Samyang AF 60-180mm F2.8 L (L-Mount)

Testers of the optically identical Sony FE version found sharpness very good and consistent through the range, with excellent centre detail wide open. Corners at 60mm are soft at f/2.8 and improve around f/5.6, and the long end is at least as strong as the short end. Colour fringing is negligible, and the bokeh is smooth with round highlights, though they turn to cat's-eyes towards the edges.

Distortion moves from slight barrel at 60mm to noticeable pincushion at 180mm, and vignetting peaks at the long end. The linear stepping motor is fast and accurate for most work but can lag on fast, erratic subjects, so reviewers recommend it for portraits, weddings and events more than sport. They call the lack of stabilisation and the extending barrel the main compromises at a price well below conventional 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses.