Excellent and convenient 35mm light giant

Excellent and convenient 35mm light giant

Walimex Pro 35mm 1: 1.5 VDSLR Photo and Video Lens (77mm filter thread, lens hood, gear, variable iris and focus) for Nikon F lens mount black (Accessories)

Customer Review

TIP:

At the beginning of a direct tip: This lens is completely manually and also sends no EXIF ​​data to the camera (except see below note). Thus, it is ideal for adaptation to other bayonet types, because depending on the adaptation there is no loss in relation to the use of the original connection.
This can therefore be interesting because the price of the lens sometimes extremely varies with connection on Amazon. The most extreme thing I've seen so far, that is the cheapest connection variant has cost only half of the expensive connection variant. Also a possible switch to a camera model of another manufacturer can meet so.
A concrete example: I am owner of a Canon EOS 600D, but got me a lens with Nikon F mount bought. The flange of the Canon EF connection is only 44mm, the Nikon 46,5mm. Therefore, lenses with Nikon bayonet can properly adapt means of a simple metal adapter to Canon EOS cameras (not vice versa). Of course there are then no electronic transmission, so this is of no interest to most modern lenses, but with completely manual lenses which adaptation is quite a viable alternative. And of course I can use to Nikon cameras, the lens also, what would not be possible with a version with Canon's EF mount.

NOTE:

In addition, even a short note: The Walimex Pro 35mm F1.4 Nikon bayonet (normal, not VDSLR version) offers apparently the only version shutter priority and transmission of EXIF ​​data. To my knowledge, all other versions must be operated completely manually. For the 35mm F1.4 with Canon bayonet I can attest to that definitely. Of the VSDLR variants, none a chip, the Nikon bayonet but has at least one automatic diaphragm. The other I can dbzgl. to say nothing. Autofocus there are of course in any version.
(I personally do not experience this as too restrictive. Although I have bought the lens mainly for the videos, but I take pictures so just as happy. With today's possibilities in Live View + Viewfinder I feel manual focusing generally considered very comfortable, whether at maximum aperture or shutter closed further.
Otherwise: Anyone who is not sure whether a manual lens for the right, which I recommend to first a favorable old lens used to buy (eg with M42 connector + adapter) and to form his own opinion. For manual focusing of moving objects one must of course individually for each objective develop a sense to be able to work quickly and accurately.)

REVIEW:

I use a Canon EOS 600D (hence this review is only for APS-C cameras valid). Although I have some bright Normal lenses (50mm F1.4), but this match due to the APS-C sensor, the 600D course effectively a 80mm focal length. So I was looking for a lens that as fast aperture standard lens could be used for the 600D. 30mm would be ideal (such as the Sigma EX 30 / 1.4 DC HSM), but as prime lenses with 28mm and 35mm are much more common, I have also included this in my search (incidentally, also including old lenses of any brand).

The Walimex Pro 35mm is produced by the Korean company Samyang and sold here in Germany under the brand Walimex. In America, in turn, it is marketed as Rokinon. Most tests will be therefore mainly under the name Samyang while User reviews are not rare to find under the name Rokinon.
The reviews of this objective were really without exception positive. In particular, the image quality has been praised, but also the mechanical properties should not inferior in the lot. Equally ahead, I can substantiate this just in every aspect, the lens is a winner !!!

COMPETITION:

For less than 500? With comparable image quality? With comparable light intensity? The way I see it seems to me the Samyang 35mm to be quite unrivaled here.
I am studying the second-hand market of lenses for a long time again and old analog classics with excellent image quality and their price. Here is no longer a bargain to make. Moreover, most really good lenses (eg Olympus Zuiko whether, Nikon AI or Zeiss Distagon etc.) for under 500 here usually only a light intensity of the f / 2.0 and are also usually an extremely rare occurrence.
Newer lenses with autofocus, such as Canon 28mm f / 1.8 or 35mm f / 2, or even specific APS-C lenses as the Sigma 30 f / 1.4, can compete with the image quality of the Samyang not and are especially mechanically (focus ring, etc.) can not be compared. After all, it is a very different impact on lenses. There are just autofocus lenses that are simply not as well suited for manual use as the Samyang. To me had just clearly in this case, the image quality and the ease of manual the highest priority. If that just goes, the need for all I know at a budget of less than 500 do not look any further than the Samyang. About Lenses higher price regions I have ever even though only read, so I can draw no comparison here.

IMAGE QUALITY:

The image quality of the Samyang is exalted in my view beyond doubt, at least as regards the irritating my 16MP APS-C sensor. It is focal length Cross for my 600D in terms of image quality of my best lenses. It can keep up with my best 50mm lenses, this exceeds by strong open aperture even slightly in terms of edge sharpness and loses only at maximum aperture a direct comparison due to more pronounced chromatic aberrations. But already from f / 2 the tide turns in favor of the Samyang. For a 35mm lens a considerable achievement (hers Price in size and weight has).
The best image quality is achieved with the lens unsurprisingly from f / 5.6 to f /. 8 However, the lens delivers decent image quality across the entire spectrum.
The sharpness is excellent (!) And even in open and closed aperture still very neat. The definition is particularly impressive and falls towards the center sharpness is not significantly down, so that the lens can be used universally, regardless of whether a great deal or very little depth of field is needed.
At maximum aperture chromatic aberrations are the biggest problem. You are here as expected visibly pronounced. Already slight dimming (eg f / 2.0) reduces aberrations significantly. From aperture f / 5.6, they are virtually story.
Color and contrast are properly even at maximum aperture (apart from the already mentioned aberrations), do not produce at full aperture partly very pale images as with many other lenses.
The degree of distortion is minimal and insignificant. At maximum aperture vignetting even at the APS-C format is still clearly visible, but slightly dimmed then is barely noticeable. When used for full-frame the situation may be quite different, but this I can not contribute anything.
The lens has 8 diaphragm blades. It has no flashy beautiful bokeh, but should make the average user happy.

HOUSING QUALITY:

The housing quality of the Samyang is often praised. I do not know if I want to connect the completely so. My first impression was far from good, which was mainly due to the lens hood and the front panel, consisting of extremely cheap plastic. The hood could be effortlessly break between two fingers. But even the plastic of the housing does not specifically quality impression on me, although apart from the metal bayonet think I is processed in the body even aluminum. Therefore I got a question mark over the quality of materials. Otherwise, the housing quality is actually very good in any case.
The focus ring is running very smoothly. For a lens of plastic pretty good. Distance setting includes a circumference of about 150 °, with fixed stops at the ends of the scale. This enables accurate and fast focusing. The position is a little before the end of the distance setting.
The aperture ring is smooth, but definitely has 'preferred locations', so that the necessary effort is not always the same. With a follow focus system that's no problem. As you turn right hand complicates somewhat uniform rotary motion.
The sprockets of VDSLR version for a follow focus are very practical, offer a good grip for normal operation.
One should not ignore the fact that this lens with 660g and dimensions of 111x81mm's quite a chunk for a 'simple' fixed focal length without autofocus course.

ACCESSORIES:

Accessories include a lens hood and a storage bag. In the storage bag is a simple bag of lowest quality. To speak of quality (see Product Description) is a bad joke. The whole package seems the way to rather cheap. But that's me basically did not care, as long as the quality of the lens fits.

CONCLUSION:

The lens is worth every penny. If it meets your requirement profile of features, then you will not regret the purchase.

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I am happy to answer questions about the lens in the comments. Comments on my review are also very welcome. If you want my review and assess me and how I test lenses and rate better, please see my first comment on the review.

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