I was shooting at friends wedding this weekend with Samyang 135 and A7III and I am more then happy with results. I was not official photographer so it was nice opportunity for testing and learning shooting with the 135. No issues with speed, very few missed shots (mostly just not in critical focus but still usable) and the weight is really big plus for me. I had a chance to do a photoshoot with Sony 135 and it's amazing lens but you feel it after hour or two in the hand. After whole day my hand was not tired and I was switching between 35 and this 135 but the 135 was on the body most of the time.
I absolutely love that a company like Samyang is giving the big brands a run for their money at substantially reduced prices. In this case, it crushes them.
Some years ago I owned the Samyang 135mm f2 and it was my favorite lens because it was as near to perfect as a lens could be at the time, but manual focussing was simply impractical. When Samyang announced Autofocus lenses and I handled their brilliant 85mm 1.4, my number one hope was that they'd remake their 135mm. I am mildly disappointed that they did not use their dual motor (which is in the 85 but oddly enough not in the new 50, 35 or 135, all of which use the stm they use in their tiny series) but what an optical beast.
i went for the batis for the weight, micro-contrast and colours straight outta camera BUT my all time favourite is the manual focus samyang f2, so much fun
Hi Tom, just wanted to let you know that there is a now a 3rd FW update out for the Samyang. Early adopters got their's preloaded with FW V0.1 and it wasn't long before they reported that it was causing their camera batteries to self drain, even with the camera set to off. FW V0.2 fixed this issue, but there was still an AF focus stability/accuracy issue...I have just read that FW V0.3 has now fixed this issue too...So the Samyang just got even better.
i have the Zeiss Batis 135 and i will not change it. it is leight and the colors and the micro contrast are out of this world. always i check the images on my computer monitor i must think of medium format.
Hi Tom, I really enjoy your reviews and picked up the Rokinon lens because of this one. When you tested the video af, what did you have the focus limiter switched to? (Full, normal, close?)
I have never owned an 135mm lens before to compare, but thing I was shocked about is no to zero CA on 135mm Samy. this will definitely be keeper for me (have owned 1.4/35, 1.8/75, 1.4/85)
Great video! been on the fence with the samyang/rokinon option due to some of their other lenses being lackluster, but it looks like they came through with this one. one little nitpicky thing i will say about the sigma: these are dslr lenses that are playing in the mirrorless world. while they are louder and heavier than their mirrorless counterparts, they do have a massive advantage that their focus rings are mechanically coupled to the focus mechanism. this makes them some of the most consistent lenses when it comes to focus pulling with video gear and i feel like that is worth mentioning for full time video workers.
Yeah, I f***ed the lighting on this one - still getting to grips with the picture profiles on my new A7IV and playing around with a few things. Bear with me 😂
Thanks for all the great reviews! Quick question: why not give a point or at least half a point for in lens image stabilization? In real life this is almost like gaining half a stop or a stop of slower shutter speed when needed for photos, and it’s very useful for video.
It's a good question. The truth is, I didn't find it that useful personally. Plus the lack of manual control is a bad thing for me, which negates the bonus of having OS. However, if you think this would benefit you then feel free to add a point or half point when coming to your own conclusion 😊
Great video Tom, was thinking between a 105 and 135mm to buy for a portraits lense, I currently own a 20mm, 35mm, 85mm 1.8, and was thinking between 105mm and 135mm. How difficult is it working with the distance with the 135mm? Great video as always, thank you!🙏😊💪
Thanks! It's not as long as you think. For headshots it's fine. For full body shots, you'll need to shoot somewhere with plenty of space. But in either case, I love the 135mm focal length!
I also have 85mm 1.4 Sigma Art and the Sony 135mm f1.8 GM. The quality of these 135mm f1.8 lenses are so good, you will find yourself making the room to use them, really they are that special.
Bro!!!! Thank you sooooo much for this dope ass comparison. I have been wanting a 135mm for my sony system for a while now. U made it easy for me to decide which one would be best for me. Thanks again.
Just got the 135mm Batis for about $800 used. It’s light for such a lens and the image stabilisation is definitely another plus vs the others. I’m stocked!
Thank you for this Tom, I been researching the Samyang, I hear nothing but good things about it. I need this prime for portraiture and fashion, so, looks like I got an easy decision, and this comparison you did is concise, to the point and unbiased , thank you!
If you capture photos of dogs moving, get the Sony. The AF is just unbeatable. The Samyang is still good, but it'll miss more shots than the Sony when shooting moving targets. I hope this helps!
I broke out of jail last week to pick up my Samyang (actually Rokinon) 135mm AF, which was finally in stock here in North America. Great review Tom, love the comparison format.
Everyone says “if I was on a budget, I’d get this instead of the..” BUT reality is this lens is just fine and I own the Sony GM 135mm 1.8!!! Ain’t no shame in loving these lenses from Samyang. They are the real deal
@@TomCalton the Samyang/Rokinon 12mm f2.8 Fisheye is one hell of a lens. altho its a special lens not many people own it but i do and love it thru and thru. also their Sp primes like 85 1.2 is astounding.
Great review! I am not a full time professional but I do some work on the side (family, seniors, portraits). Do you think the autofocus on the Samyang (Eye AF) can handle a child at play or do I have save for the GM?
Samyang have done an amazing job, what's curious is that Sony Alpha blog also rated the Samyang as being sharper. In your test chart yes it was but in the real world images I couldn't see a difference between them sharpness wise. The same in Julia Trotti's review where only real diffence was the sometimes yellow tint on the Samyang and that it sometimes missed focus. I personally would still take the GM for its excellent IQ, best in class AF and a real aperture ring. If the last 2 weren't so important to me I'd get the Samyang. As always great content.
Thanks for your interesting input. I think you're right - in real life, it's pretty hard to tell, so unless you're obsessed with having the "best" optical performance possible then just pick the lens that suits your needs the most 👍🏻
I am so torn between this too, my heart was set on the GM but this samyang is almost the same performance for a lot less money. I do headshots and other studio work so I don't need the absolute bets AF even though id prefer to have it.
Hi Tom, first time visitor to your videos and subscribed already. Great job with the review. I am so tempted to get the Samyang. I do mostly landscape and still life work and occasional portraits. What I want to know is what lens you used for your close ups in this video. The thing is a beast and I LOVE your color grading. Care to share what lens and how you color graded your close up footage. With the model shoot in the field, you demonstrated the magic of these lenses so well. Over the years, I have shot pro glass from Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Sony, Sigma and Tamron and I have never come across a lens, that wide open is as sharp in the center as it is in the corners and yes the lack of CA too is equally impressive. Truly amazing lens with the exception of the focusing speed vs. the Sony as you pointed out. I just spent a bloody fortune on switching to Sony with Tamron lenses. Yes, it could have been a lot worse if they were Sony lenses!!. I have to save up for the Samyang as I have a project that can benefit from the Samyang and could be made infinitely more special shooting it wide open with the Samyang. Thank you for doing this review.
Hey! Thanks for subscribing - welcome aboard 🤜🤛 I should have listed which lenses took each image in the video, but the b-roll part at the start was shot with the Samyang 135mm. I hope this helps!
Fabulous review Tom I bought the Samyang but it missed the eyes on many a dancer. Focused on the forehead or other body parts. So I swapped for the Sony GM. Let's see what this does as yet to fully test it on my dancers.
I have been eyeballing the Sony or newer Sigma, but only if I could find a good used copy at a great price. But day two of Amazon Prime Days had the Samyang at 46% off, making it just $540! I didn't know anything abut it, however after watching another review I pulled the trigger. I shoot concerts, with my most used lens being the GM 100-400, and also the 70-200 f/2.8. I cannot wait to get my hands on a brighter telephoto.
@@TomCalton no problem at all. always happy to support my fellow content creators. I am looking forward to improving on my own current video format I have uploaded and, in the future, trying to create content as good as yours in the long term.
Wow the Samyang is taking some lives. Awesome lens. It wins in three LIGHTs. Light on weight, more light in aperture and light on your wallet (comparatively)
An excellent video review that contains the info that I need. I've had the Batis for sometime but I'm getting attracted to the 1.8. It's an advantage, particularly when shooting in poor light.
It's absolutely possible, though the Sony GM would arguably be the more reliable choice. Plus the GM is able to capture images up to 30fps, whilst 3rd party lenses like the Samyang are capped at 15fps.
Great reveiw as always, Tom,. Samyang certaintly have hit their stride at the moment. I am looking to add a 135 and 24-70 to my Sony kit and Samyang's offerings have come along at the right time. Do you have any info on the flash problems with the 135mm? I read it was causing battery draining and working poorly with off camera flashes. I am guessing a firmware update will fix it or already has fixed it.
If you shoot with Sony A9/A9II, or Sony A1, only the Sony 135mm f1.8 GM will give you 20fps or 30fps shooting, a deal breaker for sports and fast wildlife. Otherwise the Samyang is a winner and the bargain of the bunch (after early releases of the Samyang suffered some early problems with missed autofocus and camera battery draining. Solved by a firmware update from Samyang). FYI, I own the Sony GM and wont be selling it, love the lens and the IQ it captures with my A1, A7RIV, A7SIII. . Kudos to Samyang. Cheers
I think you missed one key point FPS the Sony do 30fps, the other are restricted to max 15fps AF-C. Even then no third part has yet shown to deliver that, most lingering around 8-12fps max. The Samyang 135 has been tested to max out at 8fps and all noticeable lower hit rate. Also there is noticeable variance going on, it’s not universal what people find in regards to build, sharpness, handling (very subjective), but definitely all find the GM the far better pick for AF-C especially with fast moving subject and hit rate. The Samyang mostly better at flare and aberration. The sharpness test is all over the map across reviews of which is better but generally GM and Samyang tested to be about equal on average. My main concern with Samyang is copy variance that historically has been high and that it’s reverse engineered, dos it work with the next Sony version?, as Sony could easily block none licensed lenses out in the firmware if they wanted too. I’m always sceptical of those reasons, but at the same time I think the GM is way to expensive if your not shooting fast moving subject.
It's an A mount lens, not E mount, so would obviously it would require an adaptor (as you know). So from a review standpoint, it's hard to make it a fair test as the AF performance would likely vary depending on the adapter used rather than the lens itself.
I bought the rokinon variant of this lense and it's got a weird sharpness issue when shooting anything around 15ft -25ft away from the lens. Tried calibration in the lens software and still having the problem. I'll buy another after I return it just to make sure I didn't get a bad copy.
Wow, great result for the Samyang ! If I were on a budget I would get one for sure ! The Sigma it's showing it's age big time and desperatly needs a new art version and also maybe the Sony needs an update so it could justify double the price of the Samyang :) PS: from all theese lenses I would still get the Sony, because the killer af :) Aaa..., also it works with the lens breathing compensation in my A7 IV ;)
Excelet review as always! Just tell us one thing Tom if samyang could produce this kind of quality why not do the same optical perfection in their other new series of lenses (AF 35&50mm 1.4 II)? It just hard to understand they could be the biggest rival of the sigma. Or perhaps they love more kicks one's own balls?
Zeiss have backed out of the camera lens market, unfortunately. However, there's always hope Samyang will work out a deal with Fujifilm someday soon. If Sigma and Viltrox are doing it, there's a good chance they'll follow.
Interesting comparison, as always. It would be fun if you could also compare much older lenses, like the Minolta AF 135mm f2.8 agains newer ones like these. I mean, at less than 200 USD, such lenses are great bargains for users who own adapters. I have one myself: nice warm colors, bokeh is good. Not clinically sharp but good for portraits.
Someone should do a vintage vs modern round up. I think a lot of people aren't aware that you can get an amazing portrait lens for a very small fraction of the prices here. They won't be as solid all around (shooting into backlight for example) BUT some people can absolutely solve a problem for less than $100. Like my Jupiter 37a 135/f3.5 was $50 shipped. It's sharper than my 24-105/F4. I'm willing to bet plenty of people will take the performance quirks and manual focus when they come at a $1650 discount ha.
I will add the Carl Zeiss Sonnar 135 1.8 from Sony A. Pairing with the A7R4/A7IV, with the LE-EA5 adapter, it is the best 135 ever. Not way too sharp like the GM, beautiful colors and contrast. Not a fan of the Batis cuz it's a 2.8. The image of the Sigma doesn't pop. And the Samyang, well it's in the bottom of all these 135.
Well, not really, after owning this Samyang for a couple of months I can clearly say that the AF just can't keep up with fast action. Really fantastic for anything else though!
Side note: The manual focus throw of the samyang can be adjusted to a shorter throw in the lens station by adjusting mf speed to "fast"
Good point, thanks!
@@TomCaltoni a lens for 640 dollars? Is it still a good deal today? Also i have a6000 will it give the camera body extra life ? 202 mm too long?
@@TomCaltonwhats the other handful lens get that 7 out of 7 score?
I was shooting at friends wedding this weekend with Samyang 135 and A7III and I am more then happy with results. I was not official photographer so it was nice opportunity for testing and learning shooting with the 135. No issues with speed, very few missed shots (mostly just not in critical focus but still usable) and the weight is really big plus for me. I had a chance to do a photoshoot with Sony 135 and it's amazing lens but you feel it after hour or two in the hand. After whole day my hand was not tired and I was switching between 35 and this 135 but the 135 was on the body most of the time.
I absolutely love that a company like Samyang is giving the big brands a run for their money at substantially reduced prices. In this case, it crushes them.
Just incredible to see someone who reviews gear and actually takes good photos of something other than macro shots. Just mind blowing.
Some years ago I owned the Samyang 135mm f2 and it was my favorite lens because it was as near to perfect as a lens could be at the time, but manual focussing was simply impractical. When Samyang announced Autofocus lenses and I handled their brilliant 85mm 1.4, my number one hope was that they'd remake their 135mm.
I am mildly disappointed that they did not use their dual motor (which is in the 85 but oddly enough not in the new 50, 35 or 135, all of which use the stm they use in their tiny series) but what an optical beast.
i went for the batis for the weight, micro-contrast and colours straight outta camera BUT my all time favourite is the manual focus samyang f2, so much fun
Hi Tom, just wanted to let you know that there is a now a 3rd FW update out for the Samyang. Early adopters got their's preloaded with FW V0.1 and it wasn't long before they reported that it was causing their camera batteries to self drain, even with the camera set to off. FW V0.2 fixed this issue, but there was still an AF focus stability/accuracy issue...I have just read that FW V0.3 has now fixed this issue too...So the Samyang just got even better.
Thanks for the update! Very much appreciated
i have the Zeiss Batis 135 and i will not change it. it is leight and the colors and the micro contrast are out of this world. always i check the images on my computer monitor i must think of medium format.
Hi Tom, I really enjoy your reviews and picked up the Rokinon lens because of this one. When you tested the video af, what did you have the focus limiter switched to? (Full, normal, close?)
Hey Dwight. Glad you enjoyed the review. We had the limiter set to full. Hope this helps
I have never owned an 135mm lens before to compare, but thing I was shocked about is no to zero CA on 135mm Samy. this will definitely be keeper for me (have owned 1.4/35, 1.8/75, 1.4/85)
Shocked me too! Very impressive
Tried 35, 50 and 85 v2 - blow your socks off!
Great video! been on the fence with the samyang/rokinon option due to some of their other lenses being lackluster, but it looks like they came through with this one.
one little nitpicky thing i will say about the sigma: these are dslr lenses that are playing in the mirrorless world. while they are louder and heavier than their mirrorless counterparts, they do have a massive advantage that their focus rings are mechanically coupled to the focus mechanism. this makes them some of the most consistent lenses when it comes to focus pulling with video gear and i feel like that is worth mentioning for full time video workers.
Thanks! And yeah, totaly valid point about the Sigma lens. Thanks for your comment 👍🏻
Fantastic review! I now have the Samyang 14 , 24, and the 35,. Now I'll get the 135! For the price you just can't beat these lenses. Thanks Tom!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
You got your a7IV 👍👍
Out of curiosity, how's the eye a/f been for you so far?
Yeah I have! And so good! I didn't think I would like the A7IV'S as much as I do, but they're so good.
Top review as usual, but are you looking a bit green?
Yeah, I f***ed the lighting on this one - still getting to grips with the picture profiles on my new A7IV and playing around with a few things. Bear with me 😂
@@TomCalton Tom be honest! You shot this review on a Sony a5100! That sensor and its green tint still haunts me today :P
Thanks for all the great reviews! Quick question: why not give a point or at least half a point for in lens image stabilization? In real life this is almost like gaining half a stop or a stop of slower shutter speed when needed for photos, and it’s very useful for video.
It's a good question. The truth is, I didn't find it that useful personally. Plus the lack of manual control is a bad thing for me, which negates the bonus of having OS. However, if you think this would benefit you then feel free to add a point or half point when coming to your own conclusion 😊
Great review again. Interesting result. Samyang is producing great lenses atm. I have the 18mm.
Thanks! I was genuinely blown away with this 135mm.
Great video Tom, was thinking between a 105 and 135mm to buy for a portraits lense, I currently own a 20mm, 35mm, 85mm 1.8, and was thinking between 105mm and 135mm. How difficult is it working with the distance with the 135mm? Great video as always, thank you!🙏😊💪
Thanks! It's not as long as you think. For headshots it's fine. For full body shots, you'll need to shoot somewhere with plenty of space. But in either case, I love the 135mm focal length!
I also have 85mm 1.4 Sigma Art and the Sony 135mm f1.8 GM. The quality of these 135mm f1.8 lenses are so good, you will find yourself making the room to use them, really they are that special.
Bro!!!! Thank you sooooo much for this dope ass comparison. I have been wanting a 135mm for my sony system for a while now. U made it easy for me to decide which one would be best for me. Thanks again.
My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the comment 🤜🤛
Its nice to see a lens review testing video, not only stills.
I have the Zeiss 135mm. I just wish it were a little faster 2.2 or 2.4, just some reason to pick it up over the 70-200mm F2.8 zoom.
Your video b-roll model work is just as impressive as your portrait images. Excellent
Thanks bud 👍🏻
Just got the 135mm Batis for about $800 used. It’s light for such a lens and the image stabilisation is definitely another plus vs the others. I’m stocked!
Thank you for this Tom, I been researching the Samyang, I hear nothing but good things about it. I need this prime for portraiture and fashion, so, looks like I got an easy decision, and this comparison you did is concise, to the point and unbiased , thank you!
Hello, thanks for the review. Would you recommend the Samyang for professional use in dog photography? Thx
If you capture photos of dogs moving, get the Sony. The AF is just unbeatable. The Samyang is still good, but it'll miss more shots than the Sony when shooting moving targets. I hope this helps!
I broke out of jail last week to pick up my Samyang (actually Rokinon) 135mm AF, which was finally in stock here in North America. Great review Tom, love the comparison format.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻
I remember Chris asking for breaking out of the jail and getting the samyang, I hope you are enjoying your lens mate?
I see you followed Christofers advice
There a few manual 135mm primes designed for SLRs available with E-mounts.
There are, you're right, but we don't speak of those on this channel 😜
would be able to release the raw photos to evaluate?
I've been waiting for 135mm lens comparison for weeks.. even if I bought samyang lens already, luckily I chose the right one.. nice comparison..😁
You definitely made the right call!
Hey Tom if you could buy the Zeiss or the Samyang for the same price which one would you buy?
do not ask him for his opinion because you see that this is a very technical test has nothing to do with photography
Wow. Samyang is impressive with this lens. Can’t wait for Samyang to make 135 1.8 for Nikon Z-mount.
Everyone says “if I was on a budget, I’d get this instead of the..” BUT reality is this lens is just fine and I own the Sony GM 135mm 1.8!!! Ain’t no shame in loving these lenses from Samyang. They are the real deal
Do you find the AF comparable enough for wedding action?
I ended selling every single Samyang lens I ever bought, but this one is a keeper .
This is the only Samyang lens I've truly wanted to own.
@@TomCalton the Samyang/Rokinon 12mm f2.8 Fisheye is one hell of a lens. altho its a special lens not many people own it but i do and love it thru and thru. also their Sp primes like 85 1.2 is astounding.
When shooting portraits outdoors with the Samyang, do you find that you need an ND filter to maintain f 1.8 and if so; what do you recommend?
Tom, great review! I’ve been waiting for this bad boy and you delivered. The Samyang looks awesome
Thanks Tristan, I'm glad you liked the video. Thanks for the support as always bud
Killer review! Been waiting for you to get your hands on it 🙌🏼
Thanks Ben - I hope it was worth the wait!
@@TomCalton reinforces my purchase 😌
Great review! I am not a full time professional but I do some work on the side (family, seniors, portraits). Do you think the autofocus on the Samyang (Eye AF) can handle a child at play or do I have save for the GM?
You should be totally fine with the samyang!
Samyang have done an amazing job, what's curious is that Sony Alpha blog also rated the Samyang as being sharper. In your test chart yes it was but in the real world images I couldn't see a difference between them sharpness wise. The same in Julia Trotti's review where only real diffence was the sometimes yellow tint on the Samyang and that it sometimes missed focus.
I personally would still take the GM for its excellent IQ, best in class AF and a real aperture ring. If the last 2 weren't so important to me I'd get the Samyang.
As always great content.
Thanks for your interesting input. I think you're right - in real life, it's pretty hard to tell, so unless you're obsessed with having the "best" optical performance possible then just pick the lens that suits your needs the most 👍🏻
@@TomCalton Even though I’d pick the GM I’m very glad there’s a choice unlike on Canon and Nikon.
I am so torn between this too, my heart was set on the GM but this samyang is almost the same performance for a lot less money. I do headshots and other studio work so I don't need the absolute bets AF even though id prefer to have it.
Hi Tom, first time visitor to your videos and subscribed already. Great job with the review. I am so tempted to get the Samyang. I do mostly landscape and still life work and occasional portraits.
What I want to know is what lens you used for your close ups in this video. The thing is a beast and I LOVE your color grading. Care to share what lens and how you color graded your close up footage. With the model shoot in the field, you demonstrated the magic of these lenses so well.
Over the years, I have shot pro glass from Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Sony, Sigma and Tamron and I have never come across a lens, that wide open is as sharp in the center as it is in the corners and yes the lack of CA too is equally impressive. Truly amazing lens with the exception of the focusing speed vs. the Sony as you pointed out.
I just spent a bloody fortune on switching to Sony with Tamron lenses. Yes, it could have been a lot worse if they were Sony lenses!!. I have to save up for the Samyang as I have a project that can benefit from the Samyang and could be made infinitely more special shooting it wide open with the Samyang.
Thank you for doing this review.
Hey! Thanks for subscribing - welcome aboard 🤜🤛
I should have listed which lenses took each image in the video, but the b-roll part at the start was shot with the Samyang 135mm. I hope this helps!
@@TomCalton Thank you Tom
Fabulous review Tom
I bought the Samyang but it missed the eyes on many a dancer. Focused on the forehead or other body parts. So I swapped for the Sony GM. Let's see what this does as yet to fully test it on my dancers.
I've bought the Samyand because I, like you, have a messed up back. Whenever I can take some weight out of my backpack it'll brighten my day.
I'm still waiting for mine to arrive so I can ditch the GM. Not that I dislike the GM, it's just the weight kills me after a while
I have been eyeballing the Sony or newer Sigma, but only if I could find a good used copy at a great price. But day two of Amazon Prime Days had the Samyang at 46% off, making it just $540! I didn't know anything abut it, however after watching another review I pulled the trigger. I shoot concerts, with my most used lens being the GM 100-400, and also the 70-200 f/2.8. I cannot wait to get my hands on a brighter telephoto.
Really digging the 135 compression
I love it! I'm definitely selling my Sigma to get the Samyang
great content Tom Calton. I killed that thumbs up on your video. Keep on up the high quality work.
Thanks, appreciate it!
@@TomCalton no problem at all. always happy to support my fellow content creators. I am looking forward to improving on my own current video format I have uploaded and, in the future, trying to create content as good as yours in the long term.
Zeiss lens for sports videos? Thoughts?
Maybe. The GM is the safest bet. That AF is next level.
Wow the Samyang is taking some lives. Awesome lens. It wins in three LIGHTs. Light on weight, more light in aperture and light on your wallet (comparatively)
🤣 love it
Yaaass been waiting for this video... Thanks Tom
👌🏻
Great test, thanks Tom!
An excellent video review that contains the info that I need. I've had the Batis for sometime but I'm getting attracted to the 1.8. It's an advantage, particularly when shooting in poor light.
new sub, love the review, i was leaning toward the sammy already, this solidified that
Thanks, welcome aboard! 🤜🤛
I have this lens and can attest on how light and sharp it is. I mainly use this for astrophotography and it exceeded my expectation.
whats the camera used for taking the photos, please?
Sony A7IV
Great test! Thanks so much, really...keep up the good work with these reviews!
Thanks bud, appreciate the support!
This is the lens that Samyang nailed best compared to the others. For most people this would be the one to get.
Great comparison loved it! Even though I don’t think I need that focal length the price on the Samyang might just be too good to pass up. Thank you!
Thanks! Yeah, it's such a good price compared to the competition
Samyang did a pretty good job on the new 50 and 135. But the new 35 is quite mediocre.
The 50mm is OK. The AF is very slow. This 135mm though is next level 👌🏻
@@TomCalton If you think new 50mm is very slow, then the Sony 50 1.8 is static 😂
Great production values. Thanks, Tom.
Thanks, appreciate the comment
Dang, debating between this and Sigma 105 1.4. Will use it mostly for family and kids.
Wow, that's a tough one. If you prefer lightweight lenses, go for the Sigma. If you can handle the weight and want a bokeh beast, go for the 105mm 👍🏻
Hello sir. Are u using other light source for shooting this model on your video?
Hey! No, just natural light and a large white reflector (camera left)
@@TomCalton oo okay thanks sir. Currently u are on my top list for my recommendation in photography 😍.
Is Sports photography is Possible with Samyang AF 135/1.8????
It's absolutely possible, though the Sony GM would arguably be the more reliable choice. Plus the GM is able to capture images up to 30fps, whilst 3rd party lenses like the Samyang are capped at 15fps.
The Samyang its an insane lens. Wou !!! It is a must have for portraits. A bokeh monster.
Great reveiw as always, Tom,. Samyang certaintly have hit their stride at the moment. I am looking to add a 135 and 24-70 to my Sony kit and Samyang's offerings have come along at the right time. Do you have any info on the flash problems with the 135mm? I read it was causing battery draining and working poorly with off camera flashes. I am guessing a firmware update will fix it or already has fixed it.
Battery drainage has been solved a few weeks ago. I haven’t had any problems using ocf at all (using Godox flashes).
You need docking station to install the latest firmware to solve the power drain issue. What is the issue with flashes? I can try it with my V1.
Is this the SAME EXACT lens as the Rokinon 135 1.8 for Sony? Thank you
Yes it is Rokinon is just the main name in the US.
Tom, can you make sony 24-70 gm ii vs third-party lenses
Thank you for the Zeiss basis 135mm test
Awesome review. Thanks a lot for confirming my decision (bought it two days after it was released and available). 😎
My pleasure, thanks for watching and commenting! I hope you enjoy the lens
@@TomCalton absolutely love the thing!
Great comparo! Samyang indeed is a bang for your buck. But I red somewhere that it sips the camera battery terribly. Could you confirm this issue?
Just be sure it's v3 (as of today)
Great review, thank your very much! Keep up your great work.
Thanks mate, appreciate it!
If you shoot with Sony A9/A9II, or Sony A1, only the Sony 135mm f1.8 GM will give you 20fps or 30fps shooting, a deal breaker for sports and fast wildlife. Otherwise the Samyang is a winner and the bargain of the bunch (after early releases of the Samyang suffered some early problems with missed autofocus and camera battery draining. Solved by a firmware update from Samyang). FYI, I own the Sony GM and wont be selling it, love the lens and the IQ it captures with my A1, A7RIV, A7SIII. . Kudos to Samyang. Cheers
Weird flex brah but i totally agree with what you wrote. I own that GM as well and love it. Happy Shootin from FL USA
I think you missed one key point FPS the Sony do 30fps, the other are restricted to max 15fps AF-C. Even then no third part has yet shown to deliver that, most lingering around 8-12fps max. The Samyang 135 has been tested to max out at 8fps and all noticeable lower hit rate.
Also there is noticeable variance going on, it’s not universal what people find in regards to build, sharpness, handling (very subjective), but definitely all find the GM the far better pick for AF-C especially with fast moving subject and hit rate. The Samyang mostly better at flare and aberration. The sharpness test is all over the map across reviews of which is better but generally GM and Samyang tested to be about equal on average.
My main concern with Samyang is copy variance that historically has been high and that it’s reverse engineered, dos it work with the next Sony version?, as Sony could easily block none licensed lenses out in the firmware if they wanted too.
I’m always sceptical of those reasons, but at the same time I think the GM is way to expensive if your not shooting fast moving subject.
Every review I've seeing on this one is outstanding. I have the 135 GM but I have no problem picking up the SY. I just need a job first :/
😂
You make the best reviews!
Wow...Great review man... Thanks... ❤️💐
You're welcome, thanks
I have a zeiss 135 f1.8... And dude that is awesome... Except for the old gen autofocus that hunts like hell when it is dark
Outstanding! 👌 very impressive that Samyang could achieve such quality, very respectable!
It usually isn't mentioned that on certain Sony bodies, the GM lens can achieve 20 and 30 fps whereas the others are limited to 15 fps max.
Whaaaa 😳
I wish the 135mm 1.8 sony zeiss za was included
It's an A mount lens, not E mount, so would obviously it would require an adaptor (as you know). So from a review standpoint, it's hard to make it a fair test as the AF performance would likely vary depending on the adapter used rather than the lens itself.
I bought the rokinon variant of this lense and it's got a weird sharpness issue when shooting anything around 15ft -25ft away from the lens. Tried calibration in the lens software and still having the problem. I'll buy another after I return it just to make sure I didn't get a bad copy.
I just ordered the rokinon version, let’s see if I get this issue
brought sony 50 Gm...next 135...even i`m working in South Korea I`l buy the Gm.
Thank you! Somebody has to keep Sony alive. 👍🏼
nice! the g-master is just very very expensive!!
Wow, great result for the Samyang ! If I were on a budget I would get one for sure ! The Sigma it's showing it's age big time and desperatly needs a new art version and also maybe the Sony needs an update so it could justify double the price of the Samyang :)
PS: from all theese lenses I would still get the Sony, because the killer af :) Aaa..., also it works with the lens breathing compensation in my A7 IV ;)
Excelet review as always! Just tell us one thing Tom if samyang could produce this kind of quality why not do the same optical perfection in their other new series of lenses (AF 35&50mm 1.4 II)? It just hard to understand they could be the biggest rival of the sigma. Or perhaps they love more kicks one's own balls?
Honestly, I have no idea! It's something we discuss a lot in the office. It just doesn't make sense to me. There must be a reason 🤷♂️
Stubbornly hoping Samyang or Zeiss make a Fuji version.
Zeiss have backed out of the camera lens market, unfortunately. However, there's always hope Samyang will work out a deal with Fujifilm someday soon. If Sigma and Viltrox are doing it, there's a good chance they'll follow.
@@TomCalton I have the 12mm & 75mm Samyang in Fuji, so 🤞 the 135 will be available at some point. Samyang has come a long way in a fairly short time.
Samyang have come a long way
If they keep it up, they'll be a force to reckon with.
thanks for sharing
I think the model instagram info is wrong
Thanks - fixed
Interesting comparison, as always. It would be fun if you could also compare much older lenses, like the Minolta AF 135mm f2.8 agains newer ones like these. I mean, at less than 200 USD, such lenses are great bargains for users who own adapters. I have one myself: nice warm colors, bokeh is good. Not clinically sharp but good for portraits.
Someone should do a vintage vs modern round up. I think a lot of people aren't aware that you can get an amazing portrait lens for a very small fraction of the prices here. They won't be as solid all around (shooting into backlight for example) BUT some people can absolutely solve a problem for less than $100. Like my Jupiter 37a 135/f3.5 was $50 shipped. It's sharper than my 24-105/F4. I'm willing to bet plenty of people will take the performance quirks and manual focus when they come at a $1650 discount ha.
I will add the Carl Zeiss Sonnar 135 1.8 from Sony A. Pairing with the A7R4/A7IV, with the LE-EA5 adapter, it is the best 135 ever. Not way too sharp like the GM, beautiful colors and contrast. Not a fan of the Batis cuz it's a 2.8. The image of the Sigma doesn't pop. And the Samyang, well it's in the bottom of all these 135.
Are you high?
@@TomCalton 🤣
Very very interesting and Samyang didn't let us down again!
Yet if videography is also part of the game, then the other name is clear.
Samyang 135 is a beast
I can't believe Sigma still doesn't have one for mirrorless.
wow the GM has been dethroned!
DOWN WITH THE KING!
Well, not really, after owning this Samyang for a couple of months I can clearly say that the AF just can't keep up with fast action. Really fantastic for anything else though!
"The only excuse for not buying this lens (Samyang 135 1.8) is if you are died or in jail, and if you are in jail, break out."
------Cristopher Frost
That'll be added to his tomb stone
thanks for reviewing my next lens. a 135mm Fe lens. leaning towards the samyang for the $$$.
Samyang vs canon 135
Samwang best all 135mm. ( agora ver testes da nikkor plena )
you can customize the MF rotation angle on the Samyang with their Lens Station 😉
Nice 👌🏻
Price, Handling and Image Quality? Really? Well - I'm going to buy the Zeiss Batis 135 ....
All the hood babies! See ya type brody.
Samyang 135 mm sharp & bokeh ....or canon 135mm f2 l with adaptor mc11 on sony
I want to buy sigma 135 or 70-200 f2.8 sigma but this review change my mind
Avoid the Sigma - it's way too heavy and in desperate need of updating.
I stood confused for a good minute until I realized the reviewer was talking about WEIGHT and not about WHITE 😀
Samyang def the best