| Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2017 Posts: 65
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 21, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $550.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp, f1.8, filter size 77mm | | Cons: | a little bit large, no AF, bad serial production | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K1
| |
I was looking for a 20mm or 21mm lens, but the D-FA21 was on a very long way. I use to use the FA20-35 f4.0 very often and mostly at 20mm. But the FA20-35 is too light - I got a lot of shutter blur between exposure times of 1/200s to 1/30s.
So I bought the Samyang 20mm and I got a very sharp exemplar. It took me several weeks to notice that the aperture lever was not running smooth and a lot of picture were made at F2.2 instead of F1.8 or F8. Pictures with F8 were heavily overexposed ... .
So I returned the lens and got another copy, which had a decentration and problems with the A-pin - sometimes it was difficult to get the lens from the camera.
In the main shop of Samyang I bought for full pice a third one and this one showed the same problems as the lens before. I returned it and got the worst lens I ever got from a shop - it was not even - stopped down to f8 - on the level of the kit lens of my first K10D. With sample images and some warm words I returned the lens to the shop and then I got a hand-selected version which I now have and using quite often.
This lens is quite sharp even wide open. The micro contrast is on a medium level wide open, but stopped down to F2.2 it is already on a high level and edge sharpness also. Stopped down to F2.8 I get a corner to corner sharpness better than the spatial resolution of the K1 and a outstanding micro contrast.
I have nearly no issues with aberrations (correction in ACR with the profile of the 24mm Samyang does the job quite well).
The Bokeh can be quite pleasant - for such a wide angle lens, some examples. First with F2.0:
second with f2.5
and f3.5
and finally f5.0
Handling needs some time; the large aperture needs good focussing - mainly with live view x10 but the focus ring runs very smooth and allows focussing down to 20cm when the object is nearly at the front lens (as with the picture of the rose above).
As the lens has nearly no coma astro photographs are quite good (here a picture from my first 20mm Samyang lens with f1.8)
and from the second with f2.5
As the Samyang 20mm has the A-pin all the automatic functions of the camera are possible (without AF).
In difficult and/or low light conditions the Samyang 20mm is a nice partner.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2016 Posts: 10
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 23, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | tack sharp. weight. filters. | | Cons: | I wish it was weather sealed and provided data to my camera | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K3, K1
| |
If I only take 1 landscape lens, this is it. My absolute favorite.
It's tack sharp, end-to-end. It takes filters. It's small. Lens flare is well controlled. No chroma issues. It shoots at night. It's extremely easy to pano and stitch if you want more FOV. I could go on, but I really, really like this lens. It's a travel essential. Weatherproofing would be incredible.
 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: March, 2015 Posts: 339
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 7, 2019 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, ergonomics, price | | Cons: | none for me | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K1
| |
Really excellent lens, value for money will be hard to beat. 77mm filter thread is good too, as its not too extreme.
As mentioned already, focus ring is a little stiff, but thats in comparison to the 35mm.
Hood works well, flare resistance is pretty good, can flare but its not ugly, close focusing is pretty impressive.
Some sample images from my limited use.
My 1st review
 IMGP2239edsm1 by dr.shutter, on Flickr
 IMGP1946ed1sm by dr.shutter, on Flickr
 IMGP2215ed2sm by dr.shutter, on Flickr
close focusing
 IMGP2002edsm by dr.shutter, on Flickr
flare
 IMGP2177ed1sm by dr.shutter, on Flickr
12 shot pano
 gaps1 - Copysm by dr.shutter, on Flickr
Starbursts
 IMGP2356ed1sm by dr.shutter, on Flickr
 Ha'penny Bridge by dr.shutter, on Flickr
 IMGP2324ed1sm by dr.shutter, on Flickr
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2013 Location: Bay Area/Peninsula, CA Posts: 99
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 24, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $499.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Center sharpness and handling | | Cons: | Corner sharpness, lack of DOF scale | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-1, K-3 II
| |
I was lucky to find a used copy from B&H. Not surprising, this lens behaves very much as the wider version of the Samyang 24, which is a personal favorite. Excellent center sharpness wide open and good corners from 2.8 on up. Corner performance is about equal with the 24 and much better than the 14. The focus ring is a bit stiff but very smooth. Throw is about 180 degrees, and the lens is calibrated to infinity at its stop, a first for any Samyang/Rokinon I've owned. Unlike the 14 and 24, it does not feature the accessible screws to calibrate infinity focus yourself. With a slightly rounded 7-bladed diaphragm it produces good starbursts from f/11 on up, not quite on par with the green DA 15. Vignetting is only an issue wide open on the K-1 and easily fixed. Distortion is a reasonable amount of simple barrel distortion. CA and PF are mild.
 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2016 Posts: 3 | | Review Date: January 12, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $590.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | small, sharp. | | Cons: | af sometimes will be usefull. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: k1
| |
Comparing to fa20 / 2.8 has better optics sharpnes, distortion, aberration but I like wide angle on events so af would be useful but after year with that lens I have about 70% pics in focus with f2-2.8 I think ist better then af on fa 20...
| | |
;)
;)
;)
