Deal: Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens – $849 (reg. $1199, today only)

Sigma 85mm F/1.4
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Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to 16
  • Two Low Dispersion Elements
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • TSC Material, Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Only for today (12/10/18) B&H Photo has the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens (Canon mount) on sale at $849. Compare at $1199. Free shipping. The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM is a highly regarded lens.

Another Sigma lens today only deal: the Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM (Canon mount) is on sale at $269.95 at Adorama. Compare at $549

More selected and exclusive deals…

Samyang MF 85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS lens review (fantastic quality, ePhotozine)

Samyang MF 85mm F/1.8
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Samyang MF 85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS at a glance:

  • F-M-Mount Lens/APS-C Format
  • 136mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/22
  • One Extra-Low Dispersion Element
  • One High Refractive Index Element
  • Ultra Multi-Coating
  • Manual Focus Design
  • Non-Rotating 62mm Filter Mount
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Samyang just announced the Samyang MF 85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS for mirrorless systems, Canon EOS M included.

ePhotozine tested and reviewed the Samyang MF 85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS (although not on a Canon EOS M camera, but on a Sony A5100).

From the conclusion:

There are so many excellent lenses, and the Samyang MF 85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS is another one. Fantastic quality, very nicely made, excellent price, compact and light… the only thing not to like is that focusing can be a bit tricky. However, to be fair, this depends also on the actual camera used. If used on a tripod with careful, magnified focusing, then the results possible from this lens are exemplary.

The Samyang (aka Rokinon) MF 85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS sells for $399 and can be pre-ordered at B&H Photo and Adorama

Samyang 85mm f/1.8 UMC CS announced (Canon EOS M System)

Samyang MF 85mm F/1.8
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Samyang (aka Rokinon, and other brand names) announce the Samyang 85mm f/1.8 UMC CS lens for mirrorless camera systems, Canon EOS M included. The Samyang 85mm f/1.8 will be available in September 2018.

Press release:

Samyang unveils the MF 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS lens for mirrorless cameras with APS-C crop sensors

Samyang Optics launches a new manual-focus lens for mirrorless shooters: The MF 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS is designed for use with APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras in the following mounts: Sony E, Fujifilm X, Canon M, and Micro-Four-Thirds. It is competitively priced and light-weight. This medium telephoto lens inherits the renowned image quality of Samyang’s manual focus series and also boasts beautiful out of focus bokeh and availability for a variety of cameras.

Ideal portrait lens, with a fast, bright maximum aperture

This manual-focus 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS lens is a medium telephoto lens, with a similar angle of-view to a 135mm lens when compared to full-frame cameras. The Samyang MF 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS is designed with 9 lens elements in 7 groups and it delivers high resolution from the centre to the corners of the image. A high-refractive and an extra-low dispersion element, along with Ultra Multi-Coating (UMC) help minimise chromatic aberrations and deliver clear, vibrant images. This lens is ideal for portraits, with beautiful bokeh from its floating-element system. Its low-light performance and shallow depth-of-field are especially useful features.

Wide range of uses, with crystal-clear resolution

The compact and light-weight design offers the portability and comfort needed for a long day’s shooting. This lens would be the ideal choice for keen photographers who want to capture everyday moments in high-resolution. The Samyang MF 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS has a host of features including its outstanding optical performance. Its wide range of uses include portraits and other close-ups such as food, as well as landscapes and many other situations.

More fun with Manual Focus lenses

The MF 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS lens is perfect for shooters who want to have more involvement and express their own characteristics through their images. The Samyang MF 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS weighs in at just over 300g and measures approximately 8cm long (without the hood and lens caps). Photographers can expect superb, emotional and unique images from this compact companion.

 

Meike 85mm f/1.8 lens review (a fine lens that’s very easy to like, ePhotozine)

Meike 85mm F/1.8
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The Meike 85mm f/1.8 was announced back in April 2018, and still is not available in the US. When it will, it will sell at $199.

In the meantime, ePhotozine posted a review of the Meike 85mm f/1.8 lens. Among the positive aspects of the Meike, the reviewers highlight the very good sharpness, low CA and distortion, and an overall good build quality.

From the verdict:

The lens is no trouble to use, it does the job, maybe not with the smooth finesse of more expensive optics, but in a workmanlike and efficient way. At the price, who could complain. For anyone wanting an inexpensive 85mm f/1.8 lens this must be one of the strongest contenders.

Handling being fine, the real bonus is that the optical performance is excellent. Even the edge softness wide open can be seen as an advantage for dreamy portraits, although some may see it as a drawback. Creatively, the lens has lots of potential.

In summary, a fine lens that’s very easy to like, at a price where there’s little to lose. Read the review…

Meike 85mm f/1.8

Deal: Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS – $1499 (reg. $1599, Amazon)

Canon EF 85mm F/1.4L IS
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  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/22
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Air Sphere Coating
  • Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • Weather-Sealed Design, Fluorine Coating
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Amazon US has the new Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS discounted by $100 and on sale at $1,499. That’s a pretty hot deal for a new lens that didn’t get any discounts so far.

Amazon started Prime Day, a promotional event where Amazon Prime members can access a huge set of deals. Amazon Prime day last until July 18, 2018.

All Amazon branches are taking part in Prime Day:

Amazon US – Amazon Canada – Amazon Germany – Amazon UK – Amazon France – Amazon Italy – Amazon Spain

Please note: You have to be a prime member to grab the deals. Discounted price will be seen only at the time the deal starts. European customers can buy from any Amazon Europe store. US customers have to wait until 3pm EST.

Amazon Germany is offering:

Amazon Europe stores have deals on SanDisk memory cards:Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, Amazon France, Amazon ItalT and Amazon Spain.

More selected and exclusive deals…

Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF lens Review (not perfect but great to use, ePhotozine)

Samyang AF 85mm F/1.4 EF
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Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • One Hybrid Aspherical Element
  • Ultra Multi-Coating
  • Ultrasonic Dual Linear AF Motor
  • Round Nine-Blade Diaphragm

ePhotozine reviewed the new Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF lens.

There is a lot the reviewers like in the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4: sharpness, low CA and flare, fast and quick auto-focus, and a very good build quality.

From their conclusion:

The Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF is a great lens to use, not perfect in that there are some AF issues close up and also quite a bit of edge CA, but overall a good solid performing lens at a very attractive price.

In the end, it’s the results that count and the ease of use of the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 lens lends itself to producing some excellent photography. Without a doubt, it can be recommended. Plus, Samyang has said the AF close-focus issues will be resolved in a firmware update that will be applied to all production lenses before they ship in early July. Read the review…

The Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF has a very compact size and is light, compared to Canon’s EF 85mm f/1.4L IS and Sigma’s 85mm f/1.4 ART lenses.

Pre-orders are open in the US for $749 at B&H Photo | Adorama.

In the UK, Park Cameras has the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF in stock. In Germany, Amazon DE ships the new Samyang.