Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8
Summary
The Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8 is a strong optical performer — a telephoto prime (113mm equivalent) with f/1.8 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$500 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.
Genre Suitability
- Excellent for: Landscape, Architecture, Street, Travel, Portrait, Sport, Wildlife
- Avoid for: Nightscape, Macro
Strengths
- Good overall sharpness
- Exceptionally smooth bokeh
- Negligible distortion
- Fast linear motor autofocus
Weaknesses
- Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
- Low macro capability (0.13x magnification)
- No built-in optical stabilization
Specifications 19/20
| Optical construction | 10 elements in 9 groups (2 HR, 3 ED) |
| Coating | UMC |
| Focal length | 75mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.8 |
| Sweet spot | f/2.8 |
| Aperture blades | 9 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 18 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.13x |
| Min focus distance | 690mm |
| AF motor | LM |
| OIS | No |
| Weather sealed | No |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Clickless aperture | — |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | Yes |
| Distance scale | No |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 230g |
| Diameter | 65mm |
| Length | 69mm |
| Filter thread | 49mm |
| Year | 2023 |
MTF Charts
| Position | 10S | 10M | 30S | 30M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | 0.98 | 0.97 | 0.87 | 0.86 |
| 3mm | 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.84 | 0.84 |
| 6mm | 0.96 | 0.96 | 0.79 | 0.80 |
| 9mm | 0.93 | 0.93 | 0.73 | 0.74 |
| 12mm | 0.89 | 0.92 | 0.68 | 0.69 |
| 14.5mm | 0.84 | 0.93 | 0.66 | 0.66 |
| Position | 10S | 10M | 30S | 30M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.97 | 0.96 |
| 3mm | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.97 | 0.97 |
| 6mm | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.98 | 0.96 |
| 9mm | 0.99 | 1.00 | 0.99 | 0.95 |
| 12mm | 0.99 | 1.00 | 0.99 | 0.93 |
| 14.5mm | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.98 | 0.91 |
Optical Quality 14/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.5 |
| Corner (wide open) | 1.0 |
| Center (stopped) | 2.0 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Coma | 0.5 |
| Astigmatism | 1.5 |
| Spherical aberration | 2.0 |
| Longitudinal CA | 1.0 |
| Lateral CA | 1.5 |
| Distortion | 1.5 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 2.0 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 2.0 |
| Bokeh | 2.0 |
| Flare resistance | 1.0 |
Sharpness
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Excellent spherical aberration correction
Rendering
- Exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh
- Minimal vignetting even wide open
- Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
Distortion
- Minimal distortion
All optical scores are based on lab measurements and field tests from trusted review sources. For details on how we score lenses, see our scoring methodology.
Genre Fit
✗ Nightscape Photography 2/5
Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.
- Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Minimal vignetting even wide open
- Excellent spherical aberration correction
✓ Landscape Photography 4/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Minimal distortion
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
✓ Architecture Photography 4/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Minimal distortion
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
✓ Street Photography 4/5
Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
✓ Travel Photography 4/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Lightweight at 230g
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
✓ Portrait Photography 4/5
Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.
- Exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Excellent spherical aberration correction
- Minimal vignetting even wide open
✓ Sport Photography 4/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-controlled lateral CA
✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-controlled lateral CA
✗ Macro Photography 1/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.13x)
- Minimal distortion
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Excellent spherical aberration correction
- Exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh