Samyang AF 75mm F1.8 X Lens Review

[SECTION]INTRODUCTION[/SECTION]

Looking good with its Samyang 2nd Generation styling, the AF 75mm f/1.8 X adds another lens in Fujifilm X mount. As Fujifilm cameras are APS-C crop format, this equates to a 35mm equivalent of 112.5mm, in terms of field of view, in other words, a versatile short telephoto. In particular, this may give better perspective to portraits than the 50mm, whilst not making the working distance too long and compromising the communication with the model. To try out the lens and also check out the usual technical aspects, let’s team it up with the 26MP Fujifilm X-S10 camera body, a compact package that looks likely to make a good combination in the field.

Samyang AF 75mm F1.8 X Handling and Features

The lens matches well with the camera body, measuring just 70mm in diameter and 69.3mm long. It weighs in at a trim 257g, making it the lightest lens in its class. There is a provided round bayonet fit lens hood that clips securely into position. There is no need for a locking catch, nor is one provided. Within the bayonet fit for the hood is a conventional 62mm filter thread.

The smooth electronic focusing ring has an excellent grip and a couple of tricks up its sleeve. It is controlled by the mode switch, which is also the only control on the lens itself. Mode 1 offers manual focus, and this is selected via the camera body. AF is driven by a fast, accurate and virtually silent Linear STM motor. Focusing is down to 0.69m, or 2.26 feet, for a maximum magnification of 0.13x.

Mode 2 is the Preset Aperture Control function, and this becomes active in Video mode. Basically, the camera is set on Av or M, f/1.8 is selected and then the control ring becomes an electronic, silent and stepless aperture control. Shooting video we can experience “smooth depth of field expression” rather than the aperture moving in small but definitely discrete steps. There is a list of compatible cameras on the Fujifilm website. An interesting enhancement for videographers.

Optical construction is 10 elements in 9 groups, including 2 HR (High Refractive Index) and 3 ED (Extra Low Dispersion). The diaphragm comprises 9 blades, making a circular aperture. To complete the functionality of the lens, there is also weather sealing, an excellent feature in itself but needing a weather-sealed camera body to make it fully usable. Unfortunately, the X-S10 used in this review is not weather sealed, so any rain has to be treated with due care.

The metal bayonet mount is nicely engineered and fits very smoothly, without any sign of rotational play.

All photographers probably have favourite focal lengths that they find comfortable to work with, matching their photographic styles. Thinking in 35mm format terms for a moment, the approximately comparable 100/105mm lenses have always been popular amongst those who felt the 135mm was too long. Samyang’s crop sensor 75mm relates well to this, and to complete that usefulness we would expect a high level of performance as well as the compact, easily handled form factor. So let’s see if that aspect is fulfilled.

[SECTION]PERFORMANCE[/SECTION]

Samyang AF 75mm F1.8 X Performance

Central sharpness is excellent from f/1.8 through to f/16, rising to outstanding at f/2.8, and is still very good at f/22. The edges are very good at f/1.8 and f/2, excellent from f/2.8 to f/11 and very good at f/16 and f/22. The visual effect of this is well judged, being sharp and yet not the cruelly sharp that some very high resolution lenses can present as.

Samyang AF 75mm F1.8 X MTF Charts

CA (Chromatic Aberration) is measured with in-camera corrections switched off, as far as we can know anyway. Central CA is reduced to almost zero, and indeed at f/16 actually returns a measurement of zero, at least to the two decimal points we quote to. The edges display a little CA wide open, but that soon comes under control and the result is very little if any visible fringing.

Samyang AF 75mm F1.8 X Chromatic Aberration Charts

Flare is virtually non-existent, and current Samyang lenses are proving to be superb in this respect. Even with the most severe lighting, it is well nigh impossible to generate artefacts.

Distortion is just +0.31% pincushion, making the lens suitable for architecture and anywhere we want straight lines to remain straight lines. If necessary, software can be used for further correction, but it is highly unlikely that this will be needed.

Bokeh is another real strength of the lens, being as smooth as silk at all apertures. The out-of-focus backgrounds can thus be controlled to provide beautiful bokeh, and this would also seem to make the Preset Aperture Control a valuable asset for videographers.

Vignetting is very low indeed, another splendid result.

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Samyang AF 75mm F1.8 X Sample Photos

Samyang AF 75mm F1.8 X Aperture range

You can view additional images in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.

[SECTION]VERDICT[/SECTION] 

Value For Money

The [AMUK]Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8 X|Samyang+lens[/AMUK] lens is priced at £474.

A number of lenses for Fujifilm X mount are available, with focal lengths around the 75mm mark, such as:

• [AMUK]Fujifilm XF 80mm f/2.8 LM OIS WR Macro|Fujifilm+lens[/AMUK], £1099
• [AMUK]Fujifilm XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR|Fujifilm+lens[/AMUK], £949
• [AMUK]Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro|Laowa+lens[/AMUK], £429
• [AMUK]Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8|Lensbaby+lens[/AMUK], £544
• [AMUK]Samyang MF 85mm f/1.8|Samyang+lens[/AMUK], £319

There is no doubt that the Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8 X lens represents excellent value for money. Performance and cost-effectiveness are both excellent.

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Samyang AF 75mm F1.8 X Verdict

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