Samyang SY85M-E 85mm F1.4 Aspherical High Speed Lens for Sony E-Mount Cameras

(Will post images as soon as I have time to cull, re-size, and re-format the RAW files)Background... I wasn't sure if I was going to keep this lens, but it hasn't been off my Canon for two weeks. For anyone wondering, don't be afraid of Samyang. Sometimes you get *more* than what you pay for, and so far their class of lenses more than meets the bar. I've been irritated that lens makers have been putting out these awesome, fast aperture, lightweight budget lenses for mirrorless cameras but have apparently abandoned those of us still shooting DSLR. Ergo, I ordered this lens because it was the only 85mm lens I could afford with a wider aperture than f/1.8. I did NOT really *want* a MF lens but it was a budget compromise I needed to make. As a street photographer with a particular affection for low light and nighttime photography, I am always in need of fast glass, but the Sigma Art series and Tokina Opera lines that I love so much remains out of budget reach at certain focal lengths.But you want to hear about the lens, so here's my take:*One quick note first for the newer photographers here-- if you are shooting on a crop sensor camera (on Canon that would be APS-C, and on Nikon that's EF-S), this focal length will be the equivalent of 135mm give or take 1 mm depending on whether you're shooting on Canon or Nikon. If you need a flattering focal length for portraiture, this performs equally well whether you are on a full frame (85mm) or a crop sensor (134-136mm) camera, with the additional advantage of being a solid landscape and travel lens for those shooting with APS-C or EF-S.First, the focusing: I didn't know how I would feel about manual focus, so I've been practicing in Live View to get the hang of it. It is proving easier than I thought it would be. Don't freak out if you are getting the focusing wrong when looking through your viewfinder. According to the MF "experts" that is pretty difficult to do, especially at first. Just bring extra batteries and use that Live View feature to get your focus on your subject, then shut it off and use the viewfinder to take our shots. I need to learn to manual focus quickly for street shooting, but I'm having more fun with it than I anticipated so I think I will enjoy the practice. "Zone focusing" is a great technique to master and I've found that a helpful way to get into using this lens without too much aggravation.As to the lens performance overall: As for the Samyang 85mm f/1.4 lens, I could not be happier with both the build quality AND the image quality. Shot wide open, I see little to know color fringing, barrel distortion or chromatic aberration. Neither am I seeing much in the way of edge softness or vignetting.The color rendering with this lens is absolutely beautiful. The bokeh is smooth as butter. Areas in focus are tack sharp. Stopped down, I see little to no difference in sharpness as the focus area increases, which is not a bad thing as the lens is as sharp as you like anywhere the frame as long as you focus correctly.And in diffused lighting, this lens produces a beautiful glow. It's been a joy to shoot still life with because of what it does with light, and equally fun (but also frustrating for inexperienced manual focusers) for concert and nighttime street photography.What it does with form, light, and color makes it a perfect lens for anyone that enjoys shooting abstract and conceptual photography; think Saul Leiter-type colors and dreamscapes.Build quality feels solid in the hand and the focus and aperture rings are nicely balanced between being smooth enough to move but firm enough to stay put. The rounded glass element looks high quality.As an all-round workhorse lens, this is a solid 85mm for anyone from amateur to professional. As my main genres are fine art and street photography, I don't have the same constraints as, say, a wedding photographer. That said, I would not be afraid to have this in my camera bag for wedding or other event shooting as long as you are comfortable enough with the art of manual focusing. The image quality does not disappoint under any circumstance.I'm definitely happy with this buy, am no longer averse to MF lenses after experiencing this one, and would consider other Samyang glass in the future. For the price, you can't get a better lens at this aperture. Overall impressive and very satisfying to shoot with!

I have been using this lens almost exclusively for approximately 7 months.A little bit about my photography: I am currently working as a semiprofessional portrait and wedding photographer. What this means to me is I am working for paying clients, but photography is not my main source of income. My main focus is individuals, but I have also shot couples and groups of three with this lens. That being said, I shoot on a crop sensor body which effectively makes this lens a 127.5mm equivalent. This makes it difficult to shoot groups larger than two or three.Build quality: This thing is a tank. While the outside is mostly plastic, the lens feels substantial and sturdy. I am not the type of person that needs to be able to build a house with my gear. Fully metal construction is not necessary for me, it may be for you. For my needs and purposes, the build quality is fantastic. The mount is metal and feels sturdy when attached to the body. Both the focus and aperture rings are perfect. I love the long throw on the focus ring. It is perfectly dampened to make getting focus much easier. With the focus confirmation chip for Nikon, getting acceptable focus at 1.4 or 1.8 is fairly easy.Image quality: Outstanding (see images and settings at the bottom of the review). The sharpness is really something incredible. When I nail focus, I can count individual eyelashes on someone from 30 feet away. Photos hold up very well to 1:1 inspection in Lightroom. Some people prefer lenses that are a little bit softer for portraits. However, I do like being able to rely on that sharpness when needed. I can always brush the face for a little more softness. As far as color rendition and contrast, take a look at the sample photos provided. My basic editing in Typically involves adding a touch of contrast and vibrance to photos. I also usually add 1/3-2/3 of a stop of exposure. Other than that, the colors you see are very close to what this lens produces when shooting RAW on the D7100. The bokeh is absolutely stunning as well. I prefer the background blur of a 50mm like the 1.8D which I also own, but this is still excellent. With the right background conditions, you can get some wonderful bokeh balls. I shoot a lot in sunny conditions and like to put trees in the background. They let small patches of light in and truly make for some stunning shots (see the first sample photo). Some of the negatives I've noticed: harsh lighting combined with an aperture of f/2 or below makes for some noticeable chromatic fringing.Let's talk about manual focus for a second. For moving subjects, you need to be good. I am not yet to that level. I rely on my Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 for weddings and do not yet feel confident taking this lens out for that environment. However, the engagement session or bridal portraits are where this thing shines. I was the amateur photographer that took hundreds of photos with auto focus lenses just because it was so easy. It definitely took a few months to get used to this lens. On paid shoots, I would worry that clients would think I didn't know what I was doing because I was not taking photo after photo, but instead bursts of 3-4 per set up. However, after getting some truly stunning imagery out of these sessions, I let myself relax and settle into the groove of this piece of glass. My recommendation is to take 4-5 shots while making micro-adjustments to focus. Then pick the sharpest at the end.Who is this lens for? It is for someone who wants to experiment with professional level quality but recognizes the steep learning curve and limitations of this product. It is for the photographer that really wants to dive into the technical aspects and have much more control over their photos. It is not for the parent who wants to shoot their kid’s sports game. It is not for someone looking for a walk around lens for family outings/vacations (look into something like the 18-200). There are absolutely limitations to this piece, but where it excels, it is incredible. If you understand those limitations and wish to put it to the use it was intended for, you cannot go wrong for $300.Aperture settings for sample photos:1: f/22: f/1.43: f/2.54: f/1.4 (you can see some chromatic aberration even after removal in Lightroom)