Samyang AF 45mm F/1.8 FE

The Samyang AF 45mm F/1.8 FE is a small prime lens for Sony E full-frame cameras. Samyang released it in 2019, and it remains in production.

The 45mm focal length sits close to a standard view, so framing feels natural rather than dramatic. Street photography, travel, and environmental portraits all suit that perspective. It also works as a light second lens beside a zoom.

The trade-off is a plain feature set. There is no stabilisation and no weather sealing, so its appeal rests on size, weight, and aperture rather than extras.

It weighs 5.7 oz (162 g) and measures 2.43 in (61.8 mm) across and 2.21 in (56.1 mm) long. It stays small and light enough to carry all day, and the short barrel suits travel.

A screw-in filter attaches directly to the 49mm front thread, so any filter you buy must match that size.

The 45mm focal length frames a scene much as your own eyes do. The slightly wide view helps when you work in tight indoor spaces. On the street it keeps you close enough to react, while still framing full-length people without stepping back. It also gives a natural working distance for half and full-length portraits, so you neither crowd the subject nor stand far back.

The f/1.8 maximum aperture is the main reason to choose this lens. It keeps shutter speeds usable in dim interiors, restaurants, and evening streets without pushing ISO high. You can also work in mixed light where flash would spoil the mood.

Wide open, depth of field is shallow. That lets a subject stand apart from a busy background in portraits. Nine aperture blades shape how out-of-focus backgrounds render behind a portrait subject.

Close focus is 1.5 ft (45 cm), enough for half-length portraits and everyday scenes. That is also close enough for a plate of food or a market stall display.

The feature list is short. Our features score is 19 out of 100. There is no stabilisation built in. In dim light you will need a fast enough shutter speed, steady support, or a higher ISO to keep handheld shots sharp. Support steadies the camera; it does not freeze a subject that moves.

The lens also has no weather sealing. Dust, sand, and rain have an easier path in, so keep it covered in poor conditions. There is no fluorine coating on the front glass either, so you clean off fingerprints and water spots as usual. If you mostly shoot in fair weather and clean conditions, none of this will hold you back.

Inside, the design includes aspherical elements and low-dispersion glass. Aspherical surfaces help correct distortion and spherical aberration, faults that can curve straight edges like doorways and kerbs. Low-dispersion glass helps reduce chromatic aberration, the coloured fringes that can appear along high-contrast edges on a backlit subject. Those faults often appear in scenes with architecture and strong backlight, which street and travel work includes.