Friend of the site Dustin Abbott has completed his review of the brand new Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC manual focus lens. Dustin came away thoroughly impressed with the optics of the $549 Samyang, and thinks it's better than Canon's 135mm f/2L in that regard.
As always, the review is a good one with lots of sample images, as well as a video version of the review. As always with Samyang lenses, it comes down to whether or not you're willing to sacrifice focus aids such as autofocus and focus confirmation (for Canon) for great optics and a lower price.
I would be happy to own this lens – no question. The question is whether or not I would choose it over a lens like the Canon 135mm f/2L despite the fact that that the Samyang beats the pants off it optically. As an owner of the 135L, I can’t say that I am personally compelled to make that switch. But if you are in the market for a 135mm f/2 lens and want both better optics and a cheaper price, this lens is worth a very long look. It has the ability to produce images that are amongst the finest possible with this focal length.
Read the full review | Samyang 135mm f/2 at B&H Photo $549