Samyang 85mm f1.4 AE IF UMC Aspherical

I've been using the 2nd version of the popular Samyang 85mm f/1.4 lens with electronic chip for over a month, and as you can see from the pics below, the lens screams bokeh! I bought mine for 300€ and got the Samyang UV filter for free. At the same time my dealer was selling the Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4D for 1200€ while used copies of the Ais version were going for 800€, so as you can see, the Samyang is a realy cheap investment. The question is how does it perform?

What can I say, I love this lens. Its plenty sharp but what really sets it apart from others is it's creamy smooth bokeh.

Samyang
Third party manufacturers, especially those from Russia and Korea, usually produce budget-priced lenses (usually zooms) for the lower-end of the consumer market. But strangely enough, sometimes, these manufacturers can come up with a nice offering, like the Russian 35mm tilt and shift lens from Kiev or the subject of this review, the Samyang 85mm f1.4 AE IF UMC Aspherical. Although my copy is designed and made by Samyang, it is sold under a multitude of brand names, including Bower, Rokinon, Polar, Falcon, and others.

The long box contains the lens, an instruction manual, a soft bag, front and rear lens caps, and a bayonet-mount lens hood that does not obstruct the 72mm lens filter thread. No surprises here. I would advize getting a modern nikon made lens cap (with the recessed slots) since placing and removing the samyang made cap is nearly impossible with large fingers like i have. The hood is plastic,and seems to do a fine job at controlling stray light. The hood also reverses over the lens for better space saving in your camera bag.

The background in this image was very busy, and yet, the Samyang was able to smooth it all away.

100% screen grab - dont forget, this is a moving subject

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION:

• Focal Length: ...................................  85 mm
• Aperture Max: .................................   f/1.4
• Field of vision: .................................   28.3 o
• Focusing distance: ...........................  Minimum 1m
• Minimum aperture: ..........................  22
• Number of aperture blades: ............  8
• Construction: .................................... 9 elements /7 groups
• Filter size: ......................................... 72 mm
• Dimensions: ..................................... 78 x 72.2 mm
• Weight: ............................................  513 g
• Additional information: ...................  1 Aspherical element

Description
If you have handled an AF 85mm f/1.4 Nikkor before, then this lens will be surprisingly small, on the other hand, if all you have ever used is a couple of slow zooms, then the lens may seem large. Either way, this is a nice size and feels very well suited on a Nikon d700 with or without the battery pack. It also looks good, with its big front multicoated element glowing and ready for action. Amazingly, for the price you get an all metal construction, plenty of quality glass, including an aspheruical element and what seems to be a very good manual focusing mechanism that i have fallen in love with. Overall, the whole lens construction feels very solid and precise.

Handling
On first contact, the initial impression is very good since it no way feels cheap. At first, i thought the focusing throw was too long and too stiff, (this is what happens after years of focusing manually with modern AF lenses) but after some little use, one gets used to the authentic manual focusing feel of the past that so many have forgotten. You need two thumb throws from closest focus distance (1m) to infinity which is very good since your actual working throw can be handled by the limited movement of your thumb & index finger. The focusing ring is well damped and has a nice to the touch rubber grip. Of course manual focusing is a lot easier with a pro-specced viewfinder or/and the appropriate focusing screen. Overall, the lens handles superbly with very smooth and precise focusing. Precise here meaning that it offers the necessary resistance to allow for precise focusing.

One negative point about the samyang is the fact that it doesn't provide a minimum apertutre lock. If the ring does move accidently away from minimum aperture, then FEE will apear in the viewfinder and top LCD warning the photographer of the error. No big deal since i havent had any issues yet. I dont use the aperture ring since this version of the lens comes with an electronic chip which handles all communication with the camera. All data necessary for light measurement and aperture control are transmitted to the camera body. Flash is also fully usable and most importantly, all relevant lens paramaeters are displayed in EXIF. Like most modern lenses this optic is an internal focus design, meaning that the front element doesn't rotate or that the lens body racks in or out while focusing.

An excellent lens for street photography as well! Of course, focusing is easy, once mastered!

Optical construction and aberrations
Surprise-surprise, for a mere 300€ you get one of the most modern and complex designs in its class. Not only does it comprise of 9 elements arranged in 7 groups, but it also includes an aspherical element. This aspherical element ensures a smaller, more compact and lighter lens which in other words also means that it can be designed with fewer lens surfaces, so there is also less potential for internal reflection. But its main advantage is that it offers superb optical performance by eliminating sagittal, or arrow shaped, coma, even at its widest aperture. And that’s not all, since Samyang has also provided this lens with very good multi-layered and anti-reflective coatings (UMC - Ultra Multi Coated) ensuring a high transmission of light. It also offers 8 blades, though they are not rounded - not much of a problem really, since most shooting will be done wide open. Bokeh remains milky smooth right through to f/2.2.

I have shot quite a few portraits against the light and have been very impressed by the performance of this lens. Chromatic aberrations and distortion are undetectable and will go unoticed in nearly all shooting situations with this lens. I dont shoot stars, so dont ask me how it performs against the Noct nikkor when it comes to Coma and Astigmatism but the aspherical lens incuded will ensure good performance. Now, vignetting is present but i dont find it troublesome. So far the Samyang is performing quite well, but what about ghosting and flaring? Well, unlike some other reports on the net, i find this lens an excellent performer even against the sun. Maybe this second version has better coatings, i dont know, as far as i am told, both versions carry the same coatings.

Busy foregrounds and backgrounds in an orthodox christening are easily handled by the Samyang (above). Even detail shots are managed well (below), even though the minimum focusing distance is only 1m.

Last words
So its made in Korea, who cares? For 300€ you get an excellent lens with the smoothest bokeh! Is it as good as the Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 or even the f/1.8. Personally, i like this Samyang better for its smooth bokeh and unbeatable price. Highly recommended!

Part 2 is here (06/11/2010)


Pros:

• Excellent wide open,
• Very little chromatic aberrations
• Practically zero distortion
• Vignetting not a real concern
• True f/1.4
• Very good build quality
• Excellent price-quality ratio

Cons:

• No AF

MTF chart

As found on the internet, source unknown.

UPDATE 13/10/2010
People have been asking me where I got my lens from, so for any one interested, I purchased mine from www.photozone.gr. Very reliable source with excellent prices, recommend them wholeheartedly!