Do you own either the Sony 85mm f/1.8 or Samyang 85mm f/1.4? Are you happy with your choice or has this test swayed your opinion? Let me know in the comments below 👇👇👇
Over the time I tried different Samyang lenses (not the 85), out of six only one was okay-ish, only a bit decentered, the other five had severe problems. I'm happy with my FE 85 1.8, even if the Bokeh is not always perfect - I love its reliable fast AF.
I enjoy your videos Tom and I own the Rokinon 85, and then the Samyang 50 and 35 1.4 lenses. I have tried several copies of all 3 thinking there were focussing issues since I had so many out of focus. I have also done extensive testing with them against the Sony 1.8 lenses. I think I can shed some light on what's going on with them. The Samyang lenses have a more shallow depth of field then the Sony lenses, even when both are at 1.8 Everything Ive shot from statues, to plants, to cars and people, the Samyang lenses have a more shallow DOF. They are closer to an f/1.2 than an f/1.4 when wide open IMO, which obviously means you are dealing with a razor thin depth of field. So looking at your shot at 6:34 (Im assuming the others you show were shot like this too) you are not going to hit focus on an eye with such a thin DOF with that composition where your model's face is near the edge of the frame.. In my experience, only an expensive GM lens is going to nail shots like that at such wide apertures, lenses that cost 3-4 times what these Samyang lenses cost. You have to remember these are budget lenses here, even half the price of Sigma lenses. Of course they are going to have limitations. These Samyang lenses wide open work best when you put your model's face in the center at 1.4, nowhere close to the edges as they get soft quickly, not all that far off center. Once I realized the limitations of these lenses and started shooting in landscape orientation with my model in the center of the frame, bang, tack sharp photos 90% of the time. If you watch Dustin Abbott rave about these Samyang lenses, notice his sample portraits are nearly all shot in landscape orientation, and they are quite sharp indeed. Also, if you look at Julie Trotti's review of the 85 1.4 and how much she liked it,, notice her use of negative space and how she puts her model's face really close to the center of the frame. Thats what you have to do with these lenses to get the best results. When shooting in portrait orientation and putting your models face anywhere near the edges, you need to be stopped down to at least f/2 or even f/2.8 to be safe. Hope this helps.
I appreciate you taking the time to write all this, but honestly, it feels like you're making a hell of a lot of excuses for a lens that just doesn't appear to work all the well. "It's a brilliant lens... So long as you don't shoot wide open... And only use manual focus... Oh, and only ever compose your shots so that the model is dead centre... And it gives a strong yellow tint to your images, so you'll need to sort that out in post too... But yeah, other than that, it's a brilliant lens!" 😂😜 But in all seriousness, if I was shopping on a budget for an 85mm, there are plenty of better f/1.8 options out there. The options from Sony, Viltrox and Tokina are all way better optically than the Samyang. Plus AF on them actually works, even when shooting wide open, and there's no yellow tint to correct for.
@@TomCalton Yes, there are plenty of f/1.8 options, but thats not f/1.4 and Im willing to bet that if the Sony and Tokina lenses opened up to 1.4, you would get the exact same results with how you shoot. I pointed you to two really good reviewers who loved this lens and had no focusing issues with it, there are others on CZcams as well. Most pro photographers understand how you need to compose portraits shot with such a shallow DOF as 1.4 and its certainly not the way you did here. Even shooting a tight headshot at 1.4, with your model's face in the sweet spot of the lens, it will start to fall out of focus towards her hair and shoulders. You are trying to shoot half to three quarter shots in portrait orientation with your model's face up near the edge of the frame with a razor thin f/1.4 aperture and expect sharp and in focus photos? On a budget lens? Not even the $1700 Sony 85 1.4 GM will do that, Its soft wide open and your hit rate will be very low with that technique. I see you had no problems with the Samyang 35 f/1.4 in your review with the other 35s. It uses the same exact AF setup the 85 uses. The difference? You were placing your model around the center of the frame and not out on the edges where any f/1.4 lens is going to be soft and struggle with eye AF. Did you try stopping the Samyang down at all? Its just as good at 1.8, if not better than the Sony 85 at 1.8, I can't speak for the Tokina. Its bokeh quality is considerably better than the Sony which produces weird little football shapes in any light orbs. The Samyang also has more blur and a better fall off and transition to it than the Sony. All the while being cheaper and the ability to shoot at 1.4 Im not here to try and sell you lenses or make excuses, just offering some insight.
@@TomCalton By the way. You seemed to really like the Samyang 85 1.4 here in this review below and said the AF performance was great and that you were really impressed with it, what changed from this review? Only difference is inside vs outside, oh and you are shooting mostly in landscape orientation with your model's face being in the center of the frame in the examples shown. AF in a lens doesn't change with location, so I would say your AF problems here in this particular video are most likely user error. czcams.com/video/2MJPgDAV0H8/video.html
Awesome video Tom. Pretty clear and real worldy review. I would have loved a ghosting/flare test. In backlight situations (like bride entering the church) some lenses loose all contrast and it's a pain. I think 95% of newer lenses are sufficiently sharp, so I care more about about backlighting and contrast than those test, because the variation is way bigger. Hope this feedback is of any help. Love your style of reviews. Fun, practical and straight to the point.
Thanks for the feedback - always very much appreciated! I'll definitely take your suggestion on board. It's always hard to test everything in one video - not only because these types of video take such a long time to make as it is, but also if I waffle on for too long people get bored and click away, which hurts the video's success and ultimately the channel. That said, if I can find an effective way of cramming it in to future line-ups, I'll certainly try to do that. Thanks again!
@@TomCalton you are totally right. It must be a really difficult balance, Tom. Hopefully you will find a successful workflow that saves you time and facilitates more engagement from viewers.
I have the Samyang and have the same weird AF issues. Sometimes it just won't lock focus no matter what I do. I have to remove the lens and restart the camera and hope for the best. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it just doesn't.
Such a shame - not entirely sure what causes the issue either! I've even heard some people complaining of the same issue with Viltrox and Tokina lenses too. Must be a third-party firmware thing?
Hi, happened to me also! Totally new samyang 85 paired with a7iii, updated firmware, but still this stupid focus issues. I was really sad about it, but luckily friend of mine offered me the new Sigma 85 dg dn and jesus thats really different level! It's strange because in many reviews people really highlight the autofocus and eye af ability of this lens. No more Samyang for me in terms of 85mm lenses!
Rokinon seems to have more quality control even though its the same lens, mine has no focusing issues whatsoever and the same goes for their 35mm f/1.4
I think it's a gamble with every lens to be fair - you may have just gotten luck with your particular lenses. But that's just speculation - without testing a whole bunch of lenses to see if there are any major differences I couldn't say for certain.
Either would be suitable for fashion and portraits, but given the Samyang's reliability issues, the Sony is the better choice out of these two options. That said, that doesn't make it the BEST 85mm lens. The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN would win that one I think.
Thanks! Quite possibly. Or it could be a dodgy copy - I really don't know! Regardless, the fact that all 3 copies I've tested were so wildly different is off putting to me. I don't want to play lens roulette every time I buy a new piece of kit! 😂
Yeap, I have the Samyang and yes, it missfocuses a lot. I really want to try the nre Sigma 85 1.4 to see if it behaves better. But so far, nothing matches the Sony's performance which I sold in order to get the Samyang. Big mistake...
Glad to hear it's not just me! Though sorry to hear that you're now stuck with it. If you want to see how the Sigma handles against the Samyang then you might find this video useful! czcams.com/video/2MJPgDAV0H8/video.html Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
I think i might be lucky. I have the samyang 85mm F1.4 and focus works really good. At F1.4 the lens is not razor sharp but the latest sony A7 iii firmware seemed to improve the focus accuracy and thus also sharpness wide open. I also have the Samyang 35mm F1.4 and the 18mm F2.8 and auto focus is fine.
Good to know! Yeah, I think unfortunately I received some dud copies, or perhaps the lens firmware updates have dramatically improved the AF performance. Either way, glad you're happy with the lens!
My friend. Tell me please. I have samyang 35 1.4 I really like the speed of tracking focusing on the eyes in a nightclub. Even in camera settings, priority is given to autofocus over shutter or balance. In Sony A7 III . Samyang 85 as good as you? Or is it working worse than 35 in the autofocus in the tracking mode? Thanks if you can check
Great content as always man! Credit to Amber also 🤟 Just wondering if you will do a mega/ultra/master of the universe side-by-side comparison to crown the ultimate 85mm ? 📸
Will go with sony native... Thanks man.. In a commercial shoot outdoor i can't risk the focus... With my α7iii the 85mm sony is the bang for buck... The out of focus image can give me a bad reputation infront of clients and models
All that CA on the Sony and the IQ was a tie? Also no comparisons at same f-stops? At least at f/1.8, f/4 and f/8 would have been beneficial. Not to mention doing AF test (video or photo) stopped down to f/1.8 since that's where the Sony was. I have to say I haven't had issues with AF on the Samyang. It does miss a frame here and there when shooting 15fps but quite a few non-GM lenses do. Might have to test it out on a7Riv to see if the weaker AF system results in more out of focus shots.
Both had issues with image quality, hence the tie as there was no overall winner. Stopping down the lenses is a bit of a waste of time - every single lens gets sharper when it's stopped down, it's a given! However, the sign of a solid lens is whether it can offer top image quality when wide open. Why buy an f/1.8/1.4 prime and never use it wide open because the image quality is too poor?? I've tested 3 copies of the Samyang and 2 of them had severe AF issues. Doesn't fill me full of confidence.
I've been testing lenses for the best part of 10 years mate - I used to work as a Technical Editor for a leading photography magazine, and after that as a freelancer for numerous other titles. Believe me, once you've tested a shit ton of lenses, you have a pretty good idea of what's worth looking at and what isn't. But of course, feel free to ignore everything I've said if that doesn't suit your own views.
@@TomCalton if a f/1.4 lens provides equal IQ at f/1.4 than a f/1.8 lens at f/1.8 then the f/1.4 lens is a clear winner in that category. Now if they are on par at f/1.8 then that's another story.
Nice comparision of the Sony and Samyang!!!! It"s just interesting to me, was Your Samyang lens on the last firmware and was it caibrated trough the lens station or not?
Thanks. It was the most recent firmware at the time of recording. And no, no additional calibration was done to it seeing as this isn't something that you should have to do with a lens and Samyang's lens station is an additional perchance. Hope this helps!
@@TomCalton Thanks! And yes, You are right: Samyang has some spesific problems with autofocus, less in photo, more in video usage. It's can be particaly reduced but Sony doesnt have it at all.
im thinking of getting the samyang and this is the first time im looking at such clear AF issues. i think the samyang creates more creamier bokeh and also has its own swirly bokeh.
From what I've seen online, Samyang is a bit all over the place with AF issues. Most lenses work fine. Some really don't. If you get a good one though it's not a bad lens for the price.
Let me know how you get on with that. Though, personally, I'd ask myself, is it really worth the effort? I'd rather invest in gear that I can trust 100%.
tom, you have the best tests.... i just got sony, switching from canon and.. eveything i'm interested in comparing - you have it :))))) T H A N K YOU.. i subscribed faster than you can say sony
I agree! Other than the unreliable AF, the Samyang is brilliant. But the AF just makes it a nightmare to use so I'd never consider it as an option myself. Shame...
You're probably not wrong - that may fix the problem. But, why should I have to when I don't have to do it for any other lens? It's a real shame because otherwise the lens is pretty good!
@@TomCalton Because it's a fraction of the price the G Master is I guess? I mean that's not abnormal, there's a reason Sigma has a dock too. I guess it should be clearly advised you have the dock on any page it's for sale, but there's no notice of it. I didn't even realize until after coming across a review that the dock existed.
Low price shouldn't come with the caveat of "oh, btw, this might not work as intended straight out of the box". That's just an excuse for pedaling poor quality products IMO. And, honestly, if that was the case, I'd much rather just spend more on a lens that actually does it's job and is reliable. But, each to their own. There isn't a Sigma dock for E-Mount currently. But to be fair, most of my lenses are Sigma and I've never wished for a dock. All of my lenses have worked flawlessly out if the box.
@@TomCalton It isn't perfect, but neither is the GM and it's 1k less. If you don't mind a 1.8 then the Sony is fine, but there's a pretty big difference between 1.8 and 1.4. For those who want to shoot Bokehrama there's really no question about which to choose. Strangely mine was on V3 and it updated to V4 but V4 didn't add any new AF features from what I see yet the lens seems much more responsive. For my use, it's good enough.
I suspect the same thing - QC issues. What don't you like about the Sony out of interest? Also, side note, nice profile pic - you a fan of Deus Ex? I fucking love that game 👌
@@TomCalton very heavy fringing, sharpness drops off fast from the center (can't shoot full body portraits wide open). Plane of focus is not uniform (hard for group shots wide open.) Vignette is harsh. ... AND I came back from shooting at a wedding with this lens. I used the 85 for group shots and thought it would be okay even wide open, because I'm like 10-12m away from the groups anyway. But idk... some combination of IBIS + lens OS resulted in almost every images having a tilted plane of focus (on the left side the background is almost in focus, on the right side the subjects/group is in focus). I've rarely seen this before and it messed up my shots :P yay. (using an A7-III)
Samyang 85/1.4 (on A7III) owner here. In my hands this lens in not perfect when it comes to AF precision, but not as bad as shown in your video. I would say rather like 10-20% pics slightly OOF (like the wrong eye, or focus on eyelashes instead of pupils), and very very few completely missed. I usually shoot outdoors, @ f/1.4, with reasonable amount of light. I confirm that AF tracking for fast moving subjects is not impressive. Or rather useless :P Not shooting videos, so can't comment on this part.
@@TomCalton i will go from the Samyang 85mm 1.4 to the sony 85mm 1.8 - i got sometimes the same issues about AF ... Next Stop is Sigma 85MM in a couple months? :P
Yeah, I HATE fringing! So annoying and can really ruin your images. Have you seen the Viltrox 85mm before? Great lens - sharp, no fringing and is cheaper than the Sony. Here's a review of the Viltrox vs Sony if you're interested: czcams.com/video/_QytFyP4cnM/video.html
The Samyang was brand new with the latest firmware. In my opinion, you shouldn't have to calibrate anything straight out of the box - I've never had to do it with any other lens I've tested, so why make an exception for Samyang? 🤷🏻♂️
@@TomCalton I have lenses that i use on different nikon camera bodies and when i calibrated them it made a huge difference in focus. I have calibrated all of them. Check out this video and let me know what you think. czcams.com/video/7zE50jCUPhM/video.html
Thanks Alex, hope you're well! Haha! The beard is here to stay until the barbers open up again here in the UK. Prepare to watch me descend into full caveman mode over the next few weeks 😂
I have the Samyang f1.4 85 mm and Tamron f2.8 28-57. In my case, I feel that i have more keepers with Samyang. I find this odd as a lot of people say that the Tamron focus is very good. Sorry about the bad English.
Thank you! I've gone slightly feral since January as all of the barbers are closed until at least March in the UK. So the beard will only intensify until they reopen 😂
As I mentioned in the video, I've not had a great experience with the Samyang, so my advice would be that if you want a consistent performing lens, go for the Sony. I've tested a lot of 85mm lenses and it's still one of the best for it's price.
Everything was fine untill the out of focus issue. That's just unforgivable. Not matter what's the price range. I'd rather get a manual vintage lens than the samyang
Do you own either the Sony 85mm f/1.8 or Samyang 85mm f/1.4? Are you happy with your choice or has this test swayed your opinion? Let me know in the comments below 👇👇👇
Over the time I tried different Samyang lenses (not the 85), out of six only one was okay-ish, only a bit decentered, the other five had severe problems.
I'm happy with my FE 85 1.8, even if the Bokeh is not always perfect - I love its reliable fast AF.
Thanks for sharing! Yeah, the Sony is a much more reliable choice in my opinion 👍
I enjoy your videos Tom and I own the Rokinon 85, and then the Samyang 50 and 35 1.4 lenses. I have tried several copies of all 3 thinking there were focussing issues since I had so many out of focus. I have also done extensive testing with them against the Sony 1.8 lenses. I think I can shed some light on what's going on with them. The Samyang lenses have a more shallow depth of field then the Sony lenses, even when both are at 1.8 Everything Ive shot from statues, to plants, to cars and people, the Samyang lenses have a more shallow DOF. They are closer to an f/1.2 than an f/1.4 when wide open IMO, which obviously means you are dealing with a razor thin depth of field. So looking at your shot at 6:34 (Im assuming the others you show were shot like this too) you are not going to hit focus on an eye with such a thin DOF with that composition where your model's face is near the edge of the frame.. In my experience, only an expensive GM lens is going to nail shots like that at such wide apertures, lenses that cost 3-4 times what these Samyang lenses cost. You have to remember these are budget lenses here, even half the price of Sigma lenses. Of course they are going to have limitations.
These Samyang lenses wide open work best when you put your model's face in the center at 1.4, nowhere close to the edges as they get soft quickly, not all that far off center. Once I realized the limitations of these lenses and started shooting in landscape orientation with my model in the center of the frame, bang, tack sharp photos 90% of the time. If you watch Dustin Abbott rave about these Samyang lenses, notice his sample portraits are nearly all shot in landscape orientation, and they are quite sharp indeed. Also, if you look at Julie Trotti's review of the 85 1.4 and how much she liked it,, notice her use of negative space and how she puts her model's face really close to the center of the frame. Thats what you have to do with these lenses to get the best results. When shooting in portrait orientation and putting your models face anywhere near the edges, you need to be stopped down to at least f/2 or even f/2.8 to be safe. Hope this helps.
I appreciate you taking the time to write all this, but honestly, it feels like you're making a hell of a lot of excuses for a lens that just doesn't appear to work all the well.
"It's a brilliant lens... So long as you don't shoot wide open... And only use manual focus... Oh, and only ever compose your shots so that the model is dead centre... And it gives a strong yellow tint to your images, so you'll need to sort that out in post too... But yeah, other than that, it's a brilliant lens!" 😂😜
But in all seriousness, if I was shopping on a budget for an 85mm, there are plenty of better f/1.8 options out there. The options from Sony, Viltrox and Tokina are all way better optically than the Samyang. Plus AF on them actually works, even when shooting wide open, and there's no yellow tint to correct for.
@@TomCalton Yes, there are plenty of f/1.8 options, but thats not f/1.4 and Im willing to bet that if the Sony and Tokina lenses opened up to 1.4, you would get the exact same results with how you shoot. I pointed you to two really good reviewers who loved this lens and had no focusing issues with it, there are others on CZcams as well. Most pro photographers understand how you need to compose portraits shot with such a shallow DOF as 1.4 and its certainly not the way you did here. Even shooting a tight headshot at 1.4, with your model's face in the sweet spot of the lens, it will start to fall out of focus towards her hair and shoulders. You are trying to shoot half to three quarter shots in portrait orientation with your model's face up near the edge of the frame with a razor thin f/1.4 aperture and expect sharp and in focus photos? On a budget lens? Not even the $1700 Sony 85 1.4 GM will do that, Its soft wide open and your hit rate will be very low with that technique. I see you had no problems with the Samyang 35 f/1.4 in your review with the other 35s. It uses the same exact AF setup the 85 uses. The difference? You were placing your model around the center of the frame and not out on the edges where any f/1.4 lens is going to be soft and struggle with eye AF.
Did you try stopping the Samyang down at all? Its just as good at 1.8, if not better than the Sony 85 at 1.8, I can't speak for the Tokina. Its bokeh quality is considerably better than the Sony which produces weird little football shapes in any light orbs. The Samyang also has more blur and a better fall off and transition to it than the Sony. All the while being cheaper and the ability to shoot at 1.4 Im not here to try and sell you lenses or make excuses, just offering some insight.
@@TomCalton By the way. You seemed to really like the Samyang 85 1.4 here in this review below and said the AF performance was great and that you were really impressed with it, what changed from this review? Only difference is inside vs outside, oh and you are shooting mostly in landscape orientation with your model's face being in the center of the frame in the examples shown. AF in a lens doesn't change with location, so I would say your AF problems here in this particular video are most likely user error.
czcams.com/video/2MJPgDAV0H8/video.html
this has been fixed with the update if your running version 4 you need to update to version 6
Awesome video Tom. Pretty clear and real worldy review. I would have loved a ghosting/flare test. In backlight situations (like bride entering the church) some lenses loose all contrast and it's a pain. I think 95% of newer lenses are sufficiently sharp, so I care more about about backlighting and contrast than those test, because the variation is way bigger. Hope this feedback is of any help. Love your style of reviews. Fun, practical and straight to the point.
Thanks for the feedback - always very much appreciated! I'll definitely take your suggestion on board. It's always hard to test everything in one video - not only because these types of video take such a long time to make as it is, but also if I waffle on for too long people get bored and click away, which hurts the video's success and ultimately the channel. That said, if I can find an effective way of cramming it in to future line-ups, I'll certainly try to do that. Thanks again!
@@TomCalton you are totally right. It must be a really difficult balance, Tom. Hopefully you will find a successful workflow that saves you time and facilitates more engagement from viewers.
I'll definitely work on it for you! Thanks again for the constructive feedback 👍
Hi I have samyang 85 1.4 for canon ef can I use it to sony body using mc11 adapter? So that I can use it in both body
Hey! Yep, that's right. The Sigma MC-11 adapter will let you use any compatible Canon EF lens on your Sony body.
I have the Samyang and have the same weird AF issues. Sometimes it just won't lock focus no matter what I do. I have to remove the lens and restart the camera and hope for the best. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it just doesn't.
Such a shame - not entirely sure what causes the issue either! I've even heard some people complaining of the same issue with Viltrox and Tokina lenses too. Must be a third-party firmware thing?
Hi, happened to me also! Totally new samyang 85 paired with a7iii, updated firmware, but still this stupid focus issues. I was really sad about it, but luckily friend of mine offered me the new Sigma 85 dg dn and jesus thats really different level! It's strange because in many reviews people really highlight the autofocus and eye af ability of this lens. No more Samyang for me in terms of 85mm lenses!
Hey Adam, thanks for sharing! Glad I'm not going mad! The Sigma 85mm is next level! My favourite lens at the moment. 🙌
Rokinon seems to have more quality control even though its the same lens, mine has no focusing issues whatsoever and the same goes for their 35mm f/1.4
I think it's a gamble with every lens to be fair - you may have just gotten luck with your particular lenses. But that's just speculation - without testing a whole bunch of lenses to see if there are any major differences I couldn't say for certain.
Which one would you recommend especially for fashion and portrait?(mostly photography) thanks. I'm using a7iii.
Either would be suitable for fashion and portraits, but given the Samyang's reliability issues, the Sony is the better choice out of these two options. That said, that doesn't make it the BEST 85mm lens. The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN would win that one I think.
@@TomCalton thanks for your opinion.
Very informative vid!
I'm really trying to decide between the sony 85 1.8 and the Sigma 85 1.4 DN as my next lens; It's a pretty tough choice 😅
He's got a video for that! Helped me with my decision
Here's a video that should help you with that decision 😃
czcams.com/video/aSXwkwjSaCU/video.html
great video Tom! could it be that the focusing performance on the Samyang has to do with the firmware version of the lens?
Thanks! Quite possibly. Or it could be a dodgy copy - I really don't know! Regardless, the fact that all 3 copies I've tested were so wildly different is off putting to me. I don't want to play lens roulette every time I buy a new piece of kit! 😂
Yeap, I have the Samyang and yes, it missfocuses a lot. I really want to try the nre Sigma 85 1.4 to see if it behaves better. But so far, nothing matches the Sony's performance which I sold in order to get the Samyang. Big mistake...
Glad to hear it's not just me! Though sorry to hear that you're now stuck with it.
If you want to see how the Sigma handles against the Samyang then you might find this video useful!
czcams.com/video/2MJPgDAV0H8/video.html
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
which firmware version does the samyang have
This test was filmed a while ago so I couldn't tell you unfortunately as the lens went back.
I think i might be lucky. I have the samyang 85mm F1.4 and focus works really good. At F1.4 the lens is not razor sharp but the latest sony A7 iii firmware seemed to improve the focus accuracy and thus also sharpness wide open. I also have the Samyang 35mm F1.4 and the 18mm F2.8 and auto focus is fine.
Good to know! Yeah, I think unfortunately I received some dud copies, or perhaps the lens firmware updates have dramatically improved the AF performance. Either way, glad you're happy with the lens!
My friend. Tell me please. I have samyang 35 1.4 I really like the speed of tracking focusing on the eyes in a nightclub. Even in camera settings, priority is given to autofocus over shutter or balance. In Sony A7 III . Samyang 85 as good as you? Or is it working worse than 35 in the autofocus in the tracking mode? Thanks if you can check
Great content as always man!
Credit to Amber also 🤟
Just wondering if you will do a mega/ultra/master of the universe side-by-side comparison to crown the ultimate 85mm ? 📸
Thanks dude, hope you're keeping well!
All I can say is, keep your eyes peeled... 👀
Thank you very much Tom. f/1.4 is so attractive but that AF issues aren't acceptable
I agree! Thanks for watching
Will go with sony native... Thanks man.. In a commercial shoot outdoor i can't risk the focus... With my α7iii the 85mm sony is the bang for buck... The out of focus image can give me a bad reputation infront of clients and models
Smart choice, you won't regret it!
All that CA on the Sony and the IQ was a tie? Also no comparisons at same f-stops? At least at f/1.8, f/4 and f/8 would have been beneficial. Not to mention doing AF test (video or photo) stopped down to f/1.8 since that's where the Sony was.
I have to say I haven't had issues with AF on the Samyang. It does miss a frame here and there when shooting 15fps but quite a few non-GM lenses do. Might have to test it out on a7Riv to see if the weaker AF system results in more out of focus shots.
Both had issues with image quality, hence the tie as there was no overall winner.
Stopping down the lenses is a bit of a waste of time - every single lens gets sharper when it's stopped down, it's a given! However, the sign of a solid lens is whether it can offer top image quality when wide open. Why buy an f/1.8/1.4 prime and never use it wide open because the image quality is too poor??
I've tested 3 copies of the Samyang and 2 of them had severe AF issues. Doesn't fill me full of confidence.
@@TomCalton I don't agree with that logic but to each their own.
I've been testing lenses for the best part of 10 years mate - I used to work as a Technical Editor for a leading photography magazine, and after that as a freelancer for numerous other titles. Believe me, once you've tested a shit ton of lenses, you have a pretty good idea of what's worth looking at and what isn't. But of course, feel free to ignore everything I've said if that doesn't suit your own views.
@@TomCalton if a f/1.4 lens provides equal IQ at f/1.4 than a f/1.8 lens at f/1.8 then the f/1.4 lens is a clear winner in that category. Now if they are on par at f/1.8 then that's another story.
Nice comparision of the Sony and Samyang!!!! It"s just interesting to me, was Your Samyang lens on the last firmware and was it caibrated trough the lens station or not?
Thanks. It was the most recent firmware at the time of recording. And no, no additional calibration was done to it seeing as this isn't something that you should have to do with a lens and Samyang's lens station is an additional perchance. Hope this helps!
@@TomCalton Thanks! And yes, You are right: Samyang has some spesific problems with autofocus, less in photo, more in video usage. It's can be particaly reduced but Sony doesnt have it at all.
im thinking of getting the samyang and this is the first time im looking at such clear AF issues. i think the samyang creates more creamier bokeh and also has its own swirly bokeh.
From what I've seen online, Samyang is a bit all over the place with AF issues. Most lenses work fine. Some really don't. If you get a good one though it's not a bad lens for the price.
I think I'm going to try buying 3 of these, and returning the 2 that suck. Modern problems require modern solutions.
Let me know how you get on with that. Though, personally, I'd ask myself, is it really worth the effort? I'd rather invest in gear that I can trust 100%.
Great review Tom! Thank you very much
You're welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting 😁
tom, you have the best tests.... i just got sony, switching from canon and.. eveything i'm interested in comparing - you have it :))))) T H A N K YOU.. i subscribed faster than you can say sony
You're welcome! Glad you're enjoy the videos and welcome aboard 🤜🤛
The video i needed... great job
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching 👍
@@TomCalton the dreamy image in the samyang is really nice but i cant trade it to the reliability of the sony
I agree! Other than the unreliable AF, the Samyang is brilliant. But the AF just makes it a nightmare to use so I'd never consider it as an option myself. Shame...
Anyone know the name of song/artist at 1:43??
Does the Samyang have latest firmware?
Yep it does. It's brand new too.
You need the Dock for the Rokinon / Samyang.
You're probably not wrong - that may fix the problem. But, why should I have to when I don't have to do it for any other lens? It's a real shame because otherwise the lens is pretty good!
@@TomCalton Because it's a fraction of the price the G Master is I guess? I mean that's not abnormal, there's a reason Sigma has a dock too. I guess it should be clearly advised you have the dock on any page it's for sale, but there's no notice of it. I didn't even realize until after coming across a review that the dock existed.
Low price shouldn't come with the caveat of "oh, btw, this might not work as intended straight out of the box". That's just an excuse for pedaling poor quality products IMO. And, honestly, if that was the case, I'd much rather just spend more on a lens that actually does it's job and is reliable. But, each to their own.
There isn't a Sigma dock for E-Mount currently. But to be fair, most of my lenses are Sigma and I've never wished for a dock. All of my lenses have worked flawlessly out if the box.
@@TomCalton It isn't perfect, but neither is the GM and it's 1k less. If you don't mind a 1.8 then the Sony is fine, but there's a pretty big difference between 1.8 and 1.4. For those who want to shoot Bokehrama there's really no question about which to choose.
Strangely mine was on V3 and it updated to V4 but V4 didn't add any new AF features from what I see yet the lens seems much more responsive. For my use, it's good enough.
my copy had crap AF too. Sold it. Rented one once, no issues. I suspect it's lack of QualityControl. I now have the Sony, but I don't like it...
I suspect the same thing - QC issues. What don't you like about the Sony out of interest?
Also, side note, nice profile pic - you a fan of Deus Ex? I fucking love that game 👌
@@TomCalton very heavy fringing, sharpness drops off fast from the center (can't shoot full body portraits wide open). Plane of focus is not uniform (hard for group shots wide open.) Vignette is harsh. ... AND I came back from shooting at a wedding with this lens. I used the 85 for group shots and thought it would be okay even wide open, because I'm like 10-12m away from the groups anyway. But idk... some combination of IBIS + lens OS resulted in almost every images having a tilted plane of focus (on the left side the background is almost in focus, on the right side the subjects/group is in focus). I've rarely seen this before and it messed up my shots :P yay. (using an A7-III)
Samyang 85/1.4 (on A7III) owner here.
In my hands this lens in not perfect when it comes to AF precision, but not as bad as shown in your video. I would say rather like 10-20% pics slightly OOF (like the wrong eye, or focus on eyelashes instead of pupils), and very very few completely missed. I usually shoot outdoors, @ f/1.4, with reasonable amount of light.
I confirm that AF tracking for fast moving subjects is not impressive. Or rather useless :P
Not shooting videos, so can't comment on this part.
Yeah, that's my only complaint with Samyang -- their poor performance up close.
bought and sold two times the 1.8, did not get much love... Now the samyang will be with me at least untill I can afford the sigma.
Interesting how you've had the opposite experience to me! Thanks for sharing 👍
@@TomCalton i will go from the Samyang 85mm 1.4 to the sony 85mm 1.8 - i got sometimes the same issues about AF ... Next Stop is Sigma 85MM in a couple months? :P
I have the samyang..and it does beautiful portraits
If you get a copy that works well then I'm sure it's capable of good things.
I own a Sony 85mm f1.8 & the only issue i have with it is the Pink distortion
You mean fringing, right? If so, yeah, it's the only major downfall of this lens.
@@TomCalton yeah, lightroom cannot get rid of them completely. But considering other befinits of this lens, It's actually a good deal❤️
Yeah, I HATE fringing! So annoying and can really ruin your images. Have you seen the Viltrox 85mm before? Great lens - sharp, no fringing and is cheaper than the Sony. Here's a review of the Viltrox vs Sony if you're interested: czcams.com/video/_QytFyP4cnM/video.html
My guess is that samyang lense needed to be calibrated for the camera.
The Samyang was brand new with the latest firmware. In my opinion, you shouldn't have to calibrate anything straight out of the box - I've never had to do it with any other lens I've tested, so why make an exception for Samyang? 🤷🏻♂️
@@TomCalton I have lenses that i use on different nikon camera bodies and when i calibrated them it made a huge difference in focus. I have calibrated all of them. Check out this video and let me know what you think. czcams.com/video/7zE50jCUPhM/video.html
Great video Tom. Like the beard
Thanks Alex, hope you're well! Haha! The beard is here to stay until the barbers open up again here in the UK. Prepare to watch me descend into full caveman mode over the next few weeks 😂
still happy with the 85/1.8...
It's a great lens. I've tested it a few times now and it's a tough one to beat!
@@TomCalton yes it is... sold it once but ended up buying it again.. solid performer
I have the Samyang f1.4 85 mm and Tamron f2.8 28-57. In my case, I feel that i have more keepers with Samyang. I find this odd as a lot of people say that the Tamron focus is very good.
Sorry about the bad English.
Thanks for your feedback! Good to know that some copies of the Samyang work! 😂
Nice video :) that beard fits you so well :p
Thank you! I've gone slightly feral since January as all of the barbers are closed until at least March in the UK. So the beard will only intensify until they reopen 😂
@@TomCalton oh thats too bad. I was a hairdresser a long time, so no problem for me haha.
Fingers crossed that they'll open again soon ^^
Thanks!
No, thank you!
Hi Tom nice video 👌
Hey! Thanks for watching 👍
I supposed to buy Samyang tomorrow after using Sony but after watching that video, I'm not sure if my a6400 can be still good at AF :(
As I mentioned in the video, I've not had a great experience with the Samyang, so my advice would be that if you want a consistent performing lens, go for the Sony. I've tested a lot of 85mm lenses and it's still one of the best for it's price.
Everything was fine untill the out of focus issue. That's just unforgivable. Not matter what's the price range. I'd rather get a manual vintage lens than the samyang
Agreed. It's a real shame, but hopefully something Samyang will improve on in the future
Sony is too clinic and dull. Samyang has very arty cinematic rendering.
Samyang - It's out of focus... But look at the size of the Bokeh balls.
Biggest balls around 😂
@@TomCalton It's no contest.