Rokinon 14mm f/2.8

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I dug through the forums here, and I didn't see a dedicated thread (there was some good info in the 12-24mm thread tho).

You did not find anything, because Rokinon does not make lenses, they rebrand other makes.  Search for Samyang.

[Standard]

I dug through the forums here, and I didn't see a dedicated thread (there was some good info in the 12-24mm thread tho).

You did not find anything, because Rokinon does not make lenses, they rebrand other makes.  Search for Samyang.

That's absolutely right. Samyang lenses are also sold under other brand names such as Rokinon, Bower, Pro-Optic and Walimex Pro. Interestingly, the exact same lens cost less if you were to buy it under these other names instead of Samyang. For instance, the ultra wide angle Samyang 14mm for the Canon mount under the Pro-Optic label cost $359 while under Bower costs $384 at Amazon. At B&H, under Rokinon it costs $359, under Bower $384 and Samyang $399.

[chest]

I was looking for a very wide angle lens and read so many excellent comments and reviews for this that for the price it was worth taking a chance - and I'm glad I did.
The first thing you need to do is download lens correction software - I got PTlens - this corrects the slightly odd distortion (the main negative point against the Samyang 14mm).
The build quality - other than the lens cap seems very high for such a price - very smooth distance ring.
You will need to do a few quick tests with the infinity and distance markings - I have it set at the infinity mark - and at around f8 and above its very sharp.
I've found that rather than it being a lens to get 'everything in' it works best when you get very close up to something (in a landscape like a building etc)- the images are very dynamic.
The main problem I have is being able to focus on small objects like for example a wine glass on a table - it takes a lot of practise.
I've done a load of shots at f2.8 hand held at night at iso 3200 on a 5d3 on city street images and and was pleased with the results,
I would absolutely recommend this lens - it takes a little work at first but for the price - its around £1500 cheaper than the Canon - its worth the chance (even though Ken Rockwell's
review was not good - the only bad one i've read though).

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Personally, I much preferred the used Canon 15mm fisheye to the 14mm Samyang I bought and returned.
Here are images from the same point using each.  Note that the fisheye shows a wider view than the Samyang and is not badly distorted on the left side.
I haven't tried the defishing software with the fisheye image.
Canon 15mm FE

 
Samyang

 

[Frodo]

Great lens, especially for the price.  Indeed, it seems to be as good as the Canon 14mm 2.8 II and better than version I. 
I process my photos in Lightroom and the profile I downloaded through the Profile downloader is good, but I found a better one I have yet to install manually.  The existing profile corrects the wavy distortion fine and also the vignetting.  There is no chromatic aberation to speak of.  The profle is efficient, in that it crops very little of the image.
Here are a couple of photos.  The first is on a 5D MkII 30 seconds at f2.8 at ISO 3200.
The second is at 1/40 at f8 ISO 100.
Cheers

[joshmurrah]

I dug through the forums here, and I didn't see a dedicated thread (there was some good info in the 12-24mm thread tho).

You did not find anything, because Rokinon does not make lenses, they rebrand other makes.  Search for Samyang.

Point taken!

I did search for Samyang 14mm as well, there's nothing here for that either.

I labeled this thread as such, because Rokinon is by far the most popular brand name this hardware is being sold under, but I was/am aware that this is just a reseller brand.

Thanks for everyone's contributions.

[joshmurrah]

Frodo that shot of the Milky Way is amazing!  That's the kind of example I was looking for.

[cayenne]

I was recently at the Houston Arcade Expo this past weekend....and a guy there I met shooting it, and we got to talking.
He had the Bower version of it...so, we swapped lens for awhile walking around, I tried out the 14mm....and I think I either let him work with my  Canon 17-35mm or it was my Canon 85mm 1.4....

Anyway, I was really liking what I was getting with the Bower 14mm on my 5D3...I've not had a chance to see them off the camera yet, but when I can get to it...I'll see if I can post a couple that might have come out good with it.

I'm definitely wanting to get one...I'd originally been looking at saving for the Canon 14mm...but I think I might get one of these Bower/Samyan/Name of the month.......and start playing with it.

I liked the rectilinear look of it...having it not be fisheye.

I will likely get a really wide fish eye some day...but I think some form of 16mm will do me for now...

C

[tron]

Just keep in mind that software that corrects distortion lowers the resolution. At least this is what I have seen reported even for the superb Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 (which by the way has a mustache distortion).

[bchernicoff]

I own and love. Superb lens.

[grahamsz]

I use this lens quite a bit at night.

It's easy to focus at infinity since it's hyperfocal at something like 8'. Just focus it roughly there and it's tack sharp at infinity.

Here are a couple of samples.  Both use a lightroom lens profile to remove the mustache distortion, the first one also has some perspective correction applied.

[cayenne]

I use this lens quite a bit at night.

It's easy to focus at infinity since it's hyperfocal at something like 8'. Just focus it roughly there and it's tack sharp at infinity.

Here are a couple of samples.  Both use a lightroom lens profile to remove the mustache distortion, the first one also has some perspective correction applied.

Wow...absolutely beautiful!!

Might I ask your camera settings for those images?

Thanks in advance,

cayenne

[grahamsz]

Wow...absolutely beautiful!!

Might I ask your camera settings for those images?

Thank you!

The Northern Lights shot was a 13s exposure at ISO 10,000
The Milky Way shot was a 30s exposure at ISO 16,000

Both were shot on a 5D Mk3, and were probably at either f/2.8 or f/4. Unfortunately I'm lazy about taking notes these days

[Drizzt321]

Wow...absolutely beautiful!!

Might I ask your camera settings for those images?

Thank you!

The Northern Lights shot was a 13s exposure at ISO 10,000
The Milky Way shot was a 30s exposure at ISO 16,000

Both were shot on a 5D Mk3, and were probably at either f/2.8 or f/4. Unfortunately I'm lazy about taking notes these days

Isn't it chipped or something so it provides the correct EXIF info? Or is it completely dumb like the old vintage lenses in a simple adapter without any electronics?

[extremeinstability]

My samyang 14 isn't chipped.