Originally posted by WPRESTO
Critical question, for me, is the Irix significantly better than the Samyang/Rokinon/etc 14mm? Is it a mixed bag (i.e., better resolution but more fringing, or less distortion but more flare, or better flare and fringing control, but less edge resolution??). Before I pop for one or the other, it would be good to know what difference exist.
I thought this was answered pretty effectively by
Lenstip. There are plenty of direct comparisons with the Samyang. Pluses and minuses, but from my viewpoint the Irix came out ahead (not everyone sees it that way -- depends on priorities). Flare is shocking though.
Pros:
Solid, sealed casing with an interesting design,
Sensational image quality in the frame centre,
Good image quality on the edge of the APS-C sensor,
Imperceptible longitudinal chromatic aberration,
Low lateral chromatic aberration,
Lack of distinct problems with spherical aberration,
Noticeably lower distortion than that of its direct rivals,
Very low astigmatism,
Sensible blurry areas for this angle of view,
Very rich accessory kit.
Cons:
Monstrous vignetting on full frame,
Weak performance against bright light.