My review: Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 for E-mount

[bbphoto]

Hey guys. I created my first lens review/real world test. Check it out below if you're interested in this lens. 

 

http://www.blakebronstad.com/reviews/2015/7/21/rokinon-12mm-f20-for-sony-e-mount

 

 

[yali]

It seems a bit... short? If I may say so Some more pictures actually showing the lens and what it's able to create would be quite cool =)

[bbphoto]

@yali, you are very right about adding more shots. In the process of doing so. Thanks! 

[foto-fanatic]

I think you did quite well, didnt babble on too much, told us most of what we need to know, could have a few more shots and a bit more info but well done buddy it wasnt half bad for what it is, nice one.

p.s. thank god it leaves things in the centre of the "farm",   haha,

[bbphoto]

@foto-fanatic, thanks! and thanks for catching the typo, ha. Really ought to do more proof reading  

 

Like most of you here, I really enjoy reading real-world tests and reviews. I love DXOMark as much as the next gear freak, but I always value a peers opinion and use case (:

[foto-fanatic]

Hey no problems, just being honest, a lot of photographers can be a stiff and serious bunch with egos to match when ultimately you can have all the specs and charts in the world but it is an ART FORM first and foremost in my mind.

High creativity does not inspire from spec sheets. thanx for posting.

[Matteo]

Thanks for your review! Very good lens for a small price....What I find a bit disappointing is that it's FULLY manual....no aperture control, no EXIF Information in Files...

When you can live without that...get that stuff! ;-)

 

By the way...in other countries "Rokinon" is sold as "Walimex" or "Samyang"....it's all the same...

[bbphoto]

@matteo, thanks for the additional info. I knew about the Samyang branding, but hadn't heard of Walimex. Regarding the EXIF data--you're right it can be an inconvenience not having aperture data in files, but ISO and shutter speed do remain, which is of some help!

[Golem]

`

 

I shoot with some similar lenses, and

I never miss the aperture info in the

exif report. Hardly need it with a lens

that wide. These lenses out resolve

24mp sensors, and DOF is anywhere

from huge to endless. No need to be

specific about exactly which f-stops

are accomplishing these things, or at

least thaz true for my f/3.5 lenses. I

spoze if you can open up to f/2.0 then

maybe it can be good to check that a

frame is at f/2.0 or 2.8 or 3.2 etc.

 

`

[bbphoto]

@golem, I'm right with you on that one. Generally, things are all in focus unless you really open it up--then there are certainly chances to shoot and miss. That being said, with mirrorless missing focus is easily avoided. After using this lens, I may consider the Rokinon 14mm 2.8 FE for when I get my a7rii, but will have to do more research first. I fear something that wide will suffer from too much distortion to be practical. Also wonder how it will resolve on 42MP sensor. 

[Golem]

......... I may consider the Rokinon 14mm 2.8 FE

for when I get my a7rii, but will have to do more

research first. I fear something that wide will

suffer from too much distortion to be practical.

Also wonder how it will resolve on 42MP sensor.

It is pointless to wonder or worry how a lens

might resolve on a hi rez sensor. Resolution is

not the main ingredient in an image. It will be

just fine. Nobody ever hadda test their lenses

to see which one were suitable if they got the

notion to shoot some Pan-X or K-25. They just

went and DID it.

 

As to whether the 14mm will "will suffer from

too much distortion", only you can say. You've

got three parts of that phrase that only YOU

can define [or that each user must define for

themselves]:

 

1. "suffer"

2. "too much"

3. "distortion"

 

Numbers 1. and 2. are obviously subjective.

 

But number 3. .... "Distortion". All photos

are distorted. No exceptions for lenses that

may have excellent rectilinearity. Perhaps

you're questioning not distortion at all, but

wondering if the perspective rendering will

be too extreme for your use.

 

Consider such ideas as 42mp plus extreme

wide view, for architecture etc, means you

can crop instead of needing a shift lens.

You'll still have 25 to 30mp to print from.

IOW it's not an expensive lens, so get it.

 

`

[newenglandrocks]

Nice review. One of the most popular applications of this lens is astrophotography- it excels and punches above any APS-C e-mount lens regardless of price.

 

One issue I have with your review is your negative comments on the Sigma 19. The two lenses are very different, but overall I find the Sigma to be nearly as sharp as the Rokinon. One area where the Sigma beats the Rokinon is colors. I was shooting with both lenses today and the results from both were great.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bbphoto]

Nice review. One of the most popular applications of this lens is astrophotography- it excels and punches above any APS-C e-mount lens regardless of price.

 

One issue I have with your review is your negative comments on the Sigma 19. The two lenses are very different, but overall I find the Sigma to be nearly as sharp as the Rokinon. One area where the Sigma beats the Rokinon is colors. I was shooting with both lenses today and the results from both were great.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fair enough. I do love the way Sigma lenses [typically] capture color. After all, my favorite lens of all time remains the Sigma Art 35 (:

[Mode101]

Looking to get this lens for Night shooting!!

[Mode101]

Having this wiggle issue with my new Rokinon 12mm F2 , Focus ring is way too tight and wiggles when I turn it, is this normal?

https://youtu.be/NCbew3m3Iuk

[miran]

Samyang 12mm/2.0 is an amazing lens for the money with just two caveats:

 

1. Build quality and quality control. Mine came decentered. One side always softer than the other. I half dissassembled it, found nothing to be adjusted and reassembled it. That miraculously fixed it and it's been fine ever since.

 

2. Doesn't work in winter! At sub zero temperatures (I mean <0°C) the focus ring becomes so stiff it's almost impossible to move. The colder the stiffer. Even at temperatures still well above freezing it's much stiffer than at normal summer temperatures.

 

Regarding names, the company that makes this lens is called Samyang. Other names (Rokinon, Wallimex, Bower and some others) are different brands/resellers.

[bbphoto]

Miran, interesting tidbits. I'll have to try it out when cold weather comes!

 

On a side note, I just stuck it on my a7rii for the first time and have used it in crop mode (18mp). I love it on this camera! Great manual option when 18mp will suffice!

[Mode101]

Another thing I noticed is there is Glare (from shooting sundown and street lights) on this lens? even with lens hood... Is there way around it besides editing software?

[Golem]

Miran, interesting tidbits. I'll have

to try it out when cold weather comes!

Why wait ? Put it in an oversized flexible

plastic bag and pop it into the freezer. No

camera required just to check the action

of the focusing ring.

 

`

[Golem]

Another thing I noticed is there is Glare

(from shooting sundown and street lights)

on this lens? even with lens hood... Is there

way around it besides editing software?

No lens, of ANY focal length, will show

less glare from use of a lens hood ...

when the light sources are in the frame.

 

When the light sources are outside the

frame, then a hood can be very beneficial

but the benefit diminishes greatly as the

field of view widens. Lens hoods for ultra

wide lenses are basically just decorative

"pro-look" chzatkes. If you're a working

photographer it might help impress clients.

 

`

[VANGSTR]

It is pointless to wonder or worry how a lens

might resolve on a hi rez sensor. Resolution is

not the main ingredient in an image. It will be

just fine. Nobody ever hadda test their lenses

to see which one were suitable if they got the

notion to shoot some Pan-X or K-25. They just

went and DID it.

 

As to whether the 14mm will "will suffer from

too much distortion", only you can say. You've

got three parts of that phrase that only YOU

can define [or that each user must define for

themselves]:

 

1. "suffer"

2. "too much"

3. "distortion"

 

Numbers 1. and 2. are obviously subjective.

 

But number 3. .... "Distortion". All photos

are distorted. No exceptions for lenses that

may have excellent rectilinearity. Perhaps

you're questioning not distortion at all, but

wondering if the perspective rendering will

be too extreme for your use.

 

Consider such ideas as 42mp plus extreme

wide view, for architecture etc, means you

can crop instead of needing a shift lens.

You'll still have 25 to 30mp to print from.

IOW it's not an expensive lens, so get it.

 

`

Why put a cheap lens with such a resolving sensor?

[Golem]

Why put a cheap lens with such a resolving sensor?

Cuz it works just fine. You seem in thrall to myth.

 

Re-read the post to which you've replied. Also try

researching the difference between rendering and

resolution. They are related, but are not the same.

 

`

[VANGSTR]

Hmmm.. so it's ok to put a Holga plastic toy lens on a sensor like the A7Rii ??? Cuz it works just fine right???

[newenglandrocks]

Miran,

 

Whoa. You should have your lens checked out and possibly warrantied. I used mine quite a lot last winter - in Vermont, where the average temperature in February was around 0 F! I had absolutely no issues with moving the focusing ring when it is stupidly cold out. The Sony battery - that is another (and different) issue!

 

Albert

Samyang 12mm/2.0 is an amazing lens for the money with just two caveats:

 

1. Build quality and quality control. Mine came decentered. One side always softer than the other. I half dissassembled it, found nothing to be adjusted and reassembled it. That miraculously fixed it and it's been fine ever since.

 

2. Doesn't work in winter! At sub zero temperatures (I mean <0°C) the focus ring becomes so stiff it's almost impossible to move. The colder the stiffer. Even at temperatures still well above freezing it's much stiffer than at normal summer temperatures.

 

Regarding names, the company that makes this lens is called Samyang. Other names (Rokinon, Wallimex, Bower and some others) are different brands/resellers.

[a_pavlin]

Has anyone try this lens on a3000? Im planning to buy it.