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caspert79
Joined: 31 Oct 2010
Posts: 2918
Location: The Netherlands
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 Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 2:34 pm Post subject: Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 MkII first impression |
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caspert79 wrote:
Received my new Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 mkII yesterday. I like the fact that there are several manufacturers that still make manual focus lenses; Samyang is one of them. The mkII is an improved version of the original 85/1.4. I've never used the first version, but the MKII apparently has better build quality. It also has weather sealing, and a switch between click/ clickless aperture. Build quality is indeed pretty good: lens barrel is mostly metal. Focusing ring is smooth with nice resistance to it. Aperture ring very smooth as well. In the past I had the Sony FE 85/1.8, an excellent lens optically, but the build quality of the Samyang is way better. In several articles I read that this is a compact lens, but it really is not. It may be, compared to the AF version. Minimum focus distance is 1.1 meters; I find this a little long. I have a set of Meike extension rings, which is really ideal, because I can use it for all my adapted lenses. Focus peaking works very good with this lens; getting static subjects into focus is easy. Moving objects is obviously another story 
Some first pictures:
For the next picture I used a Meike extension ring, to get a bit closer.
I think this lens is really a steal. Build quality, handling and optical quality are quite impressive at this price point. Good choice if you like subject isolation. |
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blotafton
Joined: 08 Aug 2013
Posts: 1552
Location: Sweden
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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blotafton wrote:
Looks good! Do you know if the optics has been updated too? |
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caspert79
Joined: 31 Oct 2010
Posts: 2918
Location: The Netherlands
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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caspert79 wrote:
| blotafton wrote: |
| Looks good! Do you know if the optics has been updated too? |
Apparently the optics are unchanged. |
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Gardener
Joined: 22 Sep 2013
Posts: 950
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 6:18 pm Post subject: Re: Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 MkII first impression |
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Gardener wrote:
| caspert79 wrote: |
| Build quality is indeed pretty good: lens barrel is mostly metal. |
Barrel material is a poor indicator of build quality.
Last edited by Gardener on Sun Feb 07, 2021 11:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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visualopsins
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
Posts: 10531
Location: California
Expire: 2025-04-11
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 9:57 pm Post subject: Re: Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 MkII first impression |
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visualopsins wrote:
[quote="Gardener"]
| caspert79 wrote: |
Build quality is indeed pretty good: lens barrel is mostly metal.[/img]
Barrel material is a poor indicator of build quality. |
 ...compared to plastic, I think...know of any well-built plastic lenses?
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Cameras: Sony ILCE-7RM2, Spotmatics II, F, and ESII, Nikon P4
Lenses:
M42 Asahi Optical Co., Takumar 1:4 f=35mm, 1:2 f=58mm (Sonnar), 1:2.4 f=58mm (Heliar), 1:2.2 f=55mm (Gaussian), 1:2.8 f=105mm (Model I), 1:2.8/105 (Model II), 1:5.6/200, Tele-Takumar 1:5.6/200, 1:6.3/300, Macro-Takumar 1:4/50, Auto-Takumar 1:2.3 f=35, 1:1.8 f=55mm, 1:2.2 f=55mm, Super-TAKUMAR 1:3.5/28 (fat), 1:2/35 (Fat), 1:1.4/50 (8-element), Super-Multi-Coated Fisheye-TAKUMAR 1:4/17, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:4.5/20, 1:3.5/24, 1:3.5/28, 1:2/35, 1:3.5/35, 1:1.8/85, 1:1.9/85 1:2.8/105, 1:3.5/135, 1:2.5/135 (II), 1:4/150, 1:4/200, 1:4/300, 1:4.5/500, Super-Multi-Coated Macro-TAKUMAR 1:4/50, 1:4/100, Super-Multi-Coated Bellows-TAKUMAR 1:4/100, SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.4/50, 1:1.8/55
M42 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35
Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm F3.5-4.5
Pentax K-mount SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:3.5 35~105mm, SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:4 45~125mm
Nikon Micro-NIKKOR-P-C Auto 1:3.5 f=55mm, NIKKOR-P Auto 105mm f/2.5 Pre-AI (Sonnar), Micro-NIKKOR 105mm 1:4 AI, NIKKOR AI-S 35-135mm f/3,5-4,5
Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51B), Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51BB), SP 500mm f/8 (55BB), SP 70-210mm f/3.5 (19AH)
Vivitar 100mm 1:2.8 MC 1:1 Macro Telephoto (Kiron)
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Ultrapix
Joined: 06 Jan 2012
Posts: 551
Location: Italy
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 11:22 pm Post subject: Re: Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 MkII first impression |
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Ultrapix wrote:
[quote="visualopsins"]
| Gardener wrote: |
| caspert79 wrote: |
Build quality is indeed pretty good: lens barrel is mostly metal.[/img]
Barrel material is a poor indicator of build quality. |
...compared to plastic, I think...know of any well-built plastic lenses? |
Well, most of modern AF lenses from major brands have many parts in "plastic", mainly for weight saving.
In the past, the ANGENIEUX made the line of 180/2.3, 35-70/3.5 and 70-210/3.5 in polycarbonate, and they were expensive and well reputated lenses. I have to say, though, that my 70-210 got a crack right on the mount... |
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Gardener
Joined: 22 Sep 2013
Posts: 950
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 11:53 pm Post subject: Re: Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 MkII first impression |
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Gardener wrote:
| visualopsins wrote: |
| Gardener wrote: |
| caspert79 wrote: |
| Build quality is indeed pretty good: lens barrel is mostly metal. |
Barrel material is a poor indicator of build quality. |
...compared to plastic, I think...know of any well-built plastic lenses? |
Probably any modern AF 85mm lens of better quality? Sony GM, Sigma Art, all three Canon L's, and so on. |
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Blazer0ne
Joined: 12 Sep 2018
Posts: 836
Expire: 2024-12-07
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2021 12:19 am Post subject: Re: Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 MkII first impression |
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Blazer0ne wrote:
...
Last edited by Blazer0ne on Tue Feb 22, 2022 6:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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55
Joined: 13 May 2013
Posts: 709
Location: U.S.
Expire: 2022-06-15
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2021 1:49 am Post subject: Re: Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 MkII first impression |
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55 wrote:
| caspert79 wrote: |
. . .
Minimum focus distance is 1.1 meters; I find this a little long.
. . . |
Agreed. I have a prior version of the 85 and it also has a 1.1m MFD. Samyang's recent lenses are wonderful, but the 85's MFD is a disappointment.
| caspert79 wrote: |
. . .
Some first pictures: |
Cute kids! I think your lens has already paid for itself. |
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papasito
Joined: 09 Jan 2015
Posts: 1658
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2021 2:34 am Post subject: Re: Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 MkII first impression |
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papasito wrote:
| Gardener wrote: |
| visualopsins wrote: |
| Gardener wrote: |
| caspert79 wrote: |
| Build quality is indeed pretty good: lens barrel is mostly metal. |
Barrel material is a poor indicator of build quality. |
...compared to plastic, I think...know of any well-built plastic lenses? |
Probably any modern AF 85mm lens of better quality? Sony GM, Sigma Art, all three Canon L's, and so on. |
GM is a good one.
Nice bokeh and good resolution power wide open. Sweet point at F/2,8 (center) and f/4 (whole image).
Minimal CA wide open and visible CAlo.
It feels very well with the 7RIII and 7RIV.
In the AF área, is something slow.
The 135GM is better to my taste |
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poilu
Joined: 26 Aug 2007
Posts: 10471
Location: Greece
Expire: 2019-08-29
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2021 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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poilu wrote:
_________________
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cbass
Joined: 27 Jul 2019
Posts: 441
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2021 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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cbass wrote:
Isn't version II for APS-C and the original was a full frame lens?
Is that the lens you are talking about or is there a full frame version II? |
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yoyomaoz
Joined: 31 Jul 2018
Posts: 89
Location: Adelaide
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 1:01 am Post subject: |
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yoyomaoz wrote:
A few months ago I bought the Rokinon version of what I believe is this same lens. (They "badge engineer" some lenses and market them as Rokinon or Samyang perhaps in different markets). I am very impressed with it, especially for the price. Mine is mounted for Canon but I use it with an adapter on a Sony A7s. Some examples. These have been textured etc. in post processing but you get the idea. It's a damn fine lens and pleasant to use too.
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aidaho
Joined: 29 Apr 2018
Posts: 456
Location: Ukraine
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2021 12:35 pm Post subject: Re: Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 MkII first impression |
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aidaho wrote:
| caspert79 wrote: |
| Received my new Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 mkII yesterday. I like the fact that there are several manufacturers that still make manual focus lenses; Samyang is one of them. The mkII is an improved version of the original 85/1.4. |
It's in fact the third version.
First one had a golden ring to the front of the lens.
Second had a red ring closer to the mount (it's the one I own).
Yours is the third one.
Not counting the VDSLR versions here, only photographic ones.
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tomasg
Joined: 01 Nov 2009
Posts: 1135
Expire: 2014-04-28
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| Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2021 8:21 am Post subject: Re: Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 MkII first impression |
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tomasg wrote:
| aidaho wrote: |
| caspert79 wrote: |
| Received my new Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 mkII yesterday. I like the fact that there are several manufacturers that still make manual focus lenses; Samyang is one of them. The mkII is an improved version of the original 85/1.4. |
It's in fact the third version.
First one had a golden ring to the front of the lens.
Second had a red ring closer to the mount (it's the one I own).
Yours is the third one.
Not counting the VDSLR versions here, only photographic ones.
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It s actually the fourth, the first one was with the golden ring and a golden plaque, they then released a second version with only the golden ring, the difference being the second version got new coatings UMC, then came the red ring version and now this one the OP bought. |
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