Photography News

Image Credit: LK Samyang

 

LK Samyang has launched the AF 35mm F1.8 P FE, the latest lens to join its growing Prima Series lineup. Tailored for hybrid creators who prioritize mobility without sacrificing image quality, the lens packs a bright F1.8 aperture, advanced 10-element optics, Linear STM II autofocus, and weather sealing into a lightweight body with a 62mm filter thread. Rounding out its feature set are UMC II coating for cleaner shots in tricky light and USB-C support for straightforward firmware updates. UK availability is anticipated toward the end of April.

 

From LK Samyang:

LK Samyang, a global leader in optical innovation, proudly announces the launch of the AF 35mm F1.8 P FE, a new addition to the Prima Series designed for hybrid creators and everyday photographers. The latest addition to the Prima Series builds on the momentum established with the launch of the AF 35mm F1.4 P FE in 2024, followed by the AF 16mm F2.8 P FE and AF 85mm F1.8 P FE in 2025. Guided by a commitment to portability, practicality, and ease of use, the Prima Series is designed to meet the needs of modern creators. Each lens in the lineup combines a compact, lightweight form factor with dependable optical performance, making them well-suited for both photography and video applications. Continuing this vision, the AF 35mm F1.8 P FE delivers a versatile, everyday shooting solution—offering an ideal balance of image quality, portability, and creative flexibility.

 

A Versatile 35mm Lens for Everyday Creativity

The 35mm focal length is widely valued for its natural perspective and versatility, making it ideal for everything from street and travel photography to portraits and cinematic content. The AF 35mm F1.8 P FE is designed as a practical everyday lens, combining a bright aperture with a compact, lightweight design and reliable autofocus performance. Offering a more portable alternative to the AF 35mm F1.4 P FE, it delivers an excellent balance of image quality and mobility - perfect for creators on the go. 

 

Image Credit: LK Samyang

 

Key Features

 

Compact and Lightweight Design

Designed for everyday carry, the AF 35mm F1.8 P FE features a compact form with a 62mm filter size, pairing seamlessly with lightweight full-frame cameras for travel, street, and hybrid shooting.

 

Bright F1.8 Aperture

A fast F1.8 aperture delivers strong low-light performance and smooth, natural bokeh, making it ideal for both photography and video.

 

Advanced Optical Performance

A 10-element design, including aspherical and XHR elements, ensures sharp resolution and reduced aberrations in a compact build.

 

Image Credit: LK Samyang

 

Enhanced Coating Technology

UMC II coating minimizes flare and ghosting, delivering improved contrast and clarity in challenging lighting conditions.

 

Fast, Quiet Autofocus

Powered by Linear STM II, the lens offers quick, precise, and silent autofocus for both stills and video. 

 

Built for Real-World Use

Weather sealing and USB-C connectivity provide durability and easy firmware updates, supporting reliable performance on the go.

 

Craig Harrison, Senior Product Manager, Holdan, commented:

“I’m really excited about the latest addition to Samyang’s Prima series. The 35mm F1.8 delivers that ideal balance of performance and value, and with the stylish, contemporary design and feature-rich build of the Prima lineup, this new lens is sure to impress.”  

 

Availability: Stocks are expected to start in the UK towards the end of April. 

For more information, visit https://www.holdan.co.uk/brand/Samyang

 

Gear Suggestions 

• Standard zoom (35mm-80mm range is fine) – wide enough to get the whole boat in but long enough to focus in on the detail.
• Longer lens (80-200mm) - shoot small detail on boats further away. 
• Polarising filter – reduce reflections on the water and in paintwork and deepen blue sky.
• Tripod - extra support when working on uneven surfaces such as wet sand.

 

Pick A Sunny Day

If you want to capture the postcard shot of colourful boats lined up, reflecting in the water while a bright blue sky frames them from behind you'll have to head out on a sunny day when there's not much of a breeze in the air so the water's still. Make sure you use a polarising filter to saturate the colours and enhance the sky.

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The Tide Is Out

If you get to the harbour and find the tide is out don't think you need to head for fish and chips while the water trickles back in. Instead, photograph the boats which are now stuck in the mud and take advantage of the mooring ropes which are now fully visible, using them as lead-in lines for your photograph. A small aperture is needed to ensure everything from the front of the rope to the distant boat(s) or other objects are sharp.

 

 

Don't Clutter Your Scene

Harbours are bursting with photographic potential but don't make your scene too busy. If you can, single out one boat and place it near the foreground of your shot as this will give the photo more impact and will certainly be better than a shot of several boats that are fighting for your eye's attention.

Further Inland

Away from the coast, you'll still find plenty of boats on canals, rivers and in reservoirs waiting to be photographed. Canals create leading lines that will help with composition while the winding curves of a river will guide the viewer through the image to a boat making its way through the bends. If there's a bridge find a position where you can use it to frame a boat passing under it, just watch your exposure as the light under the bridge will be lower than the outside and it's easy to end up with a shot that's underexposed if the camera's meter reads from the brighter part of the scene. Switch to spot metering where possible, taking a meter reading from the sidewall of the bridge and use that as the starting point.

 

Activities On And Around The Boat

Barges found on canals are often very colourful and feature flower pots and other accessories that are worth a quick snap. Just remember to use a wide aperture to blur the background. Round the harbour, you can crop in on sails, boat hulls, lifebuoys and fishing nets.

 

  Action

For those who like things to be a little more fast-paced head for a water-sports centre where water-skiing, jet-skiing and other adrenalin-pumping activities take place. A camera which has fast autofocus will help you capture action shots where your subject is pin-sharp. A little blur in the background can enhance the sense of movement/speed in your shots, however. 
 

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