Samyang AF 50mm F1.4 and AF Adjustment

[AkshajN]

I just got this lens from Adorama along with the Samyang Lens Station. It already came with the firmware 32 (the latest one), so no need to update. However, when I connected the lens station and checked the AF setting, it is showing as -1. Not sure whether Samyang did that as part of their QC process or some mistake. The default is 0 (zero) and I reverted back to default.

I have not tested the lens detailed enough to understand whether the focus is correct or not. I am wondering what others are seeing in their Samyang 50mm F1.4

 

[fboss]

I'm also interested in this lens. Please can you post a few pictures and share your impression of the AF with the latest firmware ? thanks.

 

[AkshajN]

I'm also interested in this lens. Please can you post a few pictures and share your impression of the AF with the latest firmware ? thanks.

I reverted the AF to -1 as it came with. The firmware is already latest so no update.

I will share a few pictures soon. Initial impressions are:

1) Lens is decent in sharpness, I was trying to shoot mostly at F1.4

2) AF-C is extremely noisy and not completely reliable. I am now testing eye-af to see the reliability

3) AF-S is noisy, but okay

 

[sportyaccordy]

I had one and found it to be set right out of the box; however it was always soft at F/1.4 and just OK at F/2. I usually stopped down to F/2.8 for satisfactory image quality. I had 2 35 1.4s that were never right until the latest FW, and by the time that came I had already committed to selling it.

If I get any more Samyang lenses they will be MF. I have a 14/2.8 which is excellent and briefly had an 85 1.4 which was great too. Would love if they made some MF glass with electronic communication for auto MF assist.

 

[AkshajN]

I had one and found it to be set right out of the box; however it was always soft at F/1.4 and just OK at F/2. I usually stopped down to F/2.8 for satisfactory image quality. I had 2 35 1.4s that were never right until the latest FW, and by the time that came I had already committed to selling it.

You mean it was set as -1 for AF adjustment right out of box (from the factory itself)?

 

[sportyaccordy]

I had one and found it to be set right out of the box; however it was always soft at F/1.4 and just OK at F/2. I usually stopped down to F/2.8 for satisfactory image quality. I had 2 35 1.4s that were never right until the latest FW, and by the time that came I had already committed to selling it.

You mean it was set as -1 for AF adjustment right out of box (from the factory itself)?

No I think it was set to 0. I played with it and set it back to whatever it came from the factory with.

To be honest though I saw no difference with my 35 at various settings, at least until the latest FW. And by then I was done with the lenses. I'd honestly chuck it for the FE 50 1.8

 

[gwexou]

I bought the latest 85mm 1.4 FE from Samyang, and out of the box it came with -2 adjustment !

I'll try to test if it makes any real world difference, but i'm also curious to see if others have the same experience.

 

[AkshajN]

I had one and found it to be set right out of the box; however it was always soft at F/1.4 and just OK at F/2. I usually stopped down to F/2.8 for satisfactory image quality. I had 2 35 1.4s that were never right until the latest FW, and by the time that came I had already committed to selling it.

You mean it was set as -1 for AF adjustment right out of box (from the factory itself)?

No I think it was set to 0. I played with it and set it back to whatever it came from the factory with.

To be honest though I saw no difference with my 35 at various settings, at least until the latest FW. And by then I was done with the lenses. I'd honestly chuck it for the FE 50 1.8

 

[AkshajN]

I bought the latest 85mm 1.4 FE from Samyang, and out of the box it came with -2 adjustment !

I'll try to test if it makes any real world difference, but i'm also curious to see if others have the same experience.

Ok. Interesting to know that Samyang does this to other lenses as well. I am not sure whether it was put intentionally to adjust focus as they performed QC of the lens or a mistake from their side.

I will have to test this in detail to find the differences. The challenge is Samyang 50mm F1.4 focus is horrible and it makes harder to perform consistent test at AF -1 or 0

 

[sportyaccordy]

I had one and found it to be set right out of the box; however it was always soft at F/1.4 and just OK at F/2. I usually stopped down to F/2.8 for satisfactory image quality. I had 2 35 1.4s that were never right until the latest FW, and by the time that came I had already committed to selling it.

You mean it was set as -1 for AF adjustment right out of box (from the factory itself)?

No I think it was set to 0. I played with it and set it back to whatever it came from the factory with.

To be honest though I saw no difference with my 35 at various settings, at least until the latest FW. And by then I was done with the lenses. I'd honestly chuck it for the FE 50 1.8

The focus is horrible based on my tests. This is more true for AF-C. I did a few additional tests and in low light it is not consistent.

I am thinking of testing FE 50mm F1.8 and if they are equal at F1.8, I will get FE 50 F1.8

From the tests I've seen, it definitely seems to be. I was going to make that trade, but then I realized I don't need a 50. But if you do, between the Sony and Samyang, the Sony seems to be the better choice.

Here's Lenstip's resolution test for the Samyang:

And for the Sony:

Sony seems much better in the middle at wider apertures which kinda lines up with how most people use these lenses. AF speed is probably similar (though I would trust Sony's accuracy more). I really looked this up down and sideways when I was figuring out what to do. Samyang still fetches good money used as people see that F/1.4 and get excited.

--
Sometimes I take pictures with my gear- https://www.flickr.com/photos/41601371@N00/

 

[Kev The Doc]

I bought the latest 85mm 1.4 FE from Samyang, and out of the box it came with -2 adjustment !

I'll try to test if it makes any real world difference, but i'm also curious to see if others have the same experience.

I just got mine (85mm F1.4 AF) and it came set to -1. Has anybody figured out what this adjustment is and if so any recommendations on whether to leave it at factory setting or not?

 

[am stram gram]

I just got mine (85mm F1.4 AF) and it came set to -1. Has anybody figured out what this adjustment is and if so any recommendations on whether to leave it at factory setting or not?

Mine (45mm f1.8) is set (factory) to -2 ...

 

[nonproshooterdad]

I had one and found it to be set right out of the box; however it was always soft at F/1.4 and just OK at F/2. I usually stopped down to F/2.8 for satisfactory image quality. I had 2 35 1.4s that were never right until the latest FW, and by the time that came I had already committed to selling it.

You mean it was set as -1 for AF adjustment right out of box (from the factory itself)?

No I think it was set to 0. I played with it and set it back to whatever it came from the factory with.

To be honest though I saw no difference with my 35 at various settings, at least until the latest FW. And by then I was done with the lenses. I'd honestly chuck it for the FE 50 1.8

Yes Samyang AF 35/1.4 is not so sensitive to the adjust value. But still I finally set it to -3. It came with -2, and I found if I make it more back focus, my AF-C hit can be higher. I once set it to -4, but felt like too much, so it's -3 now.

The lens is super sharp at the center when wide open. That's why I tried all my best to make it work. AF-S is always good. AF-C shooting chart can easily get blurred. But when I finally set it to -3, and don't care for test charts, for real subjects, I don't see much problem now.

I shoot handheld only, so if I got one or two off, I consider it caused by hand shake.