Samyang 14mm and 24mm

[Judyd]

HI
I'm looking at the samyang/bower/rokinon 14mm and 24mm lenses and wondering if others have used them and what you think? I've had the canon 16-35 2.8 on my list as I love lightpainting and want to do stars as points so need the 2.8. I've read quite a bit about the samyang and realise its all manual and that doesn't worry me as lightpainting is all manual anyway as lots of you know.
the thing is that the canon lens is about $1700 and the samyang 14 about $490 from local suppliers. with the canon lens at $1700 I could buy the samyang 14mm and the new canon 16-35 f4 for about the same money.
I know that the samyang has moustaching but I've read where its very sharp and beats the Canon 16-35 for coma on stars.

Does anybody have any experience with these lenses over a period of time? And does anybody have a view on which of the 14 mm or 24 mm is the best focal length?

thanks
Judy

[Cage]

Hi Judy,

I have the Samyang 14mm f2.8 version, and if you understand it's limits, and work within them, it will give you excellent results. If you can frame your shot fairly loosely, with some cropable space on the sides and the top, you will be delighted with the results.

I guess it depends on your intended use. If you are using it for architectural type shots, or shots with straight lines near the edge of the frame, compose loosely.

I understand it's limits and love the lens. Used smartly it can deliver incredibly sharp images.

[feathers]

Agree with every thing that Kev has said. Very happy with the images the 14mm produces on my nikon. Cheers.

[Judyd]

thanks to you both Cage and feathers - the information is most appreciated!
thanks again
Judy

[Morgo]

I have the Samyang 14mm 2.8, works great for astro. I'm also thinking of picking up the new Canon 17-35 F4 to go with it :)

In the past my widest lens was 16mm, which was a bit tight for some shots of the milky way, the 14mm to me atleast is quite noticeably wider so I'd defintely go for the 14 over the 24.

[Judyd]

I have the Samyang 14mm 2.8, works great for astro. I'm also thinking of picking up the new Canon 17-35 F4 to go with it :)

In the past my widest lens was 16mm, which was a bit tight for some shots of the milky way, the 14mm to me atleast is quite noticeably wider so I'd defintely go for the 14 over the 24.

excellent - thanks so much for this Morgo - you've answered my question about which one very nicely.
Judy

[nwhc]

Which camera are your using? I have the 24mm i purchased it purely for star shots so the extra f-stop really makes a difference.

Im using a 6D so 24mm is still wide enough may not be on a crop body though.

[Judyd]

thanks for that nwhc - I have the full frame 5d2

[hus]

Samyang 14mm won't disappoint you, I use it on my 6D and get great results.

[Judyd]

Samyang 14mm won't disappoint you, I use it on my 6D and get great results.

excellent - thanks hus

[jim]

This was taken with a ProOptic (Samyang) 14 2.8. I like the lens myself, though the focussing scale is inaccurate.

http://hatbox.smugmug.com/Other/New-Zealand-2013/i-c5kqQ37/0/O/N13_8463sm.jpg

[Judyd]

[QUOTE=jim;1256955]This was taken with a ProOptic (Samyang) 14 2.8. I like the lens myself, though the focussing scale is inaccurate.QUOTE]

thanks for this Jim - I do like the angle of view this lens provides.