Samsung 85mm f/1.4 ED NX Lens

By Jim Fisher

The Samsung 85mm f/1.4 ED NX Lens ($999 list) ?is rather huge when compared with the compact NX cameras it's designed for. It's both the longest and fastest prime lens currently available for the system, covering an approximate 125mm field of view in terms of 35mm full-frame photography. It's a little too short to grab close-up sports action, but can bring distant objects into view. Its fast f/1.4 maximum aperture allows you to create a sharp separation between your subject and background, which is especially useful for shooting portraits.

Mounting the 85mm on a camera like the Samsung NX1000 creates a rather ridiculous sight?a small camera paired with a lens that would be hefty on a full-size SLR. The lens is 3.6 by 3.1 inches (HD) in size and weighs 1.5 pounds, dwarfing the compact Samsung 30mm NX Pancake Lens , which is just 0.85 by 2.4 inches and 3 ounces. And using the included hood adds a few inches to its height.

There is a large manual focus ring on the lens that does not move as the camera autofocuses, so you can cradle the lens in your left hand while controlling the camera with your right. Moving the ring manually engages focus at all times, unlike other NX lenses that require you to change the camera setting to manual focus first. There's also an iFn button and a separate control ring for that function, so you can change camera settings directly via the lens.

I used Imatest to check the sharpness of the lens, and the results were excellent across the board. At f/1.4 it already records more than 2,200 lines per picture height, much better than the 1,800 lines required for a sharp image. It gets progressively better as you stop down, topping out at more than 2,600 lines by the time you hit f/5.6. Distortion is only 0.1 percent, completely negligible in day-to-day use.

If you're willing to carry it with you, the Samsung 85mm f/1.4 ED NX is worth its high price. Images are very sharp across the board, and the ability to shoot at such a fast aperture makes it possible to really control depth of field and to shoot in varying amounts of light. NX shooters interested in portraiture will be drawn to this lens, as it is an overall excellent optic?it'd just be nice if it was a little smaller, or if it had a tripod socket as the lens is heavier than any camera to which it will be attached.

More Digital Camera Reviews:
??? Samsung NX1000
??? Samsung 85mm f/1.4 ED NX Lens
??? Samsung 16mm f/2.4 Ultra Wide Pancake NX Lens
??? Samsung 30mm NX Pancake Lens
??? Samsung 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 ED II NX Lens
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