Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 Review

The Samyang Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 Series II is a lens that makes its priorities clear. It's an 85mm prime, which is classic portrait territory, and with an f/1.4 maximum aperture, it lands in the 88th percentile for light-gathering ability. That means you're getting a lot of lens for the $319 asking price, especially when you consider its bokeh quality scores in the 89th percentile. This is a tool built for a specific job: creating beautiful background separation and working in low light.

It's not trying to be everything to everyone. Its versatility score is down in the 37th percentile, and it's not weather-sealed or stabilized. At 540g, it's a solid chunk of glass. But if your goal is portraits, this lens puts some serious optical firepower on the table for a very reasonable sum.

Let's talk about what this lens does best. That f/1.4 aperture isn't just a number on the box. It puts you in the top 12% of lenses for shooting in dim light and achieving that creamy, out-of-focus background. The bokeh quality backs that up, sitting in the 89th percentile. In practical terms, you can isolate a subject against a busy background and make it just melt away. The optical performance percentile is a solid 61, which is good for the price, though you might see some softness wide open that sharpens up nicely by f/2 or f/2.8.

The trade-offs are in the features. Autofocus performance is right in the middle of the pack at the 49th percentile, so it's competent but not lightning-fast or silent. There's no image stabilization (42nd percentile), so you'll need good technique or a higher shutter speed. And with a minimum focus distance of 1.1 meters, it's not built for close-up work (46th percentile for macro). This is a pure, straightforward optical performer.

At $319, the value proposition here is hard to ignore. You are getting an 85mm f/1.4 lens, a combination that often costs two or three times this amount from first-party manufacturers like Nikon or Sony. You're paying for the core optics and that glorious aperture, and accepting that you won't get the latest autofocus motors, sealing, or stabilization. For a portrait photographer on a budget, or someone who wants to experiment with this focal length without a huge investment, the price-to-performance ratio is outstanding. You're buying the light, not the bells and whistles.

This lens exists in a crowded space. Compared to a Nikon 85mm f/1.8G, you gain a full stop of light (f/1.4 vs. f/1.8) for similar money, but you likely trade some autofocus speed and accuracy. Against the much more expensive Nikon 85mm f/1.4, you save a fortune but give up pro-grade build and optics. Looking at the listed competitors, they're mostly different beasts. The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 is a wider prime, better for environmental shots. The Panasonic 14-140mm is a super-zoom for travel, the opposite of this specialist. The Meike 55mm f/1.8 is closer but still a different focal length. The Samyang's real competition is other budget 85mm f/1.4 options, and on pure specs for the dollar, it holds its own very well.

The Samyang Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 Series II is a straightforward recommendation with clear conditions. If you shoot portraits, want beautiful bokeh, need to work in low light, and have a budget around $300, this lens is a fantastic buy. The data backs it up: top-tier scores in aperture and bokeh for a mid-tier price. Just go in knowing its limits. The autofocus is fine, not great. You need to keep it dry. And it's a one-trick pony, but for that one trick—making people look amazing against a soft background—it's a tool that punches well above its weight class.