Samyang (also known as Rokinon) is the king of affordable speed: primes with specifications you pay double for with brand glass. With almost 500 lenses our Samyang range is the second largest in the catalogue — AF lenses for Sony and more, manual classics and a complete VDSLR cine line.
Why a used Samyang?
With the big brands, speed is the most expensive specification there is; Samyang made it its speciality. Used, that means: an f/1.4 portrait prime for the money of a kit lens. For anyone wanting to experiment with astro, portrait or cine this is the most accessible route — and if you do not like it, the loss in resale value is minimal. Did you know, by the way, that the same glass is sold under several names? Rokinon in America, Samyang here — anyone who knows the aliases often recognises exactly the same lens used for less. And giving glass a second round always saves a newly made lens.
AF, manual or cine?
- AF line — the AF 85mm f/1.4 and AF 35mm f/1.8 are the popular portrait and all-round primes on Sony.
- Manual — the 14mm f/2.8 remains the budget astro lens; wide, fast and found everywhere.
- VDSLR (cine) — the same optics with T-stops and gear rings: the favourite starter kit of beginning filmmakers.
- XP (premium) — the lesser-known top-class line for DSLRs is a quiet tip used.
What we look for in used Samyang
Budget glass deserves the same inspection as top glass — and with Samyang we know where to look. Because the production tolerances are wider than with the big brands, we test every prime for decentring: is the image as sharp on the left as on the right? We also check the autofocus or focus ring, aperture and glass quality, and on cine copies the gear rings for play. AF models also get a firmware check, because updates noticeably improved the focusing behaviour of many Samyangs. You read the condition back honestly, with photos per copy and a 12-month warranty.
Combine smartly
A Samyang prime next to your brand zoom is the cheapest way to get speed into your bag. Look at the lens page of your camera brand for everything that fits, or trade in your current glass through an online offer.
