Help with night sky lens choice

I'm thinking about getting a lens to use on my 5D mkiii mostly for night sky photos (Milky Way, Aurora Borealis, etc.). I can't afford a Nikon 14-24 f2.8 and would really prefer to keep my cost to below $500 CDN.

I've narrowed my search down to the Bower/Samyang/Rokinon family of lens from B&H as follows:

Bower 14mm T3.1 Super Wide-Angle Cine Lens For Canon EF $299 US

Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC Lens For Canon EF $325 US

Rokinon 14mm T3.1 Cine ED AS IF UMC Lens for Canon $325 US

Rokinon 24mm T1.5 Cine for Canon $400 CDN - is USED and I would and have to risk doing an internet purchase with seller (lens could have flaws or even worse he could just keep money and ship me nothing!)

US to Canadian dollar exchange range using MasterCard means adding about 35% so the Bower option is definitely the cheapest however I have the following concerns:

• BHPhoto website (and others) show it with a lighter weight (544g vs 620g for Rokinons). There are also a few other minor spec differences. So is the lens really the same as the Rokinon equivalent model except in name? The spec difference gives me doubts.
• If I go with one of the Cine models will I find it harder to sell (if I decided to one day). It would seem the Cine is more versatile but perhaps Joe consumer things T3.1 is slower than F2.8 or that because it is designed for video it can't do as good of job at stills?
• Would I find the clickless aperture easily bumped? Remember I'm going to use it mostly for night photography so working in dark and not as easy to spot if setting gets bumped (however because I will be using wide open a simply twist of aperture ring to confirm is at end of travel is all that I should need to do to verify)

So can anyone explain why the Bower specs are slightly different? I do very little video so don't need Cine version. Having said that is there any reason to choose or avoid a Cine version given my needs?

FYI This lens will see limited use so I would have preferred to pick up a used one locally (likely for below $400 CDN) but nobody ever seems to have one for sale in Saskatchewan. :-(

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

As for the lenses, I agree that it is really confusing with all of the models that 14mm lens is offered. One thing I can say though, is that you might need to go through a few copies before finding one that is good. Some may be decentered, some may be softer wide open, and some may not even focus to infinity. It would be wise to purchase the lens from a seller in your country that would make it easier to send back bad copies. Even if it costs more, you might be saving money if the first copy is a dud.

I have a Samyang 14 and a Bower 14 F2.8 ( one for Canon and one for Nikon), tey are really identical lens other than the mount, and I have friends also own Rokinion, they are really all the same just purchased from different vendor, may be it's some documentation error listed on the website or something that cause the confusion?

The Samyang 14 (or whatever other brand name it was listed under) is really a sharp lens from edge to edge, super low coma abberation when com[are to anything else in the market, I also have a 14-24 but I have no issue shooting both side by side I won't be able to tell tat easily one if from a 'cheap lens".

Another good option is the newly announced ( just today) Sigma 20mm F1.4, it sounds like a killer astro lens, imagine you can shoot F1.4 instead of F2.8, with edge to edge sharpness of the Sigma Art lens with super low coma, Sigma actually commercialized it as a "designed to minimize Coma" that's exactly the problem of all those 4 or 5 times more expensive Canon Nikon fast lenses can't do, I have both Canon and Nikon version of the 24 1.4 and both are horrible in this department, so if the Sigma actually deliver what they claimed, this can be a killer lens, I know 20mm is not that hot compare to 14mm when it comes to milkyway, I use my 14mm Samyang a lot more than my 20 1.8G or 21 Zeiss, but it's another option we have now.

Yes this is another concern with buying from US as returns might be a bit complicated. I have read several reviews where users have received lens with decentered element(s). :-(

Unfortunately to buy in Canada is about $550 to 575 CDN versus about $450 CDN if I order from B&H. That probably pays for about 3 or 4 return shipments! Its too bad B&H couldn't check it out before shipping it as this might save us both some time and money (if I have to return it will be to get a replacement).

I have not read about inability to focus to infinity but have read that some don't have their focus settings properly aligned to the markings on the lens. There are a couple of videos out their showing how to adjust (I'd wait until after warranty expires) or I'd simply make a small mark where infinity really is on the scale and live with it provided I got a good, sharp, non-decentered copy. Naturally if it can't focus to infinity is useless and back it goes.

Thanks for the warning!

Dan_168 said:

I have a Samyang 14 and a Bower 14 F2.8 ( one for Canon and one for Nikon), tey are really identical lens other than the mount, and I have friends also own Rokinion, they are really all the same just purchased from different vendor, may be it's some documentation error listed on the website or something that cause the confusion?

Click to expand...

That is what I am hoping but it would be nice if somebody who has the Bower 14mm T3.1 Cine for Canon could confirm it weighs around 620g! That would prove the specs are wacked and put my mind at ease.

Dan_168 said:

The Samyang 14 (or whatever other brand name it was listed under) is really a sharp lens from edge to edge, super low coma abberation when com[are to anything else in the market, I also have a 14-24 but I have no issue shooting both side by side I won't be able to tell tat easily one if from a 'cheap lens".

Another good option is the newly announced ( just today) Sigma 20mm F1.4, it sounds like a killer astro lens, imagine you can shoot F1.4 instead of F2.8, with edge to edge sharpness of the Sigma Art lens with super low coma, Sigma actually commercialized it as a "designed to minimize Coma" that's exactly the problem of all those 4 or 5 times more expensive Canon Nikon fast lenses can't do, I have both Canon and Nikon version of the 24 1.4 and both are horrible in this department, so if the Sigma actually deliver what they claimed, this can be a killer lens, I know 20mm is not that hot compare to 14mm when it comes to milkyway, I use my 14mm Samyang a lot more than my 20 1.8G or 21 Zeiss, but it's another option we have now.

Click to expand...

I did notice the announcement and was excited until I saw the weight, size and price! No doubt it will be a nice lens but I'm not sure I can justify it for my needs. I would get more use from a 16-35 F4 IS if I was going to spend around the $1K range but then I'd still want a better lens for night sky photography!

riderfanreturns said:

I did notice the announcement and was excited until I saw the weight, size and price! No doubt it will be a nice lens but I'm not sure I can justify it for my needs. I would get more use from a 16-35 F4 IS if I was going to spend around the $1K range but then I'd still want a better lens for night sky photography!

Click to expand...

I think the Samyang really is your best bet from the way you described your requirement, I have read those potential issues you talked about, but I have also know so many happy owners of the lens doesn't come out and scream I have a good copy, just like Sigma, I would think there is no such thing call working copy by the tone from the internet forum if i based on what I read here, I would think no Sigma can actually focus, LOL, and in fact both of Sigma 35 Art focus perfectly on 5 of my camera bodies, what I am trying to say is you really have to just go buy it and play with it, it may not be as bad as you heard from the forum, you simply won't find a Canon Nikon equivalent lens at this price point with such quality.

riderfanreturns said:

Dan_168 said:

I have a Samyang 14 and a Bower 14 F2.8 ( one for Canon and one for Nikon), tey are really identical lens other than the mount, and I have friends also own Rokinion, they are really all the same just purchased from different vendor, may be it's some documentation error listed on the website or something that cause the confusion?

Click to expand...

That is what I am hoping but it would be nice if somebody who has the Bower 14mm T3.1 Cine for Canon could confirm it weighs around 620g! That would prove the specs are wacked and put my mind at ease.

Click to expand...

according to samyang it is 620g each mount different weight.

riderfanreturns said:

riderfanreturns said:

The Samyang 14 (or whatever other brand name it was listed under) is really a sharp lens from edge to edge, super low coma abberation when com[are to anything else in the market, I also have a 14-24 but I have no issue shooting both side by side I won't be able to tell tat easily one if from a 'cheap lens".

Another good option is the newly announced ( just today) Sigma 20mm F1.4, it sounds like a killer astro lens, imagine you can shoot F1.4 instead of F2.8, with edge to edge sharpness of the Sigma Art lens with super low coma, Sigma actually commercialized it as a "designed to minimize Coma" that's exactly the problem of all those 4 or 5 times more expensive Canon Nikon fast lenses can't do, I have both Canon and Nikon version of the 24 1.4 and both are horrible in this department, so if the Sigma actually deliver what they claimed, this can be a killer lens, I know 20mm is not that hot compare to 14mm when it comes to milkyway, I use my 14mm Samyang a lot more than my 20 1.8G or 21 Zeiss, but it's another option we have now.

Click to expand...

I did notice the announcement and was excited until I saw the weight, size and price! No doubt it will be a nice lens but I'm not sure I can justify it for my needs. I would get more use from a 16-35 F4 IS if I was going to spend around the $1K range but then I'd still want a better lens for night sky photography!

Click to expand...

I have the roki 14 2.8, and love it.

You will want to pre-focus on stars, using liveview, *after* the cam and lens has cooled to ambient, esp. if it's really cold outside. Focus changes from summer to winter.

You should compare frame center and edges, to get focus balanced for the whole frame.

I use painters (blue) tape to lock focus after I have nailed it, just in case.

I have the Rokinon 14 f/2.8 and 24 f/1.4. The 14 does great at astrophotography wide open. The 24, on the other hand, has been rubbish at 1.4, OK at 2, and pretty good at 2.8. I may have a bad copy. Got it in November so I don't know if it's too late to get it fixed or replaced.

I think I may well sell the 24 and get the new Sigma 20 depending on reviews.

Wow great tips, thanks!

Okay fourth option is now gone and I'm ruling out the Rokinon Cine version so down to either Bower Cine version or Rokinon stills version.

It looks like the Cine version should weigh about 70g more than the stills version (620 versus 550) based on all info I could find (except what B&H is showing on the Bower Cine which is very likely an error).

I'd like to save the few extra dollars (close to $40 CDN after exchange, taxes etc.) but still have some hesitation as follows:

- 70g lighter is always nice (I prefer smaller and lighter)

- I've seen videos on how to roll back rubber focus band on stills version to adjust infinity position but don't know if this can be done with geared focus ring on the Cine version (if focus markings happened to be out of wack)

- the de-clicked aperture may or may not be annoying (hard to say until I can use for a few outings)

- Rokinon might have better brand recognition in Canada (good for resale)

Any final thoughts before I place my order?

Decided to go with the Samyang 14mm non-cine model as was 6 dollars cheaper (works out to about $10 CDN).

Will post back on whether I get a good copy on first try.

Thanks for your help.