Another Samyang 14mm vs 16mm thread

excanonfd · 10-26-2015, 04:48 PM

Originally posted by colonel00

Thanks for all of the replies so far. I guess the one thing that still has me hesitating is the simple question of: Is f2.8 "fast enough"? From everything I'm seeing, people get great results at f2.8 so I think I'll be fine.

I have the Samyang 14 and the Tamron 17-50/2.8, you should be able to get both of them for the price of the DA16-50/2.8. The DA16-50 is a decent lens but hardly deserving of the * status, the DA16-45 and DA17-70 has better resolution in the fringes up to f5.6 and about the same rest of the way. DA14 has excellent centre sharpness but fairly mediocre performance along the fringes throughout the aperture range.

Dlanor Sekao · 10-26-2015, 06:35 PM

Originally posted by csa

I'm also looking for a wider lens. I'm debating between the DA14 F2.8 or the DA* 16-50 F2.8. and the Samyang 14 or 16. I'm concerned with the reports of the Samyang's decentering & infinity problems, as I don't have the ability to address these issues. Is this concern valid for me?

If they cant be addressed.....YES. But why would you say you don't have the ability to address them ? A couple quick shots will tell if You are decentered......and then adjusting the infinity hard stop takes anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours in my case.....Its a PITA but you wouldn't be the first to have qualms about purchasing.

Nitrogliserin · 10-26-2015, 11:45 PM

Originally posted by csa

Thanks for a great "how to"; I'm sure others as well as I appreciate it!

you're welcome

**colonel00** · 10-27-2015, 09:24 AM

Thanks for all of the replies. I placed an order last night. Now to play the good copy/bad copy lottery. Hmm, I guess I should find myself a nice brick wall too

**clackers** · 10-27-2015, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by colonel00

. Hmm, I guess I should find myself a nice brick wall too

Yep. Be prepared for the inconvenience. But it's worth it. :-)

Outis · 10-27-2015, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by colonel00

Currently there is a deal running on the Samyang 14mm f2.8 on Amazon and at B&H for $279.

Thanks for the tip-- I'd been intending to buy one, and this is a great price, so I just placed an order. Cue the happy new lens dance!

**colonel00** · 11-01-2015, 11:04 AM

Well, the lens arrived on Friday and I got out briefly yesterday to take some brick wall shots. So far, and I'm no expert by any means, it appears that I got lucky and got a good copy that has both good centering and an accurate focus to infinity. I'll get out tonight for some shots at stars hopefully.

**clackers** · 11-01-2015, 11:43 AM

Originally posted by colonel00

Well, the lens arrived on Friday and I got out briefly yesterday to take some brick wall shots. So far, and I'm no expert by any means, it appears that I got lucky and got a good copy that has both good centering and an accurate focus to infinity. I'll get out tonight for some shots at stars hopefully.

Well done. It's a bit sad we have to do this with a very good design when it arrives, but that's the tradeoff for the very low prices of these things - quality control.

Outis · 11-01-2015, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by colonel00

Well, the lens arrived on Friday and I got out briefly yesterday to take some brick wall shots. So far, and I'm no expert by any means, it appears that I got lucky and got a good copy that has both good centering and an accurate focus to infinity. I'll get out tonight for some shots at stars hopefully.

Mine was decentered, so I'm having to exchange it for another copy. It's not a big deal-- I needed to run by the post office anyway, and I didn't need to use the lens any time soon.

**colonel00** · 11-01-2015, 01:10 PM

Originally posted by Outis

Mine was decentered, so I'm having to exchange it for another copy. It's not a big deal-- I needed to run by the post office anyway, and I didn't need to use the lens any time soon.

Have any example shots? I'll try to post up some brick wall shots here in a bit. From everything I can tell, it was just as sharp in the center as it is on the edges on both sides

Here is one shot from yesterday. I'm open to any feedback. Shot at f2.8

Center:

Right Edge:

Left Edge:

---------- Post added 11-01-15 at 02:31 PM ----------

Top Right:

Top Left:

Bottom Right:

Bottom Left:

**Lowell Goudge** · 11-01-2015, 02:29 PM

In think the lens has been pretty well summed up. I have the 14/2.8. (Vivitar branded 13mm). It has some barrel distortion, which is how they keept the edge sharpness. It can be corrected in post processing if you need it, but it is not a killer unless you are shooting architectural shots. The 14 is a full frame lens, as others have noted, and I use it also on my PZ1 as well as digital bodies. It is really wide on film

**colonel00** · 11-01-2015, 02:54 PM - **1 Like**

I went ahead and grabbed the Nikon lens profile for LR and made some edits so it shows up under the Pentax menu. It's easier to find than in the long list of Nikon lenses.

All credit for the profile belongs here. This is the RAW profile and instructions can be found on this page as well.

Rokinon 14mm Lightroom Lens Profile - Sven Stork

**clackers** · 11-01-2015, 04:20 PM

Thanks,Colonel, I have been using that Nikon one and you've made it easier to select!

Outis · 11-01-2015, 06:02 PM

Originally posted by colonel00

Have any example shots? I'll try to post up some brick wall shots here in a bit.

I do, but I was testing my new GPS unit at the same time, in front of my house, no less, and so the EXIF data is a bit of a security risk :P Suffice it to say that the decentering was really, really obvious-- you didn't even need to view the images at 100% to see it. FWIW, my favorite method for testing for decentering is to take a photo of a scene, then flip the camera over and then take another photo of the same scene upside-down. That way you can compare the way the two sides of the lens render the same part of the scene.

11-01-2015, 11:43 AM	#23
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by colonel00 Well, the lens arrived on Friday and I got out briefly yesterday to take some brick wall shots. So far, and I'm no expert by any means, it appears that I got lucky and got a good copy that has both good centering and an accurate focus to infinity. I'll get out tonight for some shots at stars hopefully. Well done. It's a bit sad we have to do this with a very good design when it arrives, but that's the tradeoff for the very low prices of these things - quality control. Last edited by clackers; 11-01-2015 at 11:55 AM.

11-01-2015, 01:10 PM	#25
colonel00 Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 483 Original Poster	Originally posted by Outis Mine was decentered, so I'm having to exchange it for another copy. It's not a big deal-- I needed to run by the post office anyway, and I didn't need to use the lens any time soon. Have any example shots? I'll try to post up some brick wall shots here in a bit. From everything I can tell, it was just as sharp in the center as it is on the edges on both sides Here is one shot from yesterday. I'm open to any feedback. Shot at f2.8 Center: Right Edge: Left Edge: ---------- Post added 11-01-15 at 02:31 PM ---------- Top Right: Top Left: Bottom Right: Bottom Left: Last edited by colonel00; 11-01-2015 at 01:37 PM.

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10-26-2015, 04:48 PM	#16
excanonfd Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,421	Originally posted by colonel00 Thanks for all of the replies so far. I guess the one thing that still has me hesitating is the simple question of: Is f2.8 "fast enough"? From everything I'm seeing, people get great results at f2.8 so I think I'll be fine. I have the Samyang 14 and the Tamron 17-50/2.8, you should be able to get both of them for the price of the DA16-50/2.8. The DA16-50 is a decent lens but hardly deserving of the * status, the DA16-45 and DA17-70 has better resolution in the fringes up to f5.6 and about the same rest of the way. DA14 has excellent centre sharpness but fairly mediocre performance along the fringes throughout the aperture range.

10-26-2015, 06:35 PM	#17
Dlanor Sekao Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,457	Originally posted by csa I'm also looking for a wider lens. I'm debating between the DA14 F2.8 or the DA* 16-50 F2.8. and the Samyang 14 or 16. I'm concerned with the reports of the Samyang's decentering & infinity problems, as I don't have the ability to address these issues. Is this concern valid for me? If they cant be addressed.....YES. But why would you say you don't have the ability to address them ? A couple quick shots will tell if You are decentered......and then adjusting the infinity hard stop takes anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours in my case.....Its a PITA but you wouldn't be the first to have qualms about purchasing.

10-26-2015, 11:45 PM	#18
Nitrogliserin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Turkey Posts: 246	Originally posted by csa Thanks for a great "how to"; I'm sure others as well as I appreciate it! you're welcome

10-27-2015, 09:24 AM	#19
colonel00 Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 483 Original Poster	Thanks for all of the replies. I placed an order last night. Now to play the good copy/bad copy lottery. Hmm, I guess I should find myself a nice brick wall too

10-27-2015, 10:42 AM	#20
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by colonel00 . Hmm, I guess I should find myself a nice brick wall too Yep. Be prepared for the inconvenience. But it's worth it. :-)

10-27-2015, 04:23 PM	#21
Outis Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 935	Originally posted by colonel00 Currently there is a deal running on the Samyang 14mm f2.8 on Amazon and at B&H for $279. Thanks for the tip-- I'd been intending to buy one, and this is a great price, so I just placed an order. Cue the happy new lens dance!

11-01-2015, 11:04 AM	#22
colonel00 Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 483 Original Poster	Well, the lens arrived on Friday and I got out briefly yesterday to take some brick wall shots. So far, and I'm no expert by any means, it appears that I got lucky and got a good copy that has both good centering and an accurate focus to infinity. I'll get out tonight for some shots at stars hopefully.

11-01-2015, 12:56 PM	#24
Outis Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 935	Originally posted by colonel00 Well, the lens arrived on Friday and I got out briefly yesterday to take some brick wall shots. So far, and I'm no expert by any means, it appears that I got lucky and got a good copy that has both good centering and an accurate focus to infinity. I'll get out tonight for some shots at stars hopefully. Mine was decentered, so I'm having to exchange it for another copy. It's not a big deal-- I needed to run by the post office anyway, and I didn't need to use the lens any time soon.

11-01-2015, 02:29 PM	#26
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	In think the lens has been pretty well summed up. I have the 14/2.8. (Vivitar branded 13mm). It has some barrel distortion, which is how they keept the edge sharpness. It can be corrected in post processing if you need it, but it is not a killer unless you are shooting architectural shots. The 14 is a full frame lens, as others have noted, and I use it also on my PZ1 as well as digital bodies. It is really wide on film

11-01-2015, 04:20 PM	#28
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Thanks,Colonel, I have been using that Nikon one and you've made it easier to select!

11-01-2015, 06:02 PM	#29
Outis Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 935	Originally posted by colonel00 Have any example shots? I'll try to post up some brick wall shots here in a bit. I do, but I was testing my new GPS unit at the same time, in front of my house, no less, and so the EXIF data is a bit of a security risk :P Suffice it to say that the decentering was really, really obvious-- you didn't even need to view the images at 100% to see it. FWIW, my favorite method for testing for decentering is to take a photo of a scene, then flip the camera over and then take another photo of the same scene upside-down. That way you can compare the way the two sides of the lens render the same part of the scene.