Samyang 14mm

<p>This is probably a long shot at this point as this lens hasn't been available for very long, but does anyone have any experience with it ? After reading the reviews, particularly from Photozone, for the price especially, it seems as though it would be worth a look. I'm a little surprised that it hasn't seemed to have occasioned much comment at Pnet unless I just missed it. Even without considering the price it seems to stack up well against the competition. </p>

<p>Steve</p>

<p>I think the minus of this lens is its weird distortion characteristics - not so much of a problem with landscapes but with buildings, and cityscapes, etc, it's probably an issue.</p>

<p>I've had similar thoughts, but I've seen mixed reviews. I could be off-base, but from all the information I've read, it sounds like the off-brand ones like Rokinon and Bower are inferior, and the one labeled Samyang (as tested by Photozone) is outstanding.</p>

<p>I also found a site at one point where someone had a lens profile for photoshop to corrects the distortion (on a 5D2). The corrected samples looked good. </p>

<p>This is the profile:<br>

http://www.photo-worx.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49</p>

 

<p>Robin,<br>

Yes, Pzone made mention of that but my primary focus would be landscape so it probably wouldn't be as great an issue.<br>

Thanks<br>

John,<br>

I also read a review that wasn't as enthusiastic. It was on a British site but I can't remember which one. Thanks for the link. A review from Bryan Carnathan at The Digital Picture would be nice.</p>

 

<p><a href="http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=42631235">http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=42631235</a><br>

No idea whether this is true or not so keep a barrel of salt handy.</p>

<p>Count me in the "I love mine" category. It's a fun lens to be sure.</p>

<p>I picked up a used Rokinon 14mm f2.8 earlier this summer. I'd say mine is soft on the edges at f2.8 but still useable for general use. By f5.6 it's getting pretty darn sharp. I actually like the manual aperture. Manual focus with this lens is a bit challenging even with live view. But using hyperfocal at f8 is pretty sweet with this lens.<br>

I like this lens so much (and the price was right) that I cut off the built in hood so I can get it into a underwater enclosure - a much cheaper solution than the Canon 14L equivalent. So far, so good but I won't know until winter.</p>

<p>The lens really does handle flare quite well. The manual focus throw is long (which I thought I'd like) but it's maybe a bit too much of a good thing. The lens is quite compact and light given what you can capture with it.</p>

<p>Here's some of my first shots with it on full frame - you can see the distortion as I did not correct for it in these shots</p>

<p>Sunset with stone work in the foreground:<br>

<a href="http://www.amazonbeach.com/PhotoVideo/AmazonBeachGallery/slides/20120725205752_5D2_IMG_3668.html">http://www.amazonbeach.com/PhotoVideo/AmazonBeachGallery/slides/20120725205752_5D2_IMG_3668.html</a></p>

<p>Lightening From The Front Porch:<br>

<a href="http://www.amazonbeach.com/PhotoVideo/AmazonBeachGallery/slides/20120823202522_5D2_IMG_4441.html">http://www.amazonbeach.com/PhotoVideo/AmazonBeachGallery/slides/20120823202522_5D2_IMG_4441.html</a></p>

<p>Cool Sky In Backyard (Cropped, some perspective correction but moustache distortion still present - and that is the sun in the upper right corner):<br>

<a href="http://www.amazonbeach.com/PhotoVideo/AmazonBeachGallery/slides/20120908094629_5D2_IMG_5018.html">http://www.amazonbeach.com/PhotoVideo/AmazonBeachGallery/slides/20120908094629_5D2_IMG_5018.html</a></p>

<p>Closeup:<br>

<a href="http://www.amazonbeach.com/PhotoVideo/AmazonBeachGallery/slides/20120724200330_5D2_IMG_3611.html">http://www.amazonbeach.com/PhotoVideo/AmazonBeachGallery/slides/20120724200330_5D2_IMG_3611.html</a></p>

<p>Action with some fill flash:<br>

<a href="http://www.amazonbeach.com/PhotoVideo/AmazonBeachGallery/slides/20120726195120_5D2_IMG_3728.html">http://www.amazonbeach.com/PhotoVideo/AmazonBeachGallery/slides/20120726195120_5D2_IMG_3728.html</a></p>

<p>...now if their 24mm T/S can be along the lines of this lens and be priced in the $800 range they I will be a repeat customer.</p>

<p>I got one last year at a much lower price. It seems a very good UWA lens option for an amateur like me (don't make $ from shooting): cheap and sharp. Here is one of <10 shots I got so far:</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

<p>You get what you pay for - I had a Sigma 14 a few years ago and I was never happy with it. Both versions of the Canon have been disappointing (in my opinion). In the end I just bought the 16-35 II and the 17 F4 TS - of these two the 17 is outstanding. The Samyang is a good price so if you need 14mm and can live with its issues it makes sense. My caution is just that I bought the Sigma and never really liked it - most people could not see the problems but I could. </p>

<p>I wrote an extended review of this lens here:<br>

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/RWBEPO8NZOTNK">http://www.amazon.com/review/RWBEPO8NZOTNK</a></p>