Samyang 20mm F1.8 ED AS UMC

Micro Four Thirds (MFT/M43)

Review

The Samyang 20mm F1.8 ED AS UMC is a prime lens designed specifically for the Micro Four Thirds mount, making it an excellent choice for photographers looking for a wide-angle lens that excels in various shooting conditions. With its fast F1.8 maximum aperture, it allows for impressive low-light performance and the ability to create beautiful background blur.

This lens is particularly well-suited for landscape and architectural photography, where the wide 20mm focal length offers an expansive field of view. When mounted on a Micro Four Thirds camera, this lens has an equivalent focal length of approximately 40mm, making it versatile for street photography and environmental portraits as well. The optical construction includes numerous specialized glass elements, which help to mitigate aberrations and ensure sharpness across the frame.

The build quality of the Samyang 20mm F1.8 reflects a solid and durable design, with a metal housing that gives it a premium feel. The lens is relatively lightweight, making it an excellent companion for travel photographers who prefer to keep their gear compact. Additionally, the focusing ring is well-damped, providing a smooth and precise focus adjustment, whether you’re shooting stills or video.

However, like any lens, it does have some trade-offs. While the lens performs admirably in terms of sharpness and distortion control, there are minor issues with vignetting at wider apertures, which may be noticeable in scenes with uniform lighting. Users may also find the manual focus-only operation a drawback, especially those who rely heavily on autofocus for fast-paced shooting scenarios.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Fast F1.8 aperture for excellent low-light performance.
• Wide 20mm focal length is ideal for landscapes and architecture.
• Sharp image quality with good color rendition.
• Solid metal build quality, lightweight design.
• Smooth manual focusing for precise adjustments.

Cons

• Minor vignetting at wider apertures.
• Manual focus-only, which may not suit all shooting styles.

Verdict

Overall, the Samyang 20mm F1.8 ED AS UMC for Micro Four Thirds mount offers a fantastic option for photographers who value image quality and low-light capabilities in a compact design. While the manual focus aspect and slight vignetting might not suit everyone, its sharpness and build quality make it a worthy addition to any photographer’s kit, especially for those who enjoy wide-angle photography.