Author Topic: Samyang: also branded Rokinon/Wallimex/Vivitar and more  (Read 8533 times)

  • Offline Serious

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This could have gone in the which lens thread above.

Seems this company has been making a number of interesting lenses, and selling them via brands. You only get manual focus and I believe you have to set the aperture too, which can be an issue. Their main advantage is that the prices are on average very low. 35mm f1.4, 50mm f1.2, 85mm f1.4 all look interesting. They also sell VDSLR lenses for video work - click free aperture ring.

I have seen a few critical reviews, usually getting at the razor thin focusing needed at widest aperture and manual operation. I have also read a lot of positive ones, even comparing their lenses to much more expensive ones from Canon and Nikon. Yes, top of the range Canon and Nikon rated better, but not that much for a hell of a lot more money.

I'm just wondering if any of you lot have tried these?

  • Offline zpyder

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Re: Samyang: also branded Rokinon/Wallimex/Vivitar and more
Reply #1 on: April 05, 2016, 18:50:09 PM
Yes heard of them, tempted by their 14 or 15mm (I forget which).

A colleague of mine has the nikon 14/15mm Samyang, seems to have got some good shots with it, but she is a good photographer too.

I've been more tempted by the Laowa 15mm Macro lens. Yes, you heard me, a wideangle macro. It's similarly priced in the scheme of things to the Samyang, but has an effective 1:1 macro ability, though you have to be a few mm from the subject to achieve it. Like the Samyang it's totally manual, but should be a fun lens to play with.

Sadly, funds are tight at the moment, otherwise I'd have one.

  • Offline Serious

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Re: Samyang: also branded Rokinon/Wallimex/Vivitar and more
Reply #2 on: April 08, 2016, 04:06:16 AM
I've definitely heard of ultra wide angle macros, they are fairly rare beasts.

To be honest I'm looking at ANYTHING that might be useful as Sony isn't. Their cameras may be technically great but they forgot that you needed lenses to suit.

That also means I'm looking at some real oddities, like the Lomography 58mm Petzval lens with bokeh adjust (yes, it has a control ring to adjust the out of focus background). Effectively a 1840s wet plate lens for a huge box camera downsized to digital SLR proportions.

  • Offline zpyder

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Re: Samyang: also branded Rokinon/Wallimex/Vivitar and more
Reply #3 on: April 09, 2016, 22:08:28 PM
As far as I'm aware, the Laowa come in all mount types, so might be worth looking at. When I saw my colleagues it certainly looks as though someone has gone through a box of lenses and bolted loads together to see what works, found a combo that does something interesting, and just rolled with it. All barrel elements feel exactly light what they are, machined bits of metal tubing, with a Nikon/Canon/Pentax/Sony mount bolted on the back.

Added benefit of the laowa is that it also has some limited tilt-shift capabilities to play with, though apparently the effect is not as strong on full-frame bodies.

  • Offline Serious

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Re: Samyang: also branded Rokinon/Wallimex/Vivitar and more
Reply #4 on: April 12, 2016, 02:29:27 AM
I bought a 10-24 Tamron when I got my Canon 40D, still have it and providing I don't mind hand focusing when I have to it works perfectly. It can autofocus, it's just not always accurate on the Sony A6000. It was also designed for APS-C.

It's also corrected for any fisheye issues so straight bits are actually straight...

  • Offline Serious

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Re: Samyang: also branded Rokinon/Wallimex/Vivitar and more
Reply #5 on: July 12, 2016, 10:38:17 AM
Bought a Samyang 85mm T1.5 VDSLR II - for Canon. Looks very nice indeed. Focus and aperture adjustment both very smooth.

Fitted straight onto Canon 100D no problem at all.

Does not fit Commlite canon adapter for Sony :(

  • Offline Serious

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Re: Samyang: also branded Rokinon/Wallimex/Vivitar and more
Reply #6 on: July 13, 2016, 15:50:15 PM
Had another go with Commlite adapter, seems it's the springs on the adapter being tight. bit of effort and it fits.

Focus peaking works well enough, although still haven't checked the photos I took yesterday.

On Canon 100D you have to digitally zoom in, focus confirmation doesn't seem to work. Either works well, although Canon takes longer.
Last Edit: July 13, 2016, 15:53:10 PM by Serious #187;

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