Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

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Archive 2009 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

cogitech
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p.2 #1 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

Tariq Gibran wrote:
Very Nice! Your wife has some talent there Paul. I really like #8. Nice portrait which makes the subject look very confident due to her pose.

Thanks Tariq.

I have to confess that I chose these samples really quickly, based on their technical merit and display of the lens' attributes. I was looking at colour, bokeh, etc. more than poses. Going over them again, I see many stronger shots with respect to the model herself. I'm such a gearhead

Oct 30, 2009 at 11:28 AM

Tariq Gibran
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p.2 #2 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

These shots also demonstrate why the Rokinon is such a good portrait lens. While it is sharp, it also has this "softening" quality that helps to minimize blemishes. Contrast, both macro (overall) and micro (local) is also softer and flater. This is the exact opposite of typical Zeiss rendering which can be harsh in a situation like this by emphasizing every wrinkle and blemish.

Oct 30, 2009 at 11:35 AM

Tariq Gibran
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p.2 #3 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

cogitech wrote:
I'm such a gearhead

Ha ha. We all suffer that disease around here I guess!

Oct 30, 2009 at 11:40 AM

Paul Yi
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p.2 #4 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

The lens looks very good indeed, but I doubt I'll ever take pictures as well as your wife.
Just wonderful....

Oct 30, 2009 at 11:50 AM

Ed Sawyer
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p.2 #5 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

Not bad, though web-sized images are hard to judge for real details. but the background looks nice. Agreed re: Lumen's post - the model definitely gets more comfortable in the later shots, and it shows. (first two - ugh, the blue background....and it's too close to her...)

Did you sell the 85/1.2 SSC? Seems like you probably could if this rokinon is good enough. If I didnt' already have EF85/1.2L I'd look closely at the Rokinon.

-Ed

Oct 30, 2009 at 01:22 PM

cogitech
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p.2 #6 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

Ed,

I'll post some crops later. The Rokinon does not disappoint. In fact, I will have to really do some work on these to get the wrinkles out. The model requested that before the shoot. Time for me to learn some Photoshop

As I said, I did not choose these samples based on the model, but for their technical merit. I literally just CTRL-clicked a bunch that looked good and batched them out and posted them. There are plenty of shots early in the shoot where she looks much more comfortable. I wasn't selective enough, as usual. Personally, I love the blue background, especially with her outfit.

I have not sold the SSC, but I plan to.

Edited on Oct 30, 2009 at 01:42 PM · View previous versions

Oct 30, 2009 at 01:27 PM

Tariq Gibran
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p.2 #7 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

At the same time I purchased the Rokinon, I also picked up a very nice Super Multi Coated Takumar 85 1.8. While the Tak is sharper closed down and offers more contrast, I think I will be getting rid of it. It's just so nice to shoot the Rokinon between 1.4 and 2.8 and the Rokinon offers better Bokeh to boot.

Oct 30, 2009 at 01:32 PM

cogitech
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p.2 #8 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

Tariq Gibran wrote:
At the same time I purchased the Rokinon, I also picked up a very nice Super Multi Coated Takumar 85 1.8. While the Tak is sharper closed down and offers more contrast, I think I will be getting rid of it. It's just so nice to shoot the Rokinon between 1.4 and 2.8 and the Rokinon offers better Bokeh to boot.

The only 85 I've owned/used with bokeh close to the Rokinon is the Minolta MC-Rokkor 85/1.7, but still I think the Rokinon wins.

Oct 30, 2009 at 01:35 PM

cogitech
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p.2 #9 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

pdmphoto wrote:
Nice work. I also agree, this is the best color and light response I have seen from the Rokinon. Is the f/1.4 aperture a true f/1.4? I remember a previous FM'r claiming that it was closer to F/1.8?

Thanks.

Regarding the Rokinon being slower than f1.4; this is a fallacy, as far as my testing concluded. With the FD 85/1.2 SSC Aspherical set to f1.4 and the Rokinon set to f1.4, identical shutter speeds result in near-identical exposures. The Rokinon may have been 1/15th of a stop slower. Only a tiny push on the exposure slider was required to match the RAW histograms.

I suspect the variance in exposure that some people report is due to inexperience with the typical need for EC when metering fully manual lenses. They shoot their AF lens against the Rokinon and then the Rokinon underexposes and they assume it is slower. Not the case.

Edited on Oct 30, 2009 at 01:56 PM · View previous versions

Oct 30, 2009 at 01:38 PM

Paul Yi
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p.2 #10 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

The demand must have went up....
The price went up considerably since I checked it few months ago....

Oct 30, 2009 at 01:49 PM

cogitech
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p.2 #11 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

Paul Yi wrote:
The demand must have went up....
The price went up considerably since I checked it few months ago....

Really? I got mine for $254, BNIB with hood, soft case...

Oct 30, 2009 at 01:52 PM

Johnny McClung
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p.2 #12 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

The last few of her in the gray sweater with the red tree in the background are great. It brings out the red on her lips. Your wife is smokin' ... she did really well ... looks like you guys had fun!

Oct 30, 2009 at 01:56 PM

cogitech
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p.2 #13 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

Johnny McClung wrote:
The last few of her in the gray sweater with the red tree in the background are great. It brings out the red on her lips. Your wife is smokin' ... she did really well ... looks like you guys had fun!

I'll pass on the compliments. They did have fun, I think. I wasn't there

(and just to clarify once again, my wife shot the photos; the model is a friend of ours).

Oct 30, 2009 at 01:57 PM

Paul Yi
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p.2 #14 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

cogitech wrote:
Paul Yi wrote:
The demand must have went up....
The price went up considerably since I checked it few months ago....

Really? I got mine for $254, BNIB with hood, soft case...

My bad...I was checking the price at B&H.....

Oct 30, 2009 at 02:02 PM

cogitech
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p.2 #15 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

Paul Yi wrote:
cogitech wrote:
Paul Yi wrote:
The demand must have went up....
The price went up considerably since I checked it few months ago....

Really? I got mine for $254, BNIB with hood, soft case...

My bad...I was checking the price at B&H.....

Ah, yes, I see they have the Bower and the Vivitar (same lens, again) for $350. The Samyang, Vivitar, and Bower go for about $100 more than the Rokinon, Opteka, and Falcon, AFAIK. They are all the same lens. Of the less expensive ones, Rokinon sounds coolest, so I bought it

OTOH, this lens is easily worth $350, if you compare its price/performance to the Nikkor 85/1.4 and/or Zeiss 85/1.4.

Oct 30, 2009 at 02:06 PM

cogitech
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p.2 #16 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

This is currently the best deal going for an EOS mount version, since "cametaauctions" has none of the EOS mount Rokinons listed: http://cgi.ebay.com/Opteka-85mm-f-1-4-IF-Portrait-Lens-for-Canon-EOS-SLR-85_W0QQitemZ360201642986

Apparently it doesn't include the hood (which is sub-standard anyway). "Includes: Opteka 85mm f/1.4 Portrait Lens, Front & Rear Lens Caps, Lens Pouch, 1 Year Opteka Warranty."

You can always cover the label with black tape, if that's a concern. ("Opteka?!!!")

Oct 30, 2009 at 02:45 PM

Sirfishalot
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p.2 #17 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

Oh gee thanks a lot Paul, burn another hole in my pocket why don't ya

Very nice images from the Mrs

The bokeh on this lens looks very nice, almost Rokkor like. Dang, I already have three lenses in this focal range. Would you sell off a Rokkor 85/1.7 for this lens? Looks like it is quite the bargain. Is is slightly faster than the EF 85/1.7 too so maybe I should trade that one instead for AF.

JayT

Oct 30, 2009 at 03:37 PM

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p.2 #18 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

Sirfishalot wrote:
Would you sell off a Rokkor 85/1.7 for this lens?

I'm selling my SSC Aspherical, so selling the Rokkor would be a no-brainer. But my priorities have had a bit of a paradigm shift lately. My CV 125/2.5 is also gone, and I've "replaced" part of its functionality with a $60 lens.

Oct 30, 2009 at 03:52 PM

gasrocks
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p.2 #19 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

I sold the Rokkor 85/1.7 I had converted to EF mount and kept my Mamiya Sekor 85/1.7. Will have to do a side by side test of the Mamiya vs my Rokinon 85/1.4. While testing my Rok 85/1.4 (same as Opteka, Vivitar, etc.) and doing a series of exposures manually (disregarding the camera meter,) I found all images taken at f/1.4 were a bit darker than the others taken at f/2, f/2.8 etc. using comparble shutter speeds. Lead me to believe it may not be f/1.4, but I could be wrong. Will test it again.

Oct 30, 2009 at 04:08 PM

smithphyo
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p.2 #20 · Rokinon 85/1.4 Does Model Shoot

A nice portrait series. Very nice bokeh and contrast. Is the lens only Manual Focus?

Oct 30, 2009 at 05:29 PM

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