Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 Image Quality Breakdown & Sample Photos
The Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 is a powerful lens that has gained attention for offering high performance at an affordable price. With a fast f/1.4 aperture, it's designed to be a versatile tool for both landscape photography, portraits, and low-light shooting. If you're looking for a lens that offers great image quality without breaking the bank, the Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 could be a solid contender.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the image quality of the Samyang AF 35mm F1.4, breaking down its performance in key areas like sharpness, bokeh, color rendition, and low-light capabilities. We'll also provide some sample photos to help you get a better sense of how this lens performs in real-world conditions.
1. Build and Design
Before diving into the image quality, let’s quickly review the build and design of the lens. The Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 is built with a solid construction and has a sleek, modern design. It feels well-balanced on most mirrorless cameras, thanks to its relatively lightweight build, weighing just around 645g. This makes it a good choice for photographers who want a high-performance lens without the bulk of larger alternatives.
The lens features fast autofocus (AF) with a smooth and quiet motor system, making it suitable for both still photography and video work. Its manual focus ring is also smooth and easy to control for those who prefer more precision in certain shooting scenarios.
2. Sharpness and Resolution
One of the most important aspects of any prime lens is its sharpness, and the Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 impresses in this department. Here’s a breakdown of its performance:
Wide Open (f/1.4): At its maximum aperture of f/1.4, the lens offers very good sharpness at the center, but edges may be slightly softer. This is typical for many fast prime lenses, but the Samyang does a better job than many competitors in this range. While it’s not as razor-sharp at the corners when wide open, the image remains usable, especially for creative shots where subject isolation and background blur (bokeh) are a priority.
Mid Apertures (f/2.8 - f/5.6): As you stop the lens down to apertures like f/2.8 and f/5.6, sharpness across the frame significantly improves. The center sharpness is excellent, and the edges become much crisper. This makes the Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 a strong performer for landscapes and architectural shots when you need a high level of detail.
f/11 and Beyond: At smaller apertures like f/11, diffraction can soften the image slightly, but the lens still maintains good clarity for most scenes. If you’re shooting at very small apertures for deep depth of field, you may notice a slight loss in resolution at the extreme corners, but this is to be expected with any lens when stopped down too far.
