Samyang 14mm f/2.8 review - pretty impressive

marcinski · 04-20-2010, 01:49 PM

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Lenstip, the english verision of Optyczne.pl website posted a test of improved Samyang 14mm lens.

Samyang 14 mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC review - Introduction - Lenstip.com

This lens has been pulled from the market to improve flare and corner sharpness and became recently available again. For about £300 looks like a good deal.

What do you think?

Marcin

GeneV · 04-20-2010, 02:37 PM

Distortion looks pretty bleak, though.

**Rondec** · 04-20-2010, 05:03 PM

I saw this. Compared to the DA 15, or even the DA 14 its distortion is really bad. I don't know how much it would improve being stuck on a crop frame, but I doubt very much. Certainly doesn't look like a very good architecture lens.

omega leader · 04-20-2010, 06:03 PM

The resolution is very high so there should be sufficient information to correct the majority of the distortion in post.

However, when I shot with my Zenitar I almost never corrected distortion, I think it just depends on your subject matter.

RawheaD · 04-20-2010, 07:39 PM

Originally posted by omega leader

The resolution is very high so there should be sufficient information to correct the majority of the distortion in post.

However, when I shot with my Zenitar I almost never corrected distortion, I think it just depends on your subject matter.

But if the distortion is bad, you will have to crop a lot, making the effective FOV narrower than 14mm. Kind of defies the purpose of paying good money (it's not top of the line, but it's not an el cheapo either) for a superwide. combined with the inability to take my ND filters, I think I'm just going to have to pass on this one. I'll stick to my 12-24 for the time being, and possibly consider the DA14.

JP_Seattle · 04-21-2010, 12:11 AM

I for one have quite a bit of respect and faith in Samyang to become more of a major player in affordable 3rd party lenses in the modern DSLR market. With the 8mm fisheye and 85mm 1.4 portrait prime both being big hits and both under $400, I think Samyang has the potential to build momentum quickly in the market. I have not had the chance to check out the 14mm and it is not a focal length that I would be interested in but the fisheye and the 85 are both great quality lenses (both optically and physically).

One of the things I like best about Samyang lenses is that they do put the "A" electrical contacts on their Pentax compatible lenses. The same lenses for Canon/Nikon/etc are fully manual.

jct us101 · 04-21-2010, 12:14 AM

I was under the impression that all of Samyang's lenses were manual focus only, but that review seems to make it sound like they are all autofocus.

Ahh, just saw the post above mine, that explains it. So they're only autofocus on Pentax then?

axl · 04-21-2010, 12:18 AM

Considering it's FF lens, the distortions on DX (APSC) format are not all that bad IMO

RawheaD · 04-21-2010, 04:53 AM

Originally posted by axl

Considering it's FF lens, the distortions on DX (APSC) format are not all that bad IMO

Actually, it looks like most of the distortion is pin-cushion style––occurring in the middle of the frame, rather than the edges, so it doesn't matter if it's FF or APS-C. It's going to be bad.

KjetilH · 04-21-2010, 05:26 AM

Originally posted by jct us101

(...)
Ahh, just saw the post above mine, that explains it. So they're only autofocus on Pentax then?

Manual focus, but automatic exposure, which means full use of all camera modes. MF isn't a big deal on such wide lenses anyway, zone focussing is recommended.

ivoire · 04-21-2010, 06:12 AM

I find this lens to be quite impressive at this price point. I'm looking for a faster/backup lens to my DA 12-24mm for real estate/architecture photos. I had hoped to see the Tokina 11-16mm in Pentax mount (pipe dream). This lens has my attention. I downloaded one of the test pics and ran it thru CS4 for 1 minute of pp work (all my real estate pics get pp'd) and the results are impressive. If i can find a copy of this lens for $400 or less, I intend to buy one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Samyang-14mm-f-2-8-IF-ED-UMC-Aspherical-PENTAX-/11049874...item19ba3cf958

GeneV · 04-21-2010, 07:49 AM

The main reason I would consider this lens is for use on film at full frame. For APS-c, I'd rather spend more money and get a well-corrected lens.

After looking at the sample images, I'm not sure it is so bad. It is not as though a lens with a 114 degree view is going to fool anyone into thinking they are getting the view out of their bedroom window. For full frame, and at likely distances, the perspective is so strange (and therefore interesting) that I am not sure that distortion would disqualify it even if not corrected. Even on the photo that shows the distortion the worst (the long, white building with multiple balcony rails), you know that there is something weird about the perspective from the outset, and somehow the curves can be forgiven, much as in a fisheye.

ivoire · 04-21-2010, 08:14 AM

Just for comparison, heres a couple of recent DA12-24mm pics. one at 16mm, second at 12mm (no image correction). If you are expecting to get no distortion at these focal lengths you will always be disappointed.

GeneV · 04-21-2010, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by ivoire

Just for comparison, heres a couple of recent DA12-24mm pics. one at 16mm, second at 12mm (no image correction). If you are expecting to get no distortion at these focal lengths you will always be disappointed.

The distortion on the Pentax is less, but, again, with all the perspective tricks that are likely to be going on in when one uses a lens with a FOV on film that would be about 9mm on APS-c , it is probably not a big deal for most.

RawheaD · 04-21-2010, 01:28 PM

Originally posted by ivoire

Just for comparison, heres a couple of recent DA12-24mm pics. one at 16mm, second at 12mm (no image correction). If you are expecting to get no distortion at these focal lengths you will always be disappointed.

True. But as an owner of the 12-24, really the only reason why I would consider (and have been considering) the Samyang was for the potential better distortion (and maybe that one stop faster aperture). Center sharpness and f2.8 won't make up for worse distortion and the inability to take filters, when compared to my 12-24 @ 14mm.

I dunno. Ever since getting a Hasselblad Super Wide C, I've been spoiled regarding distortion :-)

04-20-2010, 01:49 PM	#1
marcinski Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Dundee, Scotland Posts: 95	Samyang 14mm f/2.8 review - pretty impressive Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. Lenstip, the english verision of Optyczne.pl website posted a test of improved Samyang 14mm lens. Samyang 14 mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC review - Introduction - Lenstip.com This lens has been pulled from the market to improve flare and corner sharpness and became recently available again. For about £300 looks like a good deal. What do you think? Marcin

04-21-2010, 06:12 AM	#11
ivoire Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,381	I find this lens to be quite impressive at this price point. I'm looking for a faster/backup lens to my DA 12-24mm for real estate/architecture photos. I had hoped to see the Tokina 11-16mm in Pentax mount (pipe dream). This lens has my attention. I downloaded one of the test pics and ran it thru CS4 for 1 minute of pp work (all my real estate pics get pp'd) and the results are impressive. If i can find a copy of this lens for $400 or less, I intend to buy one. http://cgi.ebay.com/Samyang-14mm-f-2-8-IF-ED-UMC-Aspherical-PENTAX-/11049874...item19ba3cf958 Last edited by ivoire; 05-07-2010 at 07:38 PM.

04-21-2010, 07:49 AM	#12
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	The main reason I would consider this lens is for use on film at full frame. For APS-c, I'd rather spend more money and get a well-corrected lens. After looking at the sample images, I'm not sure it is so bad. It is not as though a lens with a 114 degree view is going to fool anyone into thinking they are getting the view out of their bedroom window. For full frame, and at likely distances, the perspective is so strange (and therefore interesting) that I am not sure that distortion would disqualify it even if not corrected. Even on the photo that shows the distortion the worst (the long, white building with multiple balcony rails), you know that there is something weird about the perspective from the outset, and somehow the curves can be forgiven, much as in a fisheye. Last edited by GeneV; 04-21-2010 at 07:58 AM.

04-21-2010, 08:14 AM	#13
ivoire Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,381	Just for comparison, heres a couple of recent DA12-24mm pics. one at 16mm, second at 12mm (no image correction). If you are expecting to get no distortion at these focal lengths you will always be disappointed. Last edited by ivoire; 12-27-2010 at 01:17 PM.

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04-20-2010, 02:37 PM	#2
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Distortion looks pretty bleak, though.

04-20-2010, 05:03 PM	#3
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	I saw this. Compared to the DA 15, or even the DA 14 its distortion is really bad. I don't know how much it would improve being stuck on a crop frame, but I doubt very much. Certainly doesn't look like a very good architecture lens.

04-20-2010, 06:03 PM	#4
omega leader Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Niagara Region, Ontario Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 417	The resolution is very high so there should be sufficient information to correct the majority of the distortion in post. However, when I shot with my Zenitar I almost never corrected distortion, I think it just depends on your subject matter.

04-20-2010, 07:39 PM	#5
RawheaD Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: MA, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 831	Originally posted by omega leader The resolution is very high so there should be sufficient information to correct the majority of the distortion in post. However, when I shot with my Zenitar I almost never corrected distortion, I think it just depends on your subject matter. But if the distortion is bad, you will have to crop a lot, making the effective FOV narrower than 14mm. Kind of defies the purpose of paying good money (it's not top of the line, but it's not an el cheapo either) for a superwide. combined with the inability to take my ND filters, I think I'm just going to have to pass on this one. I'll stick to my 12-24 for the time being, and possibly consider the DA14.

04-21-2010, 12:11 AM	#6
JP_Seattle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Seattle, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 206	I for one have quite a bit of respect and faith in Samyang to become more of a major player in affordable 3rd party lenses in the modern DSLR market. With the 8mm fisheye and 85mm 1.4 portrait prime both being big hits and both under $400, I think Samyang has the potential to build momentum quickly in the market. I have not had the chance to check out the 14mm and it is not a focal length that I would be interested in but the fisheye and the 85 are both great quality lenses (both optically and physically). One of the things I like best about Samyang lenses is that they do put the "A" electrical contacts on their Pentax compatible lenses. The same lenses for Canon/Nikon/etc are fully manual.

04-21-2010, 12:14 AM	#7
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	I was under the impression that all of Samyang's lenses were manual focus only, but that review seems to make it sound like they are all autofocus. Ahh, just saw the post above mine, that explains it. So they're only autofocus on Pentax then?

04-21-2010, 12:18 AM	#8
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Considering it's FF lens, the distortions on DX (APSC) format are not all that bad IMO

04-21-2010, 04:53 AM	#9
RawheaD Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: MA, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 831	Originally posted by axl Considering it's FF lens, the distortions on DX (APSC) format are not all that bad IMO Actually, it looks like most of the distortion is pin-cushion style––occurring in the middle of the frame, rather than the edges, so it doesn't matter if it's FF or APS-C. It's going to be bad.

04-21-2010, 05:26 AM	#10
KjetilH Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 309	Originally posted by jct us101 (...) Ahh, just saw the post above mine, that explains it. So they're only autofocus on Pentax then? Manual focus, but automatic exposure, which means full use of all camera modes. MF isn't a big deal on such wide lenses anyway, zone focussing is recommended.

04-21-2010, 11:03 AM	#14
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by ivoire Just for comparison, heres a couple of recent DA12-24mm pics. one at 16mm, second at 12mm (no image correction). If you are expecting to get no distortion at these focal lengths you will always be disappointed. The distortion on the Pentax is less, but, again, with all the perspective tricks that are likely to be going on in when one uses a lens with a FOV on film that would be about 9mm on APS-c , it is probably not a big deal for most.

04-21-2010, 01:28 PM	#15
RawheaD Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: MA, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 831	Originally posted by ivoire Just for comparison, heres a couple of recent DA12-24mm pics. one at 16mm, second at 12mm (no image correction). If you are expecting to get no distortion at these focal lengths you will always be disappointed. True. But as an owner of the 12-24, really the only reason why I would consider (and have been considering) the Samyang was for the potential better distortion (and maybe that one stop faster aperture). Center sharpness and f2.8 won't make up for worse distortion and the inability to take filters, when compared to my 12-24 @ 14mm. I dunno. Ever since getting a Hasselblad Super Wide C, I've been spoiled regarding distortion :-)