Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Review

[keithcooper]

I just read the review.  It is very well done, and your conclusions are very similar to my own.  Unlike me, however, you were able to directly compare it to the 14L, and I found that very helpful.  Thanks for sharing!

Thanks - I hope to get the recently announced 10mm to look at in the next month or two, which might be an interesting option for those with crop sensors. I'm wondering if it has its own idiosyncratic distortions, or easily 'fixable' ;-)

[Brand B]

I just got their 8mm for Xmas.  Pretty pleased with it.  Doesn't give you a full circle on the 5D, but nonetheless it's fun, and I was not going to spend the $1.5k for the canon for a novelty (for me) lens. 

So given they are able to make a quality 8 and a quality 14, I'd have high confidence int he 10 being worthwhile.  The distortion on the 14 is totally manageable with software correction.  I bought PTLensedit for $20 pretty much just for that purpose, as I don't have Adobe software.

[ajfotofilmagem]

Have any of you had any information about the new Samyang 10mm F2.8? The rumored price make me think they need to be much higher quality than 14mm to be more expensive, considering that serves only in APS-C.

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Have any of you had any information about the new Samyang 10mm F2.8? The rumored price make me think they need to be much higher quality than 14mm to be more expensive, considering that serves only in APS-C.

I haven't really gone after much information yet.  I did let the supplier in Canada know that I would review it when it came available.  We'll see...

[ajfotofilmagem]

Have any of you had any information about the new Samyang 10mm F2.8? The rumored price make me think they need to be much higher quality than 14mm to be more expensive, considering that serves only in APS-C.

I haven't really gone after much information yet.  I did let the supplier in Canada know that I would review it when it came available.  We'll see...

I appreciate your review of the 14mm, and look forward to 10mm. Thank you.

[RiceCanon]

Hey Dustin,
I always enjoy your photographs and your amazing artistry.  My highest compliments!
I basically traded my 10-22mm for the Rokinon 14mm as my kit now includes a 6D.  I have a strong interest now in doing nightscapes/Milky Way.  My initial testing with the Rokinon seems to show a sizable difference in sharpness between f2.8 and f4 so I'm not sure if I have a good copy of the lens or not.    Apart from that, what are your typical exposure settings for nightscapes? Do you usually shoot wide open at f2.8?  Focusing in the dark also presents a challenge with this lens, at least for me.   

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Hey Dustin,
I always enjoy your photographs and your amazing artistry.  My highest compliments!
I basically traded my 10-22mm for the Rokinon 14mm as my kit now includes a 6D.  I have a strong interest now in doing nightscapes/Milky Way.  My initial testing with the Rokinon seems to show a sizable difference in sharpness between f2.8 and f4 so I'm not sure if I have a good copy of the lens or not.    Apart from that, what are your typical exposure settings for nightscapes? Do you usually shoot wide open at f2.8?  Focusing in the dark also presents a challenge with this lens, at least for me.   

I will often shoot at f/4 because of that extra bit of sharpness, particularly towards the edges.  Learn to prefocus your lens.  I will often have the focus set before I even go out to shoot at night, and usually pack a flashlight so that I can verify focus (on the distance scale).  Don't rely on visually trying to focus the lens at night or you will just be frustrated.  Also be aware that on many copies of the lens that infinity focus comes before the hard stop at the end.  Don't focus that far!

[TLau74]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this...

Here is my 1st attempt at star trails. The composition is not so good since my prime objective was to first get the star trails. Shot with Canon 6D, Samyang 14mm UWA lens @ ISO1600, F/4, 20s for combined 93 shots, stacked with StarStaX. Actually had to delete ~60 shots because I did not notice the lens was frosted up.  Outside temperature was approx. -1C near Daejeon, South Korea.

I pre-focused (Jupiter) in live view to achieve sharpest focus.  Surprisingly at F/4.0, the sharpest focus is set at the 'infinity' mark (hard stop) which is different than what I saw on my previous tests.  At F/2.8, I could not get sharpest focus because I would have to move the focus ring beyond infinity and this is of course not physically possible.

Open questions:
1) How could I prevent frost from forming on the lens during cold winter nights?
2) How can I get sharpest focus now at F/2.8?  Should I even consider shooting at F/2.8 anymore if F/4 is ok?

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this...

Here is my 1st attempt at star trails. The composition is not so good since my prime objective was to first get the star trails. Shot with Canon 6D, Samyang 14mm UWA lens @ ISO1600, F/4, 20s for combined 93 shots, stacked with StarStaX. Actually had to delete ~60 shots because I did not notice the lens was frosted up.  Outside temperature was approx. -1C near Daejeon, South Korea.

I pre-focused (Jupiter) in live view to achieve sharpest focus.  Surprisingly at F/4.0, the sharpest focus is set at the 'infinity' mark (hard stop) which is different than what I saw on my previous tests.  At F/2.8, I could not get sharpest focus because I would have to move the focus ring beyond infinity and this is of course not physically possible.

Open questions:
1) How could I prevent frost from forming on the lens during cold winter nights?
2) How can I get sharpest focus now at F/2.8?  Should I even consider shooting at F/2.8 anymore if F/4 is ok?

First of all, nice job.  I'm surprised at your conclusion regarding infinity focus.  I have mostly heard of people hitting infinity focus before the hard stop and having an issue with the lens focusing beyond infinity.  I would say that for your star trails shot that shooting at f/4 is your best option.

I don't know how to solve your frost problem, unfortunately.

[rush]

@TWI by Dustin Abbott

I have read your review and bought this lens (the Samyang version). Thank you for your review, I very like this lens!

Here is my shot from Barcelona:

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

@TWI by Dustin Abbott

I have read your review and bought this lens (the Samyang version). Thank you for your review, I very like this lens!

Here is my shot from Barcelona:

That is a cool shot!

[pato]

Also got the Samyang version now
I am just awaiting some clear, moon free, night sky, but so far the weather didn't play nice with me.
Otherwise it's a nice lens and I find manual focus surprisingly well working with my 6D.

[RomainF]

Hi folks,

I'm gonne buy this lens as soon as possible but before pulling the trigger i think i remember about two versions of this lens. Am i wrong ? Two versions, one was a crappy one and the second is the one you're all talking about.

Anyone about this ?

[lilmsmaggie]

Have any of you had any information about the new Samyang 10mm F2.8? The rumored price make me think they need to be much higher quality than 14mm to be more expensive, considering that serves only in APS-C.

Look here:

http://www.samyang.co.uk/index.php/new-products/new-samyang-10mm-f-2-8

Also, if you go for the 14 f2.8, you may want to consider this: 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/752412-REG/Lowepro_LP36303_0AM_Lens_Case_9_x.html

[Kathode-Ray]

I got it as well, just a few weeks ago. Thanks for the review, it helped me decide between this and the Tokina 16-28 f/2.8 which is twice the price here in The Netherlands...

I have the Samyang version. The ultra-wide angle opened up a whole new view on photography for me :-)

Here are two shots from the beach.