PRODUCT REVIEW

MF 85mm F1.4 RF

Samyang´s new lenses for RF Mount... the MF 85mm f1.4 Johannes Trabola 2019-03-20

Samyang's new lenses for RF Mount... the MF 85mm f1.4

Background of the review

After my first experience with the Canon EOS R the lens choice seems to be too heavy to travel with... 
The combo of Canon's great EF 85_L-IS monster and the even heavier Milvus 15mm f2.8 let me ask Samyang: will you come up with something light being designed for Canon's RF mount? The reply was astonishing: Yes we do, we checked your profile on social media: would you like to review the lenses. 
Since I like to test glass -you always learn from it- I agreed. I took quite a bit and some communication with German customs I finally got the lenses from Samyang, the 85mm f1.4 as well as the 14mm f2.8. 





My first reaction: disappointment

My first reaction was disappointment. These lenses do not looks being originally designed for mirrorless cameras. 
I just looks like a simple mechanical adapter - and even worse- without any EXIF chip build in. Therefore no exif data transferred,  no focusing aid (an awesome tool on the EOS-R!!!) and no focusing wide open and automatic aperture closing. I communicated with Samyang, the replied properly and asked to give it a try. So i did. And please read to the end!
So I made some first tests at home which were astonishing and later I took them on a little trip to South of France to shoot with them there, too.
But let's start with a topic which is important for these kind of lenses:


Manual focusing on the EOS-R without communication to the lens

or: where mirrorless cameras are shining...

Today many people believe that autofocus is essentiell. Well having autofocus can be helpful, but can be annoying, too. I skipped my Sigma 85mm f1.4 because of Autofocus inconsistency. it is no fun if a lens while open doesn't deliver sharp images where it should be sharp. And honestly: on a DSLR shooting manually through the viewfinder without focus confirmation and special focusing screen build in the camera? No fun at all... 

But the EOS R has one feature build in which makes it easy to focus: focus peaking. It was the first time I had to use it exclusively to work with this feature. I was astonished how well it works. The accuracy range was really comparable to autofocus (!)...
The other advantage of focusing with manual focusing lens is the possibility to use the 5x or 10x magnification in the viewfinder. This methods gives you the highest level of focusing accuracy. But in low light you will suffer from the noise in the viewfinder as well...
Generally spoken after using mirrorless cameras since almost 10 years now this type of cameras is much more suited for manual focusing than anything else. Mirrorless cameras - and especially the implementation of Canon - Is really joy to shoot manual focusing lenses. This opens opportunities especially on the budget side - but using lenses like the Milvus or Otus from Zeiss also in the very high end site...


The lens

Build quality

The lens is build pretty properly, it has a metal design for all optics and the mount to the camera, the lens hood and the structure holding the lensed are from solid plastic.

  

LEFT : The lens without the lens hood.   RIGHT : And here the lens in its full size...



The focus throw is around 110º and feels very well damped. This not much, on the other side the minimum focusing distance is only 110cm instead of 85cm for the other 85mm's I own.

Just for fun I measured minimum focal distance... The result:

Samyang 112 cm
Canon 83cm
Milvus 82cm

Remark Samyang told me that the lens I have tested is a beta-lens. Samyang will change the minimum focal distance to 1 m. This will be a bit better... 
Personally I would like to have it even shorter that 85mm - I would love to have it at a magnification of 0.3....

The aperture range goes from f 1.4 to f22 (yes, the other ones stop @ f16. 
The aperture stops are typically half stop, bit between f22 and f16 as well as f2 and f1.4 you have only 1 stop.
What is nice - and an improvement over my former Samyang lenses that they have an indicator for depth of field.
This is handsome and I guess it comes with no extra costs in manufacturing- just another mask for marking....


 

What amount of glass...

Surprisingly: the lens comes with weather sealing. 
The upper lens cap is good it is easy to grip, even with mounted lens hood.

The lens is pretty compact and lightweight:

Samyang MF 85mm f1.4:                   728 g 
Canon EF 85mm f1.4 EF L IS USM:    1177 g
Zeiss Milvus 85mm f1.4                   1484 g

All lenses I measured with hood and both lens caps. The EF mount lenses were measured including the RF to EF control ring adapter.
What can make you thinking: The EOS R incl the Samyang MF 85mm f1.4 weights 1390g. This is less than the Zeiss Milvus alone....
There are really no complains about build quality: it is a pretty well made lens!


Image quality

Image quality is a topic which comes with a lot of aspects. An 85mm f1.4 should have a at least decent sharpness in the center at f1.4. It should have a buttery smooth bokeh, not too much color fringing and at the end not soo sensitive against lens flare....
To test some of these topics I let this lens compete with 2 strong competitors (definitely not in the price point): The Canon EF 85mm f1.4 L IS USM and the Zeiss Milvus 85mm f1.4

Sharpness

What do you expect from a low cost lens. Not too much, or?
The first comparison starts with some photos taken at different settings. First an overview o the scene:


The photo shows the pretty famous Stuttgart railway station. You can see the construction  work in the center of the scene.
The camera stood on a sturdy tripod. I have chosen 10s delay time for shutter release.
The photos you see below are taken at f 1.4 and f 5.6. You can identify the different lenses according to the name of the lens

The Canon lens speaks clear text
The Milvus is shown as EOS R 85mm - but it indicates the the f stop at least.

The  photos are screenshots taken left, in the middle and on the right side of the image.There is a little bit of inconsistency in the images because during the course of the photo shoot - they switched off the lights in the construction area.
The photos are 100% screenshots taken in lightroom.


Lethes start with the Samyang vs Zeiss Milvus. The color rendering of both lenses is pretty similar. But the Samyang is definetly softer...


Now the comparison to the Canon. First of all: The Canon is a bit shorter in focal length why the picture details are a little bit different. Due to my taste the difference is a bit less - or in other words: the Milvus shows a bit better performance...


On the left side on the bottom of the tower additionally the Samyang shows more color fringing (chromatic aberrations).


In the comparison between the Samy and the Canon The Canon shows a bit more chromatic aberrations than the Milvus....


In the center of the frame please look at the "LBBW" signs: the Milvus is here really strong..


In the center of the frame we do have the similar impression. For my taste the Samyang has some weakness in terms of lens flare. But for my taste this is acceptable, especially at the price point of the lens.


At f 5.6 the lenses are getting pretty close to each other. 


In this image the lights in the construction area is still on. What you clearly see is that the Milvus has 9 blades vs 8 blades on the Samyang.  
But in terms of sharpness. the lenses are really close!


At f 5.6 color fringing is still there, but well controlled. 


And again - for my taste the Milvus has a little edge over the Canon...




Bokeh
My first photo I took with this lens was the following:


Nothing special. at shortest distance (Which is 1.1 m and not really exciting, I would prefer 85cm...) 
But you see a decent sharpness and a buttery smooth bokeh!!! Well: this looks promising.
But it is going to get better...


This is a shot of a little sculpture on the balcony. 
I used the same setup a bit early for the 35mm shootout (where the Milvus 35mm f1.4 has blown me away.
With these lenses: In detail you see a little bit less sharpness, but the color rendering and the contrast are pretty similar between Milvus and Samyang.
The Canon has softer bokehballs, But all three lenses: in terms of bokeh: the they are all great!!!


Lens flare
One topic these lenses are not that great is news flare...
I shot some samples handheld


This is f 1.4. For my taste it is ok, I would call it personallity


This shot is f11


But at f22 is gets extrem, quite a lot of artifacts and reflections in the lens...
For me: this is good to know, and normally nobody shoots like that.... 


Real world shooting experience 

After shooting with this lens quite a bit I am pretty excited. This lens is a stunning performer. I took both lenses on a short trip to the Cote d'Azur. And I gave it a try - just the 2 lenses on a short trip to the small city of Cogolin, close to St. Tropez at the Cote d'Azur...
The results should speak for themselves. My first shots I took in the blue hour in the village and on the next morning there was a reportage type of shooting  at the Saturday market. When I had my images ready just when some clouds came up and the very beautiful morning light was gone...


A street in the old town of a typical village in the south of France... 



This shot was just around the corner. It was very windy... what you can imagine because of the flare of the blanket in the foreground....
On the other side this little place is beautifully lightened and the lens shows here  really decent performance...


On the next morning I went to the market place in front of the "Marie", Lord Mayors house...


This little caravan was offering an excellent espresso. Always good to start with...  What amazed me is the dynamic range of the EOS R: the interior as jpg is pretty black...


I did a couple of shots for that was the market has to offer, like vegetable


Or fresh seafood...


Clothes of course - very typic for the mediterranean markets...


The way how  the stuff is presented is important, too. 
And again: whatch the amazing bokeh!!!


And finally the people on the market...
When the sun disappears I was pretty hungry and I went to my favorite bakery for breakfast...


Warm and fresh baguette from the best bakery on the planet... I am not joking.
The shot is pretty perfectly framed.... and the bokeh gives the rest...


Clemence, the young lady in the shop... nice and charming....


And amazing food for breakfast...


My last shot of the balcony... and again the lovely bokeh...


The real world shooting experience was the point which got me. The lens worked much batter than I thought. You can say as well The support the EOS-R gives you for this type of lens is amazing- even if the lens has no communication with the camera...
By the way: all shots at the market were f1.4. For me the sharpness is amazing...


Verdict: Excitement

After first mixed feelings: I am pretty excited about the lens. In terms of the results you get from this lens: it is just wow!!! Very decent images, excellent image quality - if you know how to use the lens. And in terms of useability (nice buttery manual focusing) and weather sealing it is really remarkable.

For whom is this lens for?

It is made for owners of the R-Mount cameras - but the EF version will show similar results.
Everybody who likes a lightweight high performance lens.
When to take the RF Mount version instead of the EF mount? This is a very good question. For my taste: if you have decided to got with the R-Mount and/or you do discontinue with EF Mount: go for it. It is lighter and easier to handle.
It is more a lens for enthusiasts, for people who like to shoot manual focus.
But manual focus is so much fun to use on the Canon mirrorless cameras....
But the lens has a bit of weaknesses too:
It is not native RF: I guess a lens designed for the 54mm bajonett diameter and the short flange distance can be even smaller and lighter
I miss an EXIF chip - this would be even better
The minimum focal distance: the 1.1m minimum focal distance is a sad thing. There announcement to bring this value down to 1 m will make it a bit better. I would prefer it much shorter, even shorter than the usual 85 mm...
Not a real weakness but a wish to the designers @ Samyang: instead of a color mark please but something you can feel that you can mount the lens on the body without looking at it....
But if I look at the lens at a glance:  I give the lens a highly recommended!!!


Miscellaneous 

All Photos werde taken with the EOS R and the Samyang MF 85mm f1.4
Only the product shots were taken with the EOS 5DMkIV with the EF 100mm f2.8 L Macro IS USM.
The sample photos of the lens - and a couple more - you find here.
There is also a link toe the image quality comparison
Please have fun and enjoy.


Disclaimer
I got the lenses from Samyang for testing for free. 
There is no money involved. Therefore this is my honest opinion about this lens....



Newsletter Feedback Shop
Now

三洋で提案する最適の標準画角について調べましょう。

人間との関係、そして美しい空間演出のために小道具を飾る際にも適切な間隙や距離は、必ず要ります。ならば、絵及び写真の作品を正しく鑑賞するために我々は、どれだけの距離をおいて見るのがベスト?

正解は、「作品フレームの対角線の長さ」程度の距離です。

표준화각 자료 이미지
표준화각 자료 이미지

作品の全体を十分視野に入れて鑑賞するためには、作品の対角線の長さほど距離をおいて鑑賞した方がいいです。あまり近い距離で作品を見れば人間の目が集中できる視野角である50度より広がって絵をそのまま鑑賞できなくなってしまいます。 最適の鑑賞、最適の視線のために必要な理想的距離は、写真術にも適用します。 停止画像を撮る写真術では撮像面の対角線の長さと同じく焦点距離のレンズを標準レンズと定義します。

最適の鑑賞、最適の視線のために必要な理想的距離は、写真術にも適用します。 停止画像を撮る写真術では撮像面の対角線の長さと同じく焦点距離のレンズを標準レンズと定義します。デジタルカメラのフルフレームセンサーの大きさは、36x24mmであり、その対角線の長さは、約43.26mmであるため、標準レンズは、何mmにしたらいいのかについての最善の答は、「43.26mmに類似した値」といい、現在まで標準レンズの代名詞と見なされる「50mm」とは、いいきれません。

過去には、フィルムの対角線の長さに似た45mm画角のレンズがありふれましたが、SLR カメラの大成功によってミラーが入る空間を確保するために50mmレンズが標準とされていましたが、最近 ミラーレス一カメラのすそが大きく拡大しながらフランジバックの短いミラーレス一カメラの特性を考慮してより正確に標準レンズの画角を45mm
と再判断すべきではないのかの問題意識からAF 45mm F1.8 FEに対する開発は、始まりました。 サムヤンのAF 45mm F1.8 FEは、35mm画角レンズより最も最小した歪み、55mm画角よりは、一層広いイメージが撮影できて人物、景色、建築物、ペットなど多様なテーマの撮影で結果に満足していただけます。

プリセット絞り機能とは

プリセット絞り機能を使えば、絞りが「絞りクリック解除(De-click)レンズ」のようにスムーズに動作するため、より自然な動画を撮影できます

富士フイルムカメラは、最低の絞り値(Fストップ)に合わせて絞りが制御されるように設計されています。カメラで絞りを制御すると、設定表示が点滅して瞬時に適切な絞り値になりますAF 75mm F1.8 Xは、「プリセット絞り機能」がカメラ本体に意図的に絞り値を伝達しないため、点滅表示なく滑らかに適切な絞り値を調整できます。絞りを制御することで変化した露出に合わせてISO感度とシャッタースピードを調節するので、各ストップ値の中間値でも露出を調整できるからです。

プリセット絞り機能とは

プリセット絞り機能を使えば、絞りが「絞りクリック解除(De-click)レンズ」のようにスムーズに動作するため、より自然な動画を撮影できます

富士フイルムカメラは、最低の絞り値(Fストップ)に合わせて絞りが制御されるように設計されています。カメラで絞りを制御すると、設定表示が点滅して瞬時に適切な絞り値になりますAF 75mm F1.8 Xは、「プリセット絞り機能」がカメラ本体に意図的に絞り値を伝達しないため、点滅表示なく滑らかに適切な絞り値を調整できます。絞りを制御することで変化した露出に合わせてISO感度とシャッタースピードを調節するので、各ストップ値の中間値でも露出を調整できるからです。

【プリセット絞り機能の使用上の推奨事項とは】

プリセット絞り機能は、動画撮影モードでのみ動作します。
f/1.8の絞りを最大に開き、AモートとMモードで使用することをお勧めします。「プリセット絞り機能」の使用条件は、上記の表をご参照ください。

* プリセット絞り機能の使い方

1) カメラ本体の設定
      AFモード → 動画撮影モード(「A」または「M」モード)→ 絞り値をf/1.8に固定
(2) AF 75mm F1.8 Xレンズの設定
      カスタムスイッチをモード2(M2)にスイッチ
(3) フォーカスリングでプリセット絞りを調整

【プリセット絞り機能の使用上の推奨事項とは】

プリセット絞り機能は、動画撮影モードでのみ動作します。
f/1.8の絞りを最大に開き、AモートとMモードで使用することをお勧めします。「プリセット絞り機能」の使用条件は、上記の表をご参照ください。

* プリセット絞り機能の使い方

1) カメラ本体の設定
      AFモード → 動画撮影モード(「A」または「M」モード)→ 絞り値をf/1.8に固定
(2) AF 75mm F1.8 Xレンズの設定
      カスタムスイッチをモード2(M2)にスイッチ
(3) フォーカスリングでプリセット絞りを調整

[Dolly Shotとは?簡単な撮影方法はこちらで!]

【Dolly Shot とは?】

一般的にカメラをキャスター付きのカート(ドリー)やモータ搭載のカメラクレーンなどで移動させ、被写体との距離を調節しながら撮影する方法です。この方法で感覚的な効果とドラマチックな効果を最大化し、被写体と視聴者の心理的な距離感を調整できます。

【簡単にハンドヘルドでDolly Shotを撮る方法】

Tip. 移動距離が長いとカメラが揺れることがありますので、焦点距離35~100mmの間で撮影してください。
1. 被写体と約1.5~2m 程度の距離に立ちます。
2. カスタムスイッチをMFとMode3に設定した後、画角は約100mmに設定します。
3. フォーカスリングを調節して被写体に焦点を合わした後、 絞りはF8~16に設定します。
4. 上体と腕を動かしてカメラを被写体側に近づけながらズームリングを左(広角側)にゆっくり回します。
5. Dolly Shot完成です!
※ 被写体とより遠い距離で撮影するときにはドリーやジンバルなどを活用するとより安定した撮影ができます。

DSLR / Full Frame
1D X Mark Ⅱ
1D X
1Ds Mark Ⅲ
1Ds
5DsR
5Ds
5D Mark Ⅳ
5D Mark Ⅲ
6D Mark Ⅱ
6D
DSLR / APS-H
1D Mark Ⅲ
1D
Mirrorless / APS-C
M6
M5
M10
M3
M2
DSLR / APS-S
7D Mark Ⅱ
7D
80D
70D
60D
30D
D60
D30
77D (9000D)
760D (8000D / Rebel T6s)
1300D (Kiss X80 / Rebel T6)
1200D (Kiss X70 / Rebel T5)
200D (Kiss X9 / Rebel SL2)
800D (Kiss X9i / Rebel T7i)
700D (Kiss X9i / Rebel T7i)
100D (Kiss X7 / Rebel SL1)
650D (Kiss X6i / Rebel T4i)
600D (Kiss X5 / Rebel T3i)
550D (Kiss X4 / Rebel T2i)
500D (Kiss X3 / Rebel T1i)
1000D (Kiss F / Rebel XS)
450D (Kiss X2 / Rebel X냐)
DSLR / Full Frame
D850
D5
D810A
D4S
D810
D750
Df
D610
D4
D800
D800E
D600
D3s
D3x
D700
D3
DSLR / APS-C
D7500
D3400
D500
D5600
D7200
D5500
D3300
D7100
D5300
D5200
D7000
D300s
D300
DSLR / Full Frame
Z6
Z7
D810A
D4S
D750
D810A
DSLR / APS-C
D7200
D500
D3300
D5500
D5600
D3400
D7500

* Cameras released within 5 years from 2019 are tested.

パスワード変更のご案内

ホン・ギルドン様はパスワードを変更されてから 3ヶ月が経過しました。

パスワードをお忘れですか?
以下の情報をご入力ください。

認証コードを受信する

ご入力いただいた電話番号 に認証コードを送信いたします。
標準料金がかかります。

Failed

There is no ID found with that information.
Please confirm the accuracy of your information.

If you would like to create a new account, please click the below link.

Join now

IDをお忘れですか?
以下の情報をご入力ください。

以下の情報をお確かめください。

1つのIDが見つかりました。

それでもIDが見つからない場合、本人認証を通してIDをお探しください。

本人認証

失敗

申し訳ありません。一致する情報がありません。
情報が正しいかお確かめの上、もう一度お試しください。

新規アカウントを作成するなら、次のリンクをクリックしてください。

アカウント作成

Eメール送信完了

会員登録の最終段階です。 以下のEメールアドレスで
受信したリンク先に移動してください。


アカウント認証

이메일 발송 완료

고객님 메일로 임시비밀번호가 발송되었습니다.


확인

ID変更

新しいEメールアドレスをご入力ください。
Eメールアドレスを変更した後、再度ログインが必要です。

現在のEメールアドレス :
新しいEメールアドレス :
Change email address

Eメールアドレス変更
メインへ

エラーメッセージ

申し訳ありません。
誤ったアクセスによって要請が拒否されました。
ご質問があれば管理者までお問い合わせください。

メインへ

Eメール認証をする

お客様、こんにちは。
お客様はhongildong@naver.comを
森養オプティクスのIDとして登録されました。
認証ボタンをクリックすると、森養オプティクスの認証が完了します。

アカウント認証

森養オプティクスのアカウントに登録した覚えがありませんか?
他のユーザーがEメールアドレスを誤って入力した可能性もあります。
森養オプティクスのアカウントに登録した覚えがないなら、
下のメール誤用通報のリンクをクリックしてください。

- Eメール保護を希望します。 -

参考 : 本メールは送信専用ですので返信はできません。
ご不明な点がございましたら、次のウェブサイトまでお問い合わせください。 ウェブサイトはこちらから >

Eメール保護

次のアカウントがお客様のEメールを使って登録されています。
このアカウントの使用を中止されるなら、
下の「アカウントを遮断する」ボタンをクリックしてください。

hongildong@naver.com

アカウントを遮断する

Account authentication

Congratulations!
Your account has been verified.
Meet the various services of Samyang Optics!

Sign in
Go main

IDを探す

一致する会員情報がありません。

找回ID

ID確認

お探しのIDは bebe***と確認されました。

确认

ID確認

ご入力いただいた情報と一致する情報がありません。
もう一度お確かめください。

确认

パスワードを探す

パスワードを再設定するためのEメールが
ユーザーのアカウントに転送されました。

hongildong@naver.com

受信したEメールをお確かめの上、
案内に従ってパスワードを再設定してください。
万一メールを受信できない場合には、
迷惑メールフォルダをお確かめください。

确认

Eメールが見つかりませんか?

認証メール再送信

パスワードを探す

ご入力いただいた情報と一致する情報がありません。
もう一度お確かめください。

确认
USB Driver DOWNLOAD
ⓒDaniel Gangur

Sign Up for
Samyang Newsletter

Be the first to know about new product
announcement, global events and news!

By subscribing, you agree to the terms and conditions of use of the site and the use of personal information. Newsletter will be sent until unsubscribed.
Don't show this popup today

Samyang Optics,
with 50 years of history,
begins a new journey as
LK SAMYANG

Don't show this popup today
WE HAVE MOVED!

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive new product alerts
and inspiring contents created with Samyang lens

Do not open this window for today