Samyang/Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 problems and resolving them (2025)

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01-10-2019, 03:03 AM	#1
zburatoru Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 266	Samyang/Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 problems and resolving them Hello! First, I have to say that I love this lens, for bokeh and image quality! But I know it's got some issues, especially because of the low price, so low level of control quality... So, the first problem of my lens and this is a general problem, was the very hard focusing especially at wide open. And didn't you hear so many times: "It's so hard to focus!" Well, if your Samyang it's hard to focus then it's not proper calibrated! My lens needed -10 focus calibration and now it's spot on! Softness? No more! Longitudinal CA? Not so strong! The second problem and this general too was the underexposed shots! Mine it's got this issue, too! Well, yes! Sticky aperture! It happens very rare but it does! For the moment I'm waiting to cure itself or to become worse! But when it does I'm gonna send it to repair! So, no stress for the moment! I hope that this information helped someone! Happy shooting!

01-10-2019, 09:59 PM	#2
Derek Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Terrace, BC, Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 122	Originally posted by zburatoru Hello! First, I have to say that I love this lens, for bokeh and image quality! But I know it's got some issues, especially because of the low price, so low level of control quality... So, the first problem of my lens and this is a general problem, was the very hard focusing especially at wide open. And didn't you hear so many times: "It's so hard to focus!" Well, if your Samyang it's hard to focus then it's not proper calibrated! My lens needed -10 focus calibration and now it's spot on! Softness? No more! Longitudinal CA? Not so strong! The second problem and this general too was the underexposed shots! Mine it's got this issue, too! Well, yes! Sticky aperture! It happens very rare but it does! For the moment I'm waiting to cure itself or to become worse! But when it does I'm gonna send it to repair! So, no stress for the moment! I hope that this information helped someone! Happy shooting! I sent my first 85/1.4 back to B&H because the aperture linkage was sticking in the applied/closed position. In my case just actuating the lever 3 or 4 times would make it malfunction. The second one they sent me was fine. I must try that focus calibration.

01-11-2019, 12:20 AM	#3
zburatoru Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 266 Original Poster	Originally posted by Derek I sent my first 85/1.4 back to B&H because the aperture linkage was sticking in the applied/closed position. In my case just actuating the lever 3 or 4 times would make it malfunction. The second one they sent me was fine. I must try that focus calibration. Well, I hope mine won't develop a habit with sticky aperture... Focus calibration really works even if it's made for af lenses... Good luck!

01-11-2019, 06:45 AM - 1 Like	#4
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,961	My biggest focus issue turned out to be me moving slightly as I took pictures... At minimum focus distance, thatÂs a huge problem for me... -Eric

01-11-2019, 08:07 AM	#5
zburatoru Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 266 Original Poster	Originally posted by TwoUptons My biggest focus issue turned out to be me moving slightly as I took pictures... At minimum focus distance, thatÂs a huge problem for me... -Eric Well! I don't have that problem! For the moment i'm trying a trick, learned from reading about sticky aperture on the net: Somebody said that the cure might be to store the lens at f22 not on A setting... I'll give it a try!

01-11-2019, 08:46 AM - 1 Like	#6
niblue Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 183	Originally posted by TwoUptons My biggest focus issue turned out to be me moving slightly as I took pictures... At minimum focus distance, thatÂs a huge problem for me... I don't have the Samyang 85mm F1.4 but do have the Pentax FA* 85mm F1.4 so am also aware that the in-focus area wide open and close is tiny. I found the best way to work was with just a single AF point active to make it easier to ensure that what was in focus was what you wanted in focus (typically one of the subjects eyes when shooting portraits). I found that worked well on the Z1p back in my film days and am doing the same with the K1. With this picture of my daughter (on Ilford Delta 400 using the Z1p) you can see just how little of the image is in focus.

01-11-2019, 09:21 AM	#7
zburatoru Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 266 Original Poster	Originally posted by niblue I don't have the Samyang 85mm F1.4 but do have the Pentax FA* 85mm F1.4 so am also aware that the in-focus area wide open and close is tiny. I found the best way to work was with just a single AF point active to make it easier to ensure that what was in focus was what you wanted in focus (typically one of the subjects eyes when shooting portraits). I found that worked well on the Z1p back in my film days and am doing the same with the K1. With this picture of my daughter (on Ilford Delta 400 using the Z1p) you can see just how little of the image is in focus. Yes, harder to focus on full frame, maybe easier on aps-c sensor wich I have! The solutions: staying still on non-moving objects and burst shots while focusing on moving objects until you get the job done.

01-11-2019, 09:27 AM - 2 Likes	#8
zburatoru Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 266 Original Poster	A "not calibrated shot". Attached Images View Picture EXIF

02-03-2019, 09:16 AM	#9
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,835	This is with the Bower version, shot at F1.4 single point focus. Yes it's shallow but is advantageous given the right pose. Attached Images View Picture EXIF

02-03-2019, 12:44 PM	#10
zburatoru Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 266 Original Poster	Originally posted by gatorguy This is with the Bower version, shot at F1.4 single point focus. Yes it's shallow but is advantageous given the right pose. Very nice shot!

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Samyang/Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 problems and resolving them (2025)

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