Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Review

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Here's another nightscape - this is all using ambient light, BTW:


Autumn by Night by Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

 

[ugly_bokeh]

Version 1:
http://www.lenstip.com/200.1-Lens_review-Samyang_14_mm_f_2.8_IF_ED_MC_Aspherical.html

 

[ugly_bokeh]

Version 2:
http://www.lenstip.com/index.php?test=obiektywu&test_ob=239

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

The UMC appears to be the difference between the two. Whatever they did worked. The resolution is just stunning from this lens!

 

[Krob78]

The UMC appears to be the difference between the two. Whatever they did worked. The resolution is just stunning from this lens!

Dustin, your images are priceless as always! You've just about sold me on this lens. I'm not overly thrilled with my 17-40mmL like so many are, I miss my Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 with IS from my 7D days. Had the Tokina 16-28mm but it is a beast and something was really wrong with my copy. So now I'm without UWA, unless you consider the 17-40mm uwa, as most do, it's just not enough for me...

Is the 14mm Rok really the exact same lens as the Samyang and the others? Is there any difference you know between any of them? Looking forward to placing my order soon! Thanks for the great review!

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

The UMC appears to be the difference between the two. Whatever they did worked. The resolution is just stunning from this lens!

Dustin, your images are priceless as always! You've just about sold me on this lens. I'm not overly thrilled with my 17-40mmL like so many are, I miss my Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 with IS from my 7D days. Had the Tokina 16-28mm but it is a beast and something was really wrong with my copy. So now I'm without UWA, unless you consider the 17-40mm uwa, as most do, it's just not enough for me...

Is the 14mm Rok really the exact same lens as the Samyang and the others? Is there any difference you know between any of them? Looking forward to placing my order soon! Thanks for the great review!

First of all, thank you! Secondly, to my knowledge the same optical lens is rebranded and sold under all of the various other brands. Samyang is the most well known. If you have a chance to choose the brand, I would go with either Samyang or Rokinon, simply because they are better known and the other brands thus appear more "cheap" and might diminish resale value (although this will probably be a lens you hang on to).

I just sold my 17-40L yesterday and have no regrets.

 

[Krob78]

The UMC appears to be the difference between the two. Whatever they did worked. The resolution is just stunning from this lens!

Dustin, your images are priceless as always! You've just about sold me on this lens. I'm not overly thrilled with my 17-40mmL like so many are, I miss my Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 with IS from my 7D days. Had the Tokina 16-28mm but it is a beast and something was really wrong with my copy. So now I'm without UWA, unless you consider the 17-40mm uwa, as most do, it's just not enough for me...

Is the 14mm Rok really the exact same lens as the Samyang and the others? Is there any difference you know between any of them? Looking forward to placing my order soon! Thanks for the great review!

First of all, thank you! Secondly, to my knowledge the same optical lens is rebranded and sold under all of the various other brands. Samyang is the most well known. If you have a chance to choose the brand, I would go with either Samyang or Rokinon, simply because they are better known and the other brands thus appear more "cheap" and might diminish resale value (although this will probably be a lens you hang on to).

I just sold my 17-40L yesterday and have no regrets.

Thanks for your feedback! I think I'll have no regrets letting go of my 17-40mmL either... though I use it mostly for Real Estate gigs... I may go back to a Tokina 16-28 for that if the 14mm Roki is too wide for that type of usage... I wouldn't foresee issues taking the exterior photos but not sure about interior photos with the 14mm...

 

[distant.star]

.
For what it's worth...

I did some rudimentary comparison last Saturday. I'm no scientist, but the 14mm looks to me sharper than the Canon 17-40mm at 17mm. My 17-40mm is as sharp as anything I know at near and middle distances, but it seems to fall off at longer distances.

The shots I compared were across a mile-wide river on a cool day using a 5D3 body. It was mid-afternoon in bright sunlight, and I used apertures from f/11 to f/22. Near objects (foreground) distances are comparable sharpness, but the 14mm appears better for the distant objects.

Again, these are entirely non-objective conclusions from a self-proclaimed slow learner!

Oh, and focus can be a challenge with no focus confirmation of any kind (visual or electronic). Using live view you have to manually do what the camera does with AF -- open up your aperture to view the scene, focus, and then go back to your selected aperture to take the picture. Best to review the theory on DOF, hyperfocal distance, circle of confusion, etc.

Overall, it's a beautiful lens for not much money -- and it gives us a tool for trying to get great pictures like Dustin gets!

 

[Krob78]

.
For what it's worth...

I did some rudimentary comparison last Saturday. I'm no scientist, but the 14mm looks to me sharper than the Canon 17-40mm at 17mm. My 17-40mm is as sharp as anything I know at near and middle distances, but it seems to fall off at longer distances.

The shots I compared were across a mile-wide river on a cool day using a 5D3 body. It was mid-afternoon in bright sunlight, and I used apertures from f/11 to f/22. Near objects (foreground) distances are comparable sharpness, but the 14mm appears better for the distant objects.

Again, these are entirely non-objective conclusions from a self-proclaimed slow learner!

Oh, and focus can be a challenge with no focus confirmation of any kind (visual or electronic). Using live view you have to manually do what the camera does with AF -- open up your aperture to view the scene, focus, and then go back to your selected aperture to take the picture. Best to review the theory on DOF, hyperfocal distance, circle of confusion, etc.

Overall, it's a beautiful lens for not much money -- and it gives us a tool for trying to get great pictures like Dustin gets!

Good points! Thank you!

 

[bholliman]

Based on Dustin's review, I ordered one of these early this week! Should delivery today or Monday.

I haven't owned a UWA lens since I sold my EF-S 10-22 a few years ago and have missed it. I'm looking forward to getting out and taking some fall foliage shots at 14mm!

 

[Krob78]

Based on Dustin's review, I ordered one of these early this week! Should delivery today or Monday.

I haven't owned a UWA lens since I sold my EF-S 10-22 a few years ago and have missed it. I'm looking forward to getting out and taking some fall foliage shots at 14mm!

+1 Looking forward to seeing them!

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Here is another one from the Rokinon. Two exposures, one for the foreground, one for the sky. Purposefully dark and moody. I have never captured such amazing detail with my wide angle work before. Stunning!


Farewell to October by Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

And another night shot. This is along where the railroad used to come in, but the tracks have been pulled up.


Sky in Motion by Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

 

[lion rock]

Thanks Dustin, your review on the Rokinon enticed me to get this lens. It is an excellent lens, provided it is used properly where framing really is important to minimize distortion.

 

[distant.star]

Here is another one from the Rokinon. Two exposures, one for the foreground, one for the sky. Purposefully dark and moody. I have never captured such amazing detail with my wide angle work before. Stunning!

Great, dramatic image, Dustin. And a fitting farewell to my favorite month!

Thanks.

 

[Zv]

I ordered this lens today, can't wait to get out and try it!

 

[scottkinfw]

I got mine a few weeks ago, and am playing with it, as it requires a new skill set. I shoot mainly in manual, so not too hard. It will require a few test shots to nail exposure, or perhaps a light meter. For me, focus is a bit tricky. I use a loupe to help. Also, I "discoverdd" yesterday that the dof button works with the lens, so this helps.

sek

I ordered this lens today, can't wait to get out and try it!

 

[scottkinfw]

Here is a sample portrait from yesterday. I added a bit of fill flash from a single off camera 600EX-RT controlled with an ST-E3-RT to open up the shadows. I didn't use any filters or any pp for the star bursts on chrome, etc.- all the result of the lens.

I got mine a few weeks ago, and am playing with it, as it requires a new skill set. I shoot mainly in manual, so not too hard. It will require a few test shots to nail exposure, or perhaps a light meter. For me, focus is a bit tricky. I use a loupe to help. Also, I "discoverdd" yesterday that the dof button works with the lens, so this helps.

sek

I ordered this lens today, can't wait to get out and try it!

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Here is another one from the Rokinon. Two exposures, one for the foreground, one for the sky. Purposefully dark and moody. I have never captured such amazing detail with my wide angle work before. Stunning!

Great, dramatic image, Dustin. And a fitting farewell to my favorite month!

Thanks.

It is one of my favorite months, too. I think I get more great landscape stuff in October than any other month.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

I got mine a few weeks ago, and am playing with it, as it requires a new skill set. I shoot mainly in manual, so not too hard. It will require a few test shots to nail exposure, or perhaps a light meter. For me, focus is a bit tricky. I use a loupe to help. Also, I "discoverdd" yesterday that the dof button works with the lens, so this helps.

sek

I ordered this lens today, can't wait to get out and try it!

I would say that developing a new skill set is probably an accurate assessment. It is certainly unlike any other manual focus only lens that I have used because of the extreme nature. The viewfinder will be mostly for composition, not focus. I either prefocus using the distance markers (and knowing where my lens hits focus) along with live view in other situations. I don't get out of focus shots with the lens at all, so my technique works fine for me.