Samyang 35-150mm AF 2-2.8

[ChrisAu]

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https://www.lksamyang.com/en/product/product-view.php?seq=649

 

from Leica Rumors, Samyang will release this lens on 4 June 2024

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[jaapv]

Well, let’s see how it performs against the Sigma 28-200

[Boojay]

12 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Well, let’s see how it performs against the Sigma 28-200

What lens is this?   Do you mean the Panasonic 28-200, or the new Sigma 28-45.  Whichever, very different lenses, for very different purposes.  

If the Samyang performs well it could make a great all round lens for a wedding shooter for example.  

I've only ever had one Samyang lens and it was surprisingly good so will be waiting for reviews with interest.  All these new lenses coming to L mount are good news anyway.

 

[Almizilero]

I used the Tamron “Original” back in my Sony days. Absolutely amazing lens, it was all I used for stage photography. The Samyang was supposed to be a tad less good and a bit heavier, which isn't great. But I'll sure test a copy because I've been waiting for this lens ever since I switched to L-Mount.

[jaapv]

13 minutes ago, Boojay said:

What lens is this?   Do you mean the Panasonic 28-200, or the new Sigma 28-45.  Whichever, very different lenses, for very different purposes.  

If the Samyang performs well it could make a great all round lens for a wedding shooter for example.  

I've only ever had one Samyang lens and it was surprisingly good so will be waiting for reviews with interest.  All these new lenses coming to L mount are good news anyway.

 

Sorry Panasonic. I would say that the use cases are very similar. 

[Geoff C. Bassett]

39 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Sorry Panasonic. I would say that the use cases are very similar. 

Um I very much disagree, the 35-150 can be used in low light, the 28-200 is more of a travel lens.

[jaapv]

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Wel, would call both travel lenses. Low light is not much of a consideration any more with current ISO performance 

[tom0511]

sounds quite interesting. I find f2.0-2.8 to be much different than those 28200 slowish travel zooms.

Howeber for me 35 is too long starting point. I would prefer the 24-90 in this regard, even if its slower.

 

[goodbokeh]

I just ordered the 35-150 L-mount from the Samyang USA website. I was able to get a double discount of Father's Day and 10% off. That lowered the price to $1209.10 with free shipping.

From reading the written and YouTube reviews on the 35-150 E-mount Samyang the overall IQ looks very solid, the one IQ weakness appears to be lens flare but of course that's somewhat subjective. Head to head comparisons with the 35-150 Tamron model tells me the IQ of the two are swings and roundabouts with the lenses trading top rank in various focal lengths. I think copy variation and if the Samyang was tested with firmware 2.0 (improved AF) on a test was likely the difference in findings. Mechanically the Samyang had some zoom creep and of course the Tamron is not available in L mount so there is that.

I'm hopeful that the Samyang can be a good compliment to my Panasonic 16-35, Leica 24-70, and Leica 100-400. It has some very interesting and unique features for video that I think SL2-S and Lumix S owners would find quite appealing. I'll be testing it thoroughly on my SL2 next week when it arrives and I'll post here what I think.

Edited June 12, 2024 by goodbokeh
Added info.

[goodbokeh]

I've had a couple days now to test out my new Samyang 35-150/2-2.8 and here are my findings:

 

- The zoom ring tension is firm and there is no lens creep, not even close. Reports I've read and watched on the E-mount version (months old now) said that lens creep was an issue right out of the box. That's not happening with my copy so far. Maybe Samyang got the message and tightened things up.

 

- The overall fit and finish is nice for the price. I'd say on the same level as my Lumix S primes.

 

- The only criticisms so far are: the 1 year warranty is too short; the lens hood doesn't have a lock button and; the lens cap's center pinch doesn't give a secure grip. I'm using a spare Fuji GFX 82mm cap instead, the Leica SL 82mm cap works well also. 

 

- My ApolloOne image viewer's EXIF shows the 35-150's focal length is actually 35.9mm-146.9mm.

 

- There is no L-mount lens station dock yet available to control optional lens settings and to update future firmware.

 

- The raw files from the camera have a built-in lens profile for correcting distortion and CA. It's automatically applied in my Adobe Camera Raw program. Yes, most L-mount lenses have this feature but I wasn't sure if this Samyang would and that's good news. Sony lenses don't have a built-in raw profile that works with Adobe. I've had to wait months for Adobe created raw profiles for new Sony lenses and that's no fun.

 

- Lens Testing Details: 

My SL2 was tripod mounted, using electronic shutter, ISO 100, ibis off, 2 second self timer, the best of two test photos selected at each setting, viewed at 300% on my 27" 5K iMac. The photos were taken outdoors with soft overcast lighting with my standard targets at approximately 60 feet in distance. 

 

I tested the 35, 50, 85, 100, 135 & 150 focal lengths wide open and then at full stops up to f/11. All the focal lengths were very usable wide open with a noticeable improvement at the next full stop. The optimum aperture was f/5.6 throughout. At 85-150mm the far corners did a little better at f/8 but that did give away a bit of diffraction softening in the central zone but not much. F/11 did soften the photos overall from diffraction but they still looked very good to me. The right and left sides looked equally sharp so I think I got a good copy. 

 

So resolution and contrast are really very good, much better than I had hoped for. It's been cloudy here so extreme CA and lens flare tests will have to wait. Overall I think the Samyang 35-150 is a great value and an outstanding choice if you can deal with the physical size and weight. If you can handle the Leica SL 24-90 comfortably then the Samyang will be a similar handful. BTW, I did compare those two lenses at 35, 50, and 85-90. In terms of resolution and contrast my two copies tested out essentially equivalent. The Leica was a little stronger at 35mm and the Samyang a little better at the 85-90 focal lengths. 

 

 

[Almizilero]

Thanks for the test! Sounds like it's similar to the E-Mount version (no surprise). Not as good as the Tamron (which we can't get anyway), but usable. I'll give it a go, the Tamron was an absolute beast with a perfect range for my stage photography.

Still holding out though, I can guess the prices will plumet after a couple of month and we didn't get any discounts yet here in Europe.

[goodbokeh]

You're welcome Almizilero. The sun has finally arrived here in Puget Sound country. So I'm planning to go out and test the flare and CA today. I'm going to the McLane Creek Nature Trail and Pond. That should give me plenty of testing opportunities 🙂

[goodbokeh]

So after reviewing my McLane Creek Nature Trail photos I just couldn't see any good examples of CA at the different focal lengths & apertures. I tried hard to bring it out so I'm pleased with the Samyang's performance. Likely the built in raw lens profile is providing a helping hand cleaning up the CA.

The photo below showed the most flare artifacts and a good sunstar example. Yes, there are a good amount of flare artifacts but the veiling glare isn't bad. I've seen worse flare performance on some of my other lenses so I'd rate the Samyang as "workable but not great" with strong backlight.

With this photo be advised that I always protect my lenses with a filter and lens hood. I had a 82mm B&W XS-Pro Clear MRC Nano filter on the Samyang 35-150. That's how I run so that's how I test. SL2, ISO 100, f/16, 35mm focal length. Adobe Camera Raw processed with the Cobalt Fuji 4.1 Astia emulation. The sliders were moved only moderately.

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Edited June 20, 2024 by goodbokeh
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[goodbokeh]

As a separate post regarding my general reflections about the Samyang 35-150 at the McLane Creek Nature Trail. Using the lens today was really enjoyable. The trail led us into covered forest where I used the f/2-2.8 apertures a lot. Out in the open areas, wetlands, and ponds the 75-150 focal lengths were valuable for isolating subjects like turtles, birds, craggy stumps, and my wife at a distance doing her own bird photography. It made me think of how many photos I would have missed without this lens.

Yes, it's a keeper. It will be a valuable optic for my trip to the Island of Mallorca, Spain this Fall.

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[Simone_DF]

How’s the performance wide open?

[goodbokeh]

Simone_DF, I think wide open resolution at all the focal lengths is very good. Like I said above in my static tests there is a nice improvement when you go one stop down but that is for pixel peeping purposes. I also like the wide open bokeh and isolation at the longer focal lengths.

So here is an example photo when I was at the nature trail: Wide open at 150mm, f/2.8, ISO 1000, 1/320 hand held on my SL2. I think f/2.8 gave nice subject isolation and made her pop out on the trail. When I look at the original file at 200% I can clearly read the "Think Tank" camera  bag label so I was happy with the sharpness.

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Edited June 22, 2024 by goodbokeh
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[Michele Belloni]

Just purchased this lens. Mounted on SL3. Other lenses for comparison: SL APO 75 f2, VE 24-70 2.8 Asph, Leica Q3. What can I say... I tested it in the store before buy it for at least two hours, taking my MacBook Pro with me and seeing 100% results at any aperture, distance, focal length. Except for the weight and size, the lens is spectacular and I love its blur and sharpness. I don't know if and how it will be possible to update any firmware that comes out, but for now everything is going perfectly.

[metamerism]

My copy of the SAMYANG 35-150 L mount has lens creep, especially from 70-100mm. Lens creep happens when the lens is pointed down, roughly +-30 degrees from vertical.
 

Do you guys have similar experiences?

Edited July 28, 2024 by metamerism

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[goodbokeh]

I just tested mine again. Hanging from my neck and smooth walking there's no creep. If there is more shaking action applied then it does creep. To stop all lens creep the zooming action would have to be very firm given the weight of the lens barrel. On balance I'm good with where it's at. 

[Michele Belloni]

Mine too and to be honest, with the right time to test it out, it's not a good lens as it seemed in first place. The AF is not precise as a native Leica lens, sadly... hope for a firmware fix.