p.1 #1 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
Almost since my first a7 I've used a 55mm F1.8, but I'm considering swapping to the Samyang 50mm F1.4 ii. I'm curious if others have made the same switch, and what the pros/cons are? Obviously there is a size/weight difference, but I'd like to hear if the focus speed is notably difference, etc. that would be benefits of sticking w the 55.
p.1 #2 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
The Samyang I tried was sharper in the center, but not as sharp outside the center even stopped down. The focus performance was quite good. It had very little breathing too. I really liked the handling.
p.1 #3 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
jchapell wrote:
Almost since my first a7 I've used a 55mm F1.8, but I'm considering swapping to the Samyang 50mm F1.4 ii. I'm curious if others have made the same switch, and what the pros/cons are? Obviously there is a size/weight difference, but I'd like to hear if the focus speed is notably difference, etc. that would be benefits of sticking w the 55.
Thanks for any insight!
Are you not happy with the performance of the FE 55mm f/1.8 lens then? It is actually a great lens, especially considering the small size and lightweight. I am not talking the Samyang lens down but if I were to trade up, then the only other 50mm lens I would consider would be the GM 50mm f/1.2. Wait a minute, I did that already . Well, actually I didn’t sell the FE 55mm lens though because it is so small and lightweight… Just my opinion, of course.
p.1 #4 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
AGeoJO wrote:
Are you not happy with the performance of the FE 55mm f/1.8 lens then? It is actually a great lens, especially considering the small size and lightweight. I am not talking the Samyang lens down but if I were to trade up, then the only other 50mm lens I would consider would be the GM 50mm f/1.2. Wait a minute, I did that already . Well, actually I didn’t sell the FE 55mm lens though because it is so small and lightweight… Just my opinion, of course.
I did exactly the same, kept my 55mm as my light weight street/travel lens. 50mm GM for my portrait work.
p.1 #5 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
jchapell wrote:
Almost since my first a7 I've used a 55mm F1.8, but I'm considering swapping to the Samyang 50mm F1.4 ii. I'm curious if others have made the same switch, and what the pros/cons are? Obviously there is a size/weight difference, but I'd like to hear if the focus speed is notably difference, etc. that would be benefits of sticking w the 55.
Thanks for any insight!
I concur with the others here.
I did previously sell my 55 and replaced it with another lens. After a while, I reversed my decision then purchased another one. It seems to have the right balance between size and performance.
p.1 #7 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
AGeoJO wrote:
Are you not happy with the performance of the FE 55mm f/1.8 lens then? It is actually a great lens, especially considering the small size and lightweight. I am not talking the Samyang lens down but if I were to trade up, then the only other 50mm lens I would consider would be the GM 50mm f/1.2. Wait a minute, I did that already . Well, actually I didn’t sell the FE 55mm lens though because it is so small and lightweight… Just my opinion, of course.
Thanks for the insight everyone, and to clarify the good question here: I'm not dissatisfied with the FE 55, and as others have said the size is really great (I often just bring the Samyang 24 F1.8 and FE 55 for indoor events). However, I'm interested in a little more light from the F1.4....the used price of around $400 for the Samyang 50 F1.4 is pretty compelling. So I'm debating a) getting it, and b)if I get it, selling the FE 55 or keeping it for a lighter carry.
p.1 #8 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
I have both lenses, having had the 55mm for many years. The Samyang I’ve only had for a little over a month and I really like it. I got it for a $512 from Amazon, thanks to a $50 gift card from xMas. The handling is wonderful, especially being able to use the focus ring for aperture…the weight at 420g is really fantastic for a f1.4. I tend to use the 55mm on the a7c along with the Samyang 75/1.8 due to their smaller size and weight.
I would not wait for the new Sigma as I saw a photo of the L version on Sony Alpha Rumors ….it’s huge and weighs about 670g. The new Sony might be worth checking out but I predict it will be heavier and bigger than the Samyang and much more expensive.
The best 50mm hands down for e-mount is the Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 50/2 IMO and I just love using it. If you’re ok with manual focus this is the best 50mm in my opinion. Probably the best lens in my whole kit.
p.1 #9 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
Sonnar ZA 55/1.8 FE is a small little lens with great Zeiss IQ.And pretty inexpensive nowadays.Why not keeping it and buying a second,faster 50mm?
50/1.2 GM is state of the art alternative by means of IQ,faster,bigger,heavier and much more expensive,though has not Zeiss character.
50/1.4 ZA Planar FE - another excellent alternative,IQ-wise very close to GM,full-bodied Zeiss,faster,bigger and heavier,yet significantly less expensive compared to GM.
If you don't mind manual focus and a little dreamy IQ wide open and around (but very sharp and contrasty with deep,saturated colours stopped down),while looking for compact size,Voigtlander Nokton 50/1.2 FE could be your choice
p.1 #10 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
I've had the Sammy for a year now, coming from the Mark I previously.
I LOVE the rendering, and as I do both photo and video work, the minimum amount of focus breathing is amazing.
Price is great, weight is great for a 1.4 (the mark I was a chonky lens). Much sharper than MkI.
I can't say how it fares agaisnt the Zeiss 55 1.8, but against the Planar 1.4, I can't tell a difference in sharpness. Slightly warmer color, but (again) compared to Mk I it's already much better.
I also have the samyang 135 1.8 and use both almost daily, their color matches really well.
My only complaint would be the strong purple fringing in certain situations.
I don't think you'd be disappointed with it, I encourage you to give it a try in a camera story and see if you like it, as the rendering for me is amazing. Or buy the second hand and resell if you're not happy.
p.1 #11 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
jchapell wrote:
Thanks for the insight everyone, and to clarify the good question here: I'm not dissatisfied with the FE 55, and as others have said the size is really great (I often just bring the Samyang 24 F1.8 and FE 55 for indoor events). However, I'm interested in a little more light from the F1.4....the used price of around $400 for the Samyang 50 F1.4 is pretty compelling. So I'm debating a) getting it, and b)if I get it, selling the FE 55 or keeping it for a lighter carry.
I'm not sure what the T-stop rating of the Samyang is it may not deliver "more light" in an absolute sense. When my friend and I compared the FE 50/1.4 to the FE 55/1.8 the 1.4 was only brighter wide open. At every other aperture the 1.8 was actually letting in more light because the Zony 55 is a true T/1.8 lens while most lenses are 1/3-1/2 slower than their f-stop ratio.
p.1 #12 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
The FE 1.4/50 ZA Planar closes its aperture as it is focused closer than infinity. It does this at every aperture setting. It is odd, but I believe the Batis 2/40 CF acts similar. It something to be aware of especially when comparing lenses. It is not too hard to compare images at similar transmission.
The Samyang 50mm F1.4 primes do not do this. They have higher transmission when focused close than the 1.4/50 ZA.
p.1 #13 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
QuietOC wrote:
The FE 1.4/50 ZA Planar closes its aperture as it is focused closer than infinity. It does this at every aperture setting. It is odd, but I believe the Batis 2/40 CF acts similar. It something to be aware of especially when comparing lenses. It is not too hard to compare images at similar transmission.
The Samyang 50mm F1.4 primes do not do this. They have higher transmission when focused close than the 1.4/50 ZA.
I had not heard this! Thanks for the info.
Still, for all their other faults, DxO mark is pretty good at measuring the actual transmission of lenses and the 55 is rated at a true T/1.8 while the 50 Planar is a T/1.6. That is pretty typical and why cinema lenses, which are labeled by T-stops and not F-stops, are almost always rated a tad slower than comparable photo lenses (T/2.9 or T/1.5 vs F/2.8 or F/1.4).
F-stop is a purely a ratio. T-stop is the actual transmission of light. Usually irrelevant for photography where we can easily fudge a 1/3 or 1/2 stop change in exposure but if the OP is really interested in the Samyang for "more light", than the transmission may be as low as a 1/3 stop wide open or even be dimmer stopped down. It is worth researching the T-stop of the Samyang in that case.
p.1 #14 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
joelRichards wrote:
I had not heard this! Thanks for the info.
Still, for all their other faults, DxO mark is pretty good at measuring the actual transmission of lenses and the 55 is rated at a true T/1.8 while the 50 Planar is a T/1.6. That is pretty typical and why cinema lenses, which are labeled by T-stops and not F-stops, are almost always rated a tad slower than comparable photo lenses (T/2.9 or T/1.5 vs F/2.8 or F/1.4).
F-stop is a purely a ratio. T-stop is the actual transmission of light. Usually irrelevant for photography where we can easily fudge a 1/3 or 1/2 stop change in exposure but if the OP is really interested in the Samyang for "more light", than the transmission may be as low as a 1/3 stop wide open or even be dimmer stopped down. It is worth researching the T-stop of the Samyang in that case....Show more →
I test lenses myself with a consistent setup.
Note that DXOMark gives various transmissions for lenses depending on the camera body, so it is hard to consider them reliable. I was just on their site comparing those lenses on the A7RIV. They list the Planar as T1.8 and the Sonnar as T1.9 on that camera. I ignore their default lens list as it uses their old A7RII testing.
p.1 #16 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
DP13Photo wrote:
The best 50mm hands down for e-mount is the Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 50/2 IMO and I just love using it. If you’re ok with manual focus this is the best 50mm in my opinion. Probably the best lens in my whole kit.
I love 50APO, but 50GM has perfectly usable 1.2 with autofocus and has optimal IQ at slightly higher apertures. I have both, love both, but tend to keep 50GM on my camera.
p.1 #17 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
I originally purchased my 55 for around $800 and I absolutely love it. Cannot speak on the Samsung unfortunately but at the price you can get the 55 for now, I think it’s a steal. Very sharp lens with amazing bokeh and colors
p.1 #18 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
I believe the 55mm 1.8 is probably one of the most polarizing lenses in the FF lineup. It seems to cause people to have a level of dissonance that other lenses just don't manifest. I believe in some cases the regret is justified and in others it is imagined due to the opinions and results of others.
I believe it to be a good lens , though its shortcomings are well known and must be individually analyzed as far as importance to the user. I personally like the lens and find it a joy to use. In my opinion the Samyang 50 1.4 is not a good trade off in comparison to 55mm 1.8. I moved up to Sigma 65 f2 and down to Sigma 45mm 2.8. I enjoy lens rendering and ease of manual focus when needed and in these cases the Sigma lenses were obvious choices .
If you have used the 55mm 1.8 for a long time, you probably already know the issues with lens and truthfully you might just be bored with it and looking for something new and inspiring. I would say, and this is just my opinion, that the 50mm Samyang would prob not scratch that itch, if for example you are just tired of 55mm focal length.
p.1 #20 · Pros/Cons of Samyang 50mm 1.4 ii over Sony 55mm F1.8
I also tested these two lenses (the Zony 55 and 50) on both the R3 and the A9. They behaved as I (and you) described.
I think we’re missing something in our communication because what you shared, while new to me, confirms what I’ve been saying. The 55 has a higher rate of transmission than the Zony 50 and may also with the Samyang.
I think our exchange has gotten a bit off topic but just in case someone stumbles upon it later in a search, I’ll respond one more time: Even if the measured T value changes with the camera a lens with a 1.4 aperture that measures as 1.8 is losing much more light than a lens with a 1.8 aperture that is measuring as 1.9. I never said the Zony 55 let in more light than the 50 wide-open, I only said the difference was much less than the expected 2/3 stop. At smaller apertures the 55 will let in more light because the apertures of both lenses are the same and the 55 transmits more light relative to it’s aperture—your numbers also confirm that.
. Well, actually I didn’t sell the FE 55mm lens though because it is so small and lightweight… Just my opinion, of course.