Samyang announced the new 35mm f/2.8 FE autofocus lens. The Korean pricing is ￦349000 (about 299$). This is $500 cheaper than the Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 FE lens ([shopcountry 59629]). And apparently the image quality is on par with the Zeiss!
UPDATE: You can now preorder the new Samyang/Rokinon 35mm FE lens at BHphoto (Click here).
Press text:
Tiny but Mighty
A tiny lens with a mighty performance, Samyang AF 35mm F2.8 FE is ideal for daily photography as well as travel photography. This new compact and lightweight lens, together with the existing AF 14mm F2.8 FE and AF 50mm F1.4 FE lenses, now expands Samyang’s autofocus lens line-up to three.
The AF 35mm F2.8 FE weighs just 85g and measures 3.3cm in length, without the hood and rear cap. Thanks to Samyang’s exceptional optical technology, its compact size is packed with features for outstanding image quality. Featuring seven elements in six groups, two aspherical lenses and one high refractive lens plus Ultra Multi Coating to minimise aberration and unnecessary light dispersion, the lens delivers high resolution from the centre to the corners of the image.
Perfect Partner for Everyday Photographer
This new lens is specifically designed to work in harmony with full frame mirrorless cameras in Sony E mount. For full frame sensors, the focal length resembles the human eye the most. For APS-C types for Sony alpha 6000 and 5000 series users the lens is equivalent to approximately 52mm, which is also one of the most popular focal lengths among photographers.
Portability with mighty performance and a 35mm focal length makes this lens the best choice for daily photographers who want to capture every memory as a high quality image. The autofocus is fast and accurate and is ideal for the capture of outdoor events such as hiking, sports events and landscape photography. It also has a minimum focusing distance of 0.35m and is ideal for street, portrait and close focus photography.
Image samples at Samyanglensglobal and at Gippsland.
Le Minh compared the MTF graph of the Zeiss and the Samyang:
“The MTF looks nice, at f/2.8 it looks as good as Zeiss, but weaker at the far corner. The mid-zone are looks even better than Zeiss.”
[/shoplink]