Rokinon 12mm f/2.8 ED AS IF NCS UMC

Introduction

This is a fantastic super-wide fish-eye lens with a very close focus capability allowing you to get in tight with your subject and still capture their environment.

The ability to get a 180º Angle of View is rare and even rarer when it is this affordable and works this well. Combined with something like a DxO software product that can bring you back to a rectilinear photo, you have a great setup.

This may not be a Nikkor (Nikon brand for lenses) but the price-to-performance ratio is better than the Nikkors in this focal range.

Specifications

The lens is setup with 12 elements in 8 groups. Including three elements made of low dispersion ED glass.

Maximum Aperture: f/2.8

Minimum Aperture: f/22

The diaphragm is 7-bladed, producing an acceptable bokeh. The lines aren't too harsh but things are not creamy-smooth.

Manual focus and manual aperture. However, there is a chip installed on the camera that communicates with the camera body. This chip provides focal length and other info for EXIF data and it also lets the user set the aperture on the camera.

Construction

Constructed with a metal barrel and rubberized focus ring.

The petal-shaped lens hood is integrated into the design with a unique lens cap that snaps over the whole setup, protecting the front element and the lens hood.

Performance

The lens works works like a dream. Very well placed controlled focus and aperture controls allow the user to set things as they bring the camera to their face to compose a photo.

You can also use this lens as something to "fit it all in" where you don't have a lot of room to back up and let the subject(s) all fit into the view of a more normal lens. This feature makes it great to photograph rooms for people selling their home, inventorying a collection of objects, or simply trying to take a group photo in a crowded place like a restaurant.

The integrated-chip lets the user select half-stop apertures instead of the full stops that are mecca nilly built into the aperture ring. I like this opportunity to have a wider range of control when it comes to selecting just the right aperture for a shot.

Alternatives

The Sigma offering at 15mm f/2.8 is nearly identical with its sharp results, but technically is not as wide. The Sigma is also autofocus, which is not really a big need for me when I am shooting something this wide.

There are true Nikon fish-eye lenses costing a lot more than this offering. One of them, from the AI or pre-AI era, has issues with use as it needs its rear element so close to the film/sensor that it would hit the mirror on a normal SLR or DSLR. For the sake of practicality I have to say that this Rokinon lens is the clear winner.

Examples

Following are some sample photos to demonstrate the power of this type of lens and some general uses which will likely yield good results. If you shoot things like these, then this lens may be a good one to think about adding to your camera bag.




Check out more photos I have shot with this lens in my Flickr Album.