Samyang 85 1.4 vs canon ef 85 1.8 - which one to choose?

[NormanBates]

it shouldn't, the samyang is a bokeh specialty lens
again, I haven't used it, but from what its users post online, it doesn't get much better than this

I found this sample
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14069595@N03/4735777163/#
in this thread
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vivitar_85_14/discuss/72157624205258702/


edit:
and these ones too
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chipsterman/3919911475/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chipsterman/3907292098/#in/photostream/
found here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vivitar_85_14/pool/with/3907292098/

[sweetcancer]

Yeah, if there is any, it's hardly noticeable.

[Rob Wiebe]

another option ... http://darwinwiggett.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/sigma-85mm-f1-4-vs-canon-85mm-f1-2l-ii/

[koolman]

I own both these lenses. I use them on a t2i.

The Samyang has a special look to it, and reproduces colors in an amazing way. Its overall IQ is very sharp and 3d'sh. What is unique about this lens, is that is is VERY SHARP even at f/1.4 ! Stopping down - does not really make it sharper.

The canon 1.8 has quieter colors and a different "look" to it. The 1.8 will give you the special sharpness only stopped down a little, not wide open.

Now about the MF issue: Obviously this requires more patience and skill, and is NOT for fast pace photography. However, I use live view, and try to find something to steady myself on, (table, chair, wall, etc.) with a little patience - you quickly develop skill for this, and it is not only for studio work. If your subject will stay still for a few seconds, you can get the shot.

Its actually fun to use MF lenses.

[sweetcancer]

Ok, i put an order down for a samyang 85 1.4 + an Eg-s focusing screen for 5d mark II.

Thanks all for your help! Will be uploading some images to this thread when the goods arrive to me.

[ELK]

I have Canon 85mm f1.8. It's a very nice lens with only maybe one flaw - purprle fringe in bright spots, like water under sunshine, very contrasty edges. I remeber photozone.de also mentions this. Sometimes it make me nervous in pictures. Otherwise it's fine. And it would be really difficult with manual focus sometimes, if you pick the Samyang.

[sweetcancer]

Well, i only hear good things about the Eg-s focusing screen, so i'm giving it a try!

I really like the cheaper price + bokeh of the samyang.

[pwp]

Samyang 85 1.4 vs canon ef 85 1.8 - which one to choose?
Here's the answer, it's the Sigma 85 f/1.4. No question.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-85mm-f-1.4-EX-DG-HSM-Lens-Review.aspx
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/85mm-f14-ex-dg-hsm-sigma

Paul Wright

[DB]

Have any of you guys used the Samyang 14mm f/2.8?

I really need a wide angle lens for my 7D and these guys pop-up all over eBay. This stream on the 85mm f/1.4's is very interesting. I could live with MF, but the real draw is the price (<$400) which is less than one-third of the Canon offering.

[Nick Gombinsky]

I cant's speak for the Canon 85mm, but I can for the Samyang (being somewhat of a Samyang enthusiast). It's an awesome lens, build quality and optical quality are up there next to Carl Zeiss or Canon L (I've shot side by side next to the same camera with a Carl Zeiss kit for an "AT&T" commercial, the difference was only visible to the most trained eyes, and still the difference was very little).

In my opinion, it comes down to: AF or better optical quality?

[sweetcancer]

Samyang 85 1.4 vs canon ef 85 1.8 - which one to choose?
Here's the answer, it's the Sigma 85 f/1.4. No question.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-85mm-f-1.4-EX-DG-HSM-Lens-Review.aspx
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/85mm-f14-ex-dg-hsm-sigma

Paul Wright

I'm more than sure that there's nothing wrong with the Sigma, but where I  live, I can pick up both the samyang and the canon + the eg-s focusing screen for less than what Sigma costs. And as I don't get paid for photographing, the samyang is a logical choice.

[wickidwombat]

the eg-s is ok but dont expect miracles
i just replaced the eg-s screen in my mk2 with a brightscreen
http://www.brightscreenstore.com/store/

and the difference is more like oh my god vs the eg-a to eg-s difference which is ho hum on lenses f2.8 and faster and oh my god in a bad way on f4 or slower lenses especially in low light. that reminds me i need to sell that eg-s screen

[NormanBates]

Have any of you guys used the Samyang 14mm f/2.8?

I really need a wide angle lens for my 7D and these guys pop-up all over eBay. This stream on the 85mm f/1.4's is very interesting. I could live with MF, but the real draw is the price (<$400) which is less than one-third of the Canon offering.

the samyang 14mm is a very interesting lens, but again not for everyone (as with the 85mm, it's only manual focus, but with such a wide-angle lens this is not so much of a problem; there's another reason in this case)

on APS-C, it's reasonably sharp, corner to corner (on fullframe, the corners are softer than I'd like to bear, even stopped down)
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=769&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=454&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=769&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=3&LensComp=454&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=3

but I say "not for everyone" because of the distortion

if you're shooting architecture, the tokina 11-16 is a bit more expensive but has much less distortion (at 14mm, it's basically distortion-free)
http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/666-tokina1116f28eos?start=1
http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/533-samyang14f28eosapsc?start=1

but if you're shooting people, because it has *more* distortion, the samyang will appear to have less distortion than the tokina (crazy, I know, but check the samples)
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?281994-I-need-a-cheap-wide-angle-lens-Recommendations

in any case that's all for aps-c; on full frame, nasty mustache distortion appears on the samyang
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/532-samyang14f28eosff?start=1

more here: http://www.similaar.com/foto/equipment/us_lensc.html#samyang

[dickgrafixstop]

No brainer - choose the Canon 85 f1.8.  Great lens, autofocus and the extra stop shouldn't make any difference.

[NormanBates]

^ let me guess: you have a canon 85mm f/1.8 but you've never seen a samyang 85mm f/1.4