Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

Bower 14/2.8 $299 @ B&H · 03:10 PM

Bower 14mm f/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle LensSLY14MMF2.8P B&H Photo

kenafein · 08-19-2013, 03:28 PM

Great price, for a fantastic lens.

olypdd · 08-19-2013, 05:07 PM

Originally posted by Docrwm

Bower 14mm f/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle LensSLY14MMF2.8P B&H Photo

B&H shows it having auto focus on their specs. Is this true? I don't think it is.

kenafein · 08-19-2013, 05:21 PM

Originally posted by olypdd

B&H shows it having auto focus on their specs. Is this true? I don't think it is.

Auto Aperture, but not autofocus.

olypdd · 08-19-2013, 05:22 PM

Yeah, I saw that A setting. ME thinks they need to edit their specs.

kenafein · 08-19-2013, 05:33 PM

The Nikon version has a focus confirmation chip. I think that's where the confusion lies, but that's certainly not autofocus.

olypdd · 08-19-2013, 05:40 PM

Yeah, probably so. Manual focus for a lens like this is no big deal. Funny how Ken Rockwell slammed the optics on it in the past but PhotoZone liked it and rated it highly. So do most user reviews I've seen so far. Seems like a great deal.

kenafein · 08-19-2013, 05:46 PM

Originally posted by olypdd

Yeah, probably so. Manual focus for a lens like this is no big deal. Funny how Ken Rockwell slammed the optics on it in the past but PhotoZone liked it and rated it highly. So do most user reviews I've seen so far. Seems like a great deal.

They have Lightroom profiles for it now, so the one big issue is mitigated. This is the bargain wide angle, especially for those with FF camera. It's a 1/5th, or better, the price of the other FF ultra-wides.

Docrwm · 08-19-2013, 05:52 PM

I have two Samyang lenses and would not hesitate to purchase this one if I did not already have the 15Ltd.

KFrog · 08-19-2013, 07:30 PM

I just picked up the Rokinon version of this lens. Paid a bit more for mine a couple of months ago but it was still a bargain. Excellent lens. Manual focus is tricky but I'm working on it.

kenafein · 08-19-2013, 07:46 PM

Originally posted by KFrog

I just picked up the Rokinon version of this lens. Paid a bit more for mine a couple of months ago but it was still a bargain. Excellent lens. Manual focus is tricky but I'm working on it.

Set the aperture to 5.6 and the distance to 6 feet, and everything 2.5 ft away to infinity will be in focus. You will have no need to focus, just shoot. Of course the distance scales are notoriously off on this lens, so you might need to experiment to find the hyperfocal distance.

scratchpaddy · 08-19-2013, 08:15 PM

I paid the same price for the Vivitar version of this lens (labeled 13mm) five months ago, but it was a riskier eBay new-in-box purchase. Went without a hitch, and the lens is amazing. MF is really no big deal on a lens so wide. For 99% of the shots, as kenafein said, just set to hyperfocal and go. It's probably my most-used lens since I got it.

It's not small, though. That's my only gripe. You'd have to pay twice as much to get smaller. I'm the opposite of Doc here: got the Samyang, which is fantastic, so I can't justify the DA15.

Docrwm · 08-20-2013, 03:42 AM

Originally posted by scratchpaddy

I paid the same price for the Vivitar version of this lens (labeled 13mm) five months ago, but it was a riskier eBay new-in-box purchase. Went without a hitch, and the lens is amazing. MF is really no big deal on a lens so wide. For 99% of the shots, as kenafein said, just set to hyperfocal and go. It's probably my most-used lens since I got it.

It's not small, though. That's my only gripe. You'd have to pay twice as much to get smaller. I'm the opposite of Doc here: got the Samyang, which is fantastic, so I can't justify the DA15.

If its any consolstion, your lens is both wider and faster

scratchpaddy · 08-20-2013, 06:55 AM

Originally posted by Docrwm

If its any consolstion, your lens is both wider and faster

Thanks, Doc. I feel better now.

Don't get me wrong, I love this lens. I just have to stay away from that "DA15 controls my mind" thread.

olypdd · 08-20-2013, 06:50 PM

Good stuff. Getting tempted. I have a Pentax M 50 f1.4 and A28 with manual focus. Not worried about manual focus. This would have been great when I was in Italy.

Docrwm
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by Docrwm
	Find threads started by Docrwm
	Find threads in which Docrwm has posted

08-19-2013, 07:46 PM	#11
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	Originally posted by KFrog I just picked up the Rokinon version of this lens. Paid a bit more for mine a couple of months ago but it was still a bargain. Excellent lens. Manual focus is tricky but I'm working on it. Set the aperture to 5.6 and the distance to 6 feet, and everything 2.5 ft away to infinity will be in focus. You will have no need to focus, just shoot. Of course the distance scales are notoriously off on this lens, so you might need to experiment to find the hyperfocal distance. Last edited by kenafein; 08-19-2013 at 08:05 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Bower Fisheye 8mm f3.5 B&H $229	stormtech	Pentax Price Watch	19	11-03-2013 11:22 PM
B&H Call in Price - Pentax-D FA 100mm f/2.8 WR Macro Lens - $639.95	LaurenOE	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	2	05-01-2013 01:03 PM
Bower (Samyang) 14/2.8 at B&H for $299 until 12/5 + FS(USA)	Docrwm	Pentax Price Watch	2	11-29-2012 12:34 PM
Sigma 180mm f/2.8 APO Macro EX DG OS HSM Lens (for Pentax) (B&H # SI18028AMEOP)	Clinton	Ask B&H Photo!	2	11-23-2012 07:32 AM
Pentax 50 1.8 now $224 @ B&H	Docrwm	Pentax Price Watch	5	08-22-2012 12:07 PM

08-19-2013, 03:28 PM	#2
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	Great price, for a fantastic lens.

08-19-2013, 05:07 PM	#3
olypdd Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Puget Sound Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 311	Originally posted by Docrwm Bower 14mm f/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle LensSLY14MMF2.8P B&H Photo B&H shows it having auto focus on their specs. Is this true? I don't think it is.

08-19-2013, 05:21 PM	#4
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	Originally posted by olypdd B&H shows it having auto focus on their specs. Is this true? I don't think it is. Auto Aperture, but not autofocus.

08-19-2013, 05:22 PM	#5
olypdd Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Puget Sound Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 311	Yeah, I saw that A setting. ME thinks they need to edit their specs.

08-19-2013, 05:33 PM	#6
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	The Nikon version has a focus confirmation chip. I think that's where the confusion lies, but that's certainly not autofocus.

08-19-2013, 05:40 PM	#7
olypdd Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Puget Sound Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 311	Yeah, probably so. Manual focus for a lens like this is no big deal. Funny how Ken Rockwell slammed the optics on it in the past but PhotoZone liked it and rated it highly. So do most user reviews I've seen so far. Seems like a great deal.

08-19-2013, 05:46 PM	#8
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	Originally posted by olypdd Yeah, probably so. Manual focus for a lens like this is no big deal. Funny how Ken Rockwell slammed the optics on it in the past but PhotoZone liked it and rated it highly. So do most user reviews I've seen so far. Seems like a great deal. They have Lightroom profiles for it now, so the one big issue is mitigated. This is the bargain wide angle, especially for those with FF camera. It's a 1/5th, or better, the price of the other FF ultra-wides.

08-19-2013, 05:52 PM	#9
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285 Original Poster	I have two Samyang lenses and would not hesitate to purchase this one if I did not already have the 15Ltd.

08-19-2013, 07:30 PM	#10
KFrog Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Katy, Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 294	I just picked up the Rokinon version of this lens. Paid a bit more for mine a couple of months ago but it was still a bargain. Excellent lens. Manual focus is tricky but I'm working on it.

08-19-2013, 08:15 PM	#12
scratchpaddy Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3,361	I paid the same price for the Vivitar version of this lens (labeled 13mm) five months ago, but it was a riskier eBay new-in-box purchase. Went without a hitch, and the lens is amazing. MF is really no big deal on a lens so wide. For 99% of the shots, as kenafein said, just set to hyperfocal and go. It's probably my most-used lens since I got it. It's not small, though. That's my only gripe. You'd have to pay twice as much to get smaller. I'm the opposite of Doc here: got the Samyang, which is fantastic, so I can't justify the DA15.

08-20-2013, 03:42 AM	#13
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285 Original Poster	Originally posted by scratchpaddy I paid the same price for the Vivitar version of this lens (labeled 13mm) five months ago, but it was a riskier eBay new-in-box purchase. Went without a hitch, and the lens is amazing. MF is really no big deal on a lens so wide. For 99% of the shots, as kenafein said, just set to hyperfocal and go. It's probably my most-used lens since I got it. It's not small, though. That's my only gripe. You'd have to pay twice as much to get smaller. I'm the opposite of Doc here: got the Samyang, which is fantastic, so I can't justify the DA15. If its any consolstion, your lens is both wider and faster

08-20-2013, 06:55 AM	#14
scratchpaddy Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3,361	Originally posted by Docrwm If its any consolstion, your lens is both wider and faster Thanks, Doc. I feel better now. Don't get me wrong, I love this lens. I just have to stay away from that "DA15 controls my mind" thread.

08-20-2013, 06:50 PM	#15
olypdd Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Puget Sound Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 311	Good stuff. Getting tempted. I have a Pentax M 50 f1.4 and A28 with manual focus. Not worried about manual focus. This would have been great when I was in Italy.

Bower 14/2.8 $299 @ B&H

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!