Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Full Frame - Review

Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Full Frame Auto Focus Lens for Sony E-Mount, Black (IO14AF-E): A Professional's Review

As a professional photographer, I always prefer using prime lenses as they offer sharpness, excellent low-light performance, and the ability to create stunning bokeh. Recently, I got my hands on the Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Full Frame Auto Focus Lens for Sony E-Mount, Black (IO14AF-E) and was excited to test it out. In this review, I will share my honest thoughts about this lens.

Build and Design:

The Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Full Frame Auto Focus Lens is constructed of high strength aluminum alloy housing, which makes it feel sturdy and durable. The build quality is impressive, and the overall design is sleek and streamlined. The lens features UMC anti-reactive coatings, three Aspherical lens elements, and two ED lens elements, which help to reduce chromatic aberrations, flare, and ghosting. The lens has a solid weight which balances well with my Sony camera.

Performance:

One of the things I love about this lens is its autofocus motor, which is integrated into the lens and works in conjunction with Sony cameras' focusing systems for quick, accurate, and precise AF control. I have tested it on various situations such as landscape, architecture, and astrophotography. The autofocus performed admirably in all those situations without any significant issues. However, there are some situations where I prefer manual focusing, especially in low light.

The minimum focusing distance of 7.9 inches is impressive, and it allows me to capture some unique perspectives of my subjects from up close. The aperture range of F2.8-22 with 7 aperture blades delivers decent bokeh which complements the focal length.

Image Quality:

The Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Full Frame Auto Focus Lens delivers excellent image quality as I have expected from a prime lens. The lens produces images with stunning sharpness, contrast, and clarity, and it delivered edge to edge sharpness. The aspherical and ED elements did an excellent job of ensuring that the chromatic aberrations are kept under control, delivering color accuracy with minimal distortion. The aperture blades produce beautiful circular bokeh which adds a nice touch to portrait shots.

Compatibility:

Another excellent feature of this lens is its compatibility with both full-frame and APS-C cameras, with an angle of view of 113.9 degrees on full-frame cameras and 89.8 degrees on APS-C cameras. The compatibility allows me to use this lens across a wide range of applications, from landscape and architecture to portraits and indoor shoots.

Accessories:

The Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Full Frame Auto Focus Lens for Sony E-Mount, Black (IO14AF-E) comes with lens caps, a lens case, and a 1-year warranty. The lens caps are convenient, and the included lens case offers good protection for the lens, especially when traveling.

Pros:

- Excellent image quality

- Durable build quality

- Minimum focusing distance of 7.9 inches

- Produces beautiful bokeh

- Compatible with full-frame and APS-C cameras

- Autofocus works well

Cons

- No weather sealing.

- Some distortion at the corners at 14mm

Customer Reviews:

Looking at customer reviews on various online retailers, the Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Full Frame Auto Focus Lens for Sony E-Mount, Black (IO14AF-E) has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, from 153 reviews.

Conclusion:

Overall, the Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Full Frame Auto Focus Lens for Sony E-Mount, Black (IO14AF-E) is an excellent lens that offers exceptional value for money. Its solid build quality, autofocus system, image quality, and compatibility make it a recommended addition to any photographer's kit. However, some distortion may be present at 14mm, which may be noticeable in some shooting scenarios. All in all, this lens is an excellent choice for those who want a reliable, high-quality, and versatile lens for their Sony mirrorless camera.

Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Full Frame

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