Value wide angle prime: Rokinon 12mm - Any alternatives?

Hi everyone,

it has now been a bit over a year since I returned to digital with an X-E2, a 27/2.8 and later a 18/2.0.
After the release of the 23/2.0 WR, I could only fight off my GAS for so long until I caved.

Now I am extremely pleased with the 23mm's performance, and happy to have a 35mm equivalent.

However, 27/2.8 and 18/2.0 see very little use now. Both are too close to the 23mm and will have to go. I have adapted Olympus OM glass between 24mm and 135mm, however nothing wider than that.

Which leads me to my "problem": What to replace the 18mm with?

• I have considered adapted manual lenses, but anything shorter than, say, 18mm vintage glass is often either a fisheye and/or expensive due to it being an ultra wide lens on FF.
• Obviously, there are 16/1.4 and 14/2.8, but wide angle photography isn't my main focus and I am a pure hobbyist, so at 900-1000 EUR they sit well above what I am willing to spend. (This also eliminates the Zeiss Touit 12/2.8)
• Which leaves the Rokinon/Samyang/Walimex 12/2.0 as the hottest contender. Reviews I found were very positive: It's sharp, it's small, it's light and it's very affordable.

So is the Rokinon 12mm as much an uncontested winner as it appears to me?

Thanks for your input!

F

PS: I have heard rumours about a remake of the 18mm being in the works at Fuji. But even if and when that arrives, it will be rather close to the 23mm.

In my recent thread, the Rokinon 12 2.0 is also discussed:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4174979

I found a newlike for 290 euro on the german Amazon. Seems hard to beat, looking at the alternatives at around 12mm FL.

Nokinon/Samyang/Walimex/whatever other branding it may sell also have 10mm and 8mm options.

I do agree that the 18mm FL seems pretty close to the 23mm, the exact reason I also went for something significantly wider.

Re. the 27 2.8: it is a convenient lens for a more stealthy and/or pocketable setup. For this reason, it is a keeper for me. And it's resale value (at least here) is not impressive. But for me, it complements the quite large (and expensive) 23 1.4. Maybe it is less of a consideration to you.

Sjak wrote:

In my recent thread, the Rokinon 12 2.0 is also discussed:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4174979

I found a newlike for 290 euro on the german Amazon. Seems hard to beat, looking at the alternatives at around 12mm FL.

Nokinon/Samyang/Walimex/whatever other branding it may sell also have 10mm and 8mm options.

I do agree that the 18mm FL seems pretty close to the 23mm, the exact reason I also went for something significantly wider.

Re. the 27 2.8: it is a convenient lens for a more stealthy and/or pocketable setup. For this reason, it is a keeper for me. And it's resale value (at least here) is not impressive. But for me, it complements the quite large (and expensive) 23 1.4. Maybe it is less of a consideration to you.

Thanks for pointing me to your thread, I will have a read through that.

You also raise some very familiar points indeed. I would be surprised if I missed a blatantly obvious alternative to the 12mm.

As for the 27/2.8, it is a fine lens and indeed very compact. However, I don't find myself using it at all, since i got the 23mm. I am not ashamed to admit that when I need something pocketable, in many circumstances my phone will do (with all its obvious shortcomings). And if I have some carrying capacity, I will usually be able to accomodate the X-E2 w/ 23mm.

Hi,

Yes, I suspect that when you factor in price, the Samyang 12/2 is a winner.  I wouldn't adapt UWA FF lenses.  Another contended might be to buy a used Fuji 14mm or 16mm to lower the impact on the budget.

Quite apart from price, may I suggest being very careful about choosing your FL.  There is a significant difference between each of the 12, 14, 16 & 18mm FOVs.  I wouldn't buy the 12mm on the grounds of price unless you know you like that FOV.  It's extremely wide.  I actually sold my 14mm and bought the 16mm because of exactly that problem.  Ie,  the 14mm was just that bit too wide for my preferences.   (That's most of the time.   I do miss it occasionally, but wasn't prepared to carry both all the time).  I find the 16mm a sufficient step wider from the 23/1.4 to be useful.  (NB The 23/2 is wider than the 23/1.4 - all the side by side posts indicate that it has a wider FOV - may be more like a 21mm lens... which might explain its closeness to your 18mm.)

Regards, Rod

Unless you need that extra 2mm, another option is to wait for one of Fuji's lens sales where the XF14 is nicely discounted.

Rod McD wrote:

Quite apart from price, may I suggest being very careful about choosing your FL. There is a significant difference between each of the 12, 14, 16 & 18mm FOVs. I wouldn't buy the 12mm on the grounds of price unless you know you like that FOV. It's extremely wide. I actually sold my 14mm and bought the 16mm because of exactly that problem. (NB The 23/2 is wider than the 23/1.4 - all the side by side posts indicate that it has a wider FOV - may be more like a 21mm lens... which might explain its closeness to your 18mm.)

Ha! Very interesting note on the 23mm's capture angle. I would've never considered it.

As for the focal length, a very valid point indeed. The wider, the more critical will be to nail the horizon and vertical lines etc. I do wonder if a used 14mm would be an alternative.

To me the Rokinon 12 is a no-brainer. Good IQ, small, cheap. Great for astro.