Samyang 12mm F2 - Advice needed

pdelux wrote:

Lichtspiel wrote:

Goudmatt wrote:

thank, point taken, I have never used any filter.

I will make some research on polarizing filter. I understand most of the filters provide something that can anyway be adjusted in PP, except this one if I remember.

I would stay away from a Polarizer for a lens that wide. It will make your sky look uneven, fake, and just generally horrible.

Especially if you are shooting Raw I'd recommend to get a bit more familiar with PP options. There is nothing really wrong with the images, but lots can be improved by careful PP (can be easily overdone too). I don't think the dynamic range is that big, although if you exposure bracket you could get the shadows lifted better, but see Guy's edit - no real need for that.

For example.... for raw conversion, I use DxO. It has several options to lift shadows, Selective Tone, ClearView, SmartLighting, etc, for a little more pop. Same in Lightroom.

As if that is not enough, then you have the still free Nik Efex (Color Efex) where you can go hog-wild on the converted images.

Also, if you post these shots in the Retouching forum folks will be all over them and show you what's possible.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the lens. Some are more muted than others, but one isn't necessarily better than the other. Setting your cam to "vivid" and shooting Jpegs along with those Raws could be the simplest solution if you are not into PP.

You must use polarizers with more care than you would on not so wide lenses, this is true, but it doesnt make them irrelevant. Yes you can get uneven saturation/exposure if not used with care. But for water images it can clear up the water like nothing else

+1