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What 12 mm lens for Sony A6000?

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KBTinto

KBTinto

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I am thinking of getting a wider angle prime lens that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I see Rokinon and Samyang which cost in the low US $300's, but I want to get folks' opinion first before making the choice. Any help would be appreciated.
 
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MedicineMan999
Between me and the better half we have the Touit 12mm, the Rok 12mm and the 10-18mm.

For sharpness to dollar ratio you cannot beat the Rok and as pointed out above at F8 for the most part all will be in focus.

The Touit, me thinking now why I bought it other than I always wanted one.

The 10-18 is precious. I've had it since my NEX-7 days, still use it on occasion on A7Rii.

If just starting out go with the Rokinon, probably will be all you ever need.
I have the Zeiss Touit 12mm, but I think I'd prefer a manual focus lens at 12mm. The Touit 12mm has fly by wire focus, which is hard to use and the automatic focus is too noisy for video.
 
It like you've read my mind. I have the same burgeoning thoughts regarding the touit after about a week with it so far.
 
I have the Touit 12mm that's nice and sharp all around but, at least in my case (and someone else's), the focus motor broke within a few months of using it and I had to send it in for repair.

I'm backpacking now so getting it back has been a huge pain, but they were quick with the repair and very helpful the whole way through.

If you've got a tight budget, the Rokinon/Samyang 12mm is the way to go.

The other good option if you've got some cash is the 10-18mm f/4 Sony zoom, which would provide you with stabilization and more than one focal length, but is pricy and won't be as sharp through the frame as the Touit or the Samyang.
 
KBTinto said:
I am thinking of getting a wider angle prime lens that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I see Rokinon and Samyang which cost in the low US $300's, but I want to get folks' opinion first before making the choice. Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
I have the Rokinon. I like it. I see no need for AF at 12mm. Set it to f8 and get about everything from 3ft to infinity in focus. So I question...why bother with AF at 12mm when the price is so high? The Rokinon is sharp.

9f5a4176257c4513a047fdfe9457d55a.jpg
 
KBTinto said:
I am thinking of getting a wider angle prime lens that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I see Rokinon and Samyang which cost in the low US $300's, but I want to get folks' opinion first before making the choice. Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
For me, the choice was between the Rok/Sam 12/2 and the Sony 10-18. But, the latter gets you back into arm/leg $$.

I chose the 10-18 for it's range of FLs, which I knew I would get use out of with my interest in landscape and architecture photography. It complements my 18-105 perfectly, making for a great 2-lens solution.

But, if I had more interest in astrophotography, I think I would have happily gone with the Rok/Sam 12/2, saving a lot of $$ in the process. I agree with the others who say autofocus and stabilization are overrated at this focal length. When it comes to astrophotography, they're a hindrance IMO.
 
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Samyang 12mm

19adb184293b45d59dab9f5360fccf05.jpg.png

00c85580b98a4b4c9c37251289107a3a.jpg.png
 
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KBTinto said:
I am thinking of getting a wider angle prime lens that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I see Rokinon and Samyang which cost in the low US $300's, but I want to get folks' opinion first before making the choice. Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Samyang = Rokinon and is an excellent value, at f/2.0.

I am still akin to the Touit 12 myself, even though it is at f/2.8.

MF or AF is a toss up. In some scenes it might matter, in many it will not.

Other choices are the E1018 and the CV10 or CV12, I use the CV10 myself.

If you are looking for good value, the Samyang/Rokinon 12 is still the best trade-off.

Don't be afraid of MF, stop down a tad if in doubt, (or always?), it will put everything into focus.

Fwiw, I took a lot of indoor shots with the CV10, recently, around f/7 mostly, and the DOF was NOT enough to get everything in focus, but this was on FF.
 
Love the first dog pic - you must have been pretty close!
 
I seriously wonder what searching the lens in question here on this site did not tell you already.

What is it you want to know that is not mentioned at least 80 times if you were to search? Just wondering ... You have seen the search button way on top of this site, right?
 
I had the 10-18/A6000 kit and enjoyed it. Sold both for the Voit 15mm E mount with the A7R2 and have enjoyed it, though it took 3 copies to get a "good one".

But the need to lighten the kit continues and low light night shooting is something I sometimes enjoy which means the 28f2 is added to the bag.

The Rokinon 12mm f2 could solve both problems if one can find the right combo of bodies . . .

Interesting choices for sure.

Jack

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Dr_Love said:
KBTinto said:
I am thinking of getting a wider angle prime lens that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I see Rokinon and Samyang which cost in the low US $300's, but I want to get folks' opinion first before making the choice. Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
I have the Rokinon. I like it. I see no need for AF at 12mm. Set it to f8 and get about everything from 3ft to infinity in focus. So I question...why bother with AF at 12mm when the price is so high? The Rokinon is sharp.

9f5a4176257c4513a047fdfe9457d55a.jpg
Click to expand...
Let us get the numbers right here, please. From DOF Mastere (google).



Any 12 mm lens on Next APC size sensor/camera: lens set to 3 feet at f/8 gives you a DOF from 1.5 feet through infinity.



Pesky numbers as usual. So the actual DOF is much larger than stated originally.
 
uhligfd said:
I seriously wonder what searching the lens in question here on this site did not tell you already.

What is it you want to know that is not mentioned at least 80 times if you were to search? Just wondering ... You have seen the search button way on top of this site, right?
Click to expand...
What is wrong with asking a question??

Maybe you are used to searching DP for what you want and you probably have more experience at least seeing from the number of posts you have posted. Or maybe you ask your questions elsewhere from DP but it doesn't make you the decider on what people should post here .... or do you think you are the smart decider?? And I couldn't care less .....
 
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alias3800 said:
I have the Touit 12mm that's nice and sharp all around but, at least in my case (and someone else's), the focus motor broke within a few months of using it and I had to send it in for repair.

I'm backpacking now so getting it back has been a huge pain, but they were quick with the repair and very helpful the whole way through.

If you've got a tight budget, the Rokinon/Samyang 12mm is the way to go.

The other good option if you've got some cash is the 10-18mm f/4 Sony zoom, which would provide you with stabilization and more than one focal length, but is pricy and won't be as sharp through the frame as the Touit or the Samyang.
Click to expand...
 
TJ61 said:
KBTinto said:
I am thinking of getting a wider angle prime lens that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I see Rokinon and Samyang which cost in the low US $300's, but I want to get folks' opinion first before making the choice. Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
For me, the choice was between the Rok/Sam 12/2 and the Sony 10-18. But, the latter gets you back into arm/leg $$.

I chose the 10-18 for it's range of FLs, which I knew I would get use out of with my interest in landscape and architecture photography. It complements my 18-105 perfectly, making for a great 2-lens solution.

But, if I had more interest in astrophotography, I think I would have happily gone with the Rok/Sam 12/2, saving a lot of $$ in the process. I agree with the others who say autofocus and stabilization are overrated at this focal length. When it comes to astrophotography, they're a hindrance IMO.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I briefly thought about the 10-18 which would go nicely with my 18-105 but it's just too much for my budget. I was thinking of using the 12 in situations where the 16-50 kit lens can't get the entire image in, like in some street shots. But since you mentioned astrophotography, why limit myself?

KB
 
Nice!
 
Between me and the better half we have the Touit 12mm, the Rok 12mm and the 10-18mm.

For sharpness to dollar ratio you cannot beat the Rok and as pointed out above at F8 for the most part all will be in focus.

The Touit, me thinking now why I bought it other than I always wanted one.

The 10-18 is precious. I've had it since my NEX-7 days, still use it on occasion on A7Rii.

If just starting out go with the Rokinon, probably will be all you ever need.
 
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