SAMYANG AE 14mm f / 2.8 ED IF UMC wide angle Lens - for Nikon

I'd like to preface this review with a short explanation to put things in context: Firstly, I am an experienced photographer with many years of practice, experimentation and mastery (or at least attempted mastery) of various fields in photography. I know how equipment works and how to test a lens in my own home. Secondly, I am not an impulsive buyer. In fact, I prefer to research every aspect of something before I press the 'Buy Now' button. I am sure there is a name for this condition. It was for these reasons that, when I ordered this lens, I was fully aware of both the amazing AND the disappointing experiences other people have had with it. However, ordering through an Amazon reseller (fulfilled by Amazon) I was confident that should I be able to properly test it and it appear faulty, I would be able to exchange it for another copy.I had read so many positive things about this lens (the price, sharpness wide open and lack of coma - which is so essential for astrophotography) but also some negative reviews as well (most frequent and notable the number of copies exhibiting decentring of lens elements causing uneven sharpness across the frame and the sloppy calibration of the focus scale). It was with apprehension and a nervous optimism that I opened the box when the package arrived a few days ago.There are many online resources that will help you with how to test a new lens so I will not bore you with it here. However, it is definitely worth noting that the sharpness/decentring test went very well, eventually. Working with such a wide angle lens is not easy, so if you end up with one of these arriving through your letterbox take note... Test twice, return once. Initially, there appeared to be some decentring when viewing images of a flat wall at 100%, so like any good new lens owner I went back to the tripod and tested again. It appeared that I had not aligned the camera horizontally to the plain of testing the first time as corners were much sharper the second time around. Not perfect, but better.Next came the focusing scale calibration test... set up on a tripod and focus (using Live View) on various objects at different distances on the scale. Surprisingly very accurate at short and mid distances - a lovely surprise considering some of the reviews I had read. Next came the most important test for astrophotography... infinity focus. Many of the bad reviews I had read stated that infinity focus was way off the mark on the focussing scale of the lens. So I focussed on a distant tree using Live View. Hmmm, initially I feared that my new lens, good so far, was not quite focussing at infinity. In fact it felt like true infinity would occur AFTER the focussing stop (contrary to the reviews I had read which suggested that some copies focussed at infinity way BEFORE the infinity mark on the lens) A 100% check on the monitor was inconclusive. This left me with only one option - go and shoot some stars. Well, to cut a long story short, a day after this lens arrived I found myself on top of a hill in the pitch blackness of night with my tripod, new lens and shutter release... heaven! Using Live View (and the appropriate camera settings) I focussed on a bright star next to the Milky Way (achieved only slightly past the infinity mark on the focussing scale), released the shutter, zoomed in on the image on the back of my camera and was blown away. When I got home and viewed the image at 100% I could see some slight decentring in two extreme corners at 100%, but it was nothing to worry about at all. The importance of the lens' ability to focus on infinity (the stars) had been proven. It's sharp and it's wide enough to capture a large portion of the Milky Way.In short, this lens is not perfect. But it is easily good enough to become a long term keeper for me. I have tested it and I know it will make the images I want it to make. It has my confidence. If you are like me and have read all the reviews and done all the research (and are reading this review now to try and help you make a decision) just go for it. My guess is that Samyang have acted on the feedback regarding infinity focus and have introduced a process into their quality control workflow to make sure they are shipped with accurate focussing scales.

Like many other reviewers here I was somewhat doubtful of this lens given it's excellent price, I needn't have worried. Samyang have produced an excellent, sharp and well built lens and at this price I would suggest it's a must buy for astrophotography or landscapes. I have used the lens on a Canon 6d and 7d and have been very happy with image quality. Sure there is vignetting but no more than my Canon 17-40 and the Samyang is sharper wide open than that lens. Of course, it's main use is as a massive light gatherer when used in darkness for nightscapes. At F2.8 and with the focus set to infinity the results are excellent (see attached image).Of course it's fully manual but for most landscapers thats no big deal. I use manual focus and exposure all the time and so should you if you want make the most of your images. This lens pushes you to think which for me helps with creativity.

There are many good technical reviews out there already so this isn't another one. What makes a really good lens is how well it works for YOU. Yes, this lens has some weird distortions that can't be fully corrected for (at least, not that I have found) and it is only manual focus and doesn't communicate with the camera body so manual aperture control too.Any good points? Well yes... after a little bit of vignette correction in Lightroom (along with as much distortion correction as the found profile will allow) the image quality is very good. Most reviewers will advise to not use this lens for shooting architecture which has lots of straight vertical lines due to the 'moustache' shaped distortion but that is mostly what I use it for. It sometimes needs a bit of creative manual distortion correction to cure wavy verticals. The Canon 17-40mm lens I have is easier to use, more flexible and produces less distortion but I have some clients that absolutely insist on having the widest-angle shots possible. Is it my everyday go-to work lens? No, but it is always in the camera bag.It also produces fantastic images of the the night sky, stars and all that stuff. For the price, this is a great value lens.

This is my 3rd Samyang lens. I also have the 135mm and the 85mm versions so you might think I am a fan - well you would be correct. This 14mm UWA lens is excellent value for money, providing super sharp image quality and good build quality. Yes there's a bit more work involved in taking a photo as it's fully manual but it's highly satisfying and the results can be very pleasing. It's certainly not really a walk-around lens as shots 'from the hip' are often a waste of time unless you're dead lucky. A tripod or steady support is a must to get the best results. If you are certain a fully manual lens is for you then this will not disappoint.

I was so disappointed in the lens..I wanted it for wide angle astro imagery and despite about a week of trailing going across the second half of the focusing rings adjustment failed to get an acceptable non blurred usable image fully open at F2:8... The infinity mark may as well not be on the lens as it fails miserably It is fairly sharpish at f8 about 5mm before the infinity mark but still not worth purchasing in my opinion.....TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY.....It may be a bad copy and reason it was sold as used....IT WILL BE SOLD AS FAULTY ALONG WITH THE PILE OF SH(£Eof a filter holder and blue graduation filter...The filter holder is a pain in the ass to put on and remove and the cheap tacky plastic filter degrades the already poor images even more....MY ADVICE IS TO AVOID SAVE A LITTLE MORE MONEY AND GET SOMETHING THAT DOES WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN..... The one I received may however as stated be a returned faulty one.....I would have given it a zero star rating but that was not an option....JC ...