Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 Z

£319/$399 A neat portrait prime for FX cameras

Typical of the fully manual lenses on test, this Samyang has no AF nor any internal electronics, so it can’t communicate with the host camera body in any way. You can therefore only shoot effectively in Manual or Aperture Priority mode, adjusting the aperture via the lens’s control ring. On the plus side, setting up ‘non-cpu lens data’ in the Setup menu enables in-body stabilization on full-frame Z-series cameras, which is a bonus given the telephoto focal length.

The viewfinders of DSLRS are notoriously poor for manual focusing, but the electronic viewfinders and rear screens of mirrorless cameras make it easier, especially with aids like ‘focus peaking’. It’s a big help when you want to nail eye-focus in portraiture, when using a tight depth of field.

Performance

A hybrid aspherical element and Samyang’s Ultra Multi Coating help to deliver good image quality with little lateral or axial chromatic aberration, distortion, ghosting or flare. Sharpness drops off at f/1.4, but is still sufficient for detailed portraiture.

N-photo verdict

This prime has an ideal focal length and fast aperture for portraiture on FX cameras, or for close-ups with a DX.