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AI-generated summary
I don’t particularly like the 35mm focal length. My Sony 50mm 1.2 GM is permanently mounted on my body and I feel right at home with it. But influencers won’t stop raving about the Samyang 35mm 1.8 and I wanted to form my own opinion.
Why a 35mm if it’s not my focal length? For the versatility and the ability to shoot indoors without backing up to the window 😂. And why the 1.8 rather than the 1.4? Because I prioritize portability. Under 400 grams is my hard limit for a lens.
As usual, no test on a chart and no 200% zoom — I couldn’t care less about that kind of thing. I’ll give you my straight impressions, no detours and no ulterior motives.
A disappointing first impression
The small pouch included with the lens is a nice touch that some manufacturers should take note of. On the other hand, the lens is entirely plastic and that’s a bit of a shock, especially after handling the Sigma 35mm f2 . It’s very light, but that lightness conveys no sense of durability at all. First impressions leave me underwhelmed.
No aperture ring, which is a shame — it’s really handy on a Sony a7c with only one dial. The focus ring isn’t pleasant either. It feels rough, not smooth at all. I tell myself that without an aperture ring I’ll probably never do manual focus anyway, so it’s not a big deal.
Optical quality saves the day
On to the photos, and here the lens grabs my full attention. The images are genuinely very good for a lens at this price and size. When I see a Sony 35mm 1.8 costing twice as much, it had better be good.
Photos taken wide open are sharp and detailed, whether the subject is up close or far away. From the first images, the lens earns forgiveness for its budget feel.
A noisy autofocus
The autofocus is fast, no complaints there. But what shocked me was the noise. The focus is loud compared to my other lenses. I always shoot in continuous autofocus and I’d never had this kind of autofocus noise before 😅.
Returned to sender
This lens isn’t for me and was promptly sent back to the seller. The 35mm isn’t my favorite focal length, so I’m demanding when it comes to this type of lens. I care a lot about build quality and this is by far the worst of any lens I’ve tested in that regard. Even the Mitakon 50mm 0.95 does better 🤬.
GAS struck again for nothing this time. If you’re looking for a light 35mm with good optical quality and the plastic build doesn’t bother you, it’s a solid choice. The combination of weight, optical quality, and price remains its main selling point.
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