DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Samsung 45mm vs Rokinon 85mm?

Started Apr 20, 2015 | Questions thread
OP dgrogers Veteran Member • Posts: 7,243
Re: Samsung 45mm vs Rokinon 85mm?

causey wrote:

I can't make 'absolute' recommendations, but I can tell you what I'd do if I were you.

The 85mm is a bokeh/ effect lens. It isn't a street/ action lens. You can use it for portraits, landscapes, flowers, etc. Much nicer isolation and bokeh than the 45mm.

I hear the 45mm has fast AF: it's a much more versatile lens than the 85mm. Good for portraits, landscapes, streets... Still, for street photo, it isn't the best. If you want a good AF lens for streets and everyday use, the 30mm is the way to go. 45mm will be a bit too narrow in many circumstances, and for portraits 85mm is nicer than 45mm.

Besides, there are countless legacy fifty lenses with great bokeh, which you can use with a cheap adapter. I recommend Pentax M 50mm 1.7 (f1.4 is better, but more expensive), Chinon 50mm 1.8, Sears/ Ricoh 50mm 1.7. There are lots and lots of nice and cheap 50mm in m42 mount--but generally heavier than the ones in Pentax mount.

In fact, this is what I have: the 30mm/2, the Rokinon 85mm/1.4, and a Mamiya/Sekor (m42) 55mm/1.8.

Thanks.  It seems the the 45mm is a great overall lens that doesn't quite excel at any one thing but is competent in many areas whereas the 85mm Rokinon excels at one thing but isn't very useful at others.

Fair generalization?

 dgrogers's gear list:dgrogers's gear list
Olympus E-1 Samsung NX20 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Olympus E-M1 III Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4-5.6 R +4 more
Post (hide subjects) Posted by
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum PPrevious NNext WNext unread UUpvote SSubscribe RReply QQuote BBookmark MMy threads
Color scheme? Blue / Yellow