Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC Wide-Angle Review

This Samyang 24mm f/1.4 is a weird one. It's a massive, heavy prime lens built for full-frame cameras, but it's only sold in a mount for tiny Four Thirds cameras. That's the one thing you need to know. If you're looking for a sharp, fast wide-angle for your Micro Four Thirds camera, you can get better options that actually fit the system.

The optical performance is surprisingly good, landing in the 83rd percentile. The f/1.4 aperture is fantastic for low light and shallow depth of field, scoring in the 88th percentile. But the autofocus is just average, sitting at the 49th percentile, and it's completely missing stabilization. For a lens this heavy, you'd expect more.

At $549, it's not worth it. You're paying for a full-frame optical design crammed into the wrong mount. That money gets you native Micro Four Thirds lenses that are sharper, faster to focus, and a fraction of the size and weight.

For a similar fast prime, the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 is a much better fit for the system. It's smaller, lighter, and has autofocus. If you need a versatile zoom, the Panasonic 14-140mm covers a huge range and has stabilization, making it a far better travel lens. The Samyang feels like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist on Micro Four Thirds.

Skip it. This lens is a physical mismatch for the Micro Four Thirds system. Its good optics are completely undermined by its enormous size, lack of stabilization, and mediocre autofocus. There are better, more purpose-built lenses for your camera that won't feel like you're carrying a brick.