Samyang(Rokinon) 35 1.4....WOW

Just received a Rokinon 35 1.4 lens from Amazon today, and here are some sample pictures taken with it. as far as I'm concerned, this lens, for the price, is a fantastic!! It is pretty sharp wide open, and in some respects, according to Photozone.de, is as good or better than canon 35 1.4L. The only caveat....no AF....at all! Here are some pictures from today....


Untouched raw converted jpg @1.4


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/5314.35-comparo_2D00_1_2D00_2-_2800_Large_2900_.jpg[/img]


same as above except shot @ f2.8


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/0456.35-comparo_2D00_14_2D00_2-_2800_Large_2900_.jpg[/img]


Here is a 100% crop from above


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/0576.Rokinon-35-1.4.crop-_2800_Large_2900_.jpg[/img]


a little PP in LR3...f1.4


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/6840.35-comparo_2D00_19_2D00_2-_2800_Large_2900_.jpg[/img]


same as above @f1.4


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/4666.35-comparo_2D00_23-_2800_Large_2900_.jpg[/img]


It has a pretty good 3-D pop to it...@1.4


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/6305.35-comparo_2D00_29_2D00_2-_2800_Large_2900_.jpg[/img]


and a tweaked shot with CS5...@1.4


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/1325.35-comparo_2D00_35_2D00_Edit-_2800_Large_2900_.jpg[/img]

I was actually quite excited when reading about this lens....until I got to the part about "manual focus only." For what I do, it just wouldn

<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"]I didn't know about the 35mm Samyang, this is great news. Does anyone know what the current Samyang line-up is? As far as I know it&rsquo;s the:<o:p></o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"]<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"]&middot;<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"] <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"]8mm 3.5 fisheye<o:p></o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"]<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"]&middot;<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"] <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"]14mm 2.8<o:p></o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"]<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"]&middot;<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"] <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"]35mm 1.4<o:p></o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"]<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"]&middot;<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"] <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"]85mm 1.4<o:p></o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"]All these lenses garner favourable reviews. In fact the 85 1.4 seems to even compete in the IQ stakes with Canon's 85mm 1.2. I personally own the 8mm Fisheye and would like to eventually own the entire line-up. I've upgraded my Rebel 350D with a split prism focus ring to accommodate manual focus. However I've found that the fisheye requires very little focusing. I just set the distance to about 2m and shoot.
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"]<o:p>I hope Bryan Carnathan will find time to review these very well priced but high quality lenses!</o:p>


From my 8mm Rokinon:


[View:http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamsphotoze/5837991096/in/set-72157626847307951:1000:1000]





http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamsphotoze/5837444197/in/set-72157626847307951/

here are a few more shots taken this morning of Mason...just playing around. This lens is sharper, if..you get the focus right, than my 50 1.2 is wide open. check out these samples...


all shot wide open


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/5327.35-comparo_2D00_7.jpg[/img]


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/8877.35-comparo_2D00_9.jpg[/img]


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/2742.35-comparo_2D00_12.jpg[/img]


and a crop of above...


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/2480.eyelash-crop.jpg[/img]


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/7750.wall-candles.jpg[/img]


and a crop...look at the dust!!


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/0842.wall-candles.crop.jpg[/img]

<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"]Ok, ok... you're just showing-off now [:)] Making me jealous!<o:p></o:p>

This really is a fantastic lens!! Just have to get past the no AF....I will have to try it against the Zeiss 35 f2....Trying to figure which 35 to get. I

<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by greggf

Now I'm going to have my 14-24G, a 35(?), my 50L, and my 70-200 2.8ll.

---

<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"]That sounds like a very nice lens line-up. Having a look at your profile slideshow it appears that you enjoy wide angle, landscapes, architecture, and also still life. I really like the BW shot of the little girl - the lighting is superb. Mason on his bike has real impact also. Great lenses for your type of photography!<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"]I like the option that Samyang provides, namely that high IQ is attainable on a budget if you are willing to invest solely in glass and construction while forsaking zoom and auto-focus. For some these are unbearable sacrifices but for others this may be a good option. The way I look at it, photographers haven't always had the luxury of auto-focus, soI'm willing toadopt some of the old techniques relating to manual focus if it gets me behind great quality glass at a price I can afford.<o:p></o:p>

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by greggf

<span class="field-item-description"]...look at the dust!!


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/0842.wall-candles.crop.jpg[/img]
<div style="clear: both;"]</div>

---

Don't let your wife know we saw that[:D]


Mark

I would like to pull the trigger and purchase this lens


but I have a few questions first


interested because of the 'sharpness'


will it work on a crop camera?


It is manual focus I understand


but is it manual aperture? (ie turn a ring on the barrell),


if so what mode do you use it in : Aperture priority mode, Manual mode.


Are the settings recorded for post production?


Do you own any other Rokinon (Samyang) lenses ( ie 14mm)


Why do you think the canon version is 2200+ (all for the focus mechanism)?

I have considered the 85mm 1.4 for a long time, but have landed on the canon 85mm 1.8 instead (will be purchased in a few days). Mostly since I don't have live view on my D400. This lens would be almost solely used for portraits, but with the thin DOF, I depend on a split screen (like the old SLRs), or a live-view with zoom to be able to focus properly. I am sorry for this, because I really like Samyang's aim to make good glass, and forget about USM and IS. After all, the glass is the most important part of a lens (in my opinion).


Lars