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(Created on: July 3, 2025)

SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4 FE Prime Lens Review

 
(This is a user review for video recording, and the camera body used is the Sony A7C.)

What am I filming?

I needed to film up close while assembling or soldering small electronic components.
The camera is fixed on a tripod and films the handiwork.
This means the distance between the camera and the subject remains nearly constant.

Why did I choose the SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4 FE?

I needed a lens that was affordable, capable of beautiful out-of-focus effects for attractive photography.
Since I was shooting indoors, it was important that the aperture could open widely.
I wanted minimal noise, even if the light levels weren't optimal.

When thinking of cost-effective lens brands, SAMYANG came to mind.
Since the distance between the camera and the subject was not expected to change much, I thought a zoom lens was not necessary.
Therefore, I narrowed down my options to prime lenses, which generally can open wider, beneficial for better light gathering.
That's why I ended up purchasing the SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4 FE used.

Satisfied?

To conclude, the SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4 FE was not a good choice for video recording.
(It seems sufficient for photography, though.)

  • Reason 1: The motor sound during AF operation is quite loud.
    When AF operates, the motor noise is noticeably recorded in the video.
    Moreover, even with the lens cap on, if AF is on, the motor sound does not stop.
    It keeps trying to focus even on a black screen where it is obviously unable to find focus.
    It feels as though the lens might break.

  • Reason 2: The lack of zoom is very inconvenient.
    Since the distance between the camera and the subject is fixed, I thought it would be sufficient to shoot using a tripod without needing to adjust the distance.
    However, this turned out to be a major misjudgment given my preferences.
    Not having a zoom was inconvenient, and there were times when I couldn't achieve the desired framing.
    While owning multiple prime lenses of different focal lengths might solve this issue, this would then compromise the cost-effectiveness I was aiming for.
    I realized that sacrificing a bit on the aperture and opting for a more expensive zoom lens would be more suitable for me.

Due to these reasons, I eventually sold the SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4 FE.

Good bye.. SAMYANG AF 35mm F1.4 FE