p.1 #1 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
Samyang expands their Sony full frame line-up with a new ultra-wide 18mm F/2.8. It's now available for pre-order at B&H Photo and Adorama for only $399
Special elements: 3 aspherical, 2 high refractive, 3 low dispersion
"An ultra compact lens weighs only 145g, with a wide field-of-view of 100˚ on full-frame. 8 out of the lens’s 9 glass elements are specialized, and a linear STM motor provides fast and precise autofocusing. Every unforgettable moment can be captured with exceptional quality. Broaden and deepen your photographic world with the AF 18mm F2.8 FE – an innovative wide-angle AF lens that offers new possibilities."
It’s a small lens with low weight and a 58mm filter thread. It’s about the same size as the Samyang 45/1.8. The filter size for the Zeiss Batis 18/2.8 is 77mm, for comparison.
p.1 #7 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
trogdon wrote:
$500 for a full frame 18mm f2.8 is pretty great. Even legacy 18mm’s will Run you at least that much and are most likely going to be worse.
This looks like the full frame version of their 12mm f2 that we’ve been waiting for. Kudos to Samyang for making this!
I didn't even think about it being a similar design to the 12/2 for APS-C. If it's optically as good as the 12/2, it'll be a fantastic little lens well worth its price. That lens isn't perfect, but it is very good, and truly excellent given its price.
p.1 #8 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
For the Guy that has nothing wider in AF than their 24mm GM lens. Wait that’s me
Seriously you could have a really small kit in 2.8 with 18,24,35 . Plus there 45
It’s funny I bought the Batis 18 for a few jobs . Might be nice to have at 500 bucks
Aug 29, 2019 at 08:41 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #9 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
Looks like a nice little option. 18mm has been kind of forgotten. Only the Batis 18 until now, and this is much smaller. For someone who just wants an AF 18 for very occasional use, this will be really nice. For me, I would love a Voigtlander 18 f/3.5, but I kind of doubt that is going to happen.
p.1 #10 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
The small Samyang 18/2.8 paired with a A6000 series body, could be an alternative to the Ricoh GR (28mm equiv.) for street photography although the latter still wins in pocketability.
p.1 #11 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
Just to see how small the Samyang 18/2.8 FE is, the Zeiss ZM 18/4 had a 58mm filter size (same), and the old Nikon AF 20/2.8D had a 62mm filter size. I’d call both of these lenses small and even pocketable.
Let’s see if the Samyang delivers optically, even if it needs stopping down a little.
p.1 #12 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
Fred Miranda wrote:
The small Samyang 18/2.8 paired with a A6000 series body, could be an alternative to the Ricoh GR (28mm equiv.) for street photography although the latter still wins in pocketability.
The APS-C format masks the full frame corners, so Samyang may have created a good alternative for APS-C shooters looking for an alternative equivalent to 28mm on full frame. Its’ size definitely will work well on APS-C bodies.
p.1 #13 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
Found a set of photos at Flickr. As someone who owns and loves the Batis 18mm, I found the images disappointing. Every single image I take with the Batis makes me go wow. Nothing I have seen from the Samyang 18mm had that effect on me.
p.1 #14 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
Great approach (small, light, AF, with asph and ED elements, very reasonably priced), and probably great optically -- but a little too late.
Tamron 17-28 /2.8 makes this thing redundant.
p.1 #15 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
Yeah, I don't see this as "blowing away" the Batis—even by looking at the calculated MTF chart—but these images look decent and if the price drops like other Samyang lenses this could be a really nice option for people like me who want the option but don't shoot enough at that focal length to warrant the steep Batis price.
Plus I was always disappointed by the size of the Batis 18mm.
p.1 #16 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
I think we maybe overlooking a few things. It's a 900 difference to the Batis 18 it's far smaller and lighter too. But the 17-28 did not make this redundant either. On this forum alone there are a ton of 24GM shooters that are not giving that up either for a 17-28. No chance in hell I would myself but sometimes we want really small and 18 may not warrant 1400 dollars for a 18 which is little used. Let's face it 1400 buys me a Sigma 35 1.2 which I would use far more than a 18. So maybe having a cheap 500 dollar and price shrinking 18 just maybe a popular item
It fits in the corner of our bags
Not sure we should just blow it off. I see a need
I have a CV 12,21 and a Sony 24 aF lens but I don't have wider than 24 and no zooms are not the answer for me.
p.1 #18 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
realVivek wrote:
As with their every offering, it is optimistically over priced. It will drop by a hundred in a month or so.
Also, one have to factor in their lens dock that is sold separately. It is essential to take in their myriad of FW updates designed to sell the dock.
good and bad about price tanking...... bought and sold used items with little money put out, and most recovered when I sold.
the dock only cost me $60, so thankfully, it's not too expensive, and when you have multiple lenses, you average it out, and all is good. Totally on point on the overprice, these samyangs fall through the roof, and I can make use of the great value. At one point, 18mm f2.8 was high priority for me, less these days. I cant stand the batis design, so never bothered. This lens looks nice........... for a few hundred off
p.1 #20 · Samyang AF 18/2.8 FE officially announced
Guy: Didn't you state on another post a few months back that you had just bought the Batis 18mm? Did you already sell it? What did you think of the performance of the Batis?
GMPhotography wrote:
I may buy it. I have the Rokinon 85 1.4 and the Dock so for my AF kit I can be 18,24, blank here, 85, 135
Ill wait awhile too. Need to fill in that blank first
