AF performance: Sony 85mm f1.4 GM vs Samyang 85mm f1.4 AF Mkii

Kev The Doc · Oct 5, 2024

Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

Dan_168 · Oct 5, 2024

Kev The Doc said:
Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

Any AF lens you can find in the world these days will have better AF performance than the original version of 85GM, I owned one and I know how you feel, but I just love the Bokeh and overall rendering this lens has to offer.

I do not own but had borrowed the Samyang 85 1.4 MK II from a friend once and while I don't have two side by side to compare but it does feel quite a bit faster than the Sony I had before on my A7R III , it feels pretty much like their 135 F1.8 MK II which I still own up until now. I remember my keeper rate for moving subject was not not super high, not sure the lens or the camera body to blame, A7R III is not that great in term go AF either,

in my opinion the Sigma 85 1.4 is a better lens both in terms of AF and overall optic performance. if I need to get another Auto focus 85 1.4 for my Sony platform tomorrow, it will most likely be the Sigma, even 85GM MK II is available now. I played with friend's brand new GM II, I don't like the bokeh it produce at all when compare to my pic from my original 85GM, also very prone to flare and I shoot my 85/105/135 for portrait at beach during sunset a lot so I don't wouldn't want a lens that cost $1800 to have such performance, not that the other two cheaper options are free of such issue but at least they don't cost $1800 USD. especially the Samyang, at about $700 USD, definitely the best value lens but I would still spend a little extra for the Sigma if I am in the market for another 85, but I already have the Zeiss Loxia 85, Nikon Z 85 1.2 & Zeiss Milvus 85 1.4 so I don't have a need for the Sigma.

Kev The Doc · Oct 6, 2024

Dan_168 said:
Kev The Doc said:

Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

Click to expand...

Any AF lens you can find in the world these days will have better AF performance than the original version of 85GM, I owned one and I know how you feel, but I just love the Bokeh and overall rendering this lens has to offer.

I do not own but had borrowed the Samyang 85 1.4 MK II from a friend once and while I don't have two side by side to compare but it does feel quite a bit faster than the Sony I had before on my A7R III , it feels pretty much like their 135 F1.8 MK II which I still own up until now. I remember my keeper rate for moving subject was not not super high, not sure the lens or the camera body to blame, A7R III is not that great in term go AF either,

in my opinion the Sigma 85 1.4 is a better lens both in terms of AF and overall optic performance. if I need to get another Auto focus 85 1.4 for my Sony platform tomorrow, it will most likely be the Sigma, even 85GM MK II is available now. I played with friend's brand new GM II, I don't like the bokeh it produce at all when compare to my pic from my original 85GM, also very prone to flare and I shoot my 85/105/135 for portrait at beach during sunset a lot so I don't wouldn't want a lens that cost $1800 to have such performance, not that the other two cheaper options are free of such issue but at least they don't cost $1800 USD. especially the Samyang, at about $700 USD, definitely the best value lens but I would still spend a little extra for the Sigma if I am in the market for another 85, but I already have the Zeiss Loxia 85, Nikon Z 85 1.2 & Zeiss Milvus 85 1.4 so I don't have a need for the Sigma.

Thanks, well that's encouraging that any choice will be better AF than the original GM, the first version of the Samyang wasn't

.

The Samyang is so cheap but there again the Sigma is often on sale for ~$1,000, decisions decisions!

Impulses · Oct 6, 2024

Kev The Doc said:
Dan_168 said:

Kev The Doc said:

Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

Click to expand...

Any AF lens you can find in the world these days will have better AF performance than the original version of 85GM, I owned one and I know how you feel, but I just love the Bokeh and overall rendering this lens has to offer.

I do not own but had borrowed the Samyang 85 1.4 MK II from a friend once and while I don't have two side by side to compare but it does feel quite a bit faster than the Sony I had before on my A7R III , it feels pretty much like their 135 F1.8 MK II which I still own up until now. I remember my keeper rate for moving subject was not not super high, not sure the lens or the camera body to blame, A7R III is not that great in term go AF either,

in my opinion the Sigma 85 1.4 is a better lens both in terms of AF and overall optic performance. if I need to get another Auto focus 85 1.4 for my Sony platform tomorrow, it will most likely be the Sigma, even 85GM MK II is available now. I played with friend's brand new GM II, I don't like the bokeh it produce at all when compare to my pic from my original 85GM, also very prone to flare and I shoot my 85/105/135 for portrait at beach during sunset a lot so I don't wouldn't want a lens that cost $1800 to have such performance, not that the other two cheaper options are free of such issue but at least they don't cost $1800 USD. especially the Samyang, at about $700 USD, definitely the best value lens but I would still spend a little extra for the Sigma if I am in the market for another 85, but I already have the Zeiss Loxia 85, Nikon Z 85 1.2 & Zeiss Milvus 85 1.4 so I don't have a need for the Sigma.

Click to expand...

Thanks, well that's encouraging that any choice will be better AF than the original GM, the first version of the Samyang wasn't .

The Samyang is so cheap but there again the Sigma is often on sale for ~$1,000, decisions decisions!

I think it's curious he compared some of this (and the newer SY 85/1.4 II) vs the SY 135/1.8, but on an older body... From what I've read the AF of the Sigma 85DN didn't seem that encouraging (tho not as bad as the original 85GM), I know full well my SY 135 is no 135GM with it's quad motors, even my 35GM seems a bit snappier (as does the Tamron 50-400)...

That being said, I've used my SY 135 to shoot candids and concerts and it seemed fine in that role, albeit on an A7R IV. I imagine for shooting sports it might start struggling... I do recall people having AF issues with it and certain bodies but I thought it was mainly on more recent ones, which a firmware update should've addressed.

This is the kinda thing you seldom see compared directly, even above I was just trying to badly extrapolate. I really dunno what I'd pick if looking for a fast 85, the SY isn't too cheap or on sale right now (that I saw), I'd say if it was closer to or under $600 it might be more worth the gamble. If you're not shooting sports or very fast action I'd just go by rendering first and then if AF disappoints try the other.

I've been thinking of a similar (tho totally unrelated) scenario, the rendering and build of the TTArtisan 75/2 seems somewhat nicer than my Samyang 75/1.8, the larger filter thread would be to my liking... AF seems worse however, but it's really hard to tell to what degree. That one's so cheap I'll probably just get it to see what I see.

Jacques Cornell · Oct 7, 2024

Kev The Doc said:
Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

It would help if you could be more specific about what "AF performance" means for you.

Kev The Doc said:
This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

I can't help with your comparison. All I can add is that I've been using Samyang's 85/1.4 MkI in event work for three years and found its AF perfectly reliable on a7RIII, a7IV and a7RV with slow-moving subjects in very low light. For $500 around Black Friday, I consider it a steal.

That said, if fast action is important to you, better get some more specific feedback from other folks with relevant experience, or, better yet, rent or borrow the lens to try it out yourself.

Kev The Doc · Oct 7, 2024

Jacques Cornell said:
Kev The Doc said:

Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

Click to expand...

It would help if you could be more specific about what "AF performance" means for you.

Jacques Cornell said:

This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

Click to expand...

I can't help with your comparison. All I can add is that I've been using Samyang's 85/1.4 MkI in event work for three years and found its AF perfectly reliable on a7RIII, a7IV and a7RV with slow-moving subjects in very low light. For $500 around Black Friday, I consider it a steal.

That said, if fast action is important to you, better get some more specific feedback from other folks with relevant experience, or, better yet, rent or borrow the lens to try it out yourself.

In terms of AF focus, I’d say ability to reliably eye focus at wide aperture (shallow dof) on somebody walking towards the camera and also be able to reliably focus similarly in low light. So I’m not looking for this lens to be an action capture lens as I have the 24-70 GMii for that.

I’m glad the Samyang mki works for you, it didn’t for me, even with the latest firmware update, laggy focusing on people walking towards camera and juddering when focusing on nearby subjects.

AlephNull · Oct 8, 2024

Kev The Doc said:
Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

I cannot compare with the Samyang, but I owned the original 85 GM for a long time, and now own the 85mm GM II. And yes, the old one was slow to focus. Unsurprisingly, the GM II is extraordinarily good.

Kev The Doc · Oct 9, 2024

AlephNull said:
Kev The Doc said:

Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

Click to expand...

I cannot compare with the Samyang, but I owned the original 85 GM for a long time, and now own the 85mm GM II. And yes, the old one was slow to focus. Unsurprisingly, the GM II is extraordinarily good.

These GM II's certainly are snappy. Are you happy with the bokeh from this lens?

AlephNull · Oct 9, 2024

Kev The Doc said:
AlephNull said:

Kev The Doc said:

Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

Click to expand...

I cannot compare with the Samyang, but I owned the original 85 GM for a long time, and now own the 85mm GM II. And yes, the old one was slow to focus. Unsurprisingly, the GM II is extraordinarily good.

Click to expand...

These GM II's certainly are snappy. Are you happy with the bokeh from this lens?

I am.

I saw a couple of reviews which spoke of something magical in the bokeh of the first version, but I have to wonder if they were imagining things. (ah, nostalgia - it's not what it used to be!) The GM II has a gentle transition from in focus to out of focus, and I'm happy with that.

I can attest that the new version is noticeably faster to focus than the old one, and it captures accurate eye focus even in somewhat dim light (auto ISO took me to 12800) with a backlit subject.

No regrets trading the old one in on the new. Image quality is at least as good (I want to say better, but I cannot honestly say that - both are excellent).

Impulses · Oct 9, 2024

AlephNull said:
Kev The Doc said:

AlephNull said:

Kev The Doc said:

Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

Click to expand...

I cannot compare with the Samyang, but I owned the original 85 GM for a long time, and now own the 85mm GM II. And yes, the old one was slow to focus. Unsurprisingly, the GM II is extraordinarily good.

Click to expand...

These GM II's certainly are snappy. Are you happy with the bokeh from this lens?

Click to expand...

I am.

I saw a couple of reviews which spoke of something magical in the bokeh of the first version, but I have to wonder if they were imagining things. (ah, nostalgia - it's not what it used to be!)

I don't take that kinda comment very seriously, but the older one does seem to have less cat's eye FWIW. The new the is definitely sharper wide open.

AlephNull said:
The GM II has a gentle transition from in focus to out of focus, and I'm happy with that.

I think it comes down to splitting hairs in some instances, and the fact that the old one and the Sigma are so much cheaper... Although realistically the relevant price difference is no worse (%-wise) than that of the cheaper GM wides/normals and the sub-$1K Sigma's.

AlephNull said:
I can attest that the new version is noticeably faster to focus than the old one, and it captures accurate eye focus even in somewhat dim light (auto ISO took me to 12800) with a backlit subject.

No regrets trading the old one in on the new. Image quality is at least as good (I want to say better, but I cannot honestly say that - both are excellent).

Kev The Doc · Oct 10, 2024

Anybody own this lens for eye AF feedback? I guess video is a better test for focusing ability to lock on to the subject, so comments on either are welcomed.

Kev The Doc · Oct 13, 2024

After reading through the feedback and watching the below review from Dustin Abbott, I decided to go for the Samyang which is currently on sale for <$600. I don't necessarily need rapid focusing but I do need accurate focusing and this lens is apparently ok in this regard.

https://dustinabbott.net/2022/11/samyang-af-85mm-f1-4-series-ii-review/

QuietOC · Oct 13, 2024

Kev The Doc said:
After reading through the feedback and watching the below review from Dustin Abbott, I decided to go for the Samyang which is currently on sale for <$600. I don't necessarily need rapid focusing but I do need accurate focusing and this lens is apparently ok in this regard.

Accuracy seems dependent on the alignment of the sample, so good luck!

My Samyang mki is certainly not perfect, but it seems as good at focusing as the Sony FE 85mm F1.8s I've had. I am curious why Samyang switched from the fast DDSSM(LSM) in the mki to STM in the mkii. Steppers could be more reliable/less prone to misalignment.

Kev The Doc · Oct 13, 2024

QuietOC said:
Kev The Doc said:

After reading through the feedback and watching the below review from Dustin Abbott, I decided to go for the Samyang which is currently on sale for <$600. I don't necessarily need rapid focusing but I do need accurate focusing and this lens is apparently ok in this regard.

Click to expand...

Accuracy seems dependent on the alignment of the sample, so good luck!

My Samyang mki is certainly not perfect, but it seems as good at focusing as the Sony FE 85mm F1.8s I've had. I am curious why Samyang switched from the fast DDSSM(LSM) in the mki to STM in the mkii. Steppers could be more reliable/less prone to misalignment.

From all the reviews I’ve read, the change has delivered a more confident / reliable focusing system vs the mki, so what they’ve done has addressed the main weak point of that lens.

I feel it’s worth a shot for the price, and I already know I like the optics.

George_W · Oct 14, 2024

Let us know how the lens works out for you

Cheers,

George

Kev The Doc · Nov 15, 2024

So I purchased this lens and took it out for its first real workout last weekend. So far I’m pleasantly surprised, focusing is a lot more confident (vs MkI) with no noticeable juddering, the lens didn’t miss a beat all weekend. With the MkI I found AFC to be particularly unreliable, but all weekend in AFC with the MkII and there was hardly any missed focus shots.

Other comments are the lens is noticeable smaller and lighter, but the build quality feels like a step backwards. Image quality is the same as the MkI, but that isn’t a surprise as the optics design hasn’t changed other than apparently toning down the warm tones of the MkI.

Overall this lens feels like a bargain at < $600.

Malling · Nov 17, 2024

Kev The Doc said:
Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

The Samyang AF is horrid, it rank among the absolute worse of all lenses I tried and owned, it’s keeper rate is not fantastic for a modern lens, that said neither were the original GM or the Sigma ART that both were pretty bad, all were by modern standards pretty below par. That said Optically I prefer Samyang and the old Sigma ART. But honestly I would not bother investing in a new 85 now as I have a feeling Sigma will update their DG DN with newest motor soon. I must admit I don’t like the AF performance of any of these old lenses and Samyang, it just feel like going back in time, once you actually used modern AF lenses it’s hard living with the performance of any of these.

QuietOC · Nov 17, 2024

I was disappointed with the AF performance of the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 when I first got it compared to the adapted Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM I was using. Sony reviewers praise this Sony FE lens for AF speed compared to the GM lens.

The Sony FE 85mm F1.8 and Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE perform similarly on my A7RIV. Both fail in situations where a cheap zoom like the Tamron 70-300 RXD works well. I wouldn't put high performance expectations on other 85mm primes.

Jacques Cornell · Nov 17, 2024

Malling said:
Kev The Doc said:

Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

Click to expand...

The Samyang AF is horrid

Say what? I've been using the MkI for three years now - along with eight other Samyang AF lenses - and it's never let me down. As an event shooter, I shoot still and slow-moving subjects in low light.

Member said:
, it rank among the absolute worse of all lenses I tried and owned, it’s keeper rate is not fantastic for a modern lens, that said neither were the original GM or the Sigma ART that both were pretty bad, all were by modern standards pretty below par. That said Optically I prefer Samyang and the old Sigma ART. But honestly I would not bother investing in a new 85 now as I have a feeling Sigma will update their DG DN with newest motor soon. I must admit I don’t like the AF performance of any of these old lenses and Samyang, it just feel like going back in time, once you actually used modern AF lenses it’s hard living with the performance of any of these.

Malling · Nov 17, 2024

Jacques Cornell said:
Malling said:

Kev The Doc said:

Has anybody owned both of these lenses, if so can you comment on the autofocus performance comparison. Ultimately, is the Samyang AF mkii notable better then the GM or am I dreaming?

This would primarily be used on a Sony A7R IV and as I already have the 24-70 GMii, this lens would be used when I truly need fast glass i.e low light and / or dramatic subject isolation.

Background, I rented the Sony 1.4 GM some time ago and thought the AF was just too slow for the money. I also tried the original Samyang 1.4 AF and loved the optics (for the price), but again couldn’t live the the AF, too many missed focus shots with moving subjects. The pictures I’ve seen with the new 85mm f1.4 GM II haven’t blown me away so I don’t think this is the right choice for me.

I’m currently considering the Sigma 85mm f1.4, or possibly waiting to see i they launch an updated one like they did with the 24-70 f2.8 to counter Sony’s update, or trying the Samyang 85mm f1.4 mkii if somebody can confirm it’s better AF than the original GM?

Click to expand...

The Samyang AF is horrid

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Say what? I've been using the MkI for three years now - along with eight other Samyang AF lenses - and it's never let me down. As an event shooter, I shoot still and slow-moving subjects in low light.

Why you don’t notice the problem with it, any lens the past decade and basically longer would work for that. The moment you start shooting things that moves faster, erratic or with complex surroundings is when you start seeing the difference between good AF lenses from the not so great, it was with those my Samyang took a serious nose dive in keepers and that was fully updated to latest FW, same thing happened to the old Sigma Art. If you never push your gear you can make do with any lens made the last 10-15 years, it’s not worth buying a GM for it.

Jacques Cornell said:
Jacques Cornell said:

, it rank among the absolute worse of all lenses I tried and owned, it’s keeper rate is not fantastic for a modern lens, that said neither were the original GM or the Sigma ART that both were pretty bad, all were by modern standards pretty below par. That said Optically I prefer Samyang and the old Sigma ART. But honestly I would not bother investing in a new 85 now as I have a feeling Sigma will update their DG DN with newest motor soon. I must admit I don’t like the AF performance of any of these old lenses and Samyang, it just feel like going back in time, once you actually used modern AF lenses it’s hard living with the performance of any of these.

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Event professional for 20+ years, travel & landscape enthusiast for 30+.
http://jacquescornell.photography
http://happening.photos

AF performance: Sony 85mm f1.4 GM vs Samyang 85mm f1.4 AF Mkii

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