2024 - Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 FE: A modern update for portraiture and more

Samyang unveils the fixed focal length AF 135mm F1.8 FE, which is positioned as a new version of the MF 135mm F2.0 ED UMC. With this more modern model, the South Korean manufacturer is targeting the market for Sony mirrorless cameras with the E-mount.

The South Korean manufacturer Samyang has made its mark by offering attractive fixed focal lengths in terms of price, while offering a level of performance high enough to position itself as a good value for money. With the new AF 135mm F1.8 FE, Samyang continues to develop its autofocus range. Alongside the 135mm, we find the recently announced AF 50mm F1.4 FE II or the brand’s first zoom, the AF 24-70mm F2.8 FE.

One must have for the portrait

Flagship focal length for portraiture, the AF 135mm F1.8 FE uses Sony’s E-mount and is thus targeting the market of the same type. In this segment, its competitor is the excellent FE 135mm f/1.8 GM from Sony. Samyang also indicates that photographers who follow the old SLR version also use it for landscape or astrophotography in order to obtain more original images than at ultra wide-angle.

Obviously, the slightly brighter opening is one of the features that we notice. The diaphragm is based on 11 blades, while the optical construction is organized around 13 elements divided into 11 groups. The promise of a deep and silky bokeh is there. Three lenses are also made of low dispersion glass to further reduce chromatic aberrations. The minimum focusing distance is on its side 69 cm.

A revised design

On the design side, Samyang changes its tune and abandons the satin black dress, the striated focusing ring and the orange edging on the outer edge. The South Korean introduces a more sober finish, which could perhaps be described as more elegant with a new texture of the ring. The construction benefits from gaskets for resistance to dust and humidity.

Finally, a control button is available to manage the focus, a configurable one to change the function of the ring on the fly and a button to lock the focus. The latter can also be used to manage focusing in astrophotography. The configurable ring allows you to modify the aperture. Samyang claims that new functions will arrive in the future with the help of updates firmware.