Is the Samyang AF 35-150mm F2-f2.8 the only lens you need?

By Marcus Swales | Technical Product Specialist, Holdan

We all chase practicality and ease of use in life, and this is no truer than when selecting your photography kit. The beauty of having one single lens that covers a range of key focal lengths at an affordable price doesn’t seem believable until you see the Samyang AF 35-150 F2-2.8 FE lens. This auto-focus zoom lens, designed for Sony e-mount is not only practical when it comes to focal length but it’s also weatherproof and has unique video features that make it a truly impressive all-round lens. But don’t take my word for it, Samyang ambassador Alyssa Zalabai has put the lens to the test over the last 6 months, including an international photoshoot and she’s kindly shared her thoughts below.

Alyssa Zalabai - Samyang Ambassador

For years of being a portrait photographer, I have been well adapted to using prime lenses. They are mostly small, sharp and offer very nice bokeh. And… I am simply very attached to my Samyang prime lenses if I’m being honest! My photography sessions are quite a simple process, I plan the theme and choose a specific lens that will allow me to bring those visions to life. But after some time, change is inevitable. I began to want to create more diverse shots in one session but I find myself in a situation where I find it difficult to choose which lens to bring, this is probably why I stuck to one lens in the past and be creative with it.

This all comes down to lens weight and space in my bag, most of my sessions are done outdoors as I love having nature as my backdrop. So, when Samyang released their new AF 35-150mm f2-f2.8, I was elated! The ideas came pouring out of me, on what images I would be able to create since I am not accustomed to zoom lenses. And here I am, over 6 months of using this lens, all I can say is WOW! My style of photography hasn’t changed but the way I capture images has. The convenience of having 35mm for wider shots to a tight 150mm that offers creamy bokeh photos, the possibilities are endless with one single lens! I often start with my usual outdoor portraits, focussing mainly within the 85mm to 135mm range, I generally stand back quite a bit from my models for the whole duration of the shoot, but with this zoom lens, I can change up this process in many ways. I found it so much fun to interact with my models this way.

I can come closer and speak to them more clearly, instructing them on new poses when I am ready to use a longer focal length. I must say, this zoom lens has barely left my camera since I got my hands on it.

This lens is easily equal to 5 prime lenses, how cool is that? And I don’t need to worry about having to change lenses multiple times during a session. This is especially useful when shooting an event, such as a wedding when there are so many things happening at the same time and you just can’t afford to change lenses and miss any shots!

When using the lens in a fast-paced portrait session, you can guarantee to get so many distinct photos in just a couple of minutes, but that also depends if you’re working with professional models of course!

I’m sure you can guess which lens I took when visiting my home country, the Philippines… The new Samyang AF 35-150mm f2-f2.8 of course!
There are no double-takes there! I flew thousands of miles from the UK to the Philippines without worrying that my camera bag would be too heavy, which would definitely have been the case if I were to bring the number of prime lenses I would normally need. The range of the lens meant the images I was able to take were beautiful and will definitely be added to this year’s favourite portraits, a big thanks to the 35-150mm from Samyang!