Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > High Definition Video Acquisition > Photo for HD Video (D-SLR and others)

Photo for HD Video (D-SLR and others)
HD from Nikon D90, other still photo cams (except EOS 5D Mk. II, LUMIX GH1).

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old December 7th, 2012, 05:29 AM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Belgrade, Serbia
Posts: 35
Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

Hi everybody!

I'm in dire need of a super wide angle lens that is reasonably cheap and fast enough.
I've been using the canon kit lens on my 600d/t3i as an 18 mm, when in need for wide shoots, and Samyang 35 mm f1.4, for pretty much everything else. The maximum f-stop of 3.5 (kit lens) is a big problem for me when shooting indoors and at night. But the bigger problem is the overall sharpness (or better to say lack of) of the image.
The image just isn't sharp enough, nowhere near as sharp as Samyang 35 mm, for example..

Since I already have a Samyang lens and I'm extremely satisfied with it, buying their 14 mm lens is a no-brainer, but before I do that I would be grateful for some further information..

1) Is it sharp?
2) How much does it distort the image on a crop sensor camera?

Thanks!
Mladen
Mladen Ilic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 7th, 2012, 06:16 AM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Entebbe Uganda
Posts: 768
Re: Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

I just got the 14mm cinevised Rokinon lens and the distortion is not bad at all on an APC sensor.

At T3.1 (f2.8 I guess) its not very fast compared to the other Rokinon lenses. Like most lenses its a bit soft when wide open, but the sharpness increases as you close it to T.4.
Simon Wood is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 7th, 2012, 07:01 AM   #3
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Cambridge UK
Posts: 2,853
Re: Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

I was with a couple of fellow filmmakers/DVInfo members in deepest Norfolk on Monday (all of us either C100 or C300 owners) and we compared this Samyang 14mm F2.8 with my Canon 10-22mm EF-S (F3.5 max, so too slow for your needs) and one of the guys Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 on the Cinema EOS cams and a 5DMkIII.

It was a try various lenses on the cams and chat about them/share thoughts type thing, not exhaustive testing. A sort of informal "Canon Cinema EOS East Anglian Group" inaugural meeting if you wish - a bit of an overstatement!!! So whilst I did not see any images from it on a monitor that day (so I can't comment about what you most want to know, sharpness etc.) I must say that the build quality and the smoothness/action of the focus ring were a joy. I think for its price point this Samyang 14mm could be a terrific lens - if it is indeed sharp. My personal least favourite of the 3 was the Tokina. The least barrel distortion was probably with the 10-22mm, from memory.
__________________
Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk
Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production
Andy Wilkinson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 7th, 2012, 03:32 PM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New Zealand, Rapaura (near Blenheim)
Posts: 434
Re: Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

Thinking back to my APS/C days, the Sigma 10-20mm was one of my favourite lenses. It was sharp, and ultra-wide, with a DoF that would stretch from 12 inches to infinite at about f22. The rock in this image is about fist sized.

Marfells Beach Revisited | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I liked the lens so much I got the Sigma 12-24mm when I swapped the 30D that was used in the above image, to a 1DsMK3, but that lens was hopelessly soft at the edge and corners. So I had to compromise with the Canon 17-40mm f4 which is sharp, but not as wide and has surprising amount of barrel distorition.

That is not a budget lens though, and the Canon 14mm prime is certainly not a budget item.

So as you are using APS-C I'd have thought 14mm would be not quite there. I've seen used Sigma 10-20mm on the auction sites at reasonable prices.
__________________
Stills at: www.flickr.com/photos/trevor-dennis/
Trevor Dennis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 8th, 2012, 03:47 PM   #5
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK
Posts: 4,957
Re: Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

I have the Samyang 14mm and it's one of my favourite lenses. Distortion is quite acceptable for such a wide FOV and it really is very sharp when stopped down by a stop. It does suffer from a little bit of flare if your not careful, but overall a good lens fro the none as are all the Samyangs.
__________________
Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com
Alister Chapman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 11th, 2012, 09:02 AM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Belgrade, Serbia
Posts: 35
Re: Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

Hey everybody,

thanks for the info!
Mladen Ilic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 14th, 2012, 07:36 AM   #7
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Belgrade, Serbia
Posts: 35
Re: Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

One more question.

Does the 14mm have the same fault with the focus ring as Samyang 35mm, when set to infinity, the focus is actually a bit beyond infinity?
Mladen Ilic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 14th, 2012, 01:15 PM   #8
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Entebbe Uganda
Posts: 768
Re: Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

Yes. Seems to be a 'feature' of the Samyang/Rokinon lenses - you need to keep an eye on it.
Simon Wood is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 16th, 2012, 06:39 AM   #9
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Belfast, UK
Posts: 6,152
Re: Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

A demo of this lens with the front coating removed.

Brian Drysdale is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 25th, 2013, 08:43 PM   #10
Tourist
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Posts: 1
Re: Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

Can anyone who owns a Samyang/Rokinon 14mm take a look at this video and tell me if you are having the same problem please...?


Do I have a bad copy or do they all behave like this one....?
Victor Di Persia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 1st, 2013, 07:37 AM   #11
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK
Posts: 4,957
Re: Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

That's not right. Mine is not at all like that. The focus should be repeatable.
__________________
Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com
Alister Chapman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 1st, 2013, 10:01 AM   #12
Trustee
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 1,313
Re: Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

Andy,

I own the 11-16mm and I feel like it just doesn't quite reach infinity focus like it should on the C100. I have the other Rokinons and think they're great for the most part. Can you comment on the sharpness at infinity for the 14mm vs the 11-16mm? The tolerances are so tight for the wide lenses, perhaps it's a good thing if it goes a tad past infinity?
__________________
Nate Haustein PXW-FX9 / FCPX
www.flightcreativemedia.com
Nate Haustein is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 4th, 2013, 04:20 PM   #13
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK
Posts: 4,957
Re: Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ?

Most lenses go a little past infinity to allow for expansion due to temperature variations, manufacturing tolerances etc.
__________________
Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com
Alister Chapman is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > High Definition Video Acquisition > Photo for HD Video (D-SLR and others)

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:21 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network