Samyang announces new $999 135mm F1.8 autofocus prime lens for Sony E-mount cameras: Digital Photography Review

Samyang has announced a new autofocus 135mm F1.8 telephoto lens designed for Sony E-mount camera systems.

The 135mm F1.8 lens is constructed of 13 elements in 11 groups, including three extra-low dispersion elements, two high-refractive index elements and one aspherical element. The lens has an 11-blade aperture diaphragm, uses an 82mm front filter thread and has a minimum focusing distance of 69cm (1.3’). On full-frame cameras, the lens offers an 18.9º angle of view, while on APS-C it offers a 12.5º angle of view.

Autofocus is driven by Samyang’s Linear STM (stepping motor) technology and the lens offers a focus hold button, a customizable button and a focus range limiter (which only works in AF mode). Samyang says the lens is weather-sealed, protecting it from ‘light rain, snow and dust.’ As for measurements, the lens comes in at 130mm (5.1″) long, 94mm (3.7″) in diameter and weighs 772g (1.7lbs).

This lens adds yet another focal length range to Samyang’s growing autofocus prime lineup, which now consists of 24mm, 35mm, 45mm, 75mm and 135mm focal lengths. Below is a sample gallery of images captured with the lens on various Sony camera bodies:

Below is a ‘first look’ video of the lens from Alyssa & Peter Zalabai, who took some of the sample images in the above gallery:

The Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 lens is expected to start shipping in March 2022 and is currently available to pre-order directly from Samyang for $999.