Considering samyang 135 f2 , focusing questions

considering various portrait lenses , 85, 135 and of course a 70-200 2.8 but that one is not realistic right now,, at some point it would be nice to have all but for now looking for one to start off with ,, i am just begining to get into portraits.. was leaning towards starting off with canons 85 1.8 but then,,

i've seen some very good reviews on the samyang 135 f2, some saying its better than the canon 135 L

However it is manual focus only ..but the lens would be for portraits so that doesnt bother me so much however i've never had a manual focus only lens
so i'm curious as to how that would work.. i mean what are my options to ensure that the picture is in focus?
live view only?
will there be a beep when shutter button is halfway pressed?
would hand held make things that much harder?

and any other input on this lens would be appreciated

Heya,

The 5D3 is going to be very difficult to make use of a manual lens with the view finder. The 5D3, oddly enough as a 5D, doesn't have a super precision matte screen option, which aids in manual focus of fast aperture lenses. It's very accurate and easy to use. No need for focus beeps, confirmation doohikies, etc. I shoot with F1.4 primes all the time with this viewfinder screen on my 5D classic and I nail focus just fine. Makes composition freedom and focus while doing that a cinch for me, and I no longer rely on focus points being in the right place, or recomposing, etc.

As it is, it will not be accurate with the standard view screen, making Live View the only way to accurately do it on your 5D3 and T4i.

A used 135L is only $600~700, so it's $200 more than the Samyang. You probably should just get an AF lens.

I use manual focus lenses 99% of the time on my 5D for portrait, and I'm proficient with manual focus, very quick, but again, that's because of a super precision matte screen (EE-S), it makes it easy (you focus via depth of field, and it's very obvious, I can nail eyelashes with an 85 F1.4 easily). But only some of Canon's cameras have this option really. The common ones are the 40d/50d/60d and the 5D/5D2 and 6D. Oddly enough they left the 5D3 out of this...

Get an 85 F1.8 unless you can spring for the 135L. Get it used. They're excellent.

Very best,

There will be no beep and no focus confirmation unless you add a AF Confirmation Chip to the lens mount.

Most people say even with an AF Conf. Chip the accuracy isn't 100%. I like adding the AF Chip so that the EXIF data is reported, but I generally use Liveview with 5x or 10x magnification to focus MF lenses.

30 years ago I shot football (EU style) with 135 f/2.8 and a 70-210 zoom. If you get a body that can use a precision ground split prism focusing screen, you'll have no problems doing portraiture with a manual focus lens.

would the magic lantern focus peaking and focus zoom work with the samayang

rantercsr wrote in post #17515503
would the magic lantern focus peaking and focus zoom work with the samayang

Yes, it will work with any lens.

ok thanks fellas..

i think i may give this a try ,, i've just installed ML and was comparing shots with mf and focus peaking compared to AF and i'm happy with i'm seeing

plus some sort of hoodeye lcd loupe

again this if for portraits where i can take some time with each shots..
i've been reading such good reviews on it or even the 85 1.4 version

Thread is a bit old but would be good to get some feedback her.

I am curious as to how did it all end up with your Samyang 135 adventure, as I am also interested to get one for astrophotography. Because by the reports I see on line, it crushes the Canon 135mm F2 L totally, at F2 (In every respect specially Sharpness) even at F2.8, and its only around F4 that Canon gets par with this Samy.

Any one, any ideas? (Comparing Samyan F2 with Canon's L or any other top of the line 135 lens).