Sony shooters have yet another lens to choose from after third-party manufacturer Samyang pulled the covers off its newest optic, the AF 35mm F1.4 FE II, which is a prime lens designed for use on full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras like the a7R IV.
The ‘II’ in the name denotes that this is the second generation of the lens from Samyang (with the first version launched back in 2016) and the 35mm focal length will make this an incredibly versatile lens suitable for everything from landscapes and street photography, to wider portraiture work and general travel photography.
When the lens is paired with an APS-C sensor Sony, such as the a6600, the focal length switches up to 52mm and the build of the AF 35mm is robust and offers photographers the reassurance of weather sealing in four separate areas to protect the optics against dust and moisture. There’s also a micro-patterned rubber focus ring for a more precise grip when using manual focus.
Along with offering a fast autofocus system, the AF 35mm includes features usually seen on more pro /expensive models, including a Focus Hold Button to keep the lens locked to a specific focusing distance. Also present is a Custom Switch, that can be set to allow silent adjustment of the aperture by rotating the focus ring.
Built around a ‘11 elements in 9 groups’ construction that includes two ASP (aspherical) elements and advanced coating to enhance image quality. The ultra-fast max aperture of f/1.4 will not only help photographers create an incredibly shallow depth of field in the frame, but will also bring the benefit of rapid shutter speed, especially in low light conditions to prevent shake and blurring being introduced into the frame.
The fast Linear Stepping Motor (STM) motor technologies that drives the autofocus system will also be of interest to videographers who may want to use the AF 35mm when capturing movie footage and an added benefit is that the motor is quiet so no audio should be picked up during operation.
Other features include a close minimum focusing distance of just 29cm (0.95ft), which will allow photographers to fill the frame with smaller objects. Despite all these impressive features, the lens is compact and lightweight – tipping the scales at 659g (23.2oz) and measuring only 115.0mm (4.5in) in length.
