Well, after making a few autofocus lenses for the Sony full-frame FE mirrorless format, which you can read about in my previous post here , here and also here, Samyang Optics are turning to the dark side as they announce their first autofocus lens for Canon Full-frame DSLRs – the ultra-wide Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 AF lens for EF mount.
The new ultra-wide 14mm autofocus lens from Samyang sports an all-metal body and comes in at 485 grams, which not bad at all given its ultra-wide angle status. According to Samyang, the new lens “…delivers a quiet, fast and accurate autofocus…”
The optical design incorporates a total of 15 elements in 10 groups, including 7 special optic lenses to maximise the image quality, such as 2 aspherical lenses, 4 high-refractive lenses, and a single extra-low dispersion lens to minimise distortion and various aberrations. The new Samyang 14mm f2.8 AF for Canon EF is also weather-sealed and has an AF/MF switch on the side to make switching between these modes even easier.
Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 AF for Canon EF
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- One Extra-Low Dispersion Element
- Two Aspherical and Four HRI Elements
- Ultra Multi-Coating
- Autofocus, AF/MF Switch
- Weather-Sealed Construction
- Rounded, Seven-Blade Diaphragm
- Price: $799 USD at B&H/Adorama
- Available: February 2018
The 14mm FOV yields a 116.6 degree angle of view making it fitting for architecture and landscape photography, and/or video with that sweet DPAF system on the 5D Mark IV for example. The level of “sweetness” of such AF assisted features in video mode when using this new lens remains to be tested.
Technical Specifications
| Focal Length | 14mm |
| Aperture | Maximum: f/2.8 Minimum: f/22 |
| Camera Mount Type | Canon EF |
| Format Compatibility | 35mm Full-Frame Digital Sensor |
| Angle of View | 116.6° |
| Min. Focus Distance | 7.87″ (20 cm) |
| Magnification | 0.15x |
| Maximum Repro Ratio | 1:6.6 |
| Elements/Groups | 15 / 10 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 – Rounded |
The new Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8 AF EF mount can be pre-ordered through authorised dealers such as B&H for $799 USD and is scheduled to ship next month.
To put things into perspective, the Canon 14mm f2.8L II costs three times as much at $2100, and although I am sure it’s a great lens and all, but does it produce 3 x as better images? I don’t know, but I doubt it.
All I am saying is that it’s really nice to see a budget lens maker coming out with with an aggressive price in a focal length range that is usually quite expensive, opening the doors for many enthusiasts and pro photographers to grab a bargain ultra-wide AF lens that may actually produce really nice images.
Head over to Samyang’s website for image samples.
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i’d love it if they added AF and IS to their wonderful 50mm and 85mm lenses.