The following chart presents a comparison between basic parameters of the tested lens and those of its direct rivals. It is clear the Samyang Premium is the heaviest and optically most complex lens of all the group and, along with the Irix, it sticks out with an aperture with nine diaphragm blades. The Canon and the Nikkor feature the shortest minimum focusing distance for a change. Only Irix allows you to use classic filters but it is also physically the biggest lens among them all.
In the photo below the Samyang 2.4/14 is positioned next to the Samyang 3.5/8 designed for APS-C/DX sensors.
The Samyang 14 mm f/2.4 Premium starts with a metal mount and contacts. The mount surrounds a rear element, 24 mm in diameter, which doesn’t move. The area near that element is nicely blackened and matted.
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The proper body of the lens begins with a black, metal ring; the further you go from the mount the bigger the diameter of the ring is. On its surface you can find an inscription “MADE IN KOREA” and fine ribbing. There’s no aperture ring because you control the aperture via the camera.
There’s also no depth of field scale, a strange omission for a manual fixed-focal lens. A well-composed depth of field scale comes in useful and manual ‘primes’ usually feature that help. Additionally, with this kind of focal length, the depth of field is really significant so such a scale would be often consulted.
A narrow, silver ring which doesn’t move is another part of the casing. Right behind it you can find another ring, movable this time, controlling the focus. It is 38 mm wide and one part is occupied by a distance scale expressed in feet and meters; the rest is covered by rubber armour which is supposed to ensure firm grip. The armour is very similar to the one known from the Otus and Milvus series produced by Zeiss. It also shares the same flaw – catching debris and dust easily. Still the ring performs as it should, moving smoothly and efficiently. Running through the whole distance scale needs a turn through an angle of 250 degrees. It is a very big value, allowing you precise manual settings.
Right behind the focus ring you see a permanently fixed hood made of plastics. The front element is very convex and about 8 cm in diameter. You cannot attach classic filters to it.
The optical construction of the Samyang consists of 18 elements positioned in 14 groups. You get two aspherical, one hybrid aspherical element, two low dispersion ED elements and one element with a high refraction index. Inside there’s also an aperture with nine diaphragm blades which can be closed down to a value of f/22 at the maximum.
Buyers get both caps and a soft pouch for the lens in the box.
