Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC

[MJP]

Bargain lens of the Century. Available in Canon EF, Four Thirds, Nikon F, Pentax K, Samsung NX, Sony A and Sony E mount. It's a full frame lens too. Manual focus only.

http://www.samyang.co.uk/index.php/dslr-lenses/samyang-14mm

Picked one up a couple of days ago for a UWA option on the A7r. Got it in Pentax K mount and use a Rayqual Pentax K to Sony E-mount adapter.

Cost: £275, new, delivered, from a reputable UK dealer (SRS Microsystems).

I've only got test shots so far to check this copy isn't decentered (many copies are, so check carefully if you buy one and keep returning until you get a good copy). Mine isn't. In fact it's razor sharp in the corners. Rare I get such luck.

It was never that popular before because of the strange moustache distortion. However, you can now download two lens profiles using the Adobe lens profile downloader. It's under Nikon and Canon, have to search about for it in there. I've tried it and they work perfectly with minimal frame loss.

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=5492

I'll post up some proper shots soon, but in the meantime have a look at these Flickr pages . . .

https://www.flickr.com/groups/14

https://www.flickr.com/search?sort=relevance&text=samyang%2014mm%20a7r

I can see why some people report this lens as being sharper than the Nikkor 14-24/2.8 at 14mm. It is quite remarkable and not just for the price. It's also not big and heavy, although the front element protudes a bit. Build quality feels like a thousand quid plus lens, mostly metal, no rattles, very smooth and consistent focus ring, aperture clicks are quality.

Highly recommended.

EDIT: You can also get a Samyang filter holder for this lens, for around thirty quid!!!

http://samyang-europe.com/index.php/new-products/samyang-filter-holder-sfh-14

Edited August 17, 2014 by MJP

[MJP]

Okay, boring kitchen image . . .

. . . and bottom right hand corner crop . . .

[fimgirl]

Looks identical to the Panasonic 7-14 for m4/3rds. Likewise crazy sharp and crazy wide. You have to take care not to include your feet in a shot!

[MJP]

Looks identical to the Panasonic 7-14 for m4/3rds. Likewise crazy sharp and crazy wide. You have to take care not to include your feet in a shot!

Crazy cheap!

My Sigma 8-16 (APS-C only from 14 to 8mm) is also bonkers sharp.

These are physics defying optics.

[MJP]

Flare resistence test . . . impressive for a UWA . . .

[FracturedRabbit]

The Panasonic 7-14mm handles flare pretty well too; provided you use it with a Panasonic. Put it on my Olympus when I switched and it produced disgusting purple blotches at the slightest hint of the sun. Sold it; maybe the Samyang could be a replacement.

[FracturedRabbit]

The Panasonic 7-14mm handles flare pretty well too; provided you use it with a Panasonic. Put it on my Olympus when I switched and it produced disgusting purple blotches at the slightest hint of the sun. Sold it; maybe the Samyang could be a replacement.

[MJP]

The Panasonic 7-14mm handles flare pretty well too; provided you use it with a Panasonic. Put it on my Olympus when I switched and it produced disgusting purple blotches at the slightest hint of the sun. Sold it; maybe the Samyang could be a replacement.

Honestly, I'm blown away by this sub-£300 thing on the A7r.

Another option could be the Sigma 8-16mm adapted to M4/3'rds.

Here's the Siggy 8-16 on the K-3 (not HDR this one) . . .

I can't remember how bad the Siggy's flare is though, will test.

Rabbit, get the Samyang from a shop you can keep taking it back to for replacement. There's a lot of decentered copies coming off the line.

Edited August 17, 2014 by MJP

[sunshine51]

MJP...

The Samyang 14mm has caught my eye on more than a few occasions plus I have

heard from a couple owners of them that you cannot beat em for the quality/price.

The decentre thing seems to be quite random and it's great you picked up a good

one straight away. I have Niks 14-24 and use it sparingly...read once in a long while

mainly due to the fact one cannot readily protect the objective element from nasties.

It's awfully difficult to even use a matte box for a jury rig job due to vignetting.

Thanks for this info M...perhaps, just perhaps...one may be in me future. Can't

beat the price...and the sharpness. The heck with it only being MF....makes no

diff to me.

[MJP]

Sunshine,

Look at the Samyang 14/3.1 cine lens.

[sunshine51]

^^^ I have!

[MJP]

^^^ I have!

Cheap innit? All set up for follow focus too!

[sunshine51]

Cheap yup...but if also wanna use for stills that notchless

aperture ring may give some folks a surprise!

[MJP]

Cheap yup...but if also wanna use for stills that notchless

aperture ring may give some folks a surprise!

Good set up would be an A7s plus 4k recorder plus Samyang 14mm cine plus cheapo follow through shoulder rig.

[MJP]

Cheap yup...but if also wanna use for stills that notchless

aperture ring may give some folks a surprise!

Problem for video and the 14/2.8 is moustache distortion. Don't know if the 14/3.1 has this issue.

[rhythmworx]

Get it inside your washing machine MJ and show us the insides.

[MJP]

Get it inside your washing machine MJ and show us the insides.

I need to do a days shooting with the new gear. Pentax 31 Limited is having a ground up rebuild this week and should be back by Friday so perhaps this Sunday if the weather holds. Edited August 19, 2014 by MJP

[kruell]

Very good the lens, for example this photo (river, temperature -30C)

Edited October 13, 2014 by kruell