If you are looking for a wide-angle lens that can capture stunning landscapes, night skies, or interiors, you might have come across Samyang and Rokinon lenses. These two brands offer a range of affordable and high-quality lenses that can fit various camera bodies and purposes.
But what is the difference between them, and which one should you choose? In this article, we will compare Samyang vs Rokinon lenses, their features, pros and cons, and some of their best models for different scenarios.
Samyang and Rokinon: The Same Company with Different Names
The first thing you need to know is that Samyang and Rokinon are actually the same company. Samyang Optics is a South Korean manufacturer of lenses that has been producing optics since 1972. They started as a provider of manual-focus only lenses for other firms, but now they produce a wide range of products for DSLR and mirrorless cameras, as well as cine lenses, binoculars, telescopes, and filters.
Samyang's philosophy is to produce high-quality products at an affordable price point, and they are known for their excellent build quality and value for money. They also offer a line of cine lenses, which are designed for video use.
These lenses have smooth focus and aperture controls, as well as de-clicked apertures for smoother iris pulls during video recording. Samyang cine lenses are available in both prime and zoom varieties.
Rokinon is the brand name used by Samyang in North America, while Samyang is used in Europe and Asia. The reason for this branding expansion is to reach more markets and customers. For the most part, you can consider Rokinon and Samyang to be the same company, with the same products and quality standards.
However, there might be some minor differences in price, availability, warranty, or customer service depending on where you buy your lens from. So it is always advisable to check the reviews and ratings of the seller before making a purchase.
Samyang vs Rokinon Lenses: Features and Benefits
Samyang and Rokinon lenses have some common features and benefits that make them appealing to photographers who want to get more creative with their shots. Here are some of them:
Wide-angle
Samyang and Rokinon lenses are known for their wide-angle options, ranging from 8mm to 35mm. These lenses can capture a large field of view, making them ideal for landscapes, astrophotography, architecture, or interiors. They can also create dramatic effects by exaggerating the perspective or distortion of the scene.
Fast Apertures
Many Samyang and Rokinon lenses have fast apertures of f/2.8 or lower, which means they can let in more light and create a shallow depth of field.
This can help you achieve better low-light performance, sharper images, or more background blur. Fast apertures are especially useful for astrophotography, where you need to capture faint stars or galaxies.
Manual Focus
Most Samyang and Rokinon lenses are manual focus only, which means you have to adjust the focus ring by hand to get your subject in focus.
This might seem like a drawback for some people who are used to autofocus systems, but it can also be an advantage for others who want more control and precision over their shots. Manual focus can also help you avoid hunting or missing focus in challenging situations, such as low contrast or moving subjects.
Affordable
One of the main selling points of Samyang and Rokinon lenses is their affordability.
Compared to similar lenses from other brands, such as Canon or Nikon, Samyang and Rokinon lenses are much cheaper without compromising on quality or performance.
Samyang vs Rokinon Lenses: Drawbacks and Limitations
Of course, no lens is perfect, and Samyang and Rokinon lenses also have some drawbacks and limitations that you should be aware of before buying one. Here are some of them:
Distortion
Wide-angle lenses tend to have some degree of distortion, which means they can bend or stretch the edges or corners of the image. This can be noticeable especially when shooting straight lines or geometric shapes. Some distortion can be corrected in post-processing software, but not all of it.
If you want a more accurate representation of reality, you might want to look for a lens with less distortion or use a longer focal length.
Fixed Hood
Some Samyang and Rokinon lenses have a fixed hood that cannot be removed or attached. A hood is a piece of plastic that extends around the front element of the lens to block unwanted light from entering the lens and causing flare or glare.
A hood can also protect the lens from dust, moisture, or impact. However, a fixed hood can also make the lens bigger, heavier, or harder to store. It can also prevent you from using filters, such as polarizers or neutral density filters, which can enhance your images in some situations.
No Autofocus
As mentioned earlier, most Samyang and Rokinon lenses are manual focus only, which means you have to adjust the focus ring by hand to get your subject in focus. This can be a challenge for some people who are not used to manual focus or who have poor eyesight or shaky hands.
It can also make it harder to capture fast-moving or unpredictable subjects, such as wildlife, sports, or children. If you prefer autofocus or need it for your type of photography, you might want to look for a lens with autofocus capability.
Samyang vs Rokinon Lenses: Best Models for Different Scenarios
Now that you know the features, benefits, drawbacks, and limitations of Samyang and Rokinon lenses, you might be wondering which one to choose for your specific needs and preferences. Here are some of the best models for different scenarios:
Best for Astrophotography
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 Lens
Samyang 14mm f/2.8 Lens
If you want to capture the beauty of the night sky, you need a wide-angle lens with a fast aperture and minimal distortion. The Samyang 14mm f/2.8 or Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens is a great choice for this purpose.
It has an extremely wide field of view of 115°, which can fit a lot of stars or even the Milky Way in your frame. It also has a fast aperture of f/2.8, which can help you collect more light and reduce noise in your images.
The distortion is relatively low for such a wide lens, and the manual focus can help you achieve precise focus on the stars.
Best for Landscapes
Samyang 24mm f/1.4 Lens
Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 Lens
If you want to capture stunning landscapes, you need a wide-angle lens that can show the depth and scale of the scene. The Samyang 24mm f/1.4 or Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 lens is a good option for this purpose.
It has a wide field of view of 84°, which can capture a lot of details and elements in your scene. It also has a very fast aperture of f/1.4, which can help you create a shallow depth of field or isolate your subject from the background.
The distortion is moderate for this focal length, and the manual focus can help you achieve hyperfocal distance or focus stacking techniques.
Best for Interiors
Samyang 12mm f/2 Lens
Rokinon 12mm f/2 Lens
If you want to capture the inside of rooms, buildings, or vehicles, you need a wide-angle lens that can show the space and layout of the scene. The Samyang 12mm f/2 or Rokinon 12mm f/2 lens is a great choice for this purpose.
It has an ultra-wide field of view of 99°, which can fit a lot of space and objects in your frame. It also has a fast aperture of f/2, which can help you deal with low-light situations or create a shallow depth of field.
The distortion is high for this focal length, but it can also create some interesting effects or perspectives in your images.
Best for Video
Rokinon 85mm T1.5 Cine Lens
Samyang 35mm T1.9 Cine Lens
If you want to shoot video with your camera, you need a lens that has smooth and silent focus and aperture controls, as well as de-clicked apertures for smoother iris pulls.
The Samyang/Rokinon cine lenses are designed for this purpose. They have gears on the focus and aperture rings that can be attached to follow-focus systems or remote controllers. They also have de-clicked apertures that can be adjusted smoothly without any clicks or jumps in exposure.
The Samyang/Rokinon cine lenses are available in various focal lengths and apertures, such as 8mm T3.8, 14mm T3.1, 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5, 85mm T1.5.
Conclusion
Samyang and Rokinon lenses are two names for the same company that produces affordable and high-quality lenses for various camera bodies and purposes. They are known for their wide-angle options with fast apertures and manual focus capabilities.
Samyang and Rokinon lenses have some common features and benefits that make them appealing to photographers who want to get more creative with their shots, such as capturing stunning landscapes, night skies, interiors, or videos.
However, they also have some drawbacks and limitations that you should be aware of before buying one, such as distortion, fixed hood, or no autofocus.
Depending on your specific needs and preferences, you might want to choose one of their best models for different scenarios.
We hope this article has helped you understand the difference between Samyang and Rokinon lenses and how to choose the best one for you.
If you have any questions or comments about Samyang and Rokinon lenses, feel free to leave them below.
Happy shooting!
Further Reading
(1) Rokinon vs. Samyang Lenses. What is the Difference?