OL: Samyang 12mm f/2 AF – An Obvious Choice For Budget Conscious Photographers


Samyang 12mm f/2: B&H Photo / Amazon

Optical Limits published its full Samyang AF 12mm f/2 FE review here which you can read in full or you can check out the excerpt below:

The Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E strikes a nice balance between quality and pricing. The border/corner performance is just Okay at f/2 – which isn’t ideal for astrophotography despite the lens being marketed for this purpose. The heavy vignetting also requires quite some auto-correction at this setting. However, the image quality sharpens up nicely at f/2.8 already, and it’s pretty darn good between f/4 to f/5.6. The native lateral CAs are somewhat on the high side, but auto-correction can do its magic here without losses. It doesn’t have much to work on with respect to image distortions – these are quite low. Flare can be a bit of a problem in difficult scenes, so don’t forget to use the provided lens hood. The bokeh is rather rough, unfortunately. Sun stars are nicely rendered, though.

It’s a rather low-budget lens, but you won’t really notice this when picking up the lens. It’s very lightweight, yet it feels solid, and the texture of the rubberized, focus ring is also quite nice. Additionally, it also features decent weather sealing, including a sealed rear element for extra protection. The AF is pretty snappy and quiet.

The Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E may not be the best ultra-wide angle lens in its class, but if you are on a budget, it is a viable choice.

Follow SonyAddict on FacebookTwitterInstagram, and YouTube

Plus our owners’ groups
Sony a1 Owners Group
Sony a9 Owners Group
Sony a7 Owners Group

This entry was posted in 3rd Party Lens and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment.
  • FCC disclosure statement: this post may contain affiliate links or promotions that do not cost readers anything but help keep this website alive. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support!