Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 P FE

Early reviews treat it as a sensible update to the original AF 35mm F1.8 FE: similar size and weight, but quicker and quieter focusing and cleaner rendering into the light. Centre sharpness at f/1.8 is good, and the corners need a stop or two, which is typical for a lens this small.

The main caveats are the same as for most budget f/1.8 primes. Vignetting is pronounced wide open, the barrel is engineering plastic, and there is no focus-hold button or aperture ring. It is still a new lens, so long-term reliability and full lab data are limited.

Buyers so far value it as a light, low-cost 35 for compact bodies such as the a7C II and ZV-E1, and they like that firmware updates now work over USB-C with no Lens Station.

Some owners of the older F1.8 FE question whether the upgrade is worth it, and a few would have liked the custom switch from the previous model. US availability lagged Korea and Europe at launch.