Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE
Launch MSRP
$699- Weight
- 568g
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Min focus
- 0.90m
- Max mag.
- 0.11×
- Formula
- 11E / 8G
- Released
- 2019
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 1x ED
- 4x HR
- Ultra Multi Coating (UMC)
- Aperture range
- f/1.4 — f/16
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 568g
- ⌀ × length
- 88.0 × 99.5mm
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weather sealed
- Yes
- Aperture ring
- No
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- 6.8 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.90m
- Max magnification
- 0.11× (1:9.1)
Optical character
Samyang's first AF 85 for Sony brought an f/1.4 portrait lens with weather sealing to E-mount at well under half the price of the Sony GM. Its design descends from the much-loved manual MF 85mm F1.4, reworked for mirrorless with four HR elements and one ED element in an aluminium barrel.
It renders soft, creamy backgrounds with a slightly warm, gentle look at f/1.4, and sharpens up well by f/2. A dual linear sonic motor drives focus, and the 77mm filter thread and 568g weight make it a mid-sized lens rather than a compact one.
Reviewer consensus
Reviews found the centre sharp enough wide open for portraits and very good from f/2, with corners trailing until about f/2.8. Longitudinal CA and vignetting are visible at f/1.4, and contrast is lower than the GM, but bokeh is smooth and largely free of onion rings.
AF is accurate for posed portraits but slower than first-party 85s, and continuous tracking and Eye AF follow less reliably on moving subjects. The 0.90m minimum focus is long for an 85. The verdict was good value for portrait shooters who work at a measured pace.
Owner sentiment
Owners praise the bokeh, sealing and price, and many describe it as the lens that got them into fast 85s on Sony. The metal build feels solid for the money.
Common complaints are slower or hunting AF in low light, occasional misses with Eye AF at f/1.4, and the long minimum focus distance. Firmware updates improved behaviour over its life, and the lighter FE II has since replaced it.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Creamy f/1.4 bokeh
- +Weather-sealed aluminium barrel
- +Sharp from f/2
- +Much cheaper than first-party 85/1.4
Weaknesses
- −AF slower than Sony's 85s for tracking
- −0.90m minimum focus, 0.11x
- −Longitudinal CA wide open
- −77mm filter, 568g
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 8.1
- Bokeh Rendering
- 8.5
- Autofocus Speed
- 6.8
- Flare Resistance
- 7.5
- Build / Sealing
- 8.1
- Value / Size
- 8.4
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Sony E (FE) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 85mm |
| Category | Short Telephoto |
| Maximum aperture | f/1.4 |
| Minimum aperture | f/16 |
| Construction | 11 elements in 8 groups |
| Special elements | 1x ED · 4x HR · Ultra Multi Coating (UMC) |
| Aperture blades | 9 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | DLSM (Dual Linear Sonic Motor) |
| Minimum focus | 0.90m |
| Max magnification | 0.11× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 568g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 88.0 × 99.5mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀77mm |
| Weather sealing | Yes |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2019 |
| Launch MSRP | $699 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- lksamyang.com/en/product/product-view.php
- lksamyang.com/en/about/notice-view.php
- rokinon.com/products/85mm-f1-4-af-full-frame-telephoto-sony-e
- dpreview.com/products/samyang/lenses/samyang_af_85_1p4_fe/specifications
- dpreview.com/news/4438895259/samyang-has-announced-the-of-the-af-85mm-f1
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSAF 85mm F1.4 FE vs AF 85mm F1.8
- VSAF 85mm F1.4 FE vs 85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO
- VSAF 85mm F1.4 FE vs 85mm F1.4 AS IF UMC
- 7Artisans
AF 85mm F1.8
85mmF1.8- WT
- 438g
- FLT
- ⌀62mm
- MFD
- 0.80m
- MSRP
- $299
AFRING·DC - Laowa
85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO
85mmF5.6- WT
- 291g
- FLT
- ⌀46mm
- MFD
- 0.16m
- MSRP
- $449
MFRING - Samyang/Rokinon
85mm F1.4 AS IF UMC
85mmF1.4- WT
- 570g
- FLT
- ⌀72mm
- MFD
- 1.10m
- MSRP
- $299
MFRING
