Samyang 14/2.8

Hi folks,

just a little review of this lens after one month of use.





Despite the plastic construction, it is serious : naked, it weighs about half a kilo (530 grams). Its surface is granite and identical to its big brother Samyang 85 f1.4.
The results are quite surprising in regard of the low price (only 320 euros) and probably the coating is not completely foreign.
About sharpness, I found it really good, with good homogeneity. Especially, even at full aperture, I have never found the edge (or even the corner!) poor. It is very surprising on such a lens.
The mastery of chromatic aberrations is simply bluffing, like resistance to flare. Vignetting is very present until f/5.6.

So, a success ? Not exactly. There is still a shadow : the distortion. Distortion has not only a form of barrel. Indeed, it has a specificity because the lines located on the extreme edges of the frame take the form of "mustache"!
The lines are as if sucked by the four corners. Very strange. Besides, I wonder if this weird correction explains the excellent sharpness (curvature of field must be reduced).
So horizontals become sinusoids and I think the correction in post processing should not be easy and this one should imply a loss of details.
The effect should be reduced on APS-C I think. For this particular report, I invite you to look at pictures 4 and 5 below.



The ring focus falls well under the fingers. It is creamy and easy to use.
The aperture ring too ; it is used in steps from f2.8 to f22.



Now, somme pics taken with A900. :)

1/ f8, 1/800, 200 iso. Below, a 100% crop of an edge.




2/ f8, 1/800, 200 iso. At right a 100% crop.


3/ f8, 1/640, 200 iso. At right a 100% crop.


4/ f11, 1/320, 200 iso. Take a look at the form of "mustache" of the horizontal bottom border.


5/ f11, 1/320, 200 iso. Take a look at the form of "mustache" of the horizontal top border.


6/ f8, 1/125, 200 iso. Below the 100% crop. Take a look at the excellent mastery of the CA.




7/ f8, 1/500, 200 iso. Also note the excellent resistance to flare.


8/ f2.8, 1/5000, 200 iso et 9/ A f2.8, 1/3200eme, 200 iso.



10/ f2.8, 1/125, 800 iso. Left a 100% crop.


Optically, this Samyang is not far from the no-fault if there was not this horrible distortion.
To resume, those who need a lens which does not suffer too much of distortion will pass their way. But those for whom distortion is not important will find their happiness for "only" 320 euros.


PS : here you can read a french test of this lens.

Edited by Slipsale - 01 July 2010 at 09:12

Using CS5 lens correction or Lightroom 3 corrections the distortion is not a problem, there are as bad or worse lenses out there at a lot more money. I am just about to use Adobie's software to build a profile to save a bit of time but I have used the Samyang on architectural work and corrected it is fine.
A lot of cmaera manufacturers lenses are designed for software correction and the trend is growing because you can then make lenses cheaper.
Via CS5 you can make the 16mm fisheye-non fisheye.
David

That is my concern...

It is not that hard to focus maually with A900 standard screen. But I remember that M screen in 7D was much better in MF and I could see what the photo will look like... With standard screen I don't see it at all... But it was also much darker with not so brigh lenses :/ I wish there was electronic matte screen - bright for dark lenses and precise for MF in one. Just an option in menu connected to AF/MF switch ;)

Anyway, I just cannot decide to buy or not. I know that it would be very difficult to sell back in Poland so I just have to make decision when I'll be sure ;) Today I'll do some photos (wedding couple on location) so maybe it would help me to make this decision. ;)

Aah I've been looking at this lens before, almost bought it and then didn't because of the distortion. Now your photos make me want it again, I just so love the dramatic effects that can be made at this focal length. I'm however still wondering if the Tamron 14mm isn't the better option, haven't been able to find any reviews of it on FF.

If you scroll down about 3/4 on this page you can see the results when using PTLens to correct the distortion, PTLens also has a profile for a900/850 + Samyang 14mm.

Where can the lens be purchased from?

And just curious, is the Bower 14mm available from B&H a rebrand of the same lens? Looks identical to me.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/698929-REG/Bower_SLY14MMF2_8S_14mm_f_2_8_Ultra_Wide.html

Thanks for the photos and crops, looks like a great lens and would like to give it a try!

ryansholl wrote: Where can the lens be purchased from? And just curious, is the Bower 14mm available from B&H a rebrand of the same lens? Looks identical to me. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/698929-REG/Bower_SLY14MMF2_8S_14mm_f_2_8_Ultra_Wide.html Thanks for the photos and crops, looks like a great lens and would like to give it a try!

Yes it is.... :) Samyang is also knows as Polar, Walimex, Bower and more :)

Thanks a lot Slipsale! I'm very interesting by this lens too.
Love the photo with the gargol!!

Long life to Alphadxd!! (A great french site made by "afictionados" of the Minolta/Sony system)