Showcase Samyang/Rokinon 18mm f/2.8 AF FE Lens

[JonathanF2]

I wanted to start a new thread for this lens, here are some photos to start off!

All shot with the A7III + 18mm 2.8 FE Lens:

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/125s    ISO 400

190917_SAMYANG_18_PHOTOS_FRIOLO_023 by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/500s    ISO 100

190917_SAMYANG_18_PHOTOS_FRIOLO_011 by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/125s    ISO 1250

190917_SAMYANG_18_PHOTOS_FRIOLO_006 by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/1600s    ISO 100

190917_SAMYANG_18_PHOTOS_FRIOLO_031 by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/1250s    ISO 100

190917_SAMYANG_18_PHOTOS_FRIOLO_030 by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/125s    ISO 1250

190917_SAMYANG_18_PHOTOS_FRIOLO_021 by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/3.2    1/125s    ISO 640

190917_SAMYANG_18_PHOTOS_FRIOLO_048 by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/2500s    ISO 100

190917_SAMYANG_18_PHOTOS_FRIOLO_039 by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/125s    ISO 1000

190917_SAMYANG_18_PHOTOS_FRIOLO_022 by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

 

[JonathanF2]

@mnhoj - post your Samyang 18mm photos here!

 

[mnhoj]

Nicely done JonF2.

I'll get out this weekend - can't wait.

 

[Richard Crowe]

It looks like this is a pretty solid performer. What is impressive is the lack of flare when shooting into the sun...
It is about half the price of the Tamron 17-28mm lens.

 

[Tifoso]

Looks like it's going to be a really good lens

 

[Ad Dieleman]

I saw some image samples on dpreview and the Samyang 18mm's lack of contrast seems all too apparent compared to the Sony FE 2.8/16-35.

 

[serhan]

I am interested after seeing Jonathan's post. I am also surprised that there is not much reviews. I am happy with my 45mm 1.8 but 24mm is so so... It looks like 18mm needs to be stopped down per another dpreview samples:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4421683
I am not sure when I have the CV 15mm 4.5 already....

I saw some image samples on dpreview and the Samyang 18mm's lack of contrast seems all too apparent compared to the Sony FE 2.8/16-35.

 

[Richard Crowe]

I shoot will be shooting my A7iii with the 28-75mm f/2.8 Tamron (on order) in tandem with my A6500 wearing the Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 (I presently own) when I want to go wider. I am quite impressed with the Rokinon's I/Q.

And I think that this lens on my A6500 might be good enough for my needs in the wide angle area...

ILCE-6500    ----       f/1.0    1/100s    ISO 160

 

[JonathanF2]

I saw some image samples on dpreview and the Samyang 18mm's lack of contrast seems all too apparent compared to the Sony FE 2.8/16-35.

Pros with this lens is best when size, weight and fast AF is a priority. Though the 18mm has the best "uniform" corner-to-corner sharpness amongst my stable of wide angle lenses (SZ 16-35mm f/4, Sigma 15-30mm DG, CV 15mm SL-II), while all my other lenses are extremely sharp in the center, they all fall off towards the corners.

A couple cons worth noting: for better sharpness the 18mm needs to be stopped down, contrast in backlit scenarios aren't ideal and images probably need a saturation boost.

Here's an example from the Sam 18mm regarding poor contrast handling in backlit lighting:

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/250s    ISO 100

190917_SAMYANG_18_PHOTOS_FRIOLO_014 by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

Though in good lighting, images tend to pop:

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/800s    ISO 100

190917_SAMYANG_18_PHOTOS_FRIOLO_027 by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

 

[JonathanF2]

I am interested after seeing Jonathan's post. I am also surprised that there is not much reviews. I am happy with my 45mm 1.8 but 24mm is so so... It looks like 18mm needs to be stopped down per another dpreview samples:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4421683
I am not sure when I have the CV 15mm 4.5 already....

I have a CV 15mm 4.5 SL-II for M-mount, but I'm probably going to sell it because I'm starting to get lazy using MF glass! The 18mm isn't as good as the Sam/Rok 45mm, my copy of the 45mm is amazing. The Sam/Rok 24mm was definitely so-so. The 18mm I'd rank very good with some caveats, but can easily be worked around.

 

[mnhoj]

I have a CV 15mm 4.5 SL-II for M-mount, but I'm probably going to sell it because I'm starting to get lazy using MF glass! The 18mm isn't as good as the Sam/Rok 45mm, my copy of the 45mm is amazing. The Sam/Rok 24mm was definitely so-so. The 18mm I'd rank very good with some caveats, but can easily be worked around.

I really like the 18mm.
I noticed AF was a tad slower stopped down(F11-16) with the blaring sun in the scene but that's probably user error or the inadequacies of the A7ii. Probably UE. Will test again this weekend. I'm running it through C1 and Dx0 both with the Batis profiles and sharpness looks very good. Distortion and vignette control seems good with the profiles but I haven't looked at an uncorrected file.

The 18mm and 85mm 1.8FE are solid foundations of my ideal three lens kit.
Now I'm at a impass.
35mm or 45mm Samyang.
I like the size, price and wider focal length of the 35mm. Especially with the 18mm gap.
I like the speed of the 45mm. Sharp as all heck doesn't hurt either.

 

[mnhoj]

Checked the other night for a firmware update that might help with the AF instance that I had.
Nothing yet.

 

[JonathanF2]

I really like the 18mm.
I noticed AF was a tad slower stopped down(F11-16) with the blaring sun in the scene but that's probably user error or the inadequacies of the A7ii. Probably UE. Will test again this weekend. I'm running it through C1 and Dx0 both with the Batis profiles and sharpness looks very good. Distortion and vignette control seems good with the profiles but I haven't looked at an uncorrected file.

The 18mm and 85mm 1.8FE are solid foundations of my ideal three lens kit.
Now I'm at a impass.
35mm or 45mm Samyang.
I like the size, price and wider focal length of the 35mm. Especially with the 18mm gap.
I like the speed of the 45mm. Sharp as all heck doesn't hurt either.

I went with the the 18/45 combo mainly because both lenses are small enough as walk around lenses, and the 35mm 2.8 isn't as wide as the 18mm, nor has the portrait abilities of the 45mm. The 45mm only lacks the OOF bokeh of the Zeiss 55mm, but it has loads of sharpness.

I'd love for Samyang to do an AF 105mm 2.5 similar to the old school Nikon lens and make it lightweight!

 

[mnhoj]

I went with the the 18/45 combo mainly because both lenses are small enough as walk around lenses, and the 35mm 2.8 isn't as wide as the 18mm, nor has the portrait abilities of the 45mm. The 45mm only lacks the OOF bokeh of the Zeiss 55mm, but it has loads of sharpness.

I'd love for Samyang to do an AF 105mm 2.5 similar to the old school Nikon lens and make it lightweight!

I wouldn't mind an all Samyang trio - at all.
Although I think I'd prefer something similar to the old 85mm F2.

 

[JonathanF2]

I wouldn't mind an all Samyang trio - at all.
Although I think I'd prefer something similar to the old 85mm F2.

I wouldn't mind that either, but it seems the 85mm market is crowded, unless Samyang does an 85mm around the same size as the 18 and 45, then that would be special!

 

[JonathanF2]

A couple new ones taken today!

Sam 18mm 2.8 + A7III:

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/1000s    ISO 100

Samyang 18mm 2.8 FE Lens for Sony Samples by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/320s    ISO 100

Samyang 18mm 2.8 FE Lens for Sony Samples by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/2500s    ISO 100

Samyang 18mm 2.8 FE Lens for Sony Samples by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/1250s    ISO 100

Samyang 18mm 2.8 FE Lens for Sony Samples by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/1250s    ISO 100

Samyang 18mm 2.8 FE Lens for Sony Samples by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/1250s    ISO 100

Samyang 18mm 2.8 FE Lens for Sony Samples by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/2500s    ISO 100

Samyang 18mm 2.8 FE Lens for Sony Samples by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

ILCE-7M3    SAMYANG AF 18mm F2.8    18mm    f/2.8    1/2500s    ISO 100

Samyang 18mm 2.8 FE Lens for Sony Samples by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

 

[mnhoj]

Nothing pretty like Jonathan's shots but there's a lot of grease, dirt and metal - perfect subjects for a detail test. Capture One mono process to accentuate. The Sam18 passes easily imo.

ILCE-7M2    Zeiss Batis 2.8/18    18mm    f/2.8    1/25s    ISO 100

Samyang 18mm F2.8 FE by john m, on Flickr

 

[mnhoj]

Color this time.

ILCE-7M2    Zeiss Batis 2.8/18    18mm    f/6.3    1/200s    ISO 100

Samyang 18mm F2.8 FE by john m, on Flickr

 

[JonathanF2]

Color this time.
View attachment 104835 Samyang 18mm F2.8 FE by john m, on Flickr

Stopped down the output is pretty darn sharp across the frame, the more I shoot with this lens, the more I'm liking it! Looking good!

 

[mnhoj]

ILCE-7M2    Zeiss Batis 2.8/18    18mm    f/5.6    1/160s    ISO 100

REDONDO by john m, on Flickr