Samyang 85mm f/1.4 - Love it!

Seen one of these for Sony fit for £169...very tempted.How do you reckon it would peform on a cropped sensor?Do you think I would be better off with a Sony 50mm 1.4?
 
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DEANSUPREME said:
Seen one of these for Sony fit for £169...very tempted.How do you reckon it would peform on a cropped sensor?Do you think I would be better off with a Sony 50mm 1.4?
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The D5000 I have is a crop sensor so will let you know when the rain stops. Im afraid I cannot comment on the Sony 50mm f1.4 as I have next to no knowledge of Sony products im afraid. It is only available with AE in Nikon mount allowing for metering/exif data. Im sure there will be something if you google it in relation to sony.
 
Charlatan said:
The D5000 I have is a crop sensor so will let you know when the rain stops..
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Yeah bit of a crappy day outside..look forward to some pics.Been checking flickr and some amazing pictures have been taken with the Samyang.
 
I got an EOS version from UK digital last week. Took the plunge as I couldn't believe the price.

Amazing lens for the price. I use live view to get my focusing spot on.

Am very tempted by the 35mm 1.4 when it comes out later this month. But looks like it will be around the £350 mark :'( . Better lenses for that price imho.
 
WOOP

Good ole' Halifax. Card just arrived, lens ordered! :woot:
 
losbandidos said:
I got an EOS version from UK digital last week. Took the plunge as I couldn't believe the price.

Amazing lens for the price. I use live view to get my focusing spot on.

Am very tempted by the 35mm 1.4 when it comes out later this month. But looks like it will be around the £350 mark :'( . Better lenses for that price imho.
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Indeed. By my reckoning it is around £100 off what the ebay prices are at least.

Im going to go with the Nikon AF-S 35mm f1.8 G DX next, then something in the 10-20mm range. The reason I'll go with the Nikon is the price, nothing to do with brand.

I love my Samyang 8mm, but I may very well have a new favourite in the 85mm. One thing you will find hard to do with the 8mm is miss focus, same cannot be said for the 85mm.




Nice one Tom, its a ever growing club your joining :banana:
 
losbandidos said:
I got an EOS version from UK digital last week. Took the plunge as I couldn't believe the price.

Amazing lens for the price. I use live view to get my focusing spot on.

Am very tempted by the 35mm 1.4 when it comes out later this month. But looks like it will be around the £350 mark :'( . Better lenses for that price imho.
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Yeah was looking at the 35mm but a lot more expensive than the 85mm.
 
So how hard is it going to be focusing with this lens without live view?
 
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DEANSUPREME said:
So how hard is it going to be focusing with this lens without live view?
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Depends on your camera. With my D700 it's actually quite easy. You have focus assist too.
 
Ive been practicing with my 85mm f/1.8 in manual mode, as long as the subject isnt moving to fast, its pretty easy. I'll be using this for portraits mainly, so movement shouldn't be a problem.
 
Ok, so still not got my head around this.

I have to set it too f/22 on the lens otherwise I get an error. I can control the settings via the camera body but if the aperture is practically closed and Im not moving it, how is it possible to get f1.4 shots if it is not moving... I think I am even confusing myself now but its a concept im not fully understanding. I am getting f/1.4 shots as the dof is tiny but just not getting how the aperture is moving...
 
You must be setting the aperture electronically in the camera somewhere, the camera will be moving the aperture to the required setting just before the shutter opens. It will in fact be holding the aperure wide open until then.
 
The camera is telling the aperture to move when you trip the shutter same as any other lens. On all lenses with aperture rings you lock it to the smallest aperture.
 
Wierd. I just left mine wide open...?
 
It'll be the chip for sure.
 
Guess what just arrived!

Pictures and mini review coming soon...

Forgot to add, I can now highly recommend UK Digital. Ordered the lens yesterday at about 1pm, it arrived today at about 11am. Cant fault that.
 
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Lush...and you have ducks! So jealous.
 
And chickens, and a quail! The dont keep still long enough to get a shot at f/1.4 though lol
 
I dont have the Nikon 1.4 only the 1.8, but Ill do some of both at 1.8 later if I can.
So far though, it seems the Samyang is sharper at f/1.4 than the Nikon is at f/1.8
 
That is a stellar effort on delivery. Ive been toying a little with mine indoors but purely to get a hang of it. I really should get back to work but it is just screaming out to be used!

Good idea putting shots up, it didnt occur to me to do so. I'd also be interested in a nikon f/1.8 comparison.

I can see this lens being a real un-sung gem for the price.
 
Vivitar do one too.
 
Ive changed my opinion of this lens from pretty good, to downright outstanding!

This shot below is taken through a filthy double glazed door.


Chicken by TCR4x4, on Flickr​

And at 100% ( you must view full original size on Flickr!


Chicken 100% crop by TCR4x4, on Flickr​

Remember this is 3 meters away, through a double glazed door which is frankly disgustingly filthy. I think this lens is the bargain of the century!
 
It's incredible, isn't it? God knows how much it's be if it was AF.

How you finding hitting focus?
 
With the D700, as long the subject isnt moving much then no problem at all.
I still think I need to get the magnifying eye piece though. When Im looking at the focus dot, I cant see the framing and vice-versa.
The focus ring is very stiff on mine though, dont know if thats normal. I would prefer it to be slightly looser. To get from one end to the other takes a lot of effort.
 
Yeah, it's a bit of a juggle from focus dot to subject. I'm working on trying to hit focus without it.
 
TCR4x4 said:
Ive changed my opinion of this lens from pretty good, to downright outstanding!

This shot below is taken through a filthy double glazed door.


Chicken by TCR4x4, on Flickr​

And at 100% ( you must view full original size on Flickr!


Chicken 100% crop by TCR4x4, on Flickr​

Remember this is 3 meters away, through a double glazed door which is frankly disgustingly filthy. I think this lens is the bargain of the century!
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Now that sir........Is a very fine looking chicken :love:
 
I find my focus is actually before the spot when the focus dot appears (zooming out). If I find focus with the focus dot then knock it OOF according to the body I can hit it bang on. Im not sure if ill bother with sending it off for another as the lens itself is absolutely fine to my eye.
 
looking forward to seeing some more images from this lens..what a bargain.
UK digital out of stock at the mo:'(
 
Charlatan said:
I find my focus is actually before the spot when the focus dot appears (zooming out). If I find focus with the focus dot then knock it OOF according to the body I can hit it bang on. Im not sure if ill bother with sending it off for another as the lens itself is absolutely fine to my eye.
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Mine is right at the front of the dot. You'll notice the dot stays in view as you move the focus ring a little.
 
Just this minute taken.


This was a lot harder to nail focus, as he moves more than the ducks and chickens do. Took about 20 shots and 10 were in focus, so getting there!


DSC_0815 by TCR4x4, on Flickr​
 
Lovely. Is he looking wistfully at those chickens??
 
No, it was a cat out the front. Chickens are still safely tucked away. Which reminds me, I must let them out..
 
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