Samyang 24mm f1.4 trial

Scott Ramsey

Senior Member
Well, I bought this lens as an alternative to the Nikon version at less than 1/3 the cost and after 30-40 test shots it is going back in the box and back to B&H. This lens had very good test reviews and maybe I got a bad copy but it is unusably fuzzy at anything lower than f3.5. At 3.5 it is about as sharp as my Nikon 24-85mm but I need a faster lens for stars. Very disappointing but now I know why I couldn't find this lens at most of the normal outlets.
 

DraganDL

Senior Member
2/3 of quality, for a 1/3 of $$$ - I say it's not a bad deal at all;).
People say good things about this lens. I own a 14mm f/2.8 and it is excellent. A friend of mine had had a Samyang 8mm fisheye - worked like charm...
About "fuzzyness": these lenses (all manual focus Samyangs) are characterized by somewhat unusual behavior when it comes to focusing at distant objects - from a few meters up to ~ (there are explications of this phenomenon in different reviews).
 

Scott Ramsey

Senior Member
2/3 of quality, for a 1/3 of $$$ - I say it's not a bad deal at all;).
People say good things about this lens. I own a 14mm f/2.8 and it is excellent. A friend of mine had had a Samyang 8mm fisheye - worked like charm...
About "fuzzyness": these lenses (all manual focus Samyangs) are characterized by somewhat unusual behavior when it comes to focusing at distant objects - from a few meters up to ~ (there are explications of this phenomenon in different reviews).

Yes that was my problem as well, objects at infinity. I was trying to find the best infinity focus to mark for night sky work and anything at F2.8 or greater was terrible. I might have gotten a bad copy but alas, I ordered a Sigma 24mm f1.8 to try out.
 

crycocyon

Senior Member
Ya, my next lens will definitely be the Nikon 24 1.4G. Prices have come down a bit for good used ones on Ebay but still going to wait a bit. Interesting to hear about your experience.
 

Scott Ramsey

Senior Member
Ya, my next lens will definitely be the Nikon 24 1.4G. Prices have come down a bit for good used ones on Ebay but still going to wait a bit. Interesting to hear about your experience.

i got the Sigma f1.8 and tried it out compared to my Nikon 24-85mm 3.5-4.5. The Sigma did okay at 3.5, about the same as my Nikon but open it up anymore and it was just not sharp. Also, the edges are much fuzzier than my Nikon even at 3.5. I guess I will have to go for the Nikon 24 as I just can't find any of these other brands that I am satisfied with. As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.
 

aroy

Senior Member
Most of the Samyang lenses are quite good. To get a sharp focus at infinity at F1.4, try it in day time on a distant object. Use live view to check the focus. If you can still not get it right, then the lens may be defective, exchange it. If you can get the focus right in day time, then tape the focus ring so that it does not move, and then use it at night.
 

Scott Ramsey

Senior Member
I tried the Samyang, the Sigma f1.8, and then the Rokinon f1.4 and settled on the Rokinon. I realize that it is basically the same as the Samyang but the Rokinon is much sharper at all f stops. I might have gotten a bad copy of the Samyang but am very happy with my test shots using the Rokinon. At least this way I was able to compare all three lenses plus my Nikon 24-85 and the Rokinon beat them all.
 

Rick M

Senior Member
I tried the Samyang, the Sigma f1.8, and then the Rokinon f1.4 and settled on the Rokinon. I realize that it is basically the same as the Samyang but the Rokinon is much sharper at all f stops. I might have gotten a bad copy of the Samyang but am very happy with my test shots using the Rokinon. At least this way I was able to compare all three lenses plus my Nikon 24-85 and the Rokinon beat them all.

Glad you got a good one! I've been thinking of the 16mm someday.
 
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