Samyang Unveils AF 75mm f/1.8 FE Lens for Sony with Custom Lens Ring
Samyang/Rokinon has unveiled a new “tiny but absolute” autofocus portrait lens for Sony E-Mount cameras. The full-frame AF 75mm f/1.8 FE lens offers Sony shooters a lightweight, high-performance portrait lens with an interesting feature not typically seen in third-party glass: a customizable lens ring.
In terms of base optics and specs, the lens claims to offer high-end optical performance and silent autofocus in a very compact package.
Weighing just 230g and featuring a 58mm filter thread, the f/1.8 lens nevertheless includes 10 lens elements in 9 groups, including two high-refractive (HR) elements and three extra-low dispersion (ED) elements. Minimum Object Distance is just 27 inches (0.69m), a 9-blade aperture promises “beautiful, round bokeh,” and a linear STM stepping motor promises quiet and precise autofocus performance.
The final, and most interesting, feature of the new lens is the special Mode switch you’ll find on the lens barrel.
This switch currently allows you to change the focus ring from Focus control to Aperture control on command, giving you tactile control of your aperture so you don’t have to take your eye from the viewfinder:
However, according to Samyang, “you will be able to select more various shooting modes with the upcoming firmware updates,” so focus and aperture won’t be your only options for long—exposure compensation and ISO might not be far behind.
Here’s a closer look at the new lens:
And some sample photos courtesy of Samyang (click for high res):
Unfortunately, Samyang hasn’t revealed pricing or availability for the 75mm lens, and in fact, they forgot to update their press release. Apparently, the initial plan was to show off the lens in March, at the Photography Show in the UK, but that show has been delayed until September.
Hopefully we’ll have full release date and pricing information for this intriguing new lens ahead of that rescheduled show. In the meantime, head over to the Samyang website to learn more.
