Samyang AF 135mm F/1.8 FE

Specifications01

MountSONY FE

Focal length135mm

Max aperturef/1.8

TypeCinema · Portrait · Telephoto · Prime

Weight772 g

Filter size82 mm

Physical length129.6 mm

Barrel diameter93 mm

Min focus distance0.69 m

Max magnification0.24

Aperture blades11

Optical elements13

Groups11

AutofocusYes

StabilizationNo

Weather sealedNo

Lens hoodbarrel-shaped (bayonet mount, supplied)

Approx price$459

Additional Info02

TypeTelephoto prime

Category["Sony FE (Full Format)"]

Angle Of View18.9°

Review AuthorKlaus

Review Rating8

Other FeaturesWeather-sealing Astro-mode compatible with the Samyang lens station

Review VerdictThe Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE delivered a mostly impressive performance during our testing. The lens is already sharp at f/1.8 albeit without truly standing out. The quality improves towards medium aperture settings, where the sharpness reaches outstanding levels. The vignetting is typical for a fast prime. In RAW images there's some noticeable light falloff, but after autocorrection that's not really an issue anymore. Lateral CAs are low, and image distortions are negligible. Axial CAs (LoCAs) are noticeable at large aperture settings. This isn't unusual, but this kind of CAs is difficult to correct in post. The quality of the bokeh is very good - and that's probably as important as the sharpness in this lens class. In terms of mechanical execution, Samyang went all in with engineered plastics. However, that's not a bad thing. The plastic quality "feels" pretty good and unlike metal bodies, plastics aren't as prone to scratches, and they can take a nudge without denting easily. The lens is also weather-sealed. The AF is generally fast enough unless you want to use it for sports/action photography. Samyang has a bit of a tradition when it comes to astrophotography. The manual focus 135mm f/2 has a great reputation in this community, and this newer AF version has a dedicated astro-mode that is calibrated for infinity focus. The Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE is an attractive option in this market segment. It combines a high optical performance in a comparatively lightweight package - and all at a very attractive price point. Thus - highly recommended!

Review Criteria{"Build Quality":8.5,"Optical Quality":8,"Price / Performance":10}

Review Published2025-02-14T08:32:15+00:00

Optical Construction13 elements in 11 groups (3x ED, 1x aspherical, 2x HR)

Field Notes02

Samyang AF 135mm F/1.8 is a full-frame Sony E (FE) autofocus portrait/low-light prime for shallow depth-of-field. It has a fixed f/1.8 maximum aperture and a 135mm field of view.

AI-assisted summary — verify against linked sources

Catalog note · source: opticallimits