The following chart presents a comparison between basic properties of the tested lens and its direct rivals. You can notice at once the new Samyang sticks out with its weight– it is the lightest instrument in the whole group. The rest of its parameters are very similar to the parameters of other 2.8/14 lenses.
In the photo below the Samyang AF 14 mm f/2.8 EF is positioned between the full frame Venus Optics Laowa 2/15 and the Samyang 3.5/8 Fish-eye designed for smaller APS-C/DX sensors.
The tested lens starts with a metal mount, surrounding contacts embedded into a black, ribbed bottom. That bottom also features an inscription “MADE IN KOREA”. It goes round a rear element, 19 mm in diameter, which doesn’t move.
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The proper body of the lens starts with a black, metal ring on which you find an inscription with the parameters of the lens (AF 14/2.8 EF), the logo of the company, the minimum focusing distance (0.20m/0.66ft), another inscription 'MADE IN KOREA', a white dot, making an alignment with a camera easier, and a focusing mechanism mode switch (AF/MF).
The next part is a manual focus ring, as wide as 26 mm, completely covered by fine ribbing. It is a focus-by-wire construction and it doesn’t feature any depth of field or distance scale. Its movements are smooth but, in our opinion, it is not especially well damped.
Further on you see a thin ring, shimmering red, and the housing of the lens gets wider, turning smoothly into a permanently fixed hood. Inside that hood you see an immobile, convex front element, 78 mm in diameter. There is no possibility to attach any classic filters to it.
When it comes to optical construction you deal here with 15 elements positioned in 10 groups. There are plenty of special elements inside: two aspherical ones, four made of high refraction index glass and one made of extra-low dispersion ED glass as well. Additionally you can find an aperture with seven diaphragm blades which can be closed down to a value of f/22 at the maximum.
Buyers get both caps and a soft drawstring pouch in the box.
