Samyang to show 10mm F2.8 wideangle prime for APS-C at Photokina

I own a Samyang 85/1.4 and its built like a tank. The throw is a good 150 degrees and its buttery smooth with nice dampening. It's a pleasure to use and produces some of the most amazing images. Focusing is a challenge <2.8 (as it is on any MF lens on a dSLR) but it is worth it. Either the 14mm is completely different or the reviewer was full of it because Samyang's have a definite reputation for having a user friendly throw and dampening.

I have found several other reviews of the 14mm and they praise the manual focusing "feel" and damping.
I am definitely keeping my eye on this lens and what people say about it. This would be 15mm on my APS digital . . . . what a ball !

Polarisers dont work all that well on super wide angle lenses. The polairisation effect varies greatly for different angles.

I have not seen any profiles that correct "moustache" distortion of Samyang 14mm lens. I do not think LR can even correct any complicated distortions.

custom profiles of lenses not already in the LR database can be created, and can correct for complex/moustache distortion.

I meaant "will adobe profile these lenses or nobody knows it ? are existing samyang lenses profiled ?

in my books my Tokina 11-16 is good enough and Samyang 10mm is not necessary. But good to have competition anyway.

In my book, of the samyang is half the price of tokina, it is necessary

Even the cheapest Pentax SLR has an interchangeable focus screen. You are right, some brands restrict them to more premium model cameras. A focusing screen good for manual focus will be darker for sure. However, most cameras have a feature called live view now which is even better for precise manual focusing if you aren't in a hurry.

The removal of interchangeable screens from many "pro" and "enthusiast" cameras was a step backwards by the big camera manufacturers - and not in the interest of photographers.

I've got a Sigma 14mm f2.8 HSM lens and use it on a D5100, it's not as wide as this baby but at 21mm FF equiv it's pretty wide.

To be honest being a bit of a 'wide boy' I find it's on my cam more that the AFS 35mm f1.8 and AFS 50mm f1.4. It's quite big but not as big as the ultra wide zooms that are available for my cam. I got it on eBay in mint condition for less than 300 of my English pounds.

I'm pleased with it but it would be nice to go wider still. Anyway for those interested I have a set using this lens on Flickr, the link is : http://www.flickr.com/photos/56897352@N02/sets/72157628370826967/

But, hey don't be too critical of my pics mind I'm purely amateur............ :)

Isn't the 8/16 zoom a fish-eye zoom? This new lens is rectilinear.

No, it is not a fish-eye zoom. There is some distortion but it is meant to be rectilinear. People saying that f4.5 isn't in the same world as 2.8 might want to wait and see how this lens performs. I have the 8mm Samyang and that lens needs to be stopped down to at least f5.6 for ideal sharpness (which is fine because it is a super wide lens.) Point is, maybe this lens will be perfectly sharp from 2.8 (or maybe it will need to be stopped down) but I can tell you that the outside of its size, the Sigma 8-16 is a very nice lens itself.

Next step, turn it into reality!!!

I'd buy it for about that price, especially if sharp at the corners with no vignetting.

Geee, I must be a lucky one, I thought I could use a Nikon version with a ten bucks adapter on my 4/3 and m43 bodies :)

Given that even the "dedicated" Samyang 4/3 - m34 optics have no electronics whatsoever...

"Now make a version for mirrorless!"

There are plenty of mirrorless or translucent mirror cameras out there with APS-C sensors that this lens will perfectly work with, so what are you even talking about, ginsbu?

Rokinon is the same company so yeah amazon search rokinon olympus enjoy

This lens is designed for DSLRs. A 10mm f/2.8 designed for mirrorless would be much smaller. Not so hard to understand…

@ ginsbu, nowhere does the press release talk about something like this lens was designed for DSLRs. They only talk about sensor size. Really.

In other words, this Samyang lens should fit a camera with APS-C sized sensor. Pls, try to understand it.

also if youre in europe you can buy their lenses under the brand walimex pro, there is a german shop/company that relables samyang lenses and sells them at walser-foto.de

I will get this in Nikon mount. It will fit my Fuji S5 that has a split fresnel focusing screen and I will then be able to use it on my NEX with adapter. And, it will be cheaper as the close rand 10-15 that Sony has issued. This little surplus from 10 to 15 is not important to me, i use the 15 Voigtlaender for that. Those Samyang lenses are top quality and razor sharp.

@ increments, you are shining today! You buy an AF lens -- and then you take courses in "How to Autofocus" with it? Wow, did not even know that. Clever lens this AF lens must be, lets others do the hard work of critical focusing.

@ FTW: Nikon F-mount is the way to go these days, I also feel, amazing that you can use this 10mm lens (with the various camera crop options engaged) on the brand new FF Nikon D600 for both photos and video.

I am not at all familiar with Fuji F5, does it take an F-mount lens w/o any lens adapter?

@Francis Carver (not quite sure why you're all upset with me) the OP was complaining about not being able to autofocus his camera. Insinuating the AF system was to blame. That's why I suggested learning how his AF system worked might be a simpler solution to his woes.

i dont understand the problems that some people have with modern dslrs and manual focusing, and why everyone wants a splitscreen back.

i mean i wanted it too, but honestly i own 7 primes, and only the 20 and the 50 are AF, i focus all other lenses just with the focus confirmation LED in the viewfinder. i mean what could be better than having a clear screen and a small green LED that shows you when its in focus ? ^^

i used splitscreens from 1988 to 2008 and i just cant understand what makes them better then a focus LED

please someone explane ?

Widest prime lens that's not a fisheye.

Doesn´t matter, Sigma is not a prime

Sure, but the 8-16 isn't a prime lens so it doesn't invalidate that statement.

Professional lenses do not have all that autofocus, anti-shake, servo motor garbage built into them.

Just ask the cinema folks -- like $30,000 Cooke prime lenses without AF, anti-shake, motor, nothing. Just metal and glass, no kidding about it, either.

JJJPhoto, Samyang is not for you, as they don't make the types of lenses that you need.

@ FTW: Right on, Brother!

Manual focusing is a split second job, your BRAIN sets the focus really, your fingers just execute the order in a flash.

Once they put decent computers into these cameras and lenses, they might be able to do a better job at AF. For starters, they should really read your brainwaves, since only you know what you want to be in perfect focus, right?

Also, if you go with a Sony camera and some others, the anti-shake is in the camera body, anyhow. Where it should be, instead of in the lens. So, let us say this 10mm Samyang on a Sony Alpha/NEX, would it still not be a stabilized lens if you wanted it to?

Guilty as charged - 10mm & HDR:

http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/1699028911/photos/2012683/loch-tummel-sunset

It's not quite as wide, but my widest lens is the 9-18mm for Four Thirds, and I've taken lots of "respectable-looking" shots at 9mm. It's a great focal length and a very versatile little lens.

linux99 must be a birdman, he probably only uses super-telephotos.

It's nice, but being able to mount a filter and size are also important. I can understand people preferring one over the other.

I don't need f2.8 as much as I want the ability to zoom and use filters. One has to make compromises and f3.5/4 is still quite bright.

@ tbkscl: An F4 lens is "quite bright" to you?

Heck, what exactly are you considering a dark lens, I wonder? One that can only open up to an F8 or F11?

Also, if you need the ability to zoom -- why are you wasting time here, looking at a single focal prime optic?

Just something to do, I suppose?

if f2.8 is bright, then so is f3.5. That's all I am saying. It's not even a full stop. If used the same shutter speeds, It wouldn't be so far off I couldn't fix it in post in 30 seconds.

If f2.8 is the brightest lens at that focal length, one stop down is still bright.

What a I doing here? Same thing as you, I suppose.

I must be a misfit. I adore f/1.4.

Even at high ISO's.

Easy: architectural interiors in available light. Museums, hotel atriums, etc.

I need it as wide as possible and as bright as possible, because I mainly use ultra wide for night sky.

DOF is irrelevent for me.

So just do not generalize your own interests to others.

Well, many people will see the justification, and that will probably improve sales. Most buyers of manual focus prime lenses are more attuned to quality and speed.

Because they cover the UWA end for APS-C cameras. These zooms are all decent quality and allow more flexibility and ease of use. Therefore for the Samyang to be a worthwhile alternative it must either outperform those lenses optically, or be noticeably cheaper. (Providing of course that size and weight isn't the only consideration.)

Do you know what you're talking about Francis Carver?

Pricing Example Amazon UK:

Sigma 10-20mm £326, Tokina 11-16mm £500, Canon 10-22mm £540, Tamron 10-24mm £350.

Samyang 14mm £330

Sometimes a MF-only dumb-mount 3rd party offering isn't quite the bargin you might think.

Re: AF and VR

You don't want them, that's OK. However lots of people may see their omission as a negative. (You can always turn them off.)

BTW I don't know how we've gone from me posting that I was interested in this lens to you somehow getting the impression I'm trashing it, then also acting like I'd insulted you in some way.

> Sigma 10-20mm £326, Tokina 11-16mm £500, Canon 10-22mm £540, Tamron 10-24mm £350.
> Samyang 14mm £330

The Samyan g is a FF lens. While this is maybe of no relevance to an APS-C user, it does explain some of the price. (Pentax's APS-C 14/2.8 is also more expensive.)

@JensR

Absolutely. Until the lens is released we don't know the price and image quality. (That's what prompted my OP wish list.)

If this lens provides a noticeable bump in image quality over the Tokina at a price that justifies giving up the zoom flexibility and AF, my camera bag will get a bit lighter.

oh come on you really compare this lens to a bunch of cheap 3rd party zoom lenses ? am i daydreaming ? ^^

so you wanna tell me that a 50 1.4 of any company is worse than a kit zoom that also has 50mm in its range and costs roughly the same?

probably you dont see the advantage of primes or never thought about that, but when a lens is designed for one specific focal lenght only, then theres no doubt that its has to be superiour to a zoom lens, unless its a VERY expensive one.

i shot all the lenses you mentioned above except the canon zoom, and i owned and used a few samyang lenses, and if this lens is anything near to the quality of the 85 1.4 for example then forget about the lenses you mentioned, even without any prime lens to compare them against, those lenses are crap

@inevitable crafts studio

You've missed my point.

Those zooms autofocus, and give you more freedom in terms of composition.

If Samyang gets it right we should see gains in terms of improved distortion, resolution, CA, etc.

The question is will it be enough of an improvement to merit the inconvenience? (Price will also affect that equation.)

Those lenses are certainly not garbage. They have limitations, but for most people they'll do the job.

I'm going to repeat this just so everyone's clear:

A Prime lens SHOULD be better than a zoom at their matched focal lengths, what we have to wait and see it by how much then decide what lens best fits your needs.

BTW using the 50mm prime as an example for prime superiority is really giving primes as big a helping hand as possible.

That's fine, each to his own.

I generally prefer primes because of the increased performance in small packages for reduced cost.

That said, for APS-C thus far, there hasn't been a prime that would fit the bill for me. I'm going to be looking at the reviews of this one very carefully!

Increments, you compared the price of the Samyang 14mm with the Canon zoom. Why not compare apples with apples and compare it to the Canon 14mm prime? With a list price of 2809.99 pounds. It makes 330 for the Samyang look pretty damn good.