Samyang AF 35 mm f/1.4 P FE review

Have you rated your lenses yet?

Samyang AF 35 mm f/1.4 P FE

13 March 2025

Maciej Latałło

4. Image resolution

Our resolution test (resolution meaning the MTF50 function values) of Sony FE lenses is based on RAW files from the 42.4 Mpix sensor of the Sony A7R II or the Sony A7R III camera. In the case of this kind of detector the decency level we set about 39-41 lpmm and the best fixed focal length lenses have been able to reach a level of about 80 lpmm. Record-breaking lenses are able to exceed 80 lpmm or even reach 90 lpmm and so far, our list of these record-breakers features the Sony FE 85 mm f/1.4 GM II (85.8 lpmm), the Meike 85 mm f/1.4 FF STM (90.2 lpmm), and the Sony FE 50 mm f/1.4 GM (90.9 lpmm).

Let's check how the Samyang AF 35 mm f/1.4 P FE compares – first we are going to deal with its results in the frame centre, then we are going to examine the edge of the APS-C/DX sensor and on the edge of full frame. Let's glance at the graph below.

Samyang AF 35 mm f/1.4 P FE - Image resolution

When it comes to the frame centre, we can be really pleased. Already at the maximum relative aperture you get a good result of almost 51 lpmm and on stopping down the aperture the lens reaches an excellent level of almost 80 lpmm. How good these results really are you see only after comparing them to the results of the first version of the Samyang 1.4/35 FE and the more expensive Sony FE 35 mm f/1.4 GM model.

Please Support Us

If you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - advertisement - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It's clear that the newest Samyang performs better than its predecessor at any important aperture and this difference is noticeable. At the same time, up from the f/2.8 aperture it competes on equal terms with the Sony.

Unfortunately all these nice, good words you say about the tested lens concern only the frame centre. Its edges leave a lot to be desired. Although the edge of the APS-C/DX sensor doesn't look very bad, because even at the maximum relative aperture the decency level is slightly exceeded, we are worried about untypical performance and relatively low maximum values. On stopping down the aperture resolution increases but very slowly and, at one point, you observe untypical wavering. The difference between the edges and the frame centre amounts to even over 30 lpmm. As a result maximum results can be observed only by f/8.0 and f/11 apertures and their level, 48 lpmm, is hardly satisfying.

The edge of full frame is even slightly weaker – it's true that the maximum values reach a similar level of about 48 lpmm but near the maximum relative aperture MTFs remain weak. Only applying an aperture of about f/2.8 makes them increase to decent values.

This performance shows clearly that Samyang focuses on offering you a lens with a very sharp frame centre and edges that aren't corrected especially well. In some uses it doesn't have to be a big flaw because these weak edges often are within out-of-focus areas stemming from shallow depth of field. Still I admit I would like to see a better performance at this point.

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

A7R IIIa, JPEG, 35 mm, f/1.4