Samyang 35-150mm f/2-2.8 AF Lens (Leica L)

I also have the Tamron version. Lens quality is absolutely on par with build and image quality. This lens is sharp and crisp. My main prime is a 50mm 1.4 Zeiss planner. When shooting both near 2.0, images are sharper with the Samyang. I could not be happier.

I've had a few days now to test out my new Samyang 35-150/2-2.8 in L-mount and here are my general findings: - The zoom ring tension is firm and there is no lens creep. Reports I've read and watched on the E-mount version (months old now) said that lens creep was an issue right out of the box. That's not happening with my copy so far. Maybe Samyang got the message and tightened things up. - The overall fit and finish is nice for the price. I'd say on the same level as my Lumix S primes. - The only criticisms so far are: The 1 year warranty is too short; the lens hood doesn't have a lock button and; the lens cap's center pinch doesn't give a secure grip. - My ApolloOne image viewer's EXIF shows the 35-150's focal length is actually 35.9mm-146.9mm. - There is no L-mount lens station dock yet available to control optional lens settings and to update future firmware. - The raw files from the camera have a built-in lens profile for correcting distortion and CA. It's automatically applied in my Adobe Camera Raw program. Yes, most L-mount lenses have this feature but I wasn't sure if this Samyang would and that's good news. - Lens Testing Details: My SL2 was tripod mounted, using electronic shutter, ISO 100, ibis off, 2 second self timer, the best of two test photos selected at each setting, viewed at 300% on my 27 5K iMac. The photos were taken outdoors with soft overcast lighting with my standard targets at approximately 60 feet in distance. I tested the 35, 50, 85, 100, 135 150 focal lengths wide open and then at full stops down to f/11. All the focal lengths were very usable wide open with a noticeable improvement at the next full stop down. The optimum aperture was f/5.6 throughout. At 85-150mm the far corners did a little better at f/8 but that did give away a bit of diffraction softening in the central zone but not much. F/11 did soften the photos overall from diffraction but they still looked very good to me. The right and left sides looked equally sharp so I think I got a good copy. So resolution and contrast are really very good, better than I had hoped for. A subsequent sunny day test showed CA is very well controlled and lens flare behavior is OK-average for my zooms. Overall I think the Samyang 35-150 for L-mount is a great value and an outstanding choice if you can deal with the physical size and weight. If you can handle the Leica SL 24-90 comfortably then the Samyang will be a similar handful. BTW, I own the 24-90 and did compare those two lenses at 35, 50, and 85-90. In terms of resolution and contrast my two copies tested out essentially equivalent. The Leica was a little stronger at 35mm, 50mm was a push, and the Samyang was a little better at the 85-90 focal lengths.

I really wanted to love this lens but I'm on my second copy now and my first copy was OK but my second copy is worse in terms of image quality. About every 3 out of 10 are in focus. Maybe I'll try their lens station to see if that fixes it but I'm not holding my breath. Shooting on a Sony A7 IV.

The copy variation is hit and miss on this clone of the stellar Tamron 35-150. Just save some €€€ and go with the Tamron, you will not be disappointed! This Samyang is a good amateur lens and the Tamron is made for working professionals.

Pretty minimal use so far, but as some reviewers have said this lens feels like a bunch of primes. Beautiful color, and the most perfectly round bokeh I've ever had. Great color and extremely sharp. I do mostly video, so I'm not as much a pixel peeper as most photographers, but the photos look great to me. Took it to a friends wedding (just as a guest) and got some of the best shots of the night. Love the 35-150 range. I do a lot of concert shooting, and have the Sony 70-200 f4 that looks nice, but I was really missing the f2.8 for separation. This won't get me quite as tight, but I'll take the look that this lens gives over an extra 50mm (for way less than the Sony 70-200 f2.8). And the 35-70 range is beautiful and useful enough to more than make up for the shorter telephoto range. Plus 2.0 at 35 mm is an added bonus. For Video, there are two on lens buttons that can memorize 2 separate focus points, so a bonus auto rack focus is included. Could not be happier.

This lens is much better than it should be for the price. Mine arrived yesterday and I took it out to a college soccer match (see attached image!). It doesn't feel cheap as some other reviewers have stated. It focuses fast and accurately. I'm pleased!