Got my Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 - Wow.

[Jman13]

Originally Posted by jr_senator

Let me suggest that before you get the 'S' screen you check out opinions from those that have used it. I was really disappointed. It didn't make the focused area pop-out like it leads one to believe. In fact, it didn't appear much, if any, different than the OE screen. When I complained some time ago on this forum I got several replies from members that felt the same way. I use the 'L' screen (cross split image) and love it. I still have the 'S' screen around somewhere, but I will not be using it again.

Good to know. Right now I'm using the Ec-CIV, which is the stock screen in the 1D III, but is rougher and easier to focus than the stock 1Ds II screen, though still not entirely accurate for lenses faster than f/2.8.

[Brett]

Originally Posted by seanzky

Wow! $235 is a great deal especially compared to B&H's price.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ual_Focus.html

Very nice sample shots. Very tempting.

Amazon has the Opteka brand (same lens) for $245 from 47th Street Photo.

Originally Posted by tkbslc

Yeah it is in several brands. funny some think they can charge more for the same exact lens.

Opteka and Rokinon both go for $250. The rest are closer to $350 (vivitar, samyang, bower)

Yep. I think I'll go for the Opteka. I keep putting it off, but this post makes me think I should just go for it.

[bangarang]

Awesome shots. Thanks for sharing! Any ETA on that 35 1.2? I'd be interested in picking that badboy up as well as this one.

Sorry if this has been answered before, but this is a canon mount lens right?

[RyanB]

Ahh if anyone has any info on the 35 1.2 I'd love to see.. along with getting a Siggy 50 I've been thinking about getting a prime a bit wider than that as well.. might fit the profile nicely

[mrkgoo]

So with these manual aperture lenses, how does the metering work? Does it still work per normal? For example, can you still use Av? Does it show up as a certain aperture on the LCD display?

[rx7speed]

at least with my experience with metering using other manual lenses (haven't used this one but I'm sure it's all the same) is it gets a bit iffy when stopped down. usually over exposes with my XSI.
Av mode still works, but TV/auto/program mode as I'm sure you can understand doesn't.the aperture shows as 0.0 on my XSI though some older cameras I belive show an f-stop value that you can change which just screws with the metering I believe.

just curious is there a chance we can get some more corner and center crops. this thing so far isn't looking that bad for a cheapy lens. also jsut curious how is the flare control on this bad boy?

[plasticmotif]

Originally Posted by Jman13

Yeah, if the upcoming 14/2.8 and 35/1.2 are this good, both will likely end up in my bag.

I'm budgeting for a 35....I don't know which one though. Samyang, L, Sigma...hmm

[Jason C]

I concur with Jordan, the Rokinon 85 1.4 is a fine piece of glass, and an excellent value.

I started a post awhile back about this lens, and ran it through the ringer. At first I thought the lens dealt with CA, but with later images I did find noticable but not bad CA wide open.

Yes, contrast wide open is soft, stopped down to f/2 and beyond contrast picked right up.

Jordan, 2 questions: have you noticed your copy produces the best results at f/4? f/4 seemed to be the sweet spot for my copy.

Second, have you noticed this bokeh effect wide open, and stopped down to f/2? http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...2&postcount=37

This is a very good lens, however, I did sell my copy just the other day to a very happy videographer...my aging eyes were just having too many issues with the MF thing. I still would recommend this lens in a heartbeat.

Congrats Jordan!

If interested, here is my thread on the lens http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...hlight=rokinon . Unfortunatly, all images I had posted in that thread were run through my computer before a monitor calibration, so they'll be underexposed.

Jason C

[Shawnwil]

I might just have to pick up one of the 14mm 2.8's when they come out. I'd love to have a wide prime for landscape shots, and since it's not something that I need fast focus with, MF would'nt hurt. I'll have to keep this in mind.

[rklepper]

That looks very nice. I am assuming manual focus? Wish my eyes weren't going so I could MF, but alas...

[Jman13]

Originally Posted by rx7speed

just curious is there a chance we can get some more corner and center crops. this thing so far isn't looking that bad for a cheapy lens. also jsut curious how is the flare control on this bad boy?

A few more crops. Don't really have center crops, as almost all the shots I took with this for testing had the focus point off-center.

Anyway, 100% crops from the first two shots I posted, both at f/1.4:

The fence: You can see a little longitudinal CA here, but it's relatively well controlled for such a large aperture lens:


And one of the bolts from the bridge shot (dark, of course, since they were the darkest thing in the frame):


Oh, and for questions: Yes, it's native Canon mount. It has absolutely zero electrical contacts, so the camera assumes it's shooting without a lens. Av and Manual mode work fine, the meter will overexpose at small apertures, so you'll need to do some compensation. Aperture is completely manual. Focus is completely manual. I'm not going to say focusing at 85mm and f/1.4 is easy, but I did a pretty good job with it yesterday, putting the focus point right where I wanted it about 75% of the time.

[Jman13]

One more, with a close to center crop. This is also at f/1.4:



100% crop of focus point:

[onurrus]

that shoots are looking pretty amazing and I am wondering can you use the half way shutter to check the focus is ok or not with this one?

if yes I am considering to buy one for my 40d.colors and sharpness looks incredible!

[Jason C]

Originally Posted by onurrus

that shoots are looking pretty amazing and I am wondering can you use the half way shutter to check the focus is ok or not with this one?

if yes I am considering to buy one for my 40d.colors and sharpness looks incredible!

No, it's all manual.

Jason C

[TheHoff]

Originally Posted by Jason C

No, it's all manual.

Jason C

Why wouldn't AF assist work? Because the camera doesn't think a lens is on?