The Samyang brand is known for producing sharp and affordable manual focus lenses. Recently, they have started adding autofocus options, making them viable for many more photographers. One of the features of the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II is the combination of a portrait focal length and wide maximum aperture at a very affordable price.
The first version of Samyang lenses offered very good image quality for the price. However, it suffered from some autofocus issues, and this is one of the other issues the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II worked on. Autofocus performance looks much better in the second version, while image quality remains quite good, especially for the price. Considering wide-aperture 85mm lenses can easily run north of $2,000, the AF 85mm f/1.4’s $799 price is positively refreshing, especially considering what you get for that cost.
The Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II also has a very good image quality, and the colour separation showing at wider apertures is also rather strong. One major improvement for the Samyang brand over the years is the inclusion of autofocus options. The video below from YouTube by Christopher frost shows an extensive review of the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II.
