Review Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

Navigation

1. Browse Navigation
2. In short
3. History
4. All lenses and teleconverters Yongnuo
5. Alternatives and cost comparisons
6. Main Specifications
7. Assembly
8. Focusing
9. Image quality
10. Sample Photos on Canon EOS 300D
11. Sample Photos on Canon EOS 5D
12. Sample photos with processing
13. Differences from Canon Lens EF 35mm 1: 2
14. My experience
15. Video review
16. Lens prices
17. Results
18. User Comments
19. Add your review or question on the lens

It's important: Please note that Yongnuo 35mm 1: 2 lenses, in versions for Nikon and Canon cameras, look very different from each other. Usually third-party lenses such as tokina, Tamron, Sigma, Carl Zeiss etc., have a very similar case design for versions for different systems. Version YONGNUO 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2N) for Nikon cameras copies the design of the case Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8G SWM AsphericalVersion Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2) for Canon EOS cameras copies the design of the case Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8 II.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

In short

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 is a fast fixed lens from the Chinese manufacturer Yongnuo Digital. On full-frame cameras, 35mm focal length is transitional from wide-angle to standard. This focal length is very popular on both full and cropped cameras. On a full frame 35mm is a moderate wide-angle lens and on a 35mm crop it is a standard lens.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 copied case design Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8 II and optical properties Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2.

In general, the lens is not bad.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 can serve as a replacement old Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2 or not really cheap Canon Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 IS USM.

First of all, users of budget crop cameras benefited from the appearance of the Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 Canon APS-C, for which there was no available standard fast prime lens. Canon Lens EF-S 24mm 1: 2.8 STM and Canon Macro Lens EF-S 35mm 1: 2.8 IS STM are too expensive, and with aperture they don’t have much.

On Canon cameras with a sensor APS-C EGF Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1:2 will be 56mm, which is the normal (i.e. standard) focal length for stock prime lenses.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

History

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (Model YN35mm F2) was introduced April 21 2015 years. In a sense, Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 is a copy Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2which was introduced back in October 1990 of the year. Most likely the 25-year period indicates that the output of Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 was associated with the expiration of the patent on Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2.

Almost a year and a half after the announcement of the Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2 for Canon EOS cameras) the version for Nikon was released - Yongnuo 35mm 1: 2 (model YN35mm F2N) that was submitted 1 September 2016 years.

Let me remind you that the first lens from Yongnuo Digital was a fifty dollars for Canon EOS cameras — Yongnuo Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8 (YN50mm F1.8) submitted on December 27, 2014.

Yongnuo Digital lenses copy the optical layouts of old lenses Canon EOS Usually, the version for Canon comes out first, and after a while - for Nikon (but not always). For other popular systems (Pentax, Sony, Sigma, Micro 4/3), Yongnuo does not produce lenses.

In November 2023, based on the optical design, Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1:2 (model YN35mm F2) was released version of the lens for Canon R mirrorless cameras.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

Alternatives and price comparisons

Below I have prepared a list with all similar lenses (fixes in the range of 30-40 mm) with support for auto focus for Canon SLR cameras and indicated the difference in cost between them and the hero from this review:

1. approximately at 2 times cheaper Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (170 USD vs 80 USD per second lenses)
2. approximately at 6.5 times cheaper Canon Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 IS USM (550 USD vs 85 USD for new lenses)
3. approximately at 14.1 times cheaper Canon LENS EF 35mm 1: 1.4L USM (1200 USD vs 85 USD for new lenses)
4. approximately at 20 times cheaper Canon LENS EF 35mm 1: 1.4L II USM (1700 USD vs 85 USD for new lenses)
5. approximately at 4.1 times cheaper Canon Macro Lens EF-S 35mm 1: 2.8 IS STM (350 USD vs 85 USD for new lenses)
6. approximately at 2.11 times cheaper Canon Lens EF 40mm 1: 2.8 STM (180 USD vs 85 USD for new lenses)
7. approximately at 7 times cheaper Tamron 35mm F / 1.8 SP DI USD VC (600 USD vs 85 USD for new lenses)
8. approximately at 10.5 times cheaper Sigma 35mm 1: 1.4 DG HSM | A (900 USD vs 85 USD for new lenses)
9. approximately at 6 times cheaper Sigma 30mm 1: 1.4 DC HSM | A (500 USD vs 85 USD for new lenses)
10. approximately at 2.5 times cheaper Sigma 30mm 1: 1.4 EX DC (200 USD vs 80 USD per second lenses)
11. approximately at 2.5 times cheaper Sigma af 30mm f / 1.4 EX DC HSM (200 USD vs 80 USD per second lenses)
12. many times cheaper Sigma 40mm 1: 1.4 DG HSM | A
13. approximately at 3 times cheaper Tokina MACRO 35 F2.8DX AT-X PRO (230 USD vs 80 USD per second lenses)
14. many times cheaper Yongnuo Lens 35mm 1: 1.4

As a result, the new Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 is cheaper than even the cheapest version from Canon in a used state. I indicated prices based on average current value in online stores. Unfortunately, the second-hand Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 only sells a little cheaper than the new one, because for the 'used' option I indicated a price equal to $ 80 (I sold this lens for about so much after creating its review).

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

All Yongnuo Lenses

Bayonet mount Sony FE [DF, FULL FRAME] и Sony E[DA,APS-C]:

1. yongnuo 11 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM WL S [announcement]
2. yongnuo 16 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM S [announcement]
3. yongnuo 35 mm 1: 2 DF DSM S [review]
4. yongnuo 50 mm 1: 1.8 DF DSM S [announce]
5. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM S [overview]
6. yongnuo 85 mm 1: 1.8 DF DSM S [review]
7. yongnuo 85 mm 1:1.8 DF DSM S II [announcement]

Bayonet mount Canon RF (mirrorless full frame):

1. yongnuo 35 mm 1: 2 DF DSM R [review]
2. yongnuo 35 mm 1:2 CR [announcement]
3. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 DF DSM R [to be announced]
4. yongnuo 85 mm 1:1.8 DF DSM R (two subversions with different names) [review]

Bayonet mount Nikon Z [DF, FULL FRAME + DA,APS-C]::

1. yongnuo 11 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM WL Z [announcement]
2. yongnuo 33 mm 1:1.4 DA DSM WL Z PRO [announcement]
3. yongnuo 35 mm 1:2 DF DSM Z [announcement]
4. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 DF DSM Z [announcement]
5. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM Z [review]
6. yongnuo 85 mm 1:1.8 DF DSM Z [announcement]

Bayonet mount fujifilm x [DA,APS-C]:

1. yongnuo 11 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM WL X [announcement]
2. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM X Pro [Announcement]
3. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM X [announcement + overview]

For the system Micro 4 / 3:

1. yongnuo 25 mm 1: 1.7 [review]
2. yongnuo 42.5 mm 1: 1.7 [review]
3. yongnuo 42.5 mm 1:1.7 II [overview]
4. yongnuo 12-35 mm 1:2.8-4 STM ASPH MACRO [announcement]

Bayonet mount Nikon f (mirrored full frame):

1. yongnuo 14 mm 1: 2.8 [overview]
2. yongnuo 35 mm 1: 2 [overview]
3. yongnuo 40 mm 1: 2.8 [overview]
4. yongnuo 50 mm 1: 1.8 [review]
5. yongnuo 50 mm 1: 1.4 E [overview]
6. yongnuo 60 mm 1:2 MACRO MF [overview]
7. yongnuo 85 mm 1: 1.8 [overview]
8. yongnuo 100 mm 1: 2 [overview]

Bayonet mount Canon EF (mirrored full frame):

1. yongnuo 14 mm 1:2.8 [review N]
2. yongnuo 35 mm 1: 2 [review]
3. yongnuo 35 mm 1: 1.4 [overview]
4. yongnuo 35 mm 1: 1.4C DF UWM [announce]
5. yongnuo 50 mm 1: 1.8 [overview]
   
6. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 II [overview]
7. yongnuo 50 mm 1: 1.4 [overview]
8. yongnuo 60 mm 1:2 MACRO MF [review N]
9. yongnuo 85 mm 1: 1.8 [review]
10. yongnuo 100 mm 1: 2 [overview]

Cameras:

1. Yongnuo YN433 (2023, Micro 4/3, 20 MP, 4K)
2. Yongnuo YN455 (2021, Micro 4/3, 20 MP, 4K)
3. Yongnuo YN450/450M (2019, Micro 4/3 -> Canon EF, 16 MP, 4K)

Lenses and cameras and many other products from Yongnuo can easily be found at Authorized Yongnuo Dealer / Store on Aliexpres.

My video on all Yongnuo lenses here.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

Main technical characteristics of Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 Yongnuo Lens Made In China (YN35mm F2, for Canon EOS) copied / upgraded the optical scheme of the original Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2, and the design of the case took Yongnuo Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8which, in turn, is a copy of the original Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8 II. As a result, the lens from this review is a mixture Canon 50 / 1.8 II с Canon 35 / 2.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

Assembly

In a small box, together with the Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2, there is a coupon with the date of manufacture, instructions in Chinese and English, and the lens itself with front and back covers. The box is made in the colors typical of Nikon Nikkor golden boxes.

The Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 is the only lens from Yongnuo Digital with a country of origin. On the rim of the case there is a not at all hidden inscription 'Yongnuo Lens Made In China', which, most likely, is a copy-reference to the original inscription 'Canon Lens Made In Japan' Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2. On all other lenses from Yongnuo Digital there is no information about the country of the manufacturer.

Please note that the Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 is not equipped with a lens hood, and there is no mention of the lens hood in the lens manual. Most likely, with the lens it will be possible to use any universal hood, which is installed in the thread of the front filter.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 made of plastics, which made the lens very light, while the Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 uses a metal mount. Unfortunately, the focus ring and the retractable front of the frame (trunk) have a small backlash. Over time, the inscriptions, made in white paint, begin to climb around.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 is one of the lightest autofocus lenses, weighing only 155 grams. The diameter of the front filter has a very popular size and is 52 mm. While working with a polarizing filter, I was a little worried if the trunk of the lens would fall off from the forces of rotation of the polarizer.

Focus ring Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 rubberized (for Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2 plastic). Unfortunately, the Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 does not have useful focus distance marks, DOF scales, or tags for working in the infrared spectrum. There is only one single red dot for connecting the lens to the camera.

I note that Yongnuo 35mm 1: 2 (for Nikon cameras) is better manufactured than the Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (for Canon cameras). Unlike the version for Canon cameras, it has virtually internal focusing, a window with a focusing distance, a depth of field scale, a more thoughtful focusing ring and can use a bayonet-type hood.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

Focusing

For focusing Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 uses micro motor and is an analog of Canon MM (Micro Motor). Auto Focus will work with any Canon EOS SLR camera.

Auto focus quite noisy. Focus speed average (closer to low), slightly lower than the original lens Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2.

I worked with a lens on a Canon Digital Rebel camera (aka Canon EOS 300D Digital, aka Canon EOS Kiss Digital) with very simple 7-point focusing system) Focusing low, lens tends to make focus mistakes sometimes. Accuracy and tenacity practically does not depend on the use of a cross-shaped focus point or linear.

The lens has an AF \ MF focus mode switch. Be sure to switch it to the MF position during manual focus. If this is not done, then the auto focus mechanism may be damaged. In AF mode, the focus ring is not locked, but continues to rotate due to the power of the micro motor, while it cannot be touched.

In manual focus mode, the focus ring rotates approximately 70 degrees. Rubber focus ring.

Lens does not have internal focus, during focusing, the frame of the body ('trunk') moves forward about half a centimeter, while the front lens does not rotate. It is possible to use various filters without any problems.

The minimum focusing distance is only 25 cm, while you can get the maximum magnification for macro photography of 1: 4.3, which is not bad for such a lens.

Other features:

1. Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 does not have a hard stop (hard infinity mechanical stop) that allows you to accurately and quickly focus the lens to infinity under any external temperature conditions. For accurate aiming at infinity, you cannot just bring the focus ring to its extreme position.
2. Focus shift (shift-focus) is missing.
3. Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 has a small 'Focus Breathing' effect (changing the viewing angle during focusing). During focusing towards the MDF, the viewing angle decreases.
4. Unknown compatibility with teleconverters. A
5. The direction of the 'AF-MF' switch and the direction of the focus ring are the same as the original Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2.
6. Focusing is performed by simultaneously moving the entire lens block (all lenses) relative to the focal plane.

Important: Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 - a lens from a third-party manufacturer. It may happen that it will not work correctly with some Canon cameras. Known Issues:

1. on Canon EOS DIGITAL cameras 450D (aka Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, aka Canon EOS Kiss X2 is one of the first cameras with Live View) and Canon 600D this lens does not focus correctly, either focuses very, very long, or focuses inaccurately in Live View mode.
2. the lens sometimes continues to focus (drives the lens all the way, i.e., to the MDF or to infinity) after the focus activation button has been depressed (usually by half-pressing the shutter button). This happens if the lens is not focused accurately enough (the lens somehow continues to focus when the focus button has already been released). Not everyone will notice this feature and it does not particularly interfere with comfortable work with the lens.
3. perhaps with other cameras there may be other unpleasant features.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

Image quality

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 uses an aperture with 7 rounded blades. The formed hole is much rounder than that of the 5 blade Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2. With such a diaphragm you can get 14 ray stars from bright light sources.

On F / 2.0, in the center of the frame, the sharpness is acceptable, but it drops significantly to the corners and edges of the frame, even on cropped cameras. At F / 2.8, there is a noticeable increase in sharpness over the entire field of the frame. The best sharpness is achieved at F / 8-F / 10. The frame angles on full-format cameras remain quite weak even at F / 8-F / 10.

Vignetting and distortion are moderate and do not cause any particular complaints. On cropped Canon APS-C cameras, vignetting doesn't bother even at F / 2.0.

At the edges and corners of the image, a strong increase in chromatic aberration was noticed. In the center of the frame chromatic aberration normal.

In general, the quality of the image does not surprise anything special and is comparable to a rather old original Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

Sample photos on the Canon 300D

The photos in the gallery below are shown without processing, on camera JPEG from a Canon Digital Rebel camera (aka Canon EOS 300D Digital, aka Kiss Digital).

You can download the original 'jpeg' photos at this link (74 files, 170 MB).

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

Sample Photos on Canon EOS 5D

Photos from a full-format Canon EOS 5D camera were provided by Viktor Semenishin - look for him on Instagram viktor_sem_phot.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

Sample photos with processing

You can see examples of photos with a little processing in my gallery at 500px.

Whale Lens Dimensions Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6 II and Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2)

The main differencesI'm between Canon Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 and Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2

It's no secret that Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2) was copied с Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2. But there are slight differences between the lenses:

1. Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 in production since 2015 and is a newer lens. Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2 available since 1990 and is an older lens. Lens Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2 they’re no longer releasing and it’s getting harder to buy it new.
2. All Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 lenses are available in China. All lenses Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2 produced in Japan.
3. Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 weighs 55 grams less than Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2.
4. Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 uses the device aperture with 7 rounded petals, while Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2 uses only 5 straight petals, which negatively affects the circles of confusion.
5. The new Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 costs about 2 times cheaper than used Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2.
6. Some modern Canon cameras can automatically correct some lens distortions. Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2. With Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2, some image enhancement functions will not be available, since this lens is not in the memory of modern cameras.
7. Lenses have a different body design. First of all, different placement of the focus ring. Many other little things are also different.
8. У Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2 there is a window with a focus distance scale, as well as a depth of field scale and a label for working in the infrared spectrum. Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 does not have all these useful things.
9. Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2 focuses faster.
10. In optical performance, the lenses are close to each other.
11. Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 has a lot more features and problems with some specific cameras (for example, focus problems in Live View, etc.)

The sizes of the lenses Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2) and Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6 II

My experience

I spent a couple of months with Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 and shot about ten thousand frames on it. I did not find any special problems with the lens, I got used to some features within a few hours.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 has one indisputable advantage - good price / quality ratio. I would highly recommend the Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 in addition to any regular dark zoom lens.

Yongnuo has introduced two excellent solutions to the world of camera enthusiasts taking pictures with Canon cameras: Yongnuo Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8 and Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2. These focal lengths are very popular with prime lenses. Often "fifty" and "thirty-five" are recommended as the first high-aperture fixes for amateur photographers who want to join the world of high-aperture optics.

I was delighted with Yongnuo 35mm 1: 2 (model YN35mm F2N for Nikon cameras). The Canon version is a little worse, but still of great interest to amateur photographers.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2) on a Canon Digital Rebel camera (aka Canon EOS 300D Digital, aka Kiss Digital)

Video review

A short video review is possible watch on my Youtube channeleither here:

Prices

Prices for the Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 lens (YN35mm F2 for Canon EOS) at aliexpress.com can see and buy at this link.

On the aliexpress.com This lens is sold at the cheapest prices. In all other places, for example, in local stores of the countries of the former CIS, Yongnuo 35mm 1: 2 costs a little more.

Yongnuo Lens EF 35mm 1: 2 (YN35mm F2) on a Canon Digital Rebel camera (aka Canon EOS 300D Digital, aka Kiss Digital)

Results

Value for money Yongnuo EF 35mm 1: 2 is at a good level. There are certain drawbacks to the lens, but overall it’s attractive lens for amateur and novice enthusiasts. At some points, the Yongnuo EF 35mm 1: 2 is even better than the original old man Canon lens EF 35mm 1: 2.

Advantages

1. very low cost (about 100 dollars)
2. metal mount, rubberized focus ring, light weight
3. small MDF, good magnification factor for macro photography
4. seven-petal diaphragm with rounded petals
5. no focus shift
6. confident sharpness at F / 2.0 in the center of the frame
7. good contrast (most likely due to normal / good enlightenment), neutral color rendering
8. fairly round blur discs on F / 2-F / 2.8 apertures
9. moderate distortion
10. moderate chromatic aberration in the center of the frame
11. low vignetting on Canon APS-C cameras (crop)
12. normal lateral light resistance

Disadvantages

1. low focus speed
2. frequent focusing errors and poor focus tenacity (most likely only with some cameras)
3. serious focus problems in live view with some cameras
4. noise from the focus motor
5. lack of internal focus
6. rotation of the focus ring during auto focus
7. lack of constant manual focus control
8. small stroke of the focus ring, lack of a scale of focusing distances and other useful marks
9. the survivability of this lens and the variation in quality are unknown (the version for Nikon was optically better)
10. slight backlash of the focus ring and the trunk of the lens
11. lack of a hood in the delivery set (maybe not all sets are delivered without a hood), a non-bayonet type hood
12. small effect of 'Focus Breathing' (changes in viewing angle during focusing)
13. non circular blur discs on f / 3.5-f / 22 apertures
14. tangible vignetting on full-format cameras and open apertures
15. noticeable drop in sharpness at the edges and corners of the frame on full-size cameras
16. strong chromatic aberration at the corners and edges of the frame
17. uncertain backlighting due to specific glare
18. there may be incompatibility with some cameras and / or teleconverters (for example, the lens will not work correctly with Dual Pixel technology, compatibility with the adapter is unknown Canon mount adapter EF - EOS M)
19. lack of data about the lens in modern cameras, which makes it difficult to automatically correct some types of distortion (distortion, vignetting etc.)

Please ask all questions regarding the lens in the comments, I will definitely try to answer. Comments do not require any registration or any personal data.

UPDATE: review appeared Yongnuo Lens 100mm 1: 2 (Model YN100mm F2).

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram