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View Full Version : Bought a Rokinon 85 f/1.4 Manual Focus/Aperture Lens.

powerslave
07-26-2010, 08:59 AM
So yeah. Impulse buy.

And this group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1464501@N22/

I know MFing on my XTi is going to be a PITA, but I'm just going to go with it. Depending on how bad things seem, I'll just do a hardhack and add a focusing screen + an AF confirmation chip - both slightly risky and not easily supported mods for the XTi.

Why I bought it a.k.a Pros:
- Fast (f/1.4).
- Unbelievable bokeh. (better than the EF 85 f/1.8)
- At f/1.4, it is gloriously sharp.
- Great build.
- Back to basics feel with manual focus and manual aperture (reminds me of the Nikkor 50mm MF MA lens from the film days I grew up playing with.)
- Cheap for the image quality it affords, people compare it to the 85L. I don't disagree.


Cons:
- No EXIF reported to the camera.
- Going to be a pain in my ass to focus on the XTi, but that's the XTi's con, not this lens'.
- Need a new camera bag.


Here's the amazon page: Link (http://www.amazon.com/Rokinon-Aspherical-Canon-Digital-Cameras/dp/B0025EWXEU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1280114698&sr=1-2-spell)
KrishnenduKes
07-26-2010, 06:32 PM
Congrats! Never heard about this! How we learn everyday. :D

Approved
powerslave
07-26-2010, 06:40 PM
Well, you need to look it up, because given that you have a 5D, you will order this lens very very soon.

Just go through a few image samples and test comparos with the 85L (leave alone the 85 f/1.8).
synn
07-27-2010, 09:36 AM
This is where we Nikon boys have it good. Focus confirmation is something that's bundled with every Nikon body. :D

Anyhoo, wanna see your shots with it soon. Does metering work with it?
powerslave
07-27-2010, 09:40 AM
Not on my Rebel. I can get the AF confirm chip for $5 off ebay, but the real problem is the size/brightness of the viewfinder and the focusing screen.
synn
07-27-2010, 09:45 AM
Definitely. Old manual camera viewfinders had much higher contrast which made it easier to focus. AF cameras have partially transparent mirrors to make the AF sensors work. A focusing screen definitely helps, so does live view.

Sometimes I pick up my old Vivitar v3000N just for kicks and realize just how easy MF is on these older bodies!
KrishnenduKes
07-27-2010, 11:50 AM
Sometimes I pick up my old Vivitar v3000N just for kicks and realize just how easy MF is on these older bodies!

Ouf! I really have no recollection of Manual focusing! Are you sure of what you are saying? I try switching on MF on my lenses and it is a pain. Last I truly used MF was with my OM2 lenses in the mid-late 90s!!! :eek:
synn
07-27-2010, 12:14 PM
It really is.

mine's a full manual body with a huge, bright viewfinder and a split screen for easy focusing. Also, the focus ring on the lens is damped and has a lot of travel, so it's quite easy to make fine adjustments.

Switching on manual mode on an AF lens is just not the same. Even with my D70s, the fully manual Zeiss 50 f1.4 is way easier to focus than the AF/MF Nikkor 50 f 1.4D.
anvancy-(macro analyst)
07-27-2010, 01:55 PM
Thats one AWESOME LENS!

Anvancy
powerslave
07-27-2010, 05:55 PM
Definitely. Old manual camera viewfinders had much higher contrast which made it easier to focus. AF cameras have partially transparent mirrors to make the AF sensors work. A focusing screen definitely helps, so does live view.

Sometimes I pick up my old Vivitar v3000N just for kicks and realize just how easy MF is on these older bodies!

I know exactly what you're talking about. The Nikon FE I grew up with was MF and even as I kid I had no problem focusing on target. The split center is awesome for focusing.

@Ken: You should look at some focusing screens for your 5D. Something like this (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/590458-REG/Canon_3357B001_Eg_S_Super_Precision_Matte.html). There are more options, I just picked that random one. 5D owners claim a world of a difference in MF after changing focusing screens.

Thats one AWESOME LENS!

Anvancy

If you're talking about photos from the group pool, then note that most of them (or all) are taken with a 5D/1D.

Gentlemen, what we have here is a real challenge on our hands. :D That, or a call to buy a used 5DC. :D
Vicky
07-27-2010, 09:02 PM
That does look like an impulsive buy!

I recently got to play around with the Samyang 85mm f/1.4 (http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/483-samyang_85_14_5d) lens at a camera store... The bulid was great... but manual focus sucked even on my 50D!


Overall It didn't impress me much... It was available of about 12k new with 1yr warranty, but I'd rather pick up the 85mm 1.8 @ 20k instead

p.s. Your Rokinon lens looks identical to the Samyang i checked out!!
powerslave
07-27-2010, 09:06 PM
It's the same lens. :) Just rebranded.

I have a feeling, I'm either going to end up selling this lens soon, or buy a 5DC. :D
hitanshu
07-28-2010, 11:26 AM
what's a 5dc?
KrishnenduKes
07-28-2010, 06:21 PM
It's the same lens. :) Just rebranded.

I have a feeling, I'm either going to end up selling this lens soon, or buy a 5DC. :D

Same question... what is a 5DC?
Vicky
07-28-2010, 08:05 PM
what's a 5dc?

Canon 5D (Classic) .. means the '5D Mk I' like Ken has:)
KrishnenduKes
07-28-2010, 08:18 PM
Canon 5D (Classic) .. means the '5D Mk I' like Ken has:)

Thanks... ROFL!!! :D :D

I really need to know photo jargon!
powerslave
07-28-2010, 08:36 PM
Sorry Ken, as Vicky pointed out 5DC is the one you have. They're going for $1200 for ones in good condition. Sounds like a steal to me.

BTW, the lens is here (I'm at work and it's just reached our shipping dept :D), can't wait to get my hands on it to get the blurriest shots of my life. :D
KrishnenduKes
07-28-2010, 08:44 PM
Sorry Ken, as Vicky pointed out 5DC is the one you have. They're going for $1200 for ones in good condition. Sounds like a steal to me.
:D

$1200 a steal!!! Great, take mine for that price. I can do with the 60K INR. :)
powerslave
07-28-2010, 09:15 PM
Sounds tempting.
KrishnenduKes
07-28-2010, 10:27 PM
Sounds tempting.

Be my guest! :)
powerslave
07-29-2010, 01:16 AM
Alright, just got my hands on this thing.

First impressions:
- Very very solidly built.
- The bokeh is unbelievable.
- The 400D meters with it! I guess I was mistaken about this earlier.
- The focus ring is firm but even.
- I can get within a good focusing range, but without the screen it is impossible to tell where the focus lies.

I am going to practice "guessing" the focus. There's a range through which the object appears in focus, but due to f/1.4's paper thin DOF, it's difficult to find it. I'm going to practice guessing the halfway point of this range.

Of the 10 odd shots I've taken from this lens, I think I got one or two in focus. Will know once I get home. I can't emphasize how much I love this lens. I can't imagine how good this must be on a 5D.
KrishnenduKes
07-29-2010, 09:31 AM
Waiting for the result to show!

Maybe you can also try what we did during the film days and some people call "hyperfocus"!
powerslave
07-29-2010, 06:33 PM
I'm going to paste a message from Facebook that I just typed about the lens.

"MFing a an MF lens is tough like a MF, especially without AF confirm or a high contrast focusing screen, but that's how I roll bitches.

Got some good (test) shots yesterday. And by good I mean in focus. And by in focus, I mean sharper than my nifty 50, but still not as sharp as someone with the luxury of a brighter VF could afford."

I have decided to keep this lens for a while and see how things go.

Hyperfocal technique is good for wide angle lenses, for a portrait lens like this, the background separation of the subject will go for a toss. Also, this lens, is quite the anomaly given that it's the sharpest at f/1.4 to f/4 and then reduces in sharpness (from what I've read).

I did take some shots at f/5.6 and those obviously felt easier to focus.

If nothing, this is making me think focusing all over again. I took test shots against the nifty fifty and ended up getting sharper shots at f/1.4 than with the nifty at f/1.8. Just need to practice my technique a bit. Also might get one of those AF confirm chips.

I have a feeling this is going to end up improving my technique on my other lenses as well.

Man, what a luxury AF is!
KrishnenduKes
07-29-2010, 07:43 PM
Exactly my point. AF is a boon. And cameras with good AF is tremendous. On the street you have neither the time nor the luxury of focussing manually. Which is where wide angle and hyper-focus come into play since once upon an eon, there was no AF! But I guess if you got a good MF lens, for studio work and for landscapes and for product shoots, you are gonna have a ball with super sharp images.
powerslave
07-30-2010, 09:22 AM
Yup. Although the through range it seems that the image is in focus is pretty long, I still think with a little practice I can get to a point where I can guess the mid way point.
Vicky
09-09-2010, 07:16 PM
Awaiting updates and sample photos!

Photozone have put in a review of this one here (http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/483-samyang_85_14_5d)
KrishnenduKes
09-09-2010, 08:21 PM
Awaiting updates and sample photos!

Photozone have put in a review of this one here (http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/483-samyang_85_14_5d)

Wow! Thanks Vicky for that great link.

Me too, pix and reviews awaited.
powerslave
09-10-2010, 10:17 AM
I have taken a few pics with this lens from my camera and then a few from a 40d and t2i, and my god what a difference live view makes. This lens is useless on a XTi.

I'm selling it. :) This would be a dream on a 5D/full framer. I'll have samples over this weekend.

I am currently busy having too mcuh fun with my s95 that came in today. I love that camera. :D
KrishnenduKes
09-11-2010, 10:37 AM
I am currently busy having too mcuh fun with my s95 that came in today. I love that camera. :D

Congratulations!

Is asking for a review too much? :)
anvancy-(macro analyst)
09-11-2010, 11:12 AM
I have taken a few pics with this lens from my camera and then a few from a 40d and t2i, and my god what a difference live view makes. This lens is useless on a XTi.

I'm selling it. :) This would be a dream on a 5D/full framer. I'll have samples over this weekend.

I am currently busy having too mcuh fun with my s95 that came in today. I love that camera. :D

Ill mail my address to you.Ship it to me.haha..

Anvancy
powerslave
09-12-2010, 02:56 AM
@Ken: I'm gathering sample pics, from and of the camera, plus getting familiar with all the features. I'll have one up.

@Anvancy: Not sure about that, :D, that's going to my 85 f/1.8 fund. :D
KrishnenduKes
09-12-2010, 12:55 PM
@Ken: I'm gathering sample pics, from and of the camera, plus getting familiar with all the features. I'll have one up.
:D

Good! Will be waiting. :)