Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 35-150mm

The Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 is a sharp, fast all-in-one zoom that delivers top-tier optical performance at a price that undercuts the competition. It's ideal for event and portrait photographers who want to carry one lens instead of three. Just be aware of the average autofocus speed and lack of stabilization before you buy.

Let's talk sharpness, because that's where this lens really flexes. The 99th percentile optical score isn't just a number, it translates to images that look crisp straight out of camera. At 35mm and f/2, center sharpness is excellent, and the corners catch up nicely by f/4. Zoom out to 150mm and you'll still get detail that rivals some prime lenses. The 6 ED elements do heavy lifting to keep chromatic aberration in check, and we saw very little purple fringing even in high-contrast scenes. For portrait photographers, the bokeh is smooth enough, though it sits right around average in our rankings. The 9-blade aperture helps, but don't expect the kind of dreamy background separation you'd get from an f/1.4 prime.

Autofocus is a mixed bag. The linear stepping motor is quiet and works well for video, but it's not blazing fast. In our tracking tests, it kept up with walking subjects without much drama, but it did hunt a bit in low light. The 55th percentile AF ranking feels about right, it's solid and reliable, just not class-leading. The lack of optical stabilization is a bummer, especially at 150mm where camera shake becomes a real factor. You'll want a body with IBIS to get the most out of this lens handheld. The custom mode switches are a nice touch though, letting you quickly toggle between focus hold and other settings without diving into menus.

The elephant in the room is the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8. It's the lens everyone compares this Samyang to, and honestly, they're closer than the price difference suggests. The Tamron has a slight edge in autofocus speed and build quality, but the Samyang matches or even beats it in sharpness in some parts of the frame. If you're shooting on a Sony body, both are viable options, but the Samyang's L-Mount availability gives it a unique advantage for Panasonic and Leica shooters. The Tamron is also a bit heavier and pricier, so if your budget is tight, the Samyang makes a strong case for itself.

Looking at other competitors, the Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 and Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 offer more reach but sacrifice that fast aperture. Those are superzooms for daylight, while this Samyang is a low-light workhorse. The Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 is in a different league for range but is painfully slow on the long end. If you need one lens that can handle portraits, events, and travel without forcing you to crank the ISO, the Samyang's f/2-2.8 aperture puts it in a class of its own among all-in-one zooms.

Pricing on this lens is all over the place depending on where you look. We've seen it as low as $999 and as high as $1399, so it pays to shop around. At the lower end, it's an absolute steal for what you're getting. The Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8, which is the most direct competitor, typically runs several hundred dollars more. Samyang is undercutting the market here while delivering optical performance that's right up there with the best. If you can snag one closer to the $999 mark, the value proposition is hard to beat. Just keep in mind that you're trading some build quality and autofocus refinement for that price advantage.

The Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 is the kind of lens that makes you question why you'd ever lug around a bag full of primes. Designed for full-frame L-Mount and Sony E systems, it covers a massive zoom range with a fast f/2-2.8 aperture that stays bright even when you punch in. If you're a wedding photographer, event shooter, or just someone who hates swapping glass, this thing is basically a cheat code. It's built around 21 elements in 18 groups, with a pile of special glass including 6 ED elements and 2 aspherical lenses, all wrapped in a weather-sealed body that tips the scales at 1210g. It's not light, but for what it replaces, it's surprisingly manageable.

The optical performance here is genuinely impressive. In our database, it sits in the 99th percentile for overall optics, which means it's one of the sharpest zooms we've tested. Edge-to-edge clarity holds up across the frame, and the UMC coatings do a solid job of keeping flare and ghosting under control. The linear stepping motor handles autofocus, and while it's not the fastest we've seen, it's perfectly adequate for most situations. You get three custom mode switches on the barrel, a 9-blade diaphragm for decent bokeh, and a minimum focus distance of 12.1 inches. It's not a true macro lens, but you can get close enough for some surprisingly detailed close-ups.

At a street price ranging from $999 to $1399 depending on the vendor, this Samyang is aggressively positioned against much pricier competition. The build quality isn't going to win any awards, it lands in the 20th percentile there, but the optics and versatility more than make up for it. If you've been searching for an all-in-one zoom that doesn't compromise on image quality, this should be on your shortlist.

This lens isn't for everyone. If you shoot a lot of handheld video without a stabilized body, the lack of optical stabilization will drive you nuts. Wildlife and sports photographers who need lightning-fast autofocus should look elsewhere, maybe at a native telephoto zoom. And if you're a lightweight traveler who counts every gram, the 1210g weight is going to feel like a brick after a few hours. For those users, something like the Tamron 18-300mm might be a better fit, or just stick with a couple of fast primes.

Should you buy the Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8? If you're an event photographer, wedding shooter, or anyone who needs to cover a lot of focal lengths quickly without sacrificing image quality, the answer is a pretty enthusiastic yes. The optical performance is genuinely top-tier, and the fast aperture means you can shoot in challenging light without reaching for a flash. It's not perfect, the autofocus can be a little sleepy in dim conditions, and the lack of stabilization means you'll want a body with IBIS. But for the price, especially if you find it on sale, it's one of the best values in the full-frame zoom market right now.

For L-Mount users, this lens is a bit of a no-brainer. There simply aren't many alternatives that offer this range and speed in one package. Sony shooters have more options, including the Tamron, but the Samyang holds its own and then some. If you can live with the weight and don't mind the slightly budget feel of the build, this lens will likely become the one that lives on your camera.