According provided by Samyang AE 85mm F1.4 Aspherical lens Ultra Multi-Coating IF for Nikon lens many thanks to Evgeny Petrushevsky.
Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC Review
There is a very large number of modifications of the Samyang 85 / 1,4 - these are lenses for SLR and mirrorless cameras, versions for video cameras, as well as different options even for the same system. This lens is also sold under the brands Vivitar, Bower, Rokinon, Walimex, Opteka, etc.
This review presents the version of Samyang 85mm 1: 1.4 ASIF UMCAE for Nikon cameras - this is an updated version of the older Samyang 85mm 1: 1.4 Aspherical if. The differences between these versions are mainly related to the presence of a chip for automatic iris and metering exposure, also in the new version the design of the case has slightly changed and the illumination of optics has improved. Abbreviations in the name of the lens are deciphered as follows:
- AS - Aspherical, aspherical elements in the optical scheme (in fact, there is only one).
- IF - Internal Focusing, internal focusing.
- UMC - Ultra Multi Coating, ultra-multi-coating :).
- AE - Auto Exposure, automatic Exposition.
Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC
Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC is a modern fast prime with manual focusing. Please note - despite the fact that the lens has microprocessor contacts for communication with the camera (seen in the photo below), the lens does not really have autofocus and will not automatically focus on any Nikon camera. CPU contacts are used for measuring exposure and transferring lens data to the camera. Thus, Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC will work in any available camera mode (not just 'M' or 'A' modes) on any Nikon camera.
Устройство aperture consists of only 8 petals, diaphragm closes to F / 22. Petals are not rounded, on covered diaphragms it is easier than ever to get 'nuts' in the blur zone and 8 ray stars from direct light sources. The lens has aperture control ring (in the photo the ring is easy to recognize by two rows of numbers from F / 1.4 to F / 22). To control the value aperture of any modern Nikon camera automatically, you need to install the ring aperture to the F / 22 position (the ring has no retainer). If this is not done, an error message will appear on the camera display - 'fEE'. More details about the aperture control ring are described in the section Non-G Nikon Lenses. For Nikon cameras, the lens is an analog FX, Non-d lenses.
Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC
Despite the fact that the lens is equipped with CPU contacts, it cannot be used to set focus confirmation (analog focus traps), which allows you to take a picture only with accurate focusing. I really didn't like this fact. To implement such a function, the manufacturer only needed to program the lens microprocessor a little differently, namely to enable the 'virtual autofocus' on the lens, as is done on Dandelion Lushnikova... In fact, the lens is programmed with 'Focus Mode: Manual'.
Also, the lens does not transmit information about the focusing distance to the subject, which can be a little interfering when working with flash in TTL modes. In fact, the lens is programmed with a 'cap' value equal to 3 meters, which does not depend on the actual set focusing distance.
Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC
The focus ring is rubberized and rotates 135 degrees. MDF is 1 meter, the maximum magnification ratio is almost 1:10. The lens has a focus distance scale in meters and feet. When focusing, only the rear lens of the lens moves, and the front remains stationary. Thus, the lens is well suited for the use of special filters, for example polarizing or gradient. It's just a pity that the filter diameter is 72 mm, to install classic, conventional filters with a diameter of 77 mm (which are usually used by professionals), you need to use the 72-> 77 ring, or buy an additional 72 mm filter.
Manually focusing is not difficult, my recommendations for manual focus can be found here. Of course, shooting at F / 1.4 is quite difficult, since at 85 / 1,4 the depth of field becomes very thin. It is also strange that the manual lens does not have DOFs.
Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC
Samyang is a Korean company and, in fact, the lens itself is also made in Korea. The build quality is very good, the lens itself is similar to the old manual counterparts. Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC weighs half a kilo :). In the box, along with the lens, you can find a plastic hood PH-072B. The lens hood can be installed backwards, while losing access to the focus ring.
Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC
Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC has pronounced chromatic aberration at F / 1.4, including freezing (the color of the out-of-focus areas is purple and green). The sharpness at F / 1.4 of the review sample is not impressive. Sharpness drops noticeably towards the edges of the image. But the lens has a nice bokeh, imperceptible distortion, and sharpness is not always important for portrait photography. If you close the aperture one or two stops, you can get a very high-quality picture.
When using Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC on Nikon DX cameras, it EGF will be 127,5 mm.
Here link to the archive with the originals - 201 MB, photo in format RAW, the parameters of the photo in the archive are indicated here, shooting was carried out using protective filter Hoya Pro1 Digital 72mm MC UV (0) made in Japan.
My experience
Personally, I expected more from Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC. For the same money you can buy a native used option Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D with auto focus, in fact, which I recommend. When using Samyang without autofocus, half of the shots were deleted due to the difficulties of manual focusing and shooting at F / 1.4. I think that my native Nikon Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.4 a much better lens, especially at f / 1.4. For those interested, you can look at the section 'Choosing a Nikon Portrait Lens'.
Prices for Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC in popular online stores
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The Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC is an interesting, modern, well-made classic manual focus portrait lens. Optically not the best, but quite usable.
UPDATE: interesting appeared Samyang 85mm f / 1.2 Premium MF.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
Actually, I did not at one time expect a miracle from the Korean company and wait for a review of Arkady, but I bought a used Nikonovsky 85 / 1.4D, which is more expensive than the new Samyang, but I see that I did not lose :-))
At one time 1.4d was the flagship :)
I agree that the comparison is not entirely fair, but, nevertheless, many pinned their hopes on it ... :-))
Arkady, thanks for such a good review :-) I'm on the Nikkor 50 mm f / 1,4G, removing a good half of the pictures on f / 1,4 as well. It’s hard to hit f / 1,4 for sure :-)
Thank you for the article!
I’ll fix it a bit, to use filters of a larger size than that provided by the lens, Step Up Ring from 72mm to 77mm are used.
By the way, will a hood be installed with a raising ring?
Fixed
From personal experience, I bought a used one and read it and here and everywhere I saw enough reviews in most foreign countries in the same way, I have the first 6D, it is difficult to aim through the viewfinder at 1.4, but through live it is very cool and I honestly went nuts, it is very sharp with 1.4 maybe Arkady has got a staggering variant. On the open one there are aberrations, but they are not critical at all. For this money, it's just a gift.
I am the owner of Nikon 1.4D and I will say that he also has chromaticity on the open one, but whatever you say, autofocus is a big and significant plus. Previously, there was Nikon 1.8D and tried Samyang 1.8 and I will say that at the same price, you don’t even have to think, native autofocus is better, even in cases with Samyang 1.4, Nikon 1.8 would take it). Surprised by the external similarity with Nikon) They seem to promise to release autofocus optics, so we'll wait, because the picture quality is very good + price) Thanks for the review!
Well, what is guided by people who buy this series of Samyangov-hemorrhages at work, lost frames, no bokeh, what kind of efficiency, PRICE, there is little use.
This series is mainly bought by people for whom the manual is not a problem. Namely, amateurs of handheld shooting (there are some) and videographers like me, for whom the quality of the provided picture at an elevated price is much more critical than the presence of autofocus :)
Hello Arkady. I apologize for offtopic. Please help with the choice of a set of lenses for wedding photography. Nikon D5100 camera, 18-55 lenses 3,5-5,6. 55-200 4-5,6. Helios 81N, Helios 77 many, many other manual) I plan to buy 35mm 1,8 as a staffer at the wedding. Self flash. Do you advise anything, you can sell everything and buy a high-speed tamron 17-50 2,8, you may not take 35 fixes, but take something else. Need good professional advice. I planned for a wide angle 18-55 whales + flash, staff 35, 1.8, but for portraits, try m. TV set, Helios 81N. Once again I apologize for offtopic. And .. thanks for your site, for me this is the top site for photography, I always read reviews and listen to your opinion.
wedding photography is actually a report, but the manual is not appropriate for reporting; it’s better to buy autofocus lenses.
I understand that perfectly) I wrote that I still have and what I plan to buy) I just ask for advice if this is enough for me to start)
Sell everything. Buy nikon d700, 50 1,8 or 85 1,8d and some shirik type 17-35 and you will be happy))
Thanks for the review, and again tormented by sheets of my opinion with a photo, call me)
Once this glass was my favorite on the crop, but I sold it, and not even because of some dissatisfaction in the picture. Everything turned out to be much more prosaic - 85mm when moving to ff became something terribly inconvenient for me.
About the rest. For a long time I chose between AF Nikon's 85mm 1.8 and samyang. 1.8d was dismissed immediately - primarily because of the less contrasting and colorful picture. There remained 1.8g and samyang, thinking too much, I nevertheless chose samyang, at that moment the more technically perfect picture of the “geshka” interested me much less. By the way, in terms of sharpness on the open samyang, it is in the middle between the “cheap” and “geshka”. Understandably, in the center of the frame.
At the price of the secondary Samyang is the cheapest. It is completely grabbed for 8k rubles in a store condition.
After that, I stared at the Sigma 85tku and Nikkor 85mm 1.4d for a long time, since the manual, and even such a fast one, is for very unhurried shooting. But he never moved. Samyang was perfect bokeh for my tastes at the time. Not too nervous as nikkor, but also not sigma cotton wool (for all my love for sigma bokeh, they have nothing at all).
But with all the tender feelings for this glass, we must state the fact - the lens behaves disgustingly in difficult light conditions. It does not tolerate flare, backlight, and generally bright light. As soon as the light becomes a little harder, and even from the side - goodbye to sharpness and contrast. Completely. I generally keep quiet about the non-removable freing in editors.
On the other hand, in cloudy weather or indoors, the sharpness of the glass is excellent even in the open. http://www.flickr.com/photos/izlomdoc/9704946260/sizes/h/in/set-72157635799021163/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/izlomdoc/9822735773/sizes/h/in/set-72157635799071656/ Photo is not God knows from what small-pixel d90, but still :)
Although if you put Samyang in very extreme conditions, it sometimes produces a nice picture. http://www.flickr.com/photos/izlomdoc/9592474099/sizes/l/in/set-72157635352247774/
It is necessary to slightly cover the aperture (2.2-2.5) and pixel-by-pixel sharpness begins to appear. Again in perfect light conditions. http://www.flickr.com/photos/izlomdoc/9358182270/sizes/h/in/set-72157633284163132/
By the way, this photo reveals another disadvantage of this glass, compared to competitors - MDF. For other representatives of the 85 current, it is usually in the region of 85-90 cm, while samyang can at least a meter. Considering that I often photograph dolls, every cm was worth its weight in gold.
Of the minuses, it is also worth noting the disgustingly holding hood and at least the disgusting cover that cannot be fastened when the hood is properly dressed. The lid simply froze.
To summarize, I can say that glass is definitely not for work or 100% of the result, it is for the soul. It requires pre-used addiction and cognition. I began to get a stable result (not in focus, but in contrast and lameness) only somewhere after a month of shooting.
Hello. I will also share my feelings. I use the same samyang, only under the EF canon. When I took it, I chose between Samyang 85 / 1,4 and Kenon 85 / 1,8. Samyang was almost a thousand hryvnia cheaper - 2600 against 3500 for a kenon. On the one hand, samyang is faster, on the other, without autofocus. Well, no getting used to, the aperture and price won. So, under the canon, it does not provide focus confirmation. And in general, there are no electrical contacts. It is not always possible to get into sharpness. It is necessary to change the focusing screen to a screen with wedges, or a micro-raster. In general, this is a general recommendation to anyone who wants to use manual lenses on modern digital signal centers. The construct is really reliable. But there is (personally me) a small backlash between the lens mount and the camera. Bad front cover - tries to come off, and just a nasty hood. I recommend replacing it, this lens really needs it. In general, if you equip the camera with a focusing screen, then there will be no problems. For those who don't want to bother, the native EF 85 / 1,8 is still more convenient. Samyang, on the other hand, with his radical f1,4 for three hundred dollars. in the store he personally bribed me with giblets, I'm happy))
Tell me, in your opinion, if you get involved with manual focus, what will be better - this Korean or our Helios 40? now updated helios cost about the same
It seems to me that Samyang and Helios are different lenses, only the focal length connects them) Even with Nikon 1.4D, I still want to buy Helios, for a change in the picture, because of his picture)
Helios and Samyang are completely different glasses. To take a new Gelik, I would not advise, it is better to look for an old man under the M39 in good condition. I had repeated attempts to acquire Samyangi, for a long time I twisted the entire line from 8mm to 85mm, they are still under-lenses, and not because of manual focus, I have been working on manuals all my life and have no problems. According to the drawing, they are somehow indistinct, this is not technical glass like modern Zeiss and not creative like old ones. As a rule, they are taken for video, where the price-quality ratio - usability is good. Used Zeiss Planar 85 / 1.4 for contax / box can be found a little more expensive than the new Samyang.
Since such pies have gone, I am interested in the opinion of ZNATOKOV and Arkady, including, choosing from this FR for a leisurely portrait shooting on Canon there are analogs, also manual and for about the same money. These are Olympus 85 2.0 MC, Nikkor Ai-S 1.4 (a little more expensive), Minolts are the same, converted for EF. The question arises, what can be used for a crop and it is better to choose ... I also thought about Rokkor 1.4 or 1.2 58 mm - a very convenient EGF for the crop (face portraits are not of interest - maximum to the chest) and an interesting drawing, like, plastic.
For the same money, CZJ Sonnar 85/2, as a rule, is either transplanted into the Jupiter body or under a contax or a watering can, you can transplant it, less often under Exakta, although it is more expensive. A.Schacht Travenar 85 / 2.8 for Exakta is slightly cheaper, for M42 it is slightly more expensive. If the CZ Planar 85 / 1.4 is more expensive - $ 650, the Enna Ennalyt 85 / 1.5 $ 1500 is even more expensive.
schacht 85 2.8 is also worth it; be healthy, but worth it
Arkady, what is happening in Ukraine now?
We want to join Russia !!! And I really like the object, I’ve been shooting it for almost a year now))
Personally, no one is holding you; connect to whoever you want.
off topic
Why would you want to join the Titanic? Alexander, Siberia.
Then to melt the iceberg) Vladimir, Ural
))
I have been shooting from December for samyang on 650D, at first he upset me, but then I realized that it was I who upset him)). When I practiced, I began to realize what a treasure I got into my hands! Yes, you can't rush with him, but how he brings up a serious attitude to work! I had a confirmation of autofocus, I had to adjust a little, and everything is ok, you can do a reportage. When shooting portraits, it is better to focus on live view, with magnification in front of the eyes, errors are excluded, autofocus is 100% exactly as a person cannot hit, especially in low light. But if you don't hit yourself, there is no one to blame but yourself ... The aperture is huge, 1/8000 exposure is not enough. The bokeh is super creamy, I have a helios 44M-4 58 / 2.0, and that's the complete opposite. Who is not afraid of the manual, take it.
Thanks to Arkady for the article on my lens. I used it on Nikon's crops, the focal one is still not mine 17-55 2.8 is my choice. You forgot to mention the lens cap - it was with a hole in the box - it's dear and it's a quiet horror, I had to buy a new one. Arkady, I forgot to mention to you - the lens is on sale (with your permission I will write here).
From my own experience, I can say that it is convenient for them to work on the D7100, and it was not very convenient for them to work on the 5100, because of the small and dark ove. I used to cover the aperture with 2.8 or less, because little experience. At open apertures, I find it difficult to take pictures even with my autofocus fifty-ruble 1.4G, I usually put 2.2 and higher.
Bokeh is very nice, the contrast is super! If I didn’t miss the focus, it turned out really cool.
Arkady! I read a lot of your reviews, very, very informative! I have a Nikon D7100 in conjunction with a Nikon 16-85 mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR. Now I want to buy a portrait, which could unleash the potential of this camera, so I considered the Samyang 85mm f / 1.4 Nikon F lens, as well as the native 50mm 1.4G and Sigma AF 50mm f / 1.4 EX DG HSM (even Helios-81H), but make a choice I can’t. Please help me decide!
Hello Arkady. Tell me please, I want a manual lens for portrait photography, which is better to take, Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 or tell me something from Nikon's old manual lenses?
I liked this lens. I use it on crop, everything is there and the picture and sharpness and bokeh. Very smooth focus ring. You can’t remove the report, but it’s not for that.
Should I change Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f / 1.8D IF to SAMYANG 85 mm f / 1.4?
If there is no fear and panic before manual focusing ... then definitely worth it. In artistic terms, in plasticity and color ... samyang surpasses the native 1,8.
I shoot both Nikon and Canon ... Samyang is my favorite lens!
beauty
I almost fell off a branch !!!! What a thing !!!! This YOUNG ...
I recognize the D700 ... This is a lens !!!
“Personally, I expected more from the Samyang AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC. For the same money, you can buy a used one. Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D with autofocus, which is what I recommend. ”
I agree and disagree. I do not agree that native 1,8 is not as artistic as Samyang. The Samyang picture is in no way inferior to the expensive native counterparts of the 1,4D version and the more boring 1,4G. Although, of course, this is a purely subjective thing. I partially agree with manual focus ... but I have no problem with that. Aperture up to 2,8 is reasonable to use only with full-length and half-length portraits ... the grip is wide enough ... and there are no problems with getting the focus. For large face and shoulder portraits ... it is worth using from 2,8 ..., I personally do not really understand portraits of such a plan with an aperture of up to 2,8 ... when the nose is sharp and the ears are not, although ... there are craftsmen for all options. And a small recommendation for focusing with manual optics .... always aim from infinity ... I think it is logically clear why this is so.
I subscribe to Sergey in my opinion. Samyang 85mm F1.4 amazing glass. I probably have my favorite. A tool that is not suitable for every job, but how much pleasure from the result ... !!!
And I have a Rokinon AE 85mm 1: 1.4 AS IF UMC. Lens bomb! If you are not annoyed by the lack of autofocus, then take it safely. The picture on the lens is gorgeous even at 1.4, and the bokeh is simply magnificent. I bought with my hands for 9000 rubles, a new one now costs 19000 rubles. I never regretted that I took this glass, I took it because of the picture on 1.4. By the way, sharpness at 1.4 jingles if you just get into focus. He also conveys colors perfectly without embellishment.
Good afternoon to all those present, such a question about manual samyangs, does the focus trap work with them or on Nikon with manual glasses will it work only with Lushnikov's dandelion?
These are really high-quality, sharp, solid lenses, but with manual focus. If autofocus is not the most important moment for your shootings, feel free to buy Samyang and you will be satisfied.
It is very interesting to compare it with the new Zenitar 85 / 1,4
I had this lens, I used it for a couple of months, then I sold it. I don’t advise taking a new one, it’s better to take a used one and if you don’t like it, then sell it for the same money that you bought, mostly these lenses are on the secondary market, albeit used but they are no different from the new ones, except for the price, which is 30 percent less. If we talk about the merits, this is its luminosity, a solid construct ... well, that's all. It seemed to me that this glass is exclusively portrait direction, moreover, a soft portrait, I I would say soft. I personally did not have enough lens resolution for 16MP, and what can we say about matrices with a large number of megapixels, and this despite the fact that this is a modern lens and should correspond to the “spirit of the times.” In terms of sharpness, the lens almost falls short of Jupiter-37A Naturally the lens is chromatite. I would recommend this lens only if you really need to shoot in the open, or in conditions with poor lighting, or if you need “soft” portrait images.