Samyang /Rokinon AF 12mm f2 Lens

My new Rokinon AF 12/2 X lens just arrived, so I took it on a short walk in a local state forest with my X-T2. The Forest photos are sooc jpegs taken at f2 and using theJamieChanceTravels Forest Film Recipe.

This is an autofocus, non-weather resistant lens that comes with front and rear caps, a tulip hood, and a semi-hard zippered storage case. The body has a metal mount and a large well finished rubber focus ring, but everything else, including the hood, is well finished plastic. Also, unlike the older Samyang/Rokinon manual focus 12mm f2 lens, there is no aperture ring and the distance scale has also been removed. While Samyang is still using plastic bodies and all of the markings on the lens are still printed and not engraved, the finish quality is a major step up from my old manual Rokinon 12mm f2 lens. The lens takes 62mm filters. Samyang makes the lenses in their Korean factory and they are sold under both Samyang and Rokinon brand names. My lens is branded as Rokinon on the body, front cap, and box,  plus the tagline "Technology by Samyang Optics" is on the lens and box.

I use a single centered AF point on my X-T2 and the autofocus speed and reliability seemed the same as my Fuji f2 lenses. Also, while I will need to get used to it, the lack of an aperture ring was not a problem as the front dial on my X-T2 quickly sets the aperture.

It looks well made and compact, too bad about the missing aperture ring though. It would be nice to see some full-size examples to get a better idea about the image quality.

I was incorrect about the weather sealing, The AF 12mm f2 is weather sealed. Also, Rokinon states on their website that all markings are laser etched, not just printed like their old lenses.

I also posted a review on the Facebook X-T group and one member replied saying the startup on his X-T3 was very slow with this lens on it. So, out of curiosity I did a quick test of the startup time on both my X-T2 and X-E4 between the Rokinon AF 12mm f2 and my Fuji XF 50mm f2 R WR. On the X-T2, startup with the Fuji lens is about a half second faster and on the X-E4, startup with the Fuji lens is instantaneous and maybe a quarter of a second slower with the Rokinon.

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

It looks well made and compact, too bad about the missing aperture ring though. It would be nice to see some full-size examples to get a better idea about the image quality.

I think Samyang is copying Samsung. No aperture ring and they just have to change the mount to provide the same lens for different APS-C and MFT brands.

The jpegs uploaded were full size. I have no idea what DPR does after that but if you click in the image, it opens up a gallery where you can supposed see the image at 100% plus use zoom and loop tools.

bs1946 wrote:

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

It looks well made and compact, too bad about the missing aperture ring though. It would be nice to see some full-size examples to get a better idea about the image quality.

I think Samyang is copying Samsung. No aperture ring and they just have to change the mount to provide the same lens for different APS-C and MFT brands.

The jpegs uploaded were full size. I have no idea what DPR does after that but if you click in the image, it opens up a gallery where you can supposed see the image at 100% plus use zoom and loop tools.

Nope, they are all 1280 pixels on the long side, not the 6000 a full size image would be.

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

It looks well made and compact, too bad about the missing aperture ring though. It would be nice to see some full-size examples to get a better idea about the image quality.

This is the same thing as the new Samsung lenses, no aperture ring, so all Samyang and Samsung have to change is the mount for non-Fuji APS-C and MFT cameras to use the same lens.

The examples I uploaded were full sized jpegs and if you click on one, it brings you into the gallery where supposedly, you can see the image at 100% plus use the loop or zoom. I know a lot of people complain about the quality of their images after being uploaded to DPR but give the gallery tools a try.

bs1946 wrote:

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

It looks well made and compact, too bad about the missing aperture ring though. It would be nice to see some full-size examples to get a better idea about the image quality.

This is the same thing as the new Samsung lenses, no aperture ring, so all Samyang and Samsung have to change is the mount for non-Fuji APS-C and MFT cameras to use the same lens.

The examples I uploaded were full sized jpegs and if you click on one, it brings you into the gallery where supposedly, you can see the image at 100% plus use the loop or zoom. I know a lot of people complain about the quality of their images after being uploaded to DPR but give the gallery tools a try.

I did. Your images were not uploaded full-size, not even close - they only 1280 pixels on the long side.

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

bs1946 wrote:

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

It looks well made and compact, too bad about the missing aperture ring though. It would be nice to see some full-size examples to get a better idea about the image quality.

This is the same thing as the new Samsung lenses, no aperture ring, so all Samyang and Samsung have to change is the mount for non-Fuji APS-C and MFT cameras to use the same lens.

The examples I uploaded were full sized jpegs and if you click on one, it brings you into the gallery where supposedly, you can see the image at 100% plus use the loop or zoom. I know a lot of people complain about the quality of their images after being uploaded to DPR but give the gallery tools a try.

I did. Your images were not uploaded full-size, not even close - they only 1280 pixels on the long side.

I found the culprit. I store all my photos in Apple Photos and Photos cannot directly send files to DPR, and this is DPR, because I can send them everywhere else. So I have to export the jpegs to a file folder on my hard drive and then upload them to DPR from there and I just found a well hidden option to send them full size versus large, medium or small. I can't edit my original post once anybody responds to it so I'm downloading full size copies and putting them below.

bs1946 wrote:

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

bs1946 wrote:

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

It looks well made and compact, too bad about the missing aperture ring though. It would be nice to see some full-size examples to get a better idea about the image quality.

This is the same thing as the new Samsung lenses, no aperture ring, so all Samyang and Samsung have to change is the mount for non-Fuji APS-C and MFT cameras to use the same lens.

The examples I uploaded were full sized jpegs and if you click on one, it brings you into the gallery where supposedly, you can see the image at 100% plus use the loop or zoom. I know a lot of people complain about the quality of their images after being uploaded to DPR but give the gallery tools a try.

I did. Your images were not uploaded full-size, not even close - they only 1280 pixels on the long side.

I found the culprit. I store all my photos in Apple Photos and Photos cannot directly send files to DPR, and this is DPR, because I can send them everywhere else. So I have to export the jpegs to a file folder on my hard drive and then upload them to DPR from there and I just found a well hidden option to send them full size versus large, medium or small. I can't edit my original post once anybody responds to it so I'm downloading full size copies and putting them below.

Typically prefer my woodlands looking as natural as possible, I can't say I'm too keen on the color recipe here. The lens seems sharp in the center, but significantly less so around the periphery. does it sharpen up up when stopped down a bit?

Have to let you know on my next outing. Always been one of those f8 and be there shooters, but lately I seem to have become obsessed at shooting wide open.

bs1946 wrote:

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

It looks well made and compact, too bad about the missing aperture ring though. It would be nice to see some full-size examples to get a better idea about the image quality.

This is the same thing as the new Samsung lenses, no aperture ring, so all Samyang and Samsung have to change is the mount for non-Fuji APS-C and MFT cameras to use the same lens.

New Samsung lenses? I think you meant Sigma?

poldersnapper wrote:

Quick question Bill, do you get the distance scale in the viewfinder when you switch to manual focus?

Thanks,

André

It's been awhile since I had the lens and I actually sold all my Fuji gear and went back to a Leica M, so I don't remember for sure. But, I do recall that it performed just like Fuji AF lenses did?

maestropaty wrote:

Hi does anyone own this lens and use DxO Photolab? Does it support optical lens correction? Thank you in advance for your reply and sorry for my bad English.

Sorry, I cannot help you on this. I have never used DXO Photolab and I have moved onto a different system, selling all of my Fuji system gear.

I have the Rokinon 12mm f/2 manual version. Yes there is a distance scale. AF version, I don't know however.