Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC Lens for Nikon F (AE Chip) Review

The Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC with AE Chip is a manual-focus prime designed for Nikon F-mount cameras. At $399, it occupies the budget end of the fast 35mm segment, offering a bright f/1.4 maximum aperture for low-light work and shallow depth of field. The AE chip enables auto exposure metering and focus confirmation through the viewfinder, features often absent in older manual Samyang lenses. The optical formula includes one aspherical element and two high-refractive elements with UMC coating to control aberrations and flare. It works on both full-frame bodies (as a true 35mm) and APS-C DX cameras (where it delivers a 52.5mm equivalent field of view). Manual focus is the only option, which suits deliberate shooting styles but may slow down fast-paced or documentary work. The lens stops down to f/22 for deep depth of field when needed.