Samyang was one of the first third-party makers to build autofocus lenses for full-frame mirrorless cameras, and it’s now starting to produce a second generation of lenses with more advanced features. Announced in March 2022, the Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 FE II updates a design that initially appeared late in 2017. With its moderately wide view and large aperture, this is a general-purpose lens that’s suitable for a range of subjects, especially when you require a shallow depth of field or need to shoot in low light. At £636, it’s one of the most affordable of its type.
Unlike the firm’s AF 50mm F1.4 FE II, though, this isn’t a completely new lens. Instead, it takes essentially the same optics as before but adds some handy new features. It gains a Focus Hold button on the side, along with a Custom Switch allowing the manual focus ring to be used for controlling the aperture. The autofocus has been updated
