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 FE Lens Review

Reinold Aryee

Photographer from England

Another tiny but mighty lens from Samyang
that finds it place as an all-rounder or daily driver.

Out of the box, the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE comes with a large lens good and nice protective case that comes with the f/1.8 FE lens in Samyang’s tiny lens line. With a compact lens that’s 35mm, this lens is truly an all-rounder as a go-to lens for different situations. Weighing in at just 210g (without lens caps and lens hood), the weight of this lens really helps with all-day shooting.

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Build Quality:

Comparing the 35mm f/1.8 FE to both the Samyang 45mm f/1.8 FE and 18mm f/2.8 FE, you can see a shift in the design of the lens hoods as well as size. The lens hood on the other lenses are slimmer and in the case of the 45mm circular, you can see a shift to a more petal design comparing the 18mm to the 35mm. The lens hood on the Samyang 35mm felt by far the most studier and fit for purpose in terms of protecting the camera and blocking unwanted light. It’s a welcome improvement from the previous designs on some of the older lenses.

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As you can see in the Image above without a lens hood, the Samyang 35mm looks very similar to the previous lenses in this range with slight differences that are noticeable. The most noticeable visual difference is the custom switch which adds a bit more length to the lens 35mm however it’s only 63.5 mm long.

Speaking of the custom switch, It’s the 2nd Samyang lens for Sony mirrorless cameras to incorporate this feature, with the first being the 75mm f/1.8 FE.

As of now, mode 1 acts as a normal focusing ring whilst mode 2 will change aperture settings with the focus ring. I’ve found the setting of mode 2 most useful with video for smoother aperture changes. With future firmware updates, the custom modes will incorporate more setting and features.

The build quality of the lens is very good with a mixture of metal and plastic as the construction of the lens. It feels like it has a good quality build in your hands and has a metal lens mount that’s also weather-sealed to prevent dust and moisture. It’s great to see Samyang implementing some of the developments of their premium lenses onto other lens lines. The focus ring is ridged to give more control for when making changes with the ring. Paired up with a Sony A7III, the lens feels very balanced in your hands and is compact and light.

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AF Performance

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I tested the autofocus with some skateboarding shots, shooting in burst mode as an opportunity to see how well the autofocus tracked a subject. For this test, I left the focus mode on wide to focus on my composition as the GIF was handheld rather than using a tripod. I fired away and let the autofocus do the work across the whole frame of the autofocus points. I was really impressed with the autofocus as each Image in the GIF was accurate and sharp, the focus was consistent in tracking the subject and was fast in catching the movements of the skateboarder in each frame. I didn’t experience focus hunting and would feel quite confident in trusting the autofocus. In addition to the fast autofocus, this lens is really quiet and would be well suited for filming due to Samyang’s linear STM technology.

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LENSES AF 35mm
F1.8
CAMERA Sony
DIAPHRAGM F8
SPEED 1/125sec
ISO 50
EXPOSURE Manual
PHOTOMETRY 35mm
BRIGHTNESS -
PHOTOMETRY Multi-segment

General use

A 35mm focal length is a very versatile focal length for capturing different subjects, and a compact lens such as this draws strengths in street photography where you need to blend into the environment. When exploring, London, looking for new perspectives in hotels, shopping malls or interiors there is usually security that tends to approach photographers with large lenses as they’re not keen on the “professional photography” associated with large lenses. I didn’t attract any attention at all when using this lens in a busy shopping mall which really helped me to concentrate on isolating detail in the environment. This is such a great lens for practical everyday use and is now my walk-around lens. The photos below are examples of what I captured walking around and exploring.

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LENSES AF 35mm
F1.8
CAMERA Sony
DIAPHRAGM F8
SPEED 1/40 sec
ISO 50
EXPOSURE Manual
PHOTOMETRY 35mm
BRIGHTNESS -
PHOTOMETRY Multi-segment
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LENSES AF 35mm
F1.8
CAMERA Sony
DIAPHRAGM F5.6
SPEED 1/80 sec
ISO 100
EXPOSURE Manual
PHOTOMETRY 35mm
BRIGHTNESS -
PHOTOMETRY Multi-segment
zoom
LENSES AF 35mm
F1.8
CAMERA Sony
DIAPHRAGM F1.8
SPEED 1/80 sec
ISO 50
EXPOSURE Manual
PHOTOMETRY 35mm
BRIGHTNESS -
PHOTOMETRY Multi-segment
zoom
LENSES AF 35mm
F1.8
CAMERA Sony
DIAPHRAGM F8
SPEED 1/80 sec
ISO 100
EXPOSURE Manual
PHOTOMETRY 35mm
BRIGHTNESS -
PHOTOMETRY Multi-segment
zoom
LENSES AF 35mm
F1.8
CAMERA Sony
DIAPHRAGM F1.8
SPEED 1/1000 sec
ISO 100
EXPOSURE Manual
PHOTOMETRY 35mm
BRIGHTNESS -
PHOTOMETRY Multi-segment

Bokeh

The out of focus area of the Image is commonly referred to as Bokeh which usually lies in the realm of pleasing or distracting. The difference is mainly attributed to the number of blades that make up the aperture of a lens with more blades being a positive factor. In addition, the capacity to shoot wide open at F1.8 for shallow depth of field produces pleasing Bokeh by isolating the subject. Although bokeh is subjective, the shot above shows how appealing the bokeh can look, especially for a wide-angle lens where bokeh is harder to be noticeable in comparison to a telephoto lens. Regardless of the focal length, the lens produces really smooth and beautiful bokeh which is a testament its 9 blade aperture.

Conclusion

Another tiny but mighty lens from Samyang which certainly finds its place as a go-to lens to capture different subjects. Samyang have certainly updated the IQ of this lens from the advancement in technology they’ve had with their older lenses. This lens has really good build quality with weather sealing. The mode switch and the option for aperture control is useful and will have further applications in the future with more firmware updates. The autofocus is fast, accurate and quiet with application to video uses where audio can impact the shot. From my experience, a lightweight and compact lens such as this really has huge strengths in situations where I needed to be incognito in order to get the shot, like street photography or exploring. After all, “you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.”

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Samyang’s Guide to Achieving the Optimal Angle of View

The perfect spacing and distance are always necessary when shooting all kinds of subjects, including people, to give them a proper relationship with the beautiful space around them. So, what’s the exact distance that helps you best appreciate a work of art, or a photo?

The correct answer is the diagonal length of the full frame of a subject.

표준화각 자료 이미지
표준화각 자료 이미지

The best standpoint from which to appreciate the full view of a subject is the distance of the diagonal length of the subject frame. This wider angle is superior to standing closer at a 50 degree angle to get a more detailed view. This notion of an ideal distance or view point is also applicable in the world of photography.

For still images, keeping a distance equal to the diagonal length of the full image surface is recommended. The full frame sensor of a digital camera is 36 x 24mm and the diagonal length is 43.26mm so any distance close to this number is nearer to the ideal than the currently accepted industry standard of 50mm.

Back when film cameras were common, 45mm was the industry standard and this continued as reflex cameras needed extra space to fit a mirror. However, as mirrorless cameras become more popular again, there has been a need to return to this industry standard…which is the impetus for the Samyang AF 45mm F1.8 FE. With less distortion than a 35mm lens and wider angles than a 55mm lens, the Samyang AF 45mm F1.8 FE is a perfect lens for portraits, landscapes, architecture photography, and pictures of pets.

What is Preset Aperture Control Function?

On the Preset Aperture Control function, the aperture blade operates smoothly like a "De-clicked lens", which is advantageous for video recording.
Fujifilm cameras are engineered to control the aperture according to the minimum exposure value(F-stop), so when the camera controls the aperture, it blinks momentarily to set the proper exposure.

AF 75mm F1.8 X intentionally disconnects the communication with the camera body and the lens itself on the Preset Aperture Control function, so it is possible to smoothly adjust the exposure without flickering. ISO and shutter speed are adjusted according to the changed exposure by controlling the aperture, so the exposure value can be changed even with the 1/2 F-stop.

What is Preset Aperture Control Function?

On the Preset Aperture Control function, the aperture blade operates smoothly like a "De-clicked lens", which is advantageous for video recording.
Fujifilm cameras are engineered to control the aperture according to the minimum exposure value(F-stop), so when the camera controls the aperture, it blinks momentarily to set the proper exposure.

AF 75mm F1.8 X intentionally disconnects the communication with the camera body and the lens itself on the Preset Aperture Control function, so it is possible to smoothly adjust the exposure without flickering. ISO and shutter speed are adjusted according to the changed exposure by controlling the aperture, so the exposure value can be changed even with the 1/2 F-stop.

What is Recommended Settings for Preset Aperture Control Function?

The Preset Aperture Control function operates only when shooting video(Movie mode) and the focusing mode of the camera is set to AF mode. Please set the aperture at f/1.8 before switching the "Custom Switch" to "Mode 2. It is recommended to set the "Exposure mode" as A mode (Aperture Priority AE) or M mode (Manual Exposure).

* How to use the “Preset Aperture Control” function?

1) Camera Body Setting
      AF Mode → Video Mode ('A' or 'M' mode) → Set the Aperture @F1.8
(2) Lens Setting
      Switch your "Custom Switch” to “Mode 2(M2)"
(3) Now, you're ready to use the Preset Aperture Control function with your focus ring

What is Recommended Settings for Preset Aperture Control Function?

The Preset Aperture Control function operates only when shooting video(Movie mode) and the focusing mode of the camera is set to AF mode. Please set the aperture at f/1.8 before switching the "Custom Switch" to "Mode 2. It is recommended to set the "Exposure mode" as A mode (Aperture Priority AE) or M mode (Manual Exposure).

* How to use the “Preset Aperture Control” function?

1) Camera Body Setting
      AF Mode → Video Mode ('A' or 'M' mode) → Set the Aperture @F1.8
(2) Lens Setting
      Switch your "Custom Switch” to “Mode 2(M2)"
(3) Now, you're ready to use the Preset Aperture Control function with your focus ring

[What is Dolly Shot? How to shoot easily]

[What is Dolly shot?]

A dolly shot, also referred to as a tracking shot or trucking shot, is a camera movement technique used by cinematographers to track and follow a subject in motion. To achieve this, the camera is mounted on a device called a "dolly," which facilitates smooth tracking movement. The dolly can move in front of, behind, or alongside the subject, which can be a person, a location, a product, or any other object of focus in the frame. Through this, you can control the emotional distance between the subject and the viewer by highlighting the audiovisual and dramatic effects.

[How to take a Dolly Shot simply by handheld]

Tip. If the moving distance is long, the camera may shake, so please shoot at a focal length between 35 and 100mm.
1. Stand at a distance of about 1.5 to 2 meters away from the subject.
2. Set the custom switch to MF and Mode 3 and adjust the focal length to about 100mm.
3. After focusing on the subject, set the aperture to F8~16.
4. Slowly turn the zoom ring to the left (towards the wide-angle end) while using your upper body and arms to move the camera toward your subject.
5. Dolly Shot complete!
※ When shooting from a farther distance from the subject, use a cart or gimbal for more stable shooting.

DSLR / Full Frame
1D X Mark Ⅱ
1D X
1Ds Mark Ⅲ
1Ds
5DsR
5Ds
5D Mark Ⅳ
5D Mark Ⅲ
6D Mark Ⅱ
6D
DSLR / APS-H
1D Mark Ⅲ
1D
Mirrorless / APS-C
M6
M5
M10
M3
M2
DSLR / APS-S
7D Mark Ⅱ
7D
80D
70D
60D
30D
D60
D30
77D (9000D)
760D (8000D / Rebel T6s)
1300D (Kiss X80 / Rebel T6)
1200D (Kiss X70 / Rebel T5)
200D (Kiss X9 / Rebel SL2)
800D (Kiss X9i / Rebel T7i)
700D (Kiss X9i / Rebel T7i)
100D (Kiss X7 / Rebel SL1)
650D (Kiss X6i / Rebel T4i)
600D (Kiss X5 / Rebel T3i)
550D (Kiss X4 / Rebel T2i)
500D (Kiss X3 / Rebel T1i)
1000D (Kiss F / Rebel XS)
450D (Kiss X2 / Rebel X냐)
DSLR / Full Frame
D850
D5
D810A
D4S
D810
D750
Df
D610
D4
D800
D800E
D600
D3s
D3x
D700
D3
DSLR / APS-C
D7500
D3400
D500
D5600
D7200
D5500
D3300
D7100
D5300
D5200
D7000
D300s
D300
DSLR / Full Frame
Z6
Z7
D810A
D4S
D750
D810A
DSLR / APS-C
D7200
D500
D3300
D5500
D5600
D3400
D7500

* Cameras released within 5 years from 2019 are tested.

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