Samyang Rokinon 35mm f/1.2 ED AS UMC CS Wide Angle Lens Review

The Rokinon 35mm f/1.2 is a manual focus prime lens for Sony APS-C cameras. Its huge f/1.2 aperture offers superb low-light performance and beautiful background blur at a very reasonable price. Just be ready to focus by hand.

If you're hunting for a fast, affordable prime lens for your Sony APS-C camera, the Rokinon 35mm f/1.2 is a name you'll see pop up. It's a manual focus lens designed specifically for crop-sensor cameras like the Sony a6000 series, giving you an effective field of view around 52mm. That's a classic 'standard' focal length, great for portraits, street photography, and everyday shooting. The main event here is that massive f/1.2 aperture, which is rare at this price point. It promises incredible low-light performance and super shallow depth of field for that creamy bokeh everyone loves.

Let's talk about that f/1.2 aperture. In our analysis, it lands in the 96th percentile for aperture speed, which is just a fancy way of saying it lets in a ton of light. This means you can shoot handheld in dim conditions without cranking your ISO into noisy territory. The bokeh quality scores in the 94th percentile, so backgrounds melt away beautifully. Optically, it's solid but not perfect, sitting around the 64th percentile. You'll get sharp images, especially when stopped down to around f/1.4 or f/2, but wide open at f/1.2 you might see a bit of softness and some chromatic aberration (color fringing) in high-contrast scenes. That's pretty typical for a fast, affordable lens.

At around $329, the Rokinon 35mm f/1.2 sits in a sweet spot. You're paying for that f/1.2 aperture and solid optics, not for autofocus motors or weather sealing. If you want autofocus, you'll need to step up to something like the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 for Sony E, which costs more. But if you're cool with manual focus, this lens gives you pro-level light gathering at a very accessible price.

The most direct competitor is the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7, which is cheaper and has autofocus, but you lose over a stop of light. For a more versatile option, the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 zoom gives you a huge range and image stabilization, but its f/2.8 aperture can't match the Rokinon's low-light or bokeh capabilities. If you're a Canon shooter looking at this, note that this specific model is for Sony E mount. For Canon APS-C mirrorless (M-series), you'd need a different version. The Rokinon is a specialist—it's all about that f/1.2 glow.

Skip this lens if you need autofocus for sports, wildlife, or casual family photography. It's also not the best travel companion—its fixed focal length and lack of stabilization limit versatility on the go. For travelers, a standard zoom like the Sony 18-135mm or the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 is a more flexible choice. If you shoot in wet or dusty conditions often, the lack of weather sealing is a deal-breaker.

So, should you buy the Rokinon 35mm f/1.2? If you're a photographer or videographer who doesn't mind manual focus and you crave that f/1.2 look for portraits or low-light work on a budget, this lens is a fantastic tool. It forces you to slow down and be intentional with your shots, and the results can be stunning. But if you need fast autofocus for chasing kids or pets, or if you want a do-everything travel lens, this isn't it. Look at a stabilized zoom or an AF prime instead.