Irix 15mm f/2.4

I could not find a thread about this lens so I assume a new one. I have this lens for several months and I sincerely recommend it. Sharp from f2.4, well built... I'm using it with Canon 6d

This looks like a great performer indeed.
Any chance you could post a picture that shows how the sunstars look when stopped down?
Thanks!

I'm about to buy one, do you have the Blackstone or Firefly? Any updated thought on the lens? Thanks.

Want to buy it for Astro but it's hard to find enough sample photos and information about the lens which makes me nervous.

Do enjoy using my Firefly, so easy and IQ is stellar.

Ordered mine today. Will be testing it out as soon as it shows up.

I have Firefly. I checked both and did not see any sense to buy Blackstone. Both are built very good. Optics the same. Its rly good lens... anyway I will probably change to 16-35/4 because i need autofocus.

Is everyone who purchased the Irix 15 Firefly/Blackstone still happy with the purchase? Any reason to not get the Firefly (though I do like a metal lens)? I'm debating between this and Sigma 14 for both astro and landscape. I've done tons of research on both so I understand the pros and cons of each really well, but I haven't seen recent real world reviews for the Irix...

Nice samples from everyone by the way.

I sent mine back. While it seemed ok, it was heavy on vignette and did not offer much over my current Tokina 11-20mm 2.8 set to 16mm on my 5d3, and in some cases offered less than the Tokina.

While the Tokina is not "made for a full frame" it still works very well at 16-20mm.

I plan to by the Sigma 14mm at some point. I opted for a Sigma 35 1.4 first though. I think it will work well for stacking/stitching. While it is a lot more work in post, I think there could be a lot of advantage to it.

Thanks for the update. No thanks for making my decision tougher! The heavy vignette was one my larger concerns.

Then again, I don’t already have an option at that focal length.

The below are options I found for a Nikon, there may be more. These are prices on Adorama's web page.

Rokinon 14mm 2.8 at $379
Irix firefly 14mm 2.4 at $475
Tokina 16-28mm 2.8 at $549
Rokinon 14mm 2.4 at $899
Venus 12mm 2.8 at $949
Sigma 14mm 1.8 at $1599

You are not gaining much going from 2.8 to 2.4, 1/3 stop. If I had to choose between the Irix or Rokinon, I'd save the $100 since both are both manual focus Prime's and there are a ton of great reviews on the Rokinon.

Not owning the Tokina 16-28, I can't personally speak to it, but again there seems to be a fair amount of praise. If it is as sharp as my 11-18, then it could be a fantastic lens. Sure you loose 1/3 stop of the Irix, but you gain AF and I must say, my 11-18 would lock focus in dim light when my (now sold) Sigma 18-35 1.8 Art hunted and would not lock in the same light.

Tokina vs Rokinon 14mm 2.4, not sure the Rokinon's 1/3 stop provides enough value for me to spend an additional $350.

The Venus gives you an extra 2mm but is not any faster and aperture is technically smaller due to it being a 12mm 2.8 which I am learning isn't helping for Astro.

The Sigma seems to be the current top dog for focal length + aperture + AF, but you pay for it.


I know, I likely helped even less..


If it we're me and not owning a wide option, I'd go Rokinon 14mm 2.8 or Sigma 14mm 1.8 for a prime.

Somewhere in-between with versatility, Tokina.

Hope that helped.

Thanks for the research!

I actually have the Rokinon 2.8 sitting in a box unopened right now and have until Jan. 30th to return it (which I plan to do).

For me the $100 is worth it on the Irix because: sharper; no mustache distortion; same bad vignetting (but half-stop faster so can maybe clean up slightly for adv. Irix); filter ability; better focus mechanism; better build.

That said, I’m selling a nikon 24-70g and will probably use the proceeds to just buy the Sigma.

Like you I sold a sigma 18-35 Art which I loved but hated due to the AF and I’ve sworn off sigma since then, but at 14mm, you can miss front or back and it won’t matter much.

Like you I’m also learning that light gathering capability is more important for Astro, but I have the excellent nikon 20 1.8 and found I needed wider for Milky Way night shots/time lapses - as well as general landscape work.

Have you tried stitching images with the 20mm 1.8? You will get more total resolution then when down sampled to the same size should result in better IQ.

I haven’t for Astro. I have considered it and it’s probably a good idea to try before plunking down $1600 on the sigma. It wouldn’t help with time lapse, but I don’t know how often I would be taking all night time lapses (have young kids) anyway. Definitely something to consider, as it also deals with the 20 1.8’s coma issues.