The Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS IF UMC for Sony A is a manual focus wide-angle prime lens with an f/1.4 maximum aperture, built for full-frame and APS-C Sony A-mount bodies, and widely praised for its coma and astigmatism control that makes it a go-to choice for astrophotography.
Key Specifications
- Focal length: 24mm (fixed prime)
- Maximum aperture: f/1.4 — wide open and stays there
- Lens type: Wide angle
- Focus: Manual focus only — no autofocus motor
- Image stabilisation: None (rely on your body's IBIS if available)
- Mount: Sony A-mount — fits DSLR bodies like the Sony Alpha 77 II or Alpha 99 II
- Optical construction: ED, AS, IF and UMC coatings — extra-low dispersion glass, aspherical elements, internal focusing, and ultra multi-coating to reduce flare and ghosting
- Angle of view: Approximately 84° on full-frame
Who is the Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS IF UMC for?
If you shoot stars, Milky Way landscapes, or dark-sky scenes, this lens is built for you. The f/1.4 aperture pulls in a huge amount of light, and the optical design keeps coma and astigmatism well controlled toward the edges of the frame — exactly what matters when point sources of light (stars) are scattered across the whole image. Beyond astro, the 24mm focal length is a classic choice for landscape, street, and travel shooting: wide enough to capture a sense of place, but not so extreme that straight lines go crazy. Architecture photographers on a tighter budget also gravitate toward it for the same reasons. Because there's no autofocus, it suits shooters who already enjoy deliberate, manual shooting — and anyone pairing it with a Sony A-mount DSLR body who wants a fast prime without paying Sony G or Zeiss prices. Buying a used version from Samyang's lineup is a particularly smart move here: manual focus lenses have no AF motor to wear out, so the main things to check are glass and aperture blades — both easy to inspect.
Buying a used Samyang 24mm f/1.4 for Sony A
Picking up this lens second-hand makes a lot of sense. Manual focus lenses are mechanically straightforward — fewer electronics means fewer things that can go wrong. When buying pre-owned, look for clean glass (no fungus, haze, or deep scratches), smooth focus and aperture rings, and intact UMC coating on the front element. Every used lens sold here comes with a minimum 12 months warranty, so you're covered if anything unexpected shows up after purchase.
