Samyang AF 75 mm f/1.8 FE review - Image resolution

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Samyang AF 75 mm f/1.8 FE

12 November 2020

Maciej Latałło

4. Image resolution

The resolution test (resolution meaning the MTF50 function values) of the Samyang AF 75 mm f/1.8 FE was based on RAW files from the Sony A7R II camera. In the case of that mirrorless device the decency level we set about 39-41 lpmm and the best fixed focal length lenses might get to 70 lpmm. So far the records have been reached by two Voigtlander devices, namely the Voigtlander Apo-Lanthar 65 mm f/2 Aspherical 1:2 Macro (78.5 lpmm) and the Nokton 50 mm f/1.2 (78.6 lpmm). The Zeiss Batis 40 mm f/2 CF, with a result of 77.1 lpmm, fared just slightly weaker.

Let's check how the Samyang AF 75 mm f/1.8 FE compares – a graph below presents its results in the frame centre, on edges of the APS-C and on edges of the full frame sensor.

Samyang AF 75 mm f/1.8 FE - Image resolution

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One glance and you don't have any doubts that the lens fares exceedingly well in the frame centre. Already by f/1.8 you get MTFs reaching over 50 lpmm, ensuring you images of good quality. On stopping down the resolution improves very quickly and by f/2.8 and f/4.0 you see excellent values, exceeding 73-74 lpmm. In order to understand how good level it really is you might mention the fact that the rival Sony FE 85 mm f/1.8 didn't manage to go higher than 70 lpmm.

The performance on the edge of the APS-C sensor also deserves a lot of praise. It's true that by f/1.8 you land a tad below the decency level but it is reached already by f/2.0. Further stopping down allows the MTFs to soar to a high level of over 60 lpmm so, in that place, you can enjoy truly sharp images.

There are some problems on the edge of full frame because the decency level is achievable only after applying the f/2.5 relative aperture. Then MTFs swiftly increase to values oscillating near 50 lpmm or a tad higher. Once again it is a performance noticeably better than in the case of the more expensive Sony FE 1.8/85.

The summary of this chapter can only be positive. In this category, the Samyang AF 75 mm f/1.8 FE fares better than the Sony FE 85 mm f/1.8 in almost every way; mind you, the Sony is a quite good lens and also one by several hundred PLN more expensive than the instrument tested here.

At the end of this chapter, traditionally, we present crops taken from photos of our resolution testing chart, saved as JPEG files along RAW files we used for the analysis above.

A7R II, JPEG, 75 mm, f/1.8