Rokinon Samyang 14mm f2.8 vs 12mm f2.8 vs 8mm f3.5

Please help to decide which one to purchase for D3500 and must be great for Milky Way photo (fisheye effect as a bonus):

Samyang 14mm f2.8: FF, ~$300 (AMZ)
Samyang 12mm f2.8 fisheye: FF, ~$350 (AMZ)
Rokinon 8mm f3.5: fisheye: CS, ~$250 @AMZ; ~$200 +10% off @ Buyrokinon.com

Thanks

Edited: Sorry, they are f2.8 and f3.5

@blackstar
I have the 8mm, its generally a really fun lens being useful on both crop and full frame cameras, (if you get the HD version, HD meaning hood detachable). I have not used it to shoot the milky way though. For crop sensor milky way shots, I've been really pleased with the Tokina 11-16 f2.8.

Here's a selfie using the 8mm on a full frame camera giving a circular effect.


Here's one of the Milky Way using the Tokina on a crop camera.


I have not been really impressed with image quality from the 8mm, but the perspective is so much fun to play with. Dont get me wrong, under ideal conditions and nailing focus, it gives really good results that are very sharp. It's just more difficult to do with that lens than any other I have though. I think its a lens that benefits from lots of light and stopping it down. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks, Pup. Guess it's just ok to use 14mm f2.8 with cps. Fisheye versions seem more fun to play and challenging creativeness. You think?

You should be able to create a fisheye effect in Photoshop (or at least create something very similar). A 14mm rectilinear lens has many more uses - but the images can be transformed to look closer to a fisheye photo in Photoshop.

I have a fisheye lens (but not a circular fisheye). Actually there are two types of fisheye lenses out there. That said, I rarely use my fisheye. It's this one:

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-p...a-lenses/af-fisheye-nikkor-16mm-f%2f2.8d.html

As I mentioned, you can warp images to look very similar to what a fisheye would yield. Just something to consider.

Thanks, TT. You're right about 8mm f3.5 HD version which has a removable hood and can be used with FF. But price stay $50 higher with HD than built-in model. Still it's $100 cheaper than 12mm f2.8 fisheye. Both fisheyes got high review rate for almost every aspect including image quality, sharpness, build quality, etc. The only image quality (or characteristics) difference is that 8mm has nice sunburst (or starburst) from wide to medium, but 12mm has no burst effect at wide... I think I am closing in to the fisheyes, only which one of the two? (I do like starburst!)

Depends largely on what you want it for and what other lenses you already have. I specifically chose the 8mm because I wanted a lens wider than the rest of what I had, it's a compliment to my lens collection. Although true that the fisheye effect can be applied in post, the angle of view can not, (neither can the circular effect be duplicated by putting the 8mm on full frame). I can apply fisheye effect to a shot from my 11mm lens, but the shot with the 8mm fisheye will still be wider. If I had decided to go for the 12mm fisheye with the lenses I already have, it would have created an unnecessary overlap, IMO. All that said, the 8mm is my least used lens. Full disclosure, it's an awkward lens due to the big bulbus front element and accompanying lens cap. But I would go and get this same lens if it ever broke.

Thanks, Cindy.

Your hint about processed fisheye effect is well acknowledged. Also appreciate your opinion on fisheye lenses. My thoughts on fisheye lenses are just my curiosity to their ability of showing fish eyes' view of the world. IMO, the main purpose of imaging processing is either correcting image faults (or failure) or improving image quality. Transforming image property or characteristics by processing technique is not my primary aim of learning photography. Using different camera bodies and lenses (and gears) are. BTW, I think using fisheye lenses is the first hand challenge to our creativity and imagination. It's fun too.

To demonstrate one of my opinions about these lenses and check TT's point about angle of view of fisheye lenses, I have gathered some sample images from online reviews and post here for your comments:
8mm f3.5 fe (fisheye) - Disney (see starburst and angle of view)


12mm f2.8 fe - Disney (see starburst and angle of view)


12mm f2.8 fe - landscape


12mm f2.8 fe - landscape


8mm f3,5 fe -MW x3




15mm f2.8 (non-fe) -MW x2



12mm f2.8 fe - MW x4

My own comments:

1. 8mm f3.5 fe has very nice starburst and 12mm f2.8 fe has almost none.
2. 8mm f3.5 fe and 12mm f2.8 have almost or exact same angle of view (Disney's are taken at same spot, same time) So I wonder TT's non fisheye 12mm would overlap 12mm fisheye?
3. I don't like the round (circular) foreground of 8mm f3.5 fe MW
4. I think 12mm f2.8 fe give as good MW shots as 14mm f2.8 non-fe if not better. (compare to 15mm f2.8 non-fe)

I have decided to keep one of the two Rokinon 12mm f2.8 fisheye lenses I received for the reasons: super-wide angle of field (horizontal and verticle); pretty sharp images; easy to focus; great for various shooting scenes including close-up (haven't tried moving objects scene though) etc. Here are some experimental shots in neighborhood area:

Wide landscape


Close-up (handheld)


Close-up (tripod)


The only con of this lens: bit heavy for old man hand The handheld close-up made my hands trembling after only a short time of focusing.)

blackstar said:

The only con of this lens: bit heavy for old man hand The handheld close-up made my hands trembling after only a short time of focusing.)

Click to expand...

Have to some curls with the camera and lens. Have fun with it.