Rokinon/Samyang 85mm f1.4 for Samsung nx300

SpacemanUA wrote:

JQuonDo wrote:

Are there any benefits of going with modern lenses over optical, outside of Image stabilization and auto focus? Prices on the legacy lenses seem very affordable, but am I giving anything up going legacy versus modern.

The only reason to buy old manual lens is if you dont have any possibility to get modern native lens. New lenses are just way ahead.

1. Autofocus. Its just so nice to have AF in lens that it beats every other argument.

2. Eletronic aperture. Correct metering. And you can look what aperture value was on every shot. You cant do that with manual lens obviously.

3. Optical quality. There are very few old lenses that can be on par with modern ones. And I bet there are no old lenses that can tie with new mirrorless optics. Resolution -> sharpness, CAs, distortion (and its auto-correction) etc. Modern is modern.

4. Size and weight. You just cant find another 30/2 with same quality and size as Samsung's. And all that for 200$ only.

Legacy lenses are tempting, but you will end with native lenses anyway. So I recommend you to not waste your time. Samsung's lenses are so cheap that there is no reason to look at old optics.

I have to disagree with you on point 3. In the old days photography is a very expensive hobby, and therefore manufacturer often do not have cost saving in mind they tend to use high quality material for the glass, what is lacking in the old days is computer design and the latest coating technology. But IMO, the glass quality can sometimes made up for it. Modern lens often are design with costing saving in mind and try to balance between quality and cost. Also, in the past there is less restriction in use of material in glass, things that improve optical quality like lead, various rare earth or radioactive material can sometimes be found in legacy lens. Modern lens often plastic lens inside, if you think about the difference in optical quality for plastic lens and glass lens (or even crystal), then you know what I mean.

I am not saying old lens are always better, but some have a unique optical quality that is difficult to be found in lower cost modern lens. And the cost of a modern lens with good optical quality, like the NX 85/f1.4, is very expensive.