12mm - 15mm .. Make your case for "Trigger" or "Safety" .. Zeiss, Rokinon, Sigma, Canon

In the next few days or weeks, it's more likely than not that I will get an ultra wide angle prime. My bodies are Canon 5D mk iii, 5DS and M5 for which I have the Canon lens adapter. It's not critical to my kit, but my bags have one lens slot empty. I am open to any other photographer making their case for one of the following lenses, whether putting themselves in my shoes, or stated from their shoes only. It's worth noting I want f/2.8 or faster, and outdoors I use Canon 16-35 which I'm keeping. Where would you "pull the trigger" and where would you "lock your safety"? Assume funds are available for all of these. The lenses I'm looking at are:

1. Rokinon 12mm 2.0 ... an option for my M5, and what began this train of thought

2. Zeiss 15mm 2.8 Distagon ... never owned a Zeiss, and very curious to own and try

3. Canon 14mm 2.8 ii L ... had good success with some other Canon lenses

4. Rokinon 14mm SP 2.4 ... good reviews, price dropped below $800, some electronics

5. Sigma 14mm 1.8 Art ... good reviews, but no IS / VC and nearing Zeiss & Canon L prices (used)

I'm literally open to any of these, and equipping all the bodies, or just the small mirrorless. I've been trimming weight off my main bag the past couple months, but a wide prime need not be placed in my primary bag.

Thanks

So you have the 16-35 (is that the F2.8 or the F4 IS?), and you want a prime. You want at least F2.8 or faster. So I have to assume you don't already have F2.8, or maybe your F2.8 is not sharp at F2.8?

1) Unless you primarily and only shoot with the M5, the Rok 12/2 is not going to do anything on your 5D3 & 5DS. Very limiting.
2) The Zeiss is sharp, can't go wrong here, if you are ok with the cost for what it is. Works on everything. Not as fast as Sigma's ART.
3) Over priced for what it is frankly, I'd get the Zeiss, Rok SP or Sigma ART if it were between the four.
4) The Rok 14 SP is really good, and isn't too costly, it's a strong contender.
5) The Sigma ART is great and it's F1.8 so you can get performance of stopping down to F2.5 and still be as fast or faster than others, but with the performance of a stopped down lens. This can mean a lot of good things. Worth researching how it performs compared to the others wide open.

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #18499893
So you have the 16-35 (is that the F2.8 or the F4 IS?), and you want a prime. You want at least F2.8 or faster. So I have to assume you don't already have F2.8, or maybe your F2.8 is not sharp at F2.8?

... SNIP ...

Very best,

The 16-35 f/4 because Canon specified the f/4 for the Canon 5DS, instead of using the f/2.8 model, as the better optics for that body and sensor. Since then, a version iii became available, and I may upgrade to that one next year if it's optics fit the 5DS.

I had the Rok 14 (not FE), the Rok 12mm f/2.8 FE, and the Sigma 15mm f/2.8 FE. I sold them all when I got the Sigma 12-24mm II. I use it more often, because it is more useful. Even that is currently for sale as I am moving to aps-c, and will replace it with a Sigma 8-16.

Bassat wrote in post #18499930
I had the Rok 14 (not FE), the Rok 12mm f/2.8 FE, and the Sigma 15mm f/2.8 FE. I sold them all when I got the Sigma 12-24mm II. I use it more often, because it is more useful. Even that is currently for sale as I am moving to aps-c, and will replace it with a Sigma 8-16.

Suppose indoors was where the wide angle would be used the most, would you prefer the f/4 lenses you migrated to, or prefer one of the f/1.8 to f/2.8 models listed in the OP?

Or still prefer the Sigma 8-16mm for that?

MalVeauX wrote in post #18499893
... SNIP ...
3) Over priced for what it is frankly, I'd get the Zeiss, Rok SP or Sigma ART if it were between the four.
4) The Rok 14 SP is really good, and isn't too costly, it's a strong contender.
5) The Sigma ART is great and it's F1.8 so you can get performance of stopping down to F2.5 and still be as fast or faster than others, but with the performance of a stopped down lens. This can mean a lot of good things. Worth researching how it performs compared to the others wide open.

Very best,

Doing another quick review of that Canon version II, just realized it doesn't have IS, and at that price, I'd almost expect IS in addition to AF. It does seem a bit overpriced.

For the way I shoot UWA, I have no use for f/1.8. With the ROK 12 & 14, and with the Sigma 15, I generally shoot Av @ f/8-16, and fix focus at about 3'. My goal with this type of glass is EXTREME DOF. The Σ8-16 will have more DOF at any particular setting than the 12-24. It is also 4 ounces lighter than the 12-24.

IS on a UWA lens? Especially a fast one? I'm not understanding that.

Bassat wrote in post #18499968
IS on a UWA lens? Especially a fast one? I'm not understanding that.

I was thinking hand-held ... My main use of the lens will be indoors, and people included posed ... IS isn't essential, I was mainly thinking that Canon's price was up there where IS lens prices sit.

***************

Related to my OP, apparently there's a Zeiss 15mm "Milvus" which shares similarity but with differences like lens coating. Whether Zeiss or other brands, I don't think weather sealing matters for me. I don't like shooting wide angle in rain or snow.

Finally narrowing a choice regarding all these UWA. As lovely as Zeiss is, even at B&H's reduced $1799 price yesterday, it's too much money to tie-up in one lens. Also, although it's f/4, I found my existing 16-35mm compares to Zeiss's detail for landscape. I have a 40 x 60 image of one largest redwood from about 50 feet and taper of individual needles is evident. Likewise, the Canon 14mm and Sigma 14mm art take too much cash useful elsewhere.

The Rokinon 14mm f/2.4 looks wonderful. But I recall the bulk of a Tokina UWA I used to have with it's coffee-cup-like lens cap. This is making the Rokinon 12mm appealing. The likely candidate is the 12mm. If I opt for the Rokinon 14mm 2.4, I will probably skip the lens cap. And it can go lens-down in my pack where the lens hood will keep the element protected.

I'm finding reviews about the 14mm 2.4 that imply some manufacturing inconsistency related to the focus ring and the rear mount fit when attaching. At $799 (or more) this matters much more than for a $300 12mm One extra thought ... the 12mm has filter threads for 67mm and I have several 67mm filters on hand already.

mdvaden wrote in post #18500386
Finally narrowing a choice regarding all these UWA lenses.

As lovely as Zeiss is, I decided that even at B&H's reduced $1799 price listed yesterday, it's too much money for me to tie-up in that one lens for my use. Also, although it's f/4, I found the existing 16-35mm compares to Zeiss's detail for landscape. I have a 40 x 60 image of one largest redwood taken from about 50 feet and taper of individual needles is evident. Likewise, the Canon 14mm and Sigma 14mm art take too much cash that would be useful elsewhere.

The Rokinon 14mm f/2.4 looks wonderful. But I recall the bulk of a Tokina UWA I used to have with it's coffee-cup-like lens cap. This is making the Rokinon 12mm appealing. The 12mm would not be restrictive, because it would actually give me more versatility than having no ultrawide fast prime.

The likely candidate is the 12mm. If I opt for the Rokinon 14mm 2.4, I will probably skip the lens cap. And it can go lens-down in my back where the built-in lens hood will keep the element up and protected. The girth is less too without the hood.

Now just a couple more things choosing between the two Rokinon. I'm finding reviews about the 14mm 2.4 that imply some manufacturing inconsistency related to the focus ring and the rear mount fit when attaching. At $799 (or more) this matters much more than for a $300 12mm

One extra thought ... the 12mm has filter threads for 67mm and I have several 67mm filters on hand already.

Or, (totally shameless plug) you could buy my Sigma 12-24mm II: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1488605

Bassat wrote in post #18500515
Or, (totally shameless plug) you could buy my Sigma 12-24mm II: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1488605

That's f/4

The only UWA I'm considering are 2.8 and faster ..

mdvaden wrote in post #18500670
That's f/4

The only UWA I'm considering are 2.8 and faster ..

It can't do f/4. F/4.5-5.6. But nowhere near f/2.8!

Bassat wrote in post #18500672
It can't do f/4. F/4.5-5.6. But nowhere near f/2.8!

You tried Craigslist yet? I've sold about a dozen lenses and two cameras on there, and always found a buyer in days to a couple weeks by refreshing the ad. Always meet at a coffee shop though.

One of the lenses in my OP ... the Zeiss, was listed in the Forum's marketplace this week. But I haven't settled on a brand yet, plus their used price for a 3 yr. old lens isn't too far from B&H's brand new price.