{"id":19089,"date":"2025-07-31T03:46:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T03:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/?p=19089"},"modified":"2025-07-31T03:46:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T03:46:09","slug":"rokinon-14-24mm-f-2-8-af-ultra-review-whats-the-catch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/?p=19089","title":{"rendered":"Rokinon 14-24mm f\/2.8 AF Ultra Review: What&#8217;s the Catch?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"fluid-iframe\" style=\"max-width: 800px;\">\n<p><iframe title=\"Ultra-Wide? Schneider-Kreuznach? Standard Filters? What&#039;s the Catch?\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6-gj6qXW5Tg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>LK Samyang revealed a very exciting lens at the CP+ show in 2024 and it turned my head when I walked past the booth. Not only are ultra-compact ultra-wide zoom lenses few and far between, but this particular lens was a co-venture with the storied lens manufacturer, Schneider-Kreuznach. <\/p>\n<p>  <center\/> <\/p>\n<p>Now the lens is on the market, and I got a chance to play with the North American distribution version which lives under the brand name Rokinon. This is a unique lens with its tiny dimensions, light weight, and design that allows the use of filters despite the extreme wide angle. What compromises await us in order to achieve such a small form factor at a price of $1,200?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805145\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805145\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" data-perfmatters-preload=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00940-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a Rokinon camera lens showing detailed texture, engraved text reading &quot;r14 SUPER WIDE&quot; and &quot;ROKINON,&quot; and specifications &quot;0.18m \/ 0.59ft \u00d877&quot; on a dark, blurred background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805145\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00940-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00940-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00940-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00940-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00940-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00940-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00940-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805145\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Rokinon 14-24mm is the exact same lens as the Samyang.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr\/>\n<p><em><strong>Editor\u2019s Note:<\/strong> While this lens is called the Rokinon 14-24mm f\/2.8 AF Ultra, in regions outside of North America, it is known as the Schneider-Kreuznach x LK Samyang AF 14-24mm f\/2.8 FE in other regions. The lenses are identical outside of the branding, so as confusing as that is, photographers should understand that the findings in this review apply to both LK Samyang and Rokinin-branded lenses.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Rokinon 14-24mm f\/2.8 AF Ultra Review: How It Feels<\/h2>\n<p>Small form factor really is the key of this lens. The Rokinon 14-24mm only weighs 15.7 ounces (445 grams), which is insane for such a complicated lens formula. The body design still manages to be weather-sealed, and there is a USB-C port installed to handle firmware updates. Most impressively, Rokinon managed to fit a standard 77mm filter thread on the front of the lens. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805148\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805148\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00944-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A Rokinon FE 14-24mm F2.8 camera lens is placed on a grid-patterned surface with its lens cap lying nearby. The background is dark and textured.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00944-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00944-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00944-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00944-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00944-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00944-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00944-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805148\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This lens is tiny, and I appreciate the inclusion of 77mm filters.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805146\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805146\" style=\"width: 533px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00941-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a camera lens with a textured grip, showing a switch labeled AF\/MF for selecting between autofocus and manual focus modes, against a dark background.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00941-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00941-213x320.jpg 213w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00941-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00941-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00941-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805146\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The lens feels a little plasticky, but the textured grips are nice to use, and the lens is weather-sealed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805143\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805143\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00938-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A black Rokinon camera lens stands upright on a dark, textured surface with a matching dark background. The lens has white text labels and visible grip ridges along the body.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805143\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00938-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00938-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00938-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00938-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00938-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00938-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00938-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805143\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Most 14-24mm lenses would be massive, with a heavy chassis, and fixed hood.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The 14-24mm is well-appointed, with two different textures of rubber grip on the focus and zoom ring. This might not be the most visually pleasing choice, but it is very easy to know which ring you are manipulating without having to look. I was pleasantly surprised to see an AF\/MF button and a customizable control button as well. I honestly didn\u2019t expect to see all these controls present on such a lens. There is a simple, plastic, bayonet-style lens hood to complete the package. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805147\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805147\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00943-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a camera lens showing certification symbols (UKCA, CE, FCC) and a micro USB port. The text &quot;Technology by LK SAMYANG&quot; is visible above the port. The lens sits on a grid-patterned surface.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805147\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00943-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00943-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00943-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00943-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00943-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00943-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00943-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805147\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">You can keep the lens up to date with the built-in USB-C port.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805157\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805157\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-Wet-Feet-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"A person wearing a red shirt kneels in a shallow river, using a camera on a tripod. A large concrete bridge spans the river in the background, surrounded by greenery and trees.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-Wet-Feet-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-Wet-Feet-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-Wet-Feet-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-Wet-Feet-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805157\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In practical use, I found the Rokinon to be easy to carry and handy to use.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Rokinon 14-24mm f\/2.8 AF Ultra Review: How It Shoots<\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s address the filter thread on this lens because most manufacturers making lenses in these extreme ranges tend to omit having any forward-mounted filters. Usually, on lenses like this, the hood is also a fixed affair. Bucking both trends, not only does the Rokinon manage to provide filter threads on the front of its lens, but it also manages to keep it down to 77mm. <\/p>\n<p>There are caveats. I tested the Rokinon with my Maven magnetic ND filters and, unfortunately, I could easily see the edges of the filter with even just one filter mounted onto the thin magnetic holder. If you stick to a single 77mm filter, you should be okay. However, any stacking or use of a filter mounted on a magnetic holder will likely show up in your photo. Of course, this only occurs at the 14mm end of the lens, and I found that going to around 16mm allowed for multiple filters to be used. The convenience of having filters on this lens is a huge asset, but it comes with one major caveat. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805156\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805156\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-In-Hand-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"A person with gray hair wearing a red plaid shirt is taking a photo with a Sony camera mounted on a tripod in a wooded outdoor area.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-In-Hand-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-In-Hand-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-In-Hand-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-In-Hand-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805156\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Using filters should really be stated as using a filter, because you can only use one without blocking light.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805159\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805159\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00972-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A clear river flows over smooth rocks, bordered by trees and mountains under a blue sky with wispy clouds, viewed from a low angle near the riverbank.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00972-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00972-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00972-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00972-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00972-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00972-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00972-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805159\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nice landscape, but my filter holder blocked the corners. I\u2019m going to have to crop this or avoid using the 14mm end with filters.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The autofocus is driven by a more affordable stepping motor but I found the AF speed to be perfectly acceptable given that ultra-wide angle lenses will mostly be used for astrophotography and landscape pursuits. The focusing motor isn\u2019t particularly slow despite the more affordable and older design, and I could see using the Rokinon 14-24mm for street shooting without much issue. I liked the overall feel of the focusing ring and the short throw of the zoom, although the lens does come across as feeling very plasticky in its build quality.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805161\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805161\" style=\"width: 533px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00988-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"A sunburst appears above the railing of a concrete bridge over a river, with trees and shrubs along the riverbank under a clear blue sky.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00988-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00988-213x320.jpg 213w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00988-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00988-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00988-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805161\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">You can get an okay sunburst effect. It\u2019s nothing to get excited about, though.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805165\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805165\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01009-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white photo of a river with smooth flowing water, surrounded by tall pine trees and a forested mountain in the background under a cloudy sky.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805165\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01009-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01009-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01009-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01009-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01009-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01009-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01009-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805165\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This is a great little backpacking lens to get up into the high country with.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Bokeh is not a huge concern for an ultra-wide lens like this, but the specular highlights do tend to be a little messy with a soap bubble effect as well. This tends to give a harsh look to the out-of-focus backgrounds when shooting at wider apertures. However, the only time I really noticed issues was when shooting close-up shots. With most landscape situations, the expansive depth of field of this lens will cover up any issues. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805170\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805170\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00985-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a textured gray rock in sharp focus with a blurred background showing a flowing river, green foliage, and a bridge under a bright blue sky.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805170\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00985-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00985-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00985-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00985-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00985-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00985-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00985-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805170\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The bokeh is alright. You can get a bit of harshness in the backgrounds, but it\u2019s not often that you\u2019ll have such shallow depth of field.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01040-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white photo of a river with small waterfalls flowing over rocks, surrounded by dense pine forests and distant mountains under a partly cloudy sky.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-805169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01040-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01040-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01040-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01040-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01040-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01040-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01040-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>On the topic of close-ups, the 14-24mm has a very versatile ability to shoot detail shots. It can achieve a 1:3.94 life-size magnification ratio at 24mm, although the working distance from the front of the lens is only a couple of inches. I had to take the hood off and even then, the camera often cast a shadow on the subject. If you can work around this, the close-up shots are dramatic and sharp. As I mentioned earlier, expect the backgrounds to draw the eye a bit, due to the frenetic look of the soft-focus areas. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805163\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805163\" style=\"width: 533px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00995-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of blooming white daisies with yellow centers in a sunlit field, with a blurred green background and more daisies in the distance.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00995-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00995-213x320.jpg 213w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00995-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00995-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00995-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805163\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">You can get pretty close to subjects and push that background farther away.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00969-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of purple wildflowers with yellow centers in focus, surrounded by green foliage and blurred beige seed heads in the background.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-805158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00969-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00969-213x320.jpg 213w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00969-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00969-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00969-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>This lens seems to have a fair number of quirks and the way it handles flare also goes on the list. Contrast is excellent when shooting towards bright light sources, but the ghosting is another story. At f\/2.8, the Rokinon 14-24mm tends to create vivid rainbow-colored balls of light on the opposite side of the image. Stop down to a tighter aperture, and you get a vivid bugle-shaped rainbow instead. The effect is sometimes fun to see, but it is intensely distracting, and I wish it were better controlled. The sunstar effect is fairly average on this lens, but it can be nice once in awhile. The more polygonal shape of the aperture blades helps to give the sunstars a touch of character. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805162\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805162\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00993-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A view from beneath a concrete bridge on a sunny day, with the sun shining brightly above, creating lens flare. Trees and blue sky are visible in the background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00993-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00993-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00993-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00993-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00993-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00993-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00993-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805162\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Flare is an issue, or to be more specific, ghosting. The bright rainbow pattern is very eye-catching.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01011-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A scenic river flows over rocks in the foreground, surrounded by dense green trees and hills under a partly cloudy sky, with distant mountains in the background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-805166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01011-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01011-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01011-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01011-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01011-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01011-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01011-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>At 14mm, this lens is sharp in the center of the frame at f\/2.8. I was pleased with the detail, wide-open, and only saw slight improvement when stopping the lens down. The corners also have decent detail at f\/2.8, but there is a little vignetting apparent. Corner sharpness noticeably improves by the time you stop the lens down to f\/5.6. I also found the corners of the frame to be largely in focus when the center of the image is. The lens is clearly optimized to perform best at 14mm. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805152\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805152\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-14-Center-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"A side-by-side comparison of two camera test charts, both at 14mm focal length. The left is labeled &quot;f\/2.8&quot; and the right &quot;f\/5.6.&quot; Each chart features concentric circles, color and grayscale bars, and currency images.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-14-Center-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-14-Center-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-14-Center-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-14-Center-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805152\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sharpness at 14mm is excellent, even at the widest apertures.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805154\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805154\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-24mm-Center-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Side-by-side camera test charts show various colors, geometric patterns, and a Canadian bill section, labeled \u201c24mm @ f\/2.8\u201d on the left and \u201c24mm @ f\/5.6\u201d on the right for sharpness comparison.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-24mm-Center-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-24mm-Center-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-24mm-Center-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-24mm-Center-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805154\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">At the 24mm end, you really want to stop the lens down for best results.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_805153\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-805153\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-24-Corner-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Side-by-side comparison of two photos showing a Canadian one dollar bill, geometric shapes, and a focus card. Left image is labeled &quot;24mm @ f\/2.8&quot; and right image is labeled &quot;24mm @ f\/5.6.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-large wp-image-805153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-24-Corner-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-24-Corner-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-24-Corner-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Rokinon-14-24mm-24-Corner-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-805153\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Corner sharpness never really quite pleases at the 24mm end.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01029-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A scenic view of a small waterfall flowing over rocks, surrounded by evergreen trees and forested hills under a partly cloudy sky.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-805168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01029-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01029-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01029-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01029-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01029-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01029-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01029-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>When you go to 24mm, the center lacks the same detail and contrast at f\/2.8. The results aren\u2019t bad by any stretch, but stopping the lens down a bit is advised. The corners fare poorly at the 24mm end as well, with soft results at f\/2.8 and some lingering softness at f\/5.6. Unlike at the 14mm end, you definitely want to focus on the corners specifically if your subject is off-center. I like to use a 24mm lens for landscape, so I made sure to simply shoot at a tighter aperture to ensure good results. At the 14mm end, I would have no qualms about using f\/2.8.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01003-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A smooth, flowing river with large rocks in the foreground, surrounded by dense green pine trees and mountains under a partially cloudy sky. The water appears silky due to a long exposure.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-805164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01003-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01003-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01003-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01003-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01003-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01003-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01003-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00981-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A clear river flows swiftly past rocks and fallen trees, surrounded by dense green forest and distant hills under a bright blue sky with wispy clouds.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-805160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00981-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00981-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00981-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00981-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00981-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00981-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00981-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/p>\n<h2>Rokinon 14-24mm f\/2.8 AF Ultra Review: Compact but Lots of Compromise<\/h2>\n<p>This lens demands a bit of care to really maximize your results. You\u2019ve got to watch the ghosting, take care with filter use, and use tighter apertures at the tight end of the lens. However, there is no denying that the results are generally sharp, and that you get a versatile lens without breaking the bank. What impressed me most was just how easy it was to take this lens with me on a hike. It weighs so little and covers a useful landscape range. For the $1,200 asking price, I think Rokinon has a lens that will please a lot of architectural photographers with its 14mm quality and many landscape photographers who will shoot at tighter apertures anyway, avoiding some of the compromises of the optic. Currently, this lens is only open to Sony E-mount users, however. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01013-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"A large, pale rock with numerous small, deep holes sits among other stones on a rocky landscape, with trees and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky. The image is in black and white.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-805167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01013-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01013-213x320.jpg 213w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01013-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01013-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC01013-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\"\/><\/p>\n<h3>Are There Alternatives?<\/h3>\n<p>Sony makes a stunningly good G Master 12-24mm f\/2.8 lens, but the price alone is astronomical, and the lens is bulky without any front filter usage. Sigma makes an excellent 14-24mm f\/2.8 Art lens, but it is heavier and precludes the use of filters as well. The Sigma offers better optical performance with fewer conveniences, for roughly the same price.<\/p>\n<h3>Should You Buy It?<\/h3>\n<p>Maybe. Hopefully, this review shows you the pitfalls involved with this lens. If you can work around them, you will love the compact convenience that this lens offers.<\/p>\n<p> <center\/>      <\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LK Samyang revealed a very exciting lens at the CP+ show in 2024 and it turned my head when I walked past the booth. Not only are ultra-compact ultra-wide zoom lenses few and far between, but this particular lens was a co-venture with the storied lens manufacturer, Schneider-Kreuznach. Now the lens is on the market, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19090,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSC00940-800x533.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-19089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19089"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19089\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19089"},{"taxonomy":"offerexpiration","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fofferexpiration&post=19089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}