Samyang Rokinon Vivitar 14 2.8 lens

[jasongraaf]

Stumbled across this article and thought some of you guys might find it interesting: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/how-...ide-lenses.htm

I know most of Rockwell's stuff is total crock, but I still consider myself somewhat of a photography newbie and I learned quite a bit from this article. Specifically about how to use an ultra-wide angle for more than just "getting more in the image" by really pushing perspective and depth.

[Mookalafalas]

I don't think his stuff is a crock at all, although I frequently disagree with him. It's his begging for money that rubs me the wrong way...Otherwise I really like his down to Earth "let me share some insights" tone.

[A.Gunnar]

Got this lens on birthday
On my 500D it's just an UW lens, not crazyUW as on FF

[Mookalafalas]

to carrefour by Mookalafalas, on Flickr


trucks by Mookalafalas, on Flickr


Waiting by Mookalafalas, on Flickr

[JayStar86]

Well, folks I gone and done it! Finally after much thought ordered one of these lenses along with a few others. Really looking forward to posting around in here! I am really new to landscapes so I will be trying my best with this lens to capture some decent ones along with many other things Im sure!

I guess the next thing after I get this lens is to chip it and get a buy profile for CS5 or LR3 to correct distortion for this lens. Anyone that can maybe point me in the right direction which/where chip to get and which plugin/profile to buy for distortion control for this lens and maybe where... (excuse the run-on sentence!)

Thanks!

[Mookalafalas]

Welcome, Jay! The plugin for Lightroom is free, and does a pretty good job. They give a link to it earlier in the thread. It's done by a German fellow, and it took me a bit of work to figure out how and where to install it, but once in it works very well. I'd like to hear how your chip works for you. I'm interested in that myself, but would like to hear more reports.

[JayStar86]

Originally Posted by Mookalafalas

Welcome, Jay! The plugin for Lightroom is free, and does a pretty good job. They give a link to it earlier in the thread. It's done by a German fellow, and it took me a bit of work to figure out how and where to install it, but once in it works very well. I'd like to hear how your chip works for you. I'm interested in that myself, but would like to hear more reports.

ok cool. Thanks for the info. I will dig out the plugin info from this thread tomorrow.

If memory serves I remember there being a really good plugin for LR3 and CS5 from PtLens was it? I cant remember if it was free or $$$ ?


As for the chip... I guess Ill wait for some replies or dig out the information on it as well.... I think its something I definitely want to do with this lens. Once I figure it out maybe Ill post a DIY with info and stuff that is neatly organized.

I ordered three lenses from B&H... really exited to get them all this week!

[tricky500]

Curious if anyone could do a comparison lightroom vs ptlens perspective distortion removal??

[A.Gunnar]

Originally Posted by tricky500

Curious if anyone could do a comparison lightroom vs ptlens perspective distortion removal??

It's not about perspective distortion, it's about barrel/mustache distortion.

[Mookalafalas]

Originally Posted by JayStar86

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If memory serves I remember there being a really good plugin for LR3 and CS5 from PtLens was it? I cant remember if it was free or $$$ ?

I think PTLens is something like $25USD. The lightroom plug-in is free (or at least, I didn't have to pay anything for the one I downloaded...).
The lightroom plug in doesn't "cost" much around the edges, as far as trimming that often accompanies distortion correction, but I saw a couple of examples of PTlens that really didn't even seem to affect the borders of the picture at all--i.e. that looked like virtually lossless correction.

[ZoneV]

I made lightroom profiles (see homepage Samyang review) for the Samyang 14, and the PTLens correction is based on my pictures someone prepared and send the programmer.
I did not have made a comparison, but I think PTlens was a bit better than lightroom correction.

Here a picture from my Norway trip:

I think the barrel-parts has moved a bit through transport (front lens assembly was fixed, and backlens part probably hung free).
At least the image borders are more unscharp than normal :-/

[ZoneV]

Originally Posted by Mookalafalas

... The lightroom plug in doesn't "cost" much around the edges, as far as trimming that often accompanies distortion correction, but I saw a couple of examples of PTlens that really didn't even seem to affect the borders of the picture at all--i.e. that looked like virtually lossless correction.

I have made such images with PTLens, probably you saw them:
Uncorrected:

Coreccted with PTLens

Full reoslution on my homepage.

I should do the correction with the lightroom profiles too.

Ther is not much border loose with PTLens, but the resolution itself is harmed.

[Headshotzx]

Quick two questions:

Canon mount users - Anyone have a lot of difficulty doing manual focus at f/2.8 for it?

Nikon mount + Adapter - How much does the adapter affect the distance gauge on the lens? Infinity is still infinity?

[kbColorado]

Originally Posted by Headshotzx

Quick two questions:

Canon mount users - Anyone have a lot of difficulty doing manual focus at f/2.8 for it?

Nikon mount + Adapter - How much does the adapter affect the distance gauge on the lens? Infinity is still infinity?

Manual focus was a bit of a learning curve for me. I had to do some testing to find out where infinity is and where the nearest focus point is.

Infinity has never been where infinity shows on the focus ring so an adaptor can't possibly hurt

[kylyo]

Mine will be here Friday! I plan on taking to Mount Rainier this weekend for some Milky Way shots!

I see quite a few people mentioning to check infinity focus. What is the best way to do that? Is it obvious enough to live view focus on stars?

Thanks