ePhotozine tested the new Samyang 50mm f/1.2 lens on the Sony A6000:
Samyang are to be congratulated on a very interesting and relatively inexpensive lens. Sacrifices are made in terms of handling and convenience, but the results are there for the taking and with practice the success rate will definitely improve. An excellent lens for anyone who wants to work totally manually and is prepared to make the necessary effort. The reward will be some very fine images.
Rokinon 50mm f/1.2 Lens for APS-C E-mount at Amazon, BHphoto and Adorama.
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DearSusans had a short Loxia 21mm hands-on test at Salon de La Photo:
Wow! Great detail, great sharpness, and absolutely not clinical! remarkable short-range performance. This lens puts paid to the theory that you can’t design a great wide angle that is small and light for the Sony A7.
Loxia 21mm FE lens at BHphoto (Click here) and Adorama (Click here). In Europe at WexUK (Click here).
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16 Responses
The Loxia 21 really looks great and results are stunning so far.
For sure. It’d be interesting to see a comparison with the CV 21mm.
Yeah, it’s calling to me. Must. not. give. in.
Hope any SAR reader and their loved ones in Paris are safe and sound.
I hope she’s safe with all the dough.
All fine! My wifes parents were in Lione at the moment of the attack (and not in Paris as usual).
Glad to hear.
50 1.2 shots are severely affected by photographer’s shaking hands.
My first thought aswell, also because of the useless iso settings I’m doubting the skills of the photographer. But when looking at the purple flowers picture, the shutterspeed is 1/4000. The image is quite soft in the centre. And achieving that with shaking hands, can imho only be done on purpose. Let’s wait for another review. Where images are also not taken at iso 200 at 1/4000 😉
Next year could be very expensive: Loxia 21, Batis 135 (rumored, but most important), Sony 35/1.4, Sony 70-200/2.8 for lenses alone.
I think I figured out a solution to this A mount issue. The only primes I don’t have are a 35 and 85. I think I’ll grab the 35mm 2.8 and the 85mm 1.8 batis with the A7II. That’ll cover me and then I’ll stick with A mount for the Zeiss 50 and 135mm. Basically, I’ll run two systems instead of buying the outdated 85mm 1.4 Sony Zeiss and let’s not even talk about that crap G series 35mm A mount. This would cover me and I don’t need anything else although I have other lenses but truth be told- I rarely use them. The only thing with that 35 is it’s a 2.8 and not a F2. For weddings the F2 would certainly be of more use and the loxia no AF is just a no go.
That’s my plan and I’m sticking to it. For now that is…until another stupid plan comes along:)
I was thinking of getting a a99 just for that 135 1.8 but am just gonna slap a adapter on it with my A7. I have the 35 1.4 , 55 1.8. I just need a 85 and a 135
The Samyang lenses are actually very good.
The 12/2 for APS-C is sharp and has great color and distortion and other aberrations are surprisingly very well controlled.
The 100/2.8 macro is just plain awesome. It’s huge but IQ is at least on the same level as the Canon 100’s plus the manual focus mechanism is significantly better. It’s smooth and precise with just enough friction and the right amount of travel.
Since these manual lenses have no electronic communications, they can’t rely on in-camera corrections or profiles in post. For this reason, I think Samyang makes designs that are optically superior to some of Sony’s latest offerings – take the FE 28mm with it’s horrendous distortion, for example.
Personally, I think Samyang deserves more recognition than they are getting. Their latest products are really good.
Good post. Yes, Samyang are superb regardless of price, in fact forget the price, low doesn’t mean low quality . . . very far from it.
I have the 14/2.8 (updated model) and it’s phenomenal on the A7r. Been looking at 135/2’s, specifically the Zeiss APO but reading around it seems the Samyang 135/2 is close in terms of sharpness and bokeh, but only £350!!! and available in E-mount.
I’ve got the FE 28/2 and although it’s sharp the distortion is so severe it makes it pretty useless for many applications. LR profile isn’t a great fix either.