Why you’ll be able to belief Digital Digital camera World
Our professional reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services so you’ll be able to select one of the best for you. Learn how we take a look at.
Badged as Samyang in most world areas and as Rokinon within the USA, these lenses hail from South Korea, the place the corporate has been constructing a strong popularity since 1972. Most of their lenses that I’ve reviewed within the extra distant previous have been manual-focus primes, together with the XP 14mm f/2.4, which I nonetheless assume is among the greatest lenses for astrophotography, when you’re capturing with a Canon or Nikon DSLR. Samyang’s first autofocus lens didn’t arrive till 2018.
Extra not too long ago, I’ve reviewed the AF 24-70mm f/2.8 FE, AF 50mm f/1.4 FE II and AF 135mm f/1.8 FE, all of which have impressed me as totally fashionable autofocus optics.
Following swimsuit in being designed for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras, the brand new AF 14-24mm f/2.8 FE that I’m reviewing right here is the corporate’s first ever ultra-wide-angle zoom lens, and is the results of a design collaboration between Samyang Optics and the legendary German optical pioneer Schneider-Kreuznach. As such, it goals to be one of many greatest lenses for panorama pictures in addition to one of many greatest wide-angle lenses for Sony cameras.
Samyang / Rokinon AF 14-24mm f/2.8 FE: Specs
|
Mount choices |
Sony E (FE) |
|
Lens building |
15 parts in 11 teams |
|
Angle of view |
142.2 to 84.1 levels |
|
Diaphragm blades |
9 |
|
Minimal aperture |
f/22 |
|
Minimal focus distance |
0.18m / 0.59ft |
|
Most magnification |
0.26x |
|
Filter dimension |
77mm |
|
Dimensions |
84×88.8mm / 3.31×3.5in |
|
Weight |
445g / 0.98lb |
Samyang / Rokinon AF 14-24mm f/2.8 FE: Worth
For Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras, the AF 14-24mm f/2.8 FE goes up in opposition to opponents just like the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Artwork at $1,535 / £1,319 / AU$1,944 and the much more ultra-wide Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 G Grasp lens at $2,998 / £2,899 / AU$4,968. Each of those are terrific lenses however they’re additionally pretty chunky and weighty, and each have built-in lens hoods which is a disadvantage for panorama pictures, as you’ll be able to’t simply connect filters. The Samyang matches the Sigma and Sony for his or her ‘trinity’ f/2.8 fixed aperture nevertheless it features a filter thread and at simply $1,199 / £1,050 / AU$1,999, is relatively inexpensive than the Sigma and solely a couple of third of the worth of the Sony, in lots of world areas.
Samyang / Rokinon AF 14-24mm f/2.8 FE: Design & Dealing with
I’ve owned numerous ‘trinity’ wide-angle zooms up to now, with a comparatively quick and fixed f/2.8 aperture. They are usually pro-grade lenses with value tags to match, and are sometimes comparatively massive, heavy and have an inconveniently integral hood. Extra not too long ago I’ve most well-liked to set my sights, or no less than my ‘velocity’ a bit decrease, with an f/4 lens just like the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S. Certain, I lose an f/cease however except I’m capturing starry evening skies, I don’t actually thoughts. Upsides embody a extra compact and light-weight construct, a extra inexpensive price ticket, and a modestly sized filter attachment thread, usually relatively than none in any respect. Regardless of its fixed f/2.8 aperture, this Samyang lens seems to be and feels rather more like an f/4 lens. It’s small, gentle and simply manageable, has a 77mm filter thread and is comparatively inexpensive.
Typical of contemporary lenses for mirrorless cameras, autofocus is pushed by a nearly silent stepping motor, and there’s no focus distance scale. Nevertheless, you do get the standard zoom scale, with quite a lot of marked focal lengths, and I actually just like the eye-catching design and tactile really feel of rubberized management ring.
One dealing with bonus that I all the time prefer to see is an auto/handbook focus change. Whenever you’re attempting to get a shot and autofocus is struggling, it’s nice having the ability to change to handbook focus with out having to waste time diving into the digital camera’s menu system to make the change. The Samyang obliges with a clearly marked AF/MF change.
Slightly below the AF/MF focus mode change, there’s a perform button that falls neatly below the thumb in panorama orientation capturing. This in nominally for autofocus maintain/lock however might be custom-made to tackle different features relying on the digital camera physique.
The one actual disadvantage of the diminutive construct from a dealing with perspective is that the zoom and focus management rings are fairly slender and are additionally proper subsequent to one another. It is advisable to train a bit care in solely twisting the ring you need however I discovered that I quickly received a really feel for it.
As I’ve talked about, an enormous plus level for panorama pictures and different eventualities is that the entrance of the lens doesn’t have a bulbous ingredient and sits absolutely throughout the barrel. This makes it straightforward to suit filters and so they’re not too massive both, because the lens has a really modestly sized 77mm filter attachment thread. That’s fairly wonderful for a 14-24mm f/2.8 ultra-wide zoom.
As I’d count on, a petal formed hood is equipped with the lens. This helps to cut back ghosting and flare which may usually be an issue when capturing with wide-angle lenses.
Construct high quality feels sturdy and the lens has weather-seals together with a rubber gasket on its metallic mounting plate, as proven within the picture beneath. The lens additionally contains a USB-C port for making use of firmware updates if and when obligatory.
Samyang / Rokinon AF 14-24mm f/2.8 FE: Efficiency
As they are saying, you’ll be able to’t match a quart right into a pint pot. And but this lens shoehorns an ultra-wide 14-24mm zoom vary with a comparatively quick and fixed f/2.8 aperture right into a package deal that measures a mere 84×88.8mm / 3.31×3.5in and solely weights 445g / 0.98lb. One thing has to present. And certain sufficient, the quantity of barrel distortion is actually heinous on the quick finish of the zoom vary, whereas vignetting could be very heavy at vast apertures. Within the outdated days, that may make this lens a write-off. These days, nonetheless, computerized in-camera correction is par for the course and lots of fashionable lenses designed for mirrorless cameras can’t be used in any respect with out these corrections. In contrast to some, the Samyang did give me the choice of disabling corrections within the digital camera menu of my Sony A7 II however I positively wouldn’t advocate it.
Apparent makes use of for the lens are for capturing landscapes, cityscapes, architectural interiors and for astrophotography. With these in thoughts, sharpness at medium aperture settings is respectable from the middle of the body proper out to the sides and corners. Pinpricks of sunshine stay well-rounded even on the widest aperture of f/2.8, which is sweet information for astrophotography.
An arguably much less apparent use of ultra-wide-angle lenses is that they permit you to get in actually near a topic and intensify the obvious distance between it and the background. The Samyang obliges with a really quick minimal focus distance of simply 0.18m / 0.59ft, which permits a beneficiant most magnification of 0.26x. Utilizing the widest aperture of f/2.8 in these situations, you’re additionally in a position to acquire a reasonably tight depth of discipline for blurring the background, which takes on a properly clean look.
I discovered that the lens carried out effectively by way of resistance to ghosting and flare. That may usually be an issue with ultra-wide-angle lenses, as they suck a lot sky into the picture body. The Samyang additionally labored effectively within the shadows, delivering superb readability, distinction and colour rendition below low, flat lighting.
Samyang / Rokinon AF 14-24mm f/2.8 FE: Pattern Photos
The next gallery of instance photographs was shot within the English metropolis of Tub. It combines photographs taken in shadows and light-weight, indoors below subdued lighting and outside in vibrant sunshine.
Picture 1 of 23
Samyang / Rokinon AF 14-24mm f/2.8 FE: Lab Outcomes
We run a spread of lab checks below managed situations, utilizing the Imatest Grasp testing suite. Pictures of take a look at charts are taken throughout the vary of apertures and zooms (the place out there), then analyzed for sharpness, distortion and chromatic aberrations.
We use Imatest SFR (spatial frequency response) charts and evaluation software program to plot lens decision on the heart of the picture body, corners and mid-point distances, throughout the vary of aperture settings and, with zoom lenses, at 4 completely different focal lengths. The checks additionally measure distortion and colour fringing (chromatic aberration).
Sharpness:
Within the quick half of the zoom vary, heart sharpness is superb even when capturing wide-open at f/2.8, though it pays to cease all the way down to f/5.6 to f/11 for optimum edge/nook sharpness. Within the longer half of the zoom vary, it’s additionally greatest to cease down a bit for one of the best heart sharpness.
Fringing:
Management over each lateral and axial chromatic aberrations is superb certainly. There’s virtually no colour fringing to be seen anyplace within the picture body, even with computerized in-camera correction disabled.
Distortion:
Barrel distortion is dire at 14mm and never a lot better at 16mm, though it’s comparatively minimal within the 20-24mm sector of the zoom vary. As with many lenses designed for mirrorless cameras these days, computerized in-camera correction is closely relied upon.
Samyang / Rokinon AF 14-24mm f/2.8 FE: Verdict
I really feel that the Samyang / Rokinon AF 14-24mm f/2.8 FE works rather well and ticks all the precise containers for capturing landscapes, cityscapes, architectural interiors and for astrophotography. That’s just about to be anticipated from an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens with a relentless f/2.8 aperture. Nevertheless, it’s extremely compact and light-weight for this class of lens. I’d due to this fact add journey pictures and even vlogging to its hit checklist, the latter serving to you to set your self in opposition to an expansive backdrop. I additionally actually like that I can simply connect filters to the lens, and that the 77mm thread is such a modest dimension. All in all, this ultra-wide zoom is especially versatile and regardless that it depends closely on in-camera corrections (as do many different current lenses), the tip outcomes might be deeply satisfying.
|
Options ★★★★☆ |
The stepping motor autofocus system and customizable perform buttons are neat options, as is the 77mm filter thread. |
|
Design ★★★★★ |
It’s a triumph of design, packing a beneficiant zoom vary with an epic discipline of view and a relentless f/2.8 aperture into an amazingly compact and light-weight construct. |
|
Efficiency ★★★★☆ |
As with many fashionable lenses designed for mirrorless cameras, it depends closely on computerized in-camera corrections however this allows a smaller building. |
|
Worth ★★★★☆ |
It’s actually not an affordable lens however I really feel it’s competitively priced and superb worth for cash. |