+1 But I think it actually 30cm. I read somewhere that the Samyang MFD is measured from the lens front element and not the sensor plane. The MFD sure feels longer than 1m, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's true.
RZetter wrote:
+1 But I think it actually 30cm. I read somewhere that the Samyang MFD is measured from the lens front element and not the sensor plane. The MFD sure feels longer than 1m, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's true.
Yes it`s 1m from front element - actually more than 15cm difference which is very high for portrait photography. I think Samyang is real f1.5. Samyang is best for it price but to be honest i prefer Zeiss(C/Y) 85/1.4 and Canon FD 85 1.2. These two are far better than Samyang in terms of bokeh, colours, sharpness(samyang is similar or better at mfd and f1.4) flare control(zeiss!) and bulid quality.
Piotr_P wrote:
Yes it`s 1m from front element - actually more than 15cm difference which is very high for portrait photography. I think Samyang is real f1.5. Samyang is best for it price but to be honest i prefer Zeiss(C/Y) 85/1.4 and Canon FD 85 1.2. These two are far better than Samyang in terms of bokeh, colours, sharpness(samyang is similar or better at mfd and f1.4) flare control(zeiss!) and bulid quality.
You must have different taste for bokeh than me if you think the Zeiss is better
Regarding the FD 85/1.2, I directly compared the two for bokeh, colours, sharpness, etc. I sold the FD (and the EF 85/1.8):
To say the the FD 85/1.2 is "far better" is hyperbole. If you prefer it, fine, but the Rokinon keeps up with it without a problem. If the images were not labelled, you could barely tell the difference (except that the Rokinon's bokeh is smoothest).
sebboh wrote:
where it counts for me (and many others interested in using it for portraits)! otherwise you might as well just get the c/y 85/2.8.
don`t know differences in bokeh between ssc and nfd(i got nfd)
and for me too; but it isn`t f1.2; at f2 is less sharp(i use f2 a lot); and mfd is mor than 15cm longer than planar which is not acceptable for me
btw - there are some problems with aperture shape with samyang -most of the copies isn`t perfect like other (zeiss mm or canon)
Piotr_P wrote:
don`t know differences in bokeh between ssc and nfd(i got nfd)
and for me too; but it isn`t f1.2; at f2 is less sharp(i use f2 a lot); and mfd is mor than 15cm longer than planar which is not acceptable for me
btw - there are some problems with aperture shape with samyang -most of the copies isn`t perfect like other (zeiss mm or canon)
is the fd noticeably sharper at f/2? i'm pretty sure the tests i've seen show the samyang/rokinon is still sharper than the planar at f/2 in the 1-2m focus range anyway.
f/1.2 would be nice but i think the added size makes the fd not worth it for me.
has anyone tried fiddling with the infinity adjust on the samyang? it might be worth giving up infinity to get an extra foot or so closer on the mfd. i guess one could just get the nikon version two adapters instead: one for accurate infinity stop and one adapter shimmed to be a short macro tube.
Wow, you guys have made a wonderful post, a lot of usefull information.
After reading all this I´m definitely going to buy a samyang or similar. It´s really cheap, and it can compete with some of the best lenses in this category, so it seems to be some kind of no-brainer. Thank you all for the information.
One note on the Nikkors, I'd never recommend selling the AF-D for the AI-S, the AF-D's simply a better lens all-round. I know of many shooters who upgraded to it even while shooting MF Nikon bodies. If I had the AF-D and was looking to replace it my choice would be either the Samyang or the 85/1.8 Pre-AI (which is by far my favourite of the Nikkor 85's). Both god for about the same price, the Samyang's a noted performer and the original Nikkor 85 is a gem with a very 'classic' rendering which can be had in low-contrast singlecoated or more modern NIC coated forms.
My Rokinon 85MM F1.4 in Nikon mount has a real 3D look to the images , and my 8MM Nikon extension tube, gets me where i want to be with flowers etc. Why pay more for maybe less?
Only one big minus of this lens is chromatic aberration, but it catching up with unigie bokeh and incredible smoothnes
