The following chart presents a comparison between the parameters of the Samyang AF 24-70 mm f/2.8 FE and those of other 24-70 mm f/2.8 class lenses designed for full frame mirrorless cameras. Optically, the Samyang is the simplest instrument here but also the heaviest and the biggest. It doesn't impress us with its minimum focusing distance or the number of aperture blades. All of this might suggest that the producers decided to compete mainly with price.
In the photo below the Samynag AF 24-70 mm f/2.8 FE is positioned between the reflex camera Nikkor AF-S 24-70 mm f/2.8G ED and the Sigma A 35 mm f/1.4 DG HSM.
The tested lens starts with a metal mount that surrounds contacts and a black, plastic 33×26 mm frame. On the frame you get an inscription 'Made in Korea'. Inside you see a mobile rear element, 32 mm in diameter, positioned on the same level as the mount at 24 mm and hidden almost 4 cm deep when you pass to the 70 mm focal length. The inner tube is blackened very well, without any shiny parts.
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The proper body of the lens starts with a black, metal ring which diameter increases very swiftly. On the ring you can find a white dot, making an alignment with a camera easier, the name of the producer, and information that it was manufactured in Korea. On the left you see a CUSTOM MODE 1 and 2 switch that allows you to control the aperture with the focus ring. Samyang Lens Station might help you to customize the switch further, allowing you to add other functions.
Then you see a zoom ring, 36 mm wide, most of its surface covered by rubber ribbing. Below, there are focal length markings at 24, 35, 50, and 70 mm. The ring moves evenly and is properly damped.
Further on, you see a metal ring with a red stripe and basic parameters of the tested lens, like information about the focal range, aperture fastness, the filter diameter, amounting to 82 mm, and its minimum focusing distance, reaching 0.35m/1.15ft.
The next part is a rubberized manual focus ring, 20 mm wide. It is a focus-by-wire construction and its focus throw amounts to an angle of about 180 degrees. It's a high value, allowing you very precise settings.
The front element is flat, 66 mm in diameter, surrounded by a non-rotating filter thread, 82 mm in diameter, and a hood mount. The element moves because, along with the rest of the optical system, it is positioned on a uniform, metal tube. It extends with the lenghtening of the focal length. After passing from 24 to 70 mm the dimension of the lens increases by almost 3.5 cm.
When it comes to optical construction you deal here with 17 elements positioned in 14 groups. The producers weren't stingy with special elements: you get three low dispersion ED glass ones, three elements with high refraction index, two aspherical elements and one element that is hybrid aspherical. Inside you can also find a round aperture with 9 diaphragm blades that can be closed down to a value of f/22 at the maximum.
Buyers get in the box: both caps, a hood, and a soft pouch.
