Tri Tran wrote:
I think he might had a bad copy. This lense is amazing. My copy is sharper than Zeiss 85f1.4 from f1.4-f2.8
That's an understatement. I've had two Zeiss 85 f/1.4s (one AE, one MM), and while extremely good from f/2 and smaller, the Samyang (I have the Rokinon branded version) 85/1.4 absolutely SMOKES the Zeiss at f/1.4, and is still a little better at f/2. (The zeiss is better from f/2.8- f/8, but both are very good here).
Fred Relaix wrote:
I would rather say it is pretty good considering the cost. Photozone just reviewed it on the 5D2, and while the center is good, the borders really catch-up only by f/4. IMHO if you can live with f/1.8 the EF 85/1.8 is really much better (and has auto-focus).
I missed this the first time around, but I feel I have to say there is no comparison between the Samyang 85 and the EF 85/1.8, the Korean lens wins hands down. That being said, I am having a hard time deciding between my Samyang and my 85L II.
the fact that you're comparing about a $250 against a $200 speaks volume about this lense.
I highly recommend it if AF is not important to you. If it is then just get the 85f1.8 along with the Rokinon.
Greg Feldman wrote:
Their 85mm is astonishingly good. Much better wide open than I would expect if it cost twice the price.
the 85mm 1.8 is nothing close to twice the price and does about 2x as well
the 85 1.2 is quite a few times the price and does quite a few times better
at least if the tests i've seen are to be trusted
EDIT: although it does seem a lot of people in the thread are liking it, not sure what to believe, it would be rare that photozone would be that extremely far off
and i saw some elsewhere post some pretty nasty samples
how are using an FD lens? they won't focus past a few feet unless you use an adapter that uses glass (something that totally destroy the IQ of the lens being adapted)
Are you guys seriously considering samyang lens? It seems so difficult to use. It's manual focus, manual and manual everything. You have to focus first, then lock aperature, then meter. Here's the review for the 85mm Samyang and if the 14mm lens is the same, I would never consider it......
drive_75 wrote:
Are you guys seriously considering samyang lens? It seems so difficult to use. It's manual focus, manual and manual everything. You have to focus first, then lock aperature, then meter. Here's the review for the 85mm Samyang and if the 14mm lens is the same, I would never consider it......
I guess you are not aware that there is the existence of an alternate universe parallel to this one here where things seems so much alike and yet so different.
skibum5 wrote:
how are using an FD lens? they won't focus past a few feet unless you use an adapter that uses glass (something that totally destroy the IQ of the lens being adapted)
I converted it to EF mount, of course (just like my FD 24/2, FD 35/2, and FD 300 f4L). You should visit the Alt Forum once in a while.
I think it is obvious in the 100% crops I posted there that the Rokinon is easily just as sharp wide open as either of the Canon lenses, and has superior bokeh.
If you want to put your hands on your ears and scream, be my guest. Many others have decided to try one for themselves. They are the others in this thread who are telling you how amazing a lens it is, especially for the price. That's all I have to say about it.
drive_75 wrote:
Are you guys seriously considering samyang lens? It seems so difficult to use. It's manual focus, manual and manual everything. You have to focus first, then lock aperature, then meter. Here's the review for the 85mm Samyang and if the 14mm lens is the same, I would never consider it......
I've made some comparisons between my 85L and the Rokinon/Samyang 85/1.4. When comparing them side by side there's not much to praise on the 85L for the price. I liked rokinons build quality better, the image quality is as good, the manual focus ring is very nicely damped but it still manages to be quite light. The only cons about the rokinon might be the aperture ring from f/1.4 to f/2 being just a little too loose.
Regarding the comments about it being a 100% manual lens i wouldn't hesitate saying that the 85L is much more of a hassle in real world shooting. I'll definitely be checking the Samyang 14/2.8 out when it gets available here.
drive_75 wrote:
Are you guys seriously considering samyang lens? It seems so difficult to use. It's manual focus, manual and manual everything. You have to focus first, then lock aperature, then meter. Here's the review for the 85mm Samyang and if the 14mm lens is the same, I would never consider it......
cogitech wrote:
I (and many others) shoot this way 99% of the time. I wouldn't have it any other way.
I've been using my Nikon 50 f/1.4 Ai on my 5D almost exclusively.
The prospect of a < $400 14mm f/2.8 lens is mighty exciting to me.
I, personally, prefer MF nowadays, simply because the potential for good composition is so much higher. The big problem I have nowadays is that if I'm trying to expose properly for an object on the side of the frame, I may forget to point the center AF point at the subject and expose incorrectly. It has happened more than once.
chez wrote:
Tell me, when shooting the 85 1.2 do you trust your autofocus to get it right. Good luck with that if you do.
While I love my Rokinon, I will say that when I had the 85L (which I loved, but couldn't justify keeping when I went full frame since 85mm on full frame is a lesser used FL for me.), the autofocus was supremely accurate (if slow). Even at f/1.2, I VERY rarely missed shots. The Rokinon is better for me because of the price/performance ratio in a FL I use less than the 100mm range, but I miss way more shots with it than I ever did with the 85L.
