Photography Blog: Samyang AF 35-150mm f2-2.8 FE

Samyang contacted me a while back, asking if I'd like to be one of the first to try out a prototype of their brand-new zoom lens - a 35-150mm f2-2.8 lens.The 35-150mm f2-2.8 zoom lens is a versatile and powerful lens that offers a wide range of focal lengths and a fast aperture, making it ideal for both professional and amateur photographers alike. This lens is designed to be used with full-frame cameras, offering a range of focal lengths that are perfect for a wide variety of photography genres, including street photography, portraits, landscapes, and events or in my case food/drinks photography. One of the most impressive aspects of this lens is its wide aperture range, which goes from f2 at its widest focal length 35mm to f2.8 at 150mm. This allows for excellent low-light performance, making it possible to take sharp and clear pictures in dimly lit environments.

It's been several years since I regularly used a zoom lens for my work. I have a 16-35mm but only use that for interiors and since I mainly shoot food and drinks then the wide zoom doesn't see a lot of action. For my main day-to-day work, I tend to stick to just a couple of lenses. Samyang's AF 50mm f1.4 FE II and the superb AF 135mm f1.8 FE. Both great lenses which enable me to create stunning content for my clients. With these two lenses, I can cover most scenarios within the discipline I shoot. Occasionally if I need something a bit wider, then I'll switch to the AF 35mm f1.4 FE II, but this isn't that often. Over the years I've got used to shooting with prime lenses and having to swap lenses when I want to go for a different look with an image, need something wider or a more compressed shot, so changing lenses frequently during shoots has never been an issue. I've used this new prototype 35-150mm zoom on a few different shoots, and it really has sped up the way I work on shoots. It covers the entire range of focal lengths I need on shoots and goes that extra bit further to 150mm. I no longer have to stop and switch lenses, so this is a big plus for me personally. One slight downside is that it is a very large and substantial lens, so comes with a heavy construction. Having used it on several shoots so far, it has made my arms, wrists and shoulders ache a little when mounted on my A7RIII with battery grip after shooting for several hours.

Although it's a heavy lens, it's well-built, feels solid in the hand and it can withstand the rigours of professional use. The focus and zoom rings are smooth and easy to turn. The lens is also weather-sealed, making it resistant to dust and moisture. This makes it perfect for outdoor photography, even in harsh weather conditions. This lens will go head-to-head with Tamron's 35-150mm f2-2.8 also available for Sony E-mount cameras at a price of £1799 in the UK. The new Samyang is priced at £1099 plus VAT which works out at £1318.80, a big saving over the Tamron. Like the Tamron, the newest Samyang lens has an 82mm filter thread, which also matches the filter thread on the AF 135mm 1.8 FE lens. A lens I already have filters for, so it's a relief that I don't have to buy additional filters for this lens.

Even though the version of the lens I was given to shoot some sample images with was a prototype, it delivered excellent image quality, with sharpness, contrast, and colour rendition that were all top-notch. The lens has 21 elements in 18 groups, including six extra low-dispersion elements, two aspherical elements and one hybrid-aspherical that help to minimize chromatic aberrations and distortions. The lens also has a nine-blade diaphragm, which produces a beautifully soft bokeh that is ideal for portraits. The smooth and creamy bokeh makes it perfect for isolating subjects and creating a shallow depth of field. The lens also features not one but two focus hold buttons, a custom switch (featured on the last few newer Samyang lenses which allows adjustment of aperture via the large focus ring) and a zoom lock switch which locks the lens at 35mm for safer storage. The lens also takes advantage of Samyang's fast and quiet Linear Stepping Motor (STM) to minimize focus breathing when focusing from close-up all the way through to infinity.

At the wide end of the zoom range, the lens produces sharp and detailed images with good contrast, even when shooting wide open at f/2. At the telephoto end, the lens maintains its sharpness and clarity, making it a great choice for portraits and other close-up shots. With a MOD (Minimum Object Distance) of 0.33m at 35mm and 0.85m at 150mm, you can easily get close-ups with sharp details.

Conclusion

While the lens I had to test was only a prototype, it still performed well for me and gave me lovely, detailed images. It is a heavy lens that might take a while to get used to, having used pretty much exclusively prime lenses for the last few years, which in their nature tend to be a little lighter. Especially some of the smaller lenses that Samyang have on the market. The 35-150mm f2-2.8 lens is a great choice for photographers who are looking for a versatile and high-performance lens. With its wide zoom range, fast maximum aperture, and excellent image quality, it is a great all-around lens that can be used for a wide range of photography genres.

The lens is well-built and weather-sealed, making it ideal for outdoor photography in all kinds of weather conditions. Its fast and accurate autofocus system makes it easy to focus on your subjects quickly and accurately. AF has missed a couple of times for me during shoots but from what I'm led to believe, the final version of the lens will be a little faster at focusing and deal with chromatic abberation better than the prototype lens I got to test.

Overall, the 35-150mm f2-2.8 lens is a great investment for any photographer who wants a versatile and high-performance lens that can handle a wide range of shooting situations.

Sample images shot with Sony A7RIII (click to enlarge):

150mm - 1/160th sec, f2.8, ISO 320

150mm - 1/160th sec, f6.3, ISO 125

72mm - 1/160th sec, f5, ISO 100

99mm - 1/160th sec, f5, ISO 100

59mm - 1/160th sec, f5, ISO 100

150mm - 1/160th sec, f5, ISO 100

107mm - 1/160th sec, f5, ISO 125

102mm - 1/160th sec, f5, ISO 125

74mm - 1/160th sec, f5, ISO 125

150mm - 1/160th sec, f5, ISO 200

61mm - 1/80th sec, f5.6, ISO 100

128mm - 1/400th sec, f5, ISO 125

150mm - 1/160th sec, f5.6, ISO 100

114mm - 1/80th sec, f2.8, ISO 100 (check out that bokeh)

150mm - 1/160th sec, f5, ISO 125

150mm - 1/160th sec, f5, ISO 100

150mm - 1/160th sec, f2.8, ISO 500

35mm - 1/30th sec, f14, ISO 100

91mm - 1/160th sec, f5.6, ISO 100

79mm - 1/160th sec, f5.6, ISO 160

59mm - 1/40th sec, f5.6, ISO 160

150mm - 1/160th sec, f6.3, ISO 100

80mm - 1/160th sec, f5.6, ISO 160

Thanks for reading!

For more information on Samyang products, please take a look at their website - samyanglensglobal.com and subscribe to their newsletter to keep up to date with product news. If you're based in the UK, then check out UK distributor Holdan.

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