Samyang 135mm F2.0 ED UMC
Launch MSRP
$549- Weight
- 840g
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Min focus
- 0.80m
- Max mag.
- 0.19×
- Formula
- 11E / 7G
- Released
- 2015
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 1x ED
- UMC (Ultra Multi-Coating)
- Aperture range
- f/2 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 840g
- ⌀ × length
- 82.0 × 148.1mm
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weather sealed
- No
- Aperture ring
- Yes
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- —
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.80m
- Max magnification
- 0.19× (1:5.3)
Optical character
The manual-focus 135/2 is Samyang's most acclaimed optical design: a simple eleven-element lens with one ED element that is sharp right from f/2. For a long time it was the cheapest way to get a fast 135 on full-frame Sony.
Its nine-blade aperture and long focal length give very smooth, creamy backgrounds, and it is popular for head-and-shoulders portraits, candid street work and, with a tracker, astrophotography. The Sony E version is 148mm long and 840g and has no electronic contacts.
Reviewer consensus
Reviewers rated sharpness wide open as outstanding, matching or beating first-party 135mm lenses that cost several times more, with good corners on full frame and little distortion. Bokeh is described as very smooth, and lateral colour is well controlled.
The weak points mentioned are some longitudinal fringing on high-contrast edges at f/2, the difficulty of manually focusing a fast 135 on moving subjects, and the weight of the E-mount version. Value is rated very highly.
Owner sentiment
Owners often say it is the sharpest lens they own, and astrophotographers value its star rendering and low coma for wide-field deep-sky work. The metal barrel and smooth focus ring get good marks.
Complaints are size and weight with the E-mount extension, the difficulty of nailing focus at f/2, and the absence of EXIF. Some users wish it had a de-click aperture like the cine version.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Very sharp from f/2
- +Creamy bokeh, nine-blade aperture
- +Excellent for astrophotography
- +Low price for a fast 135
Weaknesses
- −840g and 148mm long on Sony E
- −Manual focus is hard on moving subjects
- −Some longitudinal CA wide open
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 9.2
- Bokeh Rendering
- 8.9
- Autofocus Speed
- MF
- Flare Resistance
- 7.8
- Build / Sealing
- 7.8
- Value / Size
- 9.2
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Sony E (FE) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 135mm |
| Category | Telephoto |
| Maximum aperture | f/2 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 |
| Construction | 11 elements in 7 groups |
| Special elements | 1x ED · UMC (Ultra Multi-Coating) |
| Aperture blades | 9 |
| Focus type | Manual Focus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Manual Helicoid |
| Minimum focus | 0.80m |
| Max magnification | 0.19× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 840g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 82.0 × 148.1mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀77mm |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2015 |
| Launch MSRP | $549 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- lksamyang.com/en/product/product-view.php
- rokinon.com/products/135mm-f2-0-full-frame-telephoto
Similar focal length alternatives
- VS135mm F2.0 ED UMC vs AF 135mm F1.8 MAX
- VS135mm F2.0 ED UMC vs AF 135mm F1.8 FE
- VS135mm F2.0 ED UMC vs 135mm F1.4 DG | Art
- 7ArtisansMAX
AF 135mm F1.8 MAX
135mmF1.8- WT
- 1,014g
- FLT
- ⌀82mm
- MFD
- 0.68m
- MSRP
- $689
AFWRRING - Samyang/RokinonAF
AF 135mm F1.8 FE
135mmF1.8- WT
- 772g
- FLT
- ⌀82mm
- MFD
- 0.69m
- MSRP
- $999
AFWR - SigmaArt
135mm F1.4 DG | Art
135mmF1.4- WT
- 1,420g
- FLT
- ⌀105mm
- MFD
- 1.10m
- MSRP
- $1,899
AFWRRING·DC
