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Lens review

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

23 January 2025
Maciej Lata³³o

7. Vignetting

First let's check how the tested Samyang deals with vignetting on the smaller APS-C sensor and uncorrected JPEG format – appropriate thumbnails can be found below.

A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 35 mm, f/2.0 A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 35 mm, f/2.8
Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting
A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 70 mm, f/2.5 A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 70 mm, f/2.8
Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting
A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 105 mm, f/2.8 A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 105 mm, f/4.0
Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting
A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 150 mm, f/2.8 A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 150 mm, f/4.0
Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting


In this case some slight problems you can notice only at the longest focal length. In case of its maximum relative aperture brightness loss in the frame corners reaches 22% (-0.73 EV) and, fortunately, it disappears almost completely on stopping down the aperture by 1 EV, where it amounts just 6% (-0.19 EV).


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At the 105 mm focal length the situation is noticeably better – by f/2.8 the vignetting amounts to 9% (-0.29 EV) and it decreases to just 2% (-0.05 EV) on stopping down the lens to f/4.0.

Very similar vignetting values you see at the 70 mm focal length where, even at the maximum relative aperture, they remain difficult to perceive, reaching just 9% (-0.28 EV) and decreasing to 7% (-0.20 EV) on slight stopping down the aperture to f/2.8.

At the 35 mm focal length you see the return of a bit higher level but it's nothing surprising because at that point you also deal with the best aperture fastness. By f/2.0 the light fall-off in frame corners amounts to 18% (-0.58 EV) and it decreases to an imperceptible level of 5% (-0.14 EV) on stopping down the aperture to f/2.8.

Still the performance on full frame is the real test of vignetting – let's glance at thumbnails below in order to find out how the tested Samyang fares in this case.

A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 35 mm, f/2.0 A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 35 mm, f/2.8
Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting
A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 70 mm, f/2.5 A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 70 mm, f/2.8
Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting
A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 105 mm, f/2.8 A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 105 mm, f/4.0
Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting
A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 150 mm, f/2.8 A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 150 mm, f/4.0
Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting


This time, for a change, most of problems are present at the shortest focal length. At the maximum relative aperture we lose as much as 65% (-3.07 EV) in the frame corners. The vignetting level is huge here – it is a price you have to pay for an interesting focal range and good aperture fastness. It's worth reminding here that the Tamron's performance was in this category almost identical, 66%. It seems the rival also didn't avoid a slip-up here.

This aberration makes itself felt even on stopping down the aperture. By f/2.8 it reaches a still distinct level of 46% (-1.77 EV) and only up from f/4.0 it starts to decrease and become moderate amounting to 31% (-1.09 EV). By f/5.6 and f/8.0 we got the following results, respectively: 19% (-0.61 EV) and 14% (-0.44 EV).

Further stopping down doesn't have any measureable influence on this aberration. At the 70 mm focal length vignetting is noticeably lower. In this case by f/2.5, the brightness loss in frame corners amounts to 44% (-1.65 EV) and it decreases additionally to 36% (-1.31 EV) on stopping down the aperture to f/2.8. All problems end by f/4.0 and f/5.6 apertures where we got the following results: 19% (-0.62 EV), and 10% (-0.30 EV) respectively. Here the values are by and large identical as in the case of the Tamron.

The minimum of vignetting can be observed at 105 mm – here by /2.8 you deal with a level of 41% (-1.54 EV), that decreases to a moderate value of 20% (-0.66 EV) on stopping down the aperture to f/4.0. By f/5.6 this aberration reaches 10% (-0.32 EV), and by f/8.0 it decreases to just 5% (-0.13 EV). In this case the Samyang performs noticeably better than the Tamron.

At the maximum focal length you observe the return of distinct vignetting. By f/2.8 you deal with a value of 56% (-2.37 EV), that decreases to 34% (-1.20 EV) after changing the aperture to f/4.0. By f/5.6 this aberration reaches 22% (-0.71 EV), and by f/8.0 it drops to 15% (-0.46 EV), and by f/11.0 it decreases to a completely imperceptible level of 8% (-0.25 EV). Here the Samyang once again fares better than the Tamron.

To sum up in this category the Samyang didn't impress us, showing high vignetting levels that we found especially bothersome on both ends of the focal spectrum. It's worth adding that it fared better than the rival Tamron. At 35 and 70 mm focal lengths both instruments presented a very similar level but at the longer end the Samyang managed to prevail.

Sony A7R IIIa, 35 mm, JPEG, f/2.0
Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting
Sony A7R IIIa, 70 mm, JPEG, f/2.5
Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting
Sony A7R IIIa, 105 mm, JPEG, f/2.8
Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting
Sony A7R IIIa, 150 mm, JPEG, f/2.8
Samyang AF 35-150 mm f/2-2.8 FE - Vignetting