Samyang Tilt/Shift 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC

Summary

The Samyang Tilt/Shift 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC is a strong optical performer — a standard prime (36mm equivalent) with f/3.5 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$250 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.

Genre Suitability

  • Excellent for: Landscape, Architecture, Portrait, Sport, Wildlife
  • Adequate for: Macro
  • Avoid for: Nightscape, Street, Travel

Strengths

  • Good overall sharpness
  • Well-controlled aberrations
  • Exceptionally smooth bokeh
  • Negligible distortion

Weaknesses

  • Below-average flare resistance

Specifications 19/20

Optical construction 16 elements in 11 groups (2 aspherical, 2 ED)
Coating UMC
Focal length24mm
Max aperturef/3.5
Sweet spot f/8
Aperture blades 8
Sunstar points 8 (sharp — straight blades)
Max magnification 0.34x
Min focus distance200mm
AF motorManual focus
OISNo
Weather sealedNo
Aperture ringYes
Clickless apertureNo
Focus ringYes
Focus by wireNo
Distance scaleYes
Rotating frontNo
Tripod mountNo
Weight800g
Diameter86mm
Length136mm
Filter thread82mm
Year2014

MTF Charts

f/3.5 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 C 5 10 15 20 Image height (mm)
10 lp/mm S 10 lp/mm M 30 lp/mm S 30 lp/mm M
Position 10S 10M 30S 30M
Center 0.99 0.99 0.95 0.94
5mm 0.98 0.99 0.93 0.93
10mm 0.98 0.98 0.86 0.77
15mm 0.95 0.95 0.69 0.68
20mm 0.87 0.94 0.54 0.67
f/8 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 C 5 10 15 20 Image height (mm)
10 lp/mm S 10 lp/mm M 30 lp/mm S 30 lp/mm M
Position 10S 10M 30S 30M
Center 0.99 0.99 0.97 0.98
5mm 0.99 1.00 0.97 0.94
10mm 0.99 0.99 0.96 0.97
15mm 0.99 0.99 0.96 0.78
20mm 0.99 0.98 0.94 0.79

Source: Official manufacturer specifications

Optical Quality 14/14

Center (wide open)
1.5
Corner (wide open)
1.5
Center (stopped)
2.0
Corner (stopped)
1.5
Coma
1.5
Astigmatism
1.5
Spherical aberration
1.5
Longitudinal CA
2.0
Lateral CA
2.0
Distortion
1.5
Vignetting (wide open)
1.5
Vignetting (stopped)
2.0
Bokeh
2.0
Flare resistance
0.5

Sharpness

  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Good corner performance wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down

Aberrations

  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Well-controlled coma
  • Well-controlled astigmatism
  • Well-corrected spherical aberration

Rendering

  • Exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh
  • Mild vignetting wide open
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Below-average flare resistance

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.

Primary
  • Well-controlled coma
  • Well-controlled astigmatism
  • Slow f/3.5 aperture
Secondary
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Good corner performance wide open
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Mild vignetting wide open
  • Well-corrected spherical aberration

Landscape Photography 4/5

Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.

Primary
  • Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Minimal distortion
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Below-average flare resistance
  • Well-controlled astigmatism
  • Well-controlled coma

Architecture Photography 4/5

Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.

Primary
  • Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Minimal distortion
Secondary
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Below-average flare resistance

Street Photography 2/5

Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Slow f/3.5 aperture
Secondary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Below-average flare resistance
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Well-controlled coma

Travel Photography 2/5

Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Heavy at 800g
Secondary
  • Slow f/3.5 aperture
  • Below-average flare resistance
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration

Portrait Photography 4/5

Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.

Primary
  • Exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Well-corrected spherical aberration
  • Mild vignetting wide open

Sport Photography 4/5

Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Slow f/3.5 aperture
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

Wildlife Photography 4/5

Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Slow f/3.5 aperture
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

~ Macro Photography 3/5

Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Low magnification (0.34x)
Secondary
  • Minimal distortion
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Well-corrected spherical aberration
  • Exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh

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