Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 FE
Launch MSRP
$999- Weight
- 772g
- Filter
- ⌀82mm
- Min focus
- 0.69m
- Max mag.
- 0.24×
- Formula
- 13E / 11G
- Released
- 2022
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 3x ED
- 2x HR
- 1x Aspherical
- Aperture range
- f/1.8 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 772g
- ⌀ × length
- 93.4 × 129.6mm
- Filter
- ⌀82mm
- Weather sealed
- Yes
- Aperture ring
- No
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- 7.5 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.69m
- Max magnification
- 0.24× (1:4.1)
Optical character
Samyang's 135/1.8 gives Sony shooters fast-telephoto compression and subject isolation for well under first-party money. Three ED and two high-refractive elements keep it sharp at f/1.8, and the 11-blade aperture renders backgrounds as smooth washes.
It is weather sealed and has a focus-hold button and a three-position focus limiter. A custom switch lets the focus ring act as a silent aperture control, which is useful for run-and-gun video.
Reviewer consensus
Reviewers rate wide-open sharpness as excellent, close to Sony's FE 135mm F1.8 GM, with similarly creamy bokeh. They praise its build and sealing for the price.
AF is the main caveat. The linear STM is quick and accurate for portraits but can't match the GM's dual XD motors for fast action or continuous tracking in sports.
Owner sentiment
Portrait shooters say it delivers "GM look for less", and outdoor event photographers like the sealing and the limiter. Many single out the 0.69m close focus for headshots.
Complaints are mostly about weight and size, an occasional AF miss in low light, and the absence of an aperture ring.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Sharp wide open with creamy bokeh
- +Weather sealed with focus limiter
- +Focus-hold button and custom switch
- +Much cheaper than first-party 135/1.8
- +0.24x close-focus magnification
Weaknesses
- −Single Linear STM slower for action
- −772g and an 82mm filter
- −No aperture ring
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 9.0
- Bokeh Rendering
- 9.1
- Autofocus Speed
- 7.5
- Flare Resistance
- 8.0
- Build / Sealing
- 8.5
- Value / Size
- 8.8
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Sony E (FE) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 135mm |
| Category | Telephoto |
| Maximum aperture | f/1.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 |
| Construction | 13 elements in 11 groups |
| Special elements | 3x ED · 2x HR · 1x Aspherical |
| Aperture blades | 11 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Linear STM |
| Minimum focus | 0.69m |
| Max magnification | 0.24× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 772g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 93.4 × 129.6mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀82mm |
| Weather sealing | Yes |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2022 |
| Launch MSRP | $999 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- lksamyang.com/en/product/product-view.php
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSAF 135mm F1.8 FE vs AF 135mm F1.8 MAX
- VSAF 135mm F1.8 FE vs 135mm F2.0 ED UMC
- VSAF 135mm F1.8 FE 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/Rokinon
135mm F2.0 ED UMC
135mmF2- WT
- 840g
- FLT
- ⌀77mm
- MFD
- 0.80m
- MSRP
- $549
MFRING - SigmaArt
135mm F1.4 DG | Art
135mmF1.4- WT
- 1,420g
- FLT
- ⌀105mm
- MFD
- 1.10m
- MSRP
- $1,899
AFWRRING·DC
