It's a crowded field in the fast 35mm lens market, and Samyang's approach to make an economical manual focus lens was a wise one: if you don't need autofocus, but want the razor-thin depth-of-field of a fast lens, the lens was already in your crosshairs.

Handling and features Performance Verdict Specification This lens is available to fit many different types of cameras, including Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony and Four Thirds SLRs as well as Samsung NX mirrorless cameras.

Very inexpensive; Excellent sharpness; even at f/1.4; Even better sharpness when stopped down a little; Low CA and distortion; Good build

Contrast suffers when shooting into the light

Handling and features This lens is available to fit many different types of cameras, including Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony and Four Thirds SLRs as well as Samsung NX mirrorless cameras.

This Korean-made lens is manual-focus only, but has electronic AI-P contacts to couple to every digital and autofocus Nikon for full Matrix metering, EXIF data and exposure controls.

Samyang's 35mm f/1.4 AS USM features a fast f/1.4 maximum aperture that's two-thirds of a stop faster than an f/1.8. This wider opening lets more light in, and is ideal for using faster shutter speeds in low-light situations or producing slightly more blur behind subjects.

Available in a range of mounts, and both Four Thirds and Samsung NX versions, the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC is an attractive lens for CSC users wanting a fast prime. Samyang's 35mm f/1.4 AS USM features a fast f/1.4 maximum aperture that's two-thirds of a stop faster than an f/1.8.

The Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC is the company's most expensive lens to date, but at a street price of around ￡320 it is only about 25% of the price of a comparable optic from the likes of Canon, Nikon and Sony. This means that the Samyang model is around ￡1,000 cheaper than its rivals.

No promises, but I would like to write a full Samyang 35mm f/1.4 US UMC Lens review in the future. In the meantime, I think that you will find the standardized Samyang 35mm f/1.4 US UMC Lens results currently available to be helpful.

A fully-manual prime lens with a fast aperture at a bargain price

Bright aperture; build quality

Weak performance at wide aperture

If Samyang's name is unfamiliar then now is a good time to find out more about the brand, which has been in the market since 1972 serving the industrial television sector. The company also makes high-spec lenses, optical accessories and a zoom-telescope.

Bright aperture; build quality

Weak performance at wide aperture