Samyang/Rokinon 12mm/f2 X Mount

MaxElmar

MaxElmar

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Aug 19, 2008
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I'll get around to posting some stuff in a few days, but does anyone have some samples to share here? If we get some nice examples perhaps a "sticky thread" would be in order. Lots of good examples on Flickr.

Mine came from B&H today and I'm quite shocked how nice it is. It is remarkably sharp and fairly low distortion. (I am aware of the CA in the RAW files.) The speed is VERY welcome and the lens seems quite useable wide open. Can't wait to tackle some interiors. I would have killed (metaphorically) for a small, fast, wide, prime lens like this when I was shooting Nikon DX...

I got it because I simply can't go for the Fuji 14 right now (and I need something wider than 18), but wow, might just keep it.
 
Ok - Lets try a couple of these from today. Nothing special, just a couple of quickies.
Rokinon122-7471 by Max_Xenotar, on Flickr
Was about to do one without the flare when a pile of snow fell on me. Luckily, no damage to me, camera, or lens.
Rokinon122-7488 by Max_Xenotar, on Flickr
Just a nice, quiet, place.
Very sharp! A little distortion - easy fix. Some CA in RAW files that is dealt with in camera or in LR. Verdict - not quite as amazing as the Fuji 14 - but cheaper, wider, and faster. Very close to, if not better than the Zeiss 12, if you ask me.
 
One more. I like this vertical composition better. Maybe.
Interior122-7491 by Max_Xenotar, on Flickr
The lens is pretty much a focus-free lens at F5.6 - not so much wide open at f2, as you can see here. This is a JPEG shot with "Pro Neg Std" preset. Some curves were applied in LR to pull detail from the wood and stained glass.
 
This is an interesting lens, the price of around 320 dollars makes it seem like a great deal. I have been itching for an ultra wide on my XE1 and have been considering this 12mm or the 10mm Samyang lens as they are more or less in the same price bracket.

This 12 certainly looks like a good hunk of glass!
 
All the example shots here that appear to have been shot at wide apertures also appear to have been shot with a lens with decentered lens elements.
Seems like working with a strict manual aperture would be slow, compared to an auto stop down unit like the native Fuji lenses.
 
Seems like working with a strict manual aperture would be slow, compared to an auto stop down unit like the native Fuji lenses.
Click to expand...
Not at all. With the EVF one can focus and frame at working aperture - no need to open up and stop down between shots.

If anything it makes things quicker since one always has an accurate DoF preview.
 
Internet examples are talking about a lot of vingetting with this lens. I don't think I see much of that in the examples above.
Any owners care to comment about that ??
 
I think its safe to say that with a 300 some dollar ultra wide angle that you are still getting a good deal even with vignetting being a bit heavy. I am still interested in this lens and the images shown here only further my desire for it!
 
Hey guys, I would love to see some more photos and any thoughts you might have on owning and using this lens. I am am pretty close to pulling the trigger on the 12mm or the 10mm.
 
Can anyone speak to its lack of resistance to flare? I saw a review online that says when using the hood even not pointing at the sun the flare can be pretty dramatic. Thoughts?
 
Well no one wants to talk about this lens so I just went ahead and bought one so I can have a conversation on here with myself.

:p
 
Well, Frank - it will certainly flare with the sun right on the edge of the frame. Seems to do fine with regular backlighting. Pretty similar to the Zeiss 12 as far as I can tell.
 
I never stop being amazed at the apparent lack of distortion of RF extreme wide angle lenses. I have seen some 15mm RF lenses (35mm format), that just didn't seem to have any at all. I'm not sure what the ones above equate to, but they really look nice.
 
Field of view is equivalent to a focal length of 18mm or so in 35mm terms.

I've thought about this lens, but I already have a VC 12mm Ultra-Wide-Heliar. Slow, but sharp and distortion-free - I just have to make sure I keep my back to the sun 'cos it loves the flare.
 
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