Rokinon/samyang 35mm 1.4 or another

Anyone have experience with this lens? My intention would be to use it with 60d or 600d. Does this have focus confirmation? Do I need to use a different focusing screen? Before coming to DSLR about 4 years ago, I always used full manual focus, so that is not a problem. This lens would be used for both astro and pictures of people with isolation. My other choices as recommended by another forum member would be 50mm stm, although I have a 50mm 1.8 II and a 40mm 2.8. The II is a great sharp lens other than its focusing ability in lesser light, which could be problematic at times. The 40mm isn't fast enough. Then I'm left with the sigma art 50 or 35 or the tamron 35 or 45. I'm up in the air. Not really looking to drop the type of coin on an art lens. Opinions? Part of me says to just get the 50 stm. Another is pulling toward the rokinon manual focus. It's really too bad the rokinon is not autofocus, because that is the only thing holding me back. As stated, I have no problem manually focusing, its all I did for my whole life, but its sort of a step back and I don't want to change focusing screens.

Frodge wrote in post #17887821
Anyone have experience with this lens? My intention would be to use it with 60d or 600d. Does this have focus confirmation? Do I need to use a different focusing screen? Before coming to DSLR about 4 years ago, I always used full manual focus, so that is not a problem. This lens would be used for both astro and pictures of people with isolation. My other choices as recommended by another forum member would be 50mm stm, although I have a 50mm 1.8 II and a 40mm 2.8. The II is a great sharp lens other than its focusing ability in lesser light, which could be problematic at times. The 40mm isn't fast enough. Then I'm left with the sigma art 50 or 35 or the tamron 35 or 45. I'm up in the air. Not really looking to drop the type of coin on an art lens. Opinions? Part of me says to just get the 50 stm. Another is pulling toward the rokinon manual focus. It's really too bad the rokinon is not autofocus, because that is the only thing holding me back. As stated, I have no problem manually focusing, its all I did for my whole life, but its sort of a step back and I don't want to change focusing screens.

Heya,

Don't worry with a confirmation chip, they're not nearly as good as simply using an EF-S super precision matte view screen in your 60D. Your 600D cannot get a view finder screen capable of that. The 60D however can.

The Sam/Rok 35 F1.4 is an awesome lens, sharp wide open, very nice. It's not quite as nice as the 24 F1.4, but close. Of all the modern manual lenses, the 35 F1.4 is probably the weakest of the group (24, 35, 50, 85, 135). That's not to say something is wrong with it, it's just to say the 24/85/135 are exceptional lenses.

If you're certain you want a manual 35 F1.4, it will do the job. Again, get an EF-S super precision matte screen in your 60D and you're good to go.

If you don't want to change focus screens, then I would not get a manual focus lens.

That said, the Sigma 30 F1.4 and the Rok/Sam 35 F1.4 are very similarly priced.

Here's a Sigma 30mm F1.4 ART that you could get for less than $400.

Very best,

More to think about! I will mull over this for the next day or two. Thanks for all the help.

Unless you are considering video, there is no difference between the 50 II and the 50 STM. The optics are identical. From Bryan's review at TDP:

When the 50 f/1.8 STM was announced, I was comparing the MTF chart against it predecessor, the 50 f/1.8 II. I initially thought I had downloaded one of the wrong charts. The graphs were sized differently, but they were showing the identical line plot.

I of course could not mentally rest without knowing what was going on, so I asked. In answer to my "Does the new 50mm STM contain the same optics design as the 50mm f/1.8 II?" question, Canon U.S.A.'s extremely knowledgeable Chuck Westfall responded:

"Yes, the optics of the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM are the same as the original EF 50mm f/1.8 and EF 50mm f/1.8 II."

The STM has 7 aperture blades and a metal mount. Glass is identical to the 50 II.

The one thing that has always worried me about the 50mm 1.8ii is those reports of the lens sticking to the camera body and not coming back off. That is one of the biggest reasons I would upgrade. Silly? Maybe.

Heya,

The AF alone on the STM makes it worth having over the older 50 F1.8's. The 50 STM sounds like the 40 STM, it's just much quieter. It doesn't seem to hunt as bad in low light as the older 50's do either.

I have all of them, and the 40 STM & 50 STM, and really, I like the 50 STM the most of the bunch. As much as I enjoy the pancake, the 50 STM at over 1 stop faster, and just a wee bit bigger in size, is just a great lens.

Very best,

I think I'll get the 50stm. How do you think the 50stm compares to the tamron 35/and 45 vs price? Ive had a lot of luck with tamron, but it's 5x the price.

I read such amazing things about those Tamron lenses. Incredible optics and great build for a reasonable price. Big bang for the buck with those imo.

Frodge wrote in post #17887897
I think I'll get the 50stm. How do you think the 50stm compares to the tamron 35/and 45 vs price? Ive had a lot of luck with tamron, but it's 5x the price.

I don't have the 35 nor 45 unfortunately to compare, but I do use modern Tamron's (90mm F2.8 VC, 150-600 VC, etc) and I absolutely am sold on Tamron for having good lenses for the cost. I got my 35 F2 IS before the 35 F1.8 VC was even an option, otherwise, I would have probably tried the Tamron simply due to the extra 3rd of a stop. My 90 F2.8 VC Tamron performs in the league of the 100L & Sigma 105 OS. They just keep pumping out wicked good primes. I would try a Tamron without question.

The 50 STM will compare in sharpness I'm sure. But I'm willing to bet the Tammy 35/45 will have slightly better everything, and of course, are stabilized. Just depends on if you need it or not.

Very best,

Im a big tamron fan myself. Both of my tamron are well worth the ticket price. It's more or less MW deciding if its worth spending almost 4-5 times more than the canon.

Frodge wrote in post #17888230
Im a big tamron fan myself. Both of my tamron are well worth the ticket price. It's more or less MW deciding if its worth spending almost 4-5 times more than the canon.

The 50 STM is so good, for it's cost, that it's hard to at all beat it. If it were a $300 lens, no one would even touch it. But at $100, it's just ridiculously good (metal mount, great optics, very decent AF, relatively quiet, not completely silent STM, it's like the 40 STM, the 18-55 STM is quieter, body based lens hood, still quite small, sharp wide open, good CA performance). To go 4x the price, you've got to really want the other features (like a faster aperture, a faster totally silent AF, stabilization which is a very big one, etc).

I've not replaced my 50 STM at all with something "better." Then gain, 50mm isn't my favorite focal length. I much prefer 35mm & 85mm. My 50mm STM lives on an APS-C (where it behaves like 85mm does on full frame).

I'd probably really like to try a Tamron 45 F1.8 VC, but, I just have no need for it. My 35 F2 IS is only 10mm different, and has all the same features and crazy good optics. So between my 35 F2 IS and the 90 F2.8 VC, I have stabilized "35 & 85" basically, and I really enjoy those.

If 50mm is your absolute most used focal length, maybe put more into it and get a really great 50mm with bells & whistles.
If 50mm is sort of used, some times, then the 50 STM is a great way to have an excellent 50mm without much compromise and a great price.

Very best,

You've been extremely helpful. Honestly....ideally I would want something like a fast 35mm. The 22mm on my m is awesome, but a bit wide. The 50 is a little tight and the pancake is a little slow.

Frodge wrote in post #17888332
ideally I would want something like a fast 35mm. The 22mm on my m is awesome, but a bit wide. The 50 isbablittle tight and the pancake is a little slow.

Yongnuo makes a 35mm F2 that is only $100 basically. Maybe worth exploring. Otherwise, a 35 F1.8 VC (Tamron) or 30 F1.4 (Sigma) are more costly options with a feature, ie, stabilization or wider aperture.

Very best,

I may hold off and save for the tamron 35.....