Build Quality: The lens is well constructed and relatively small. The lens mount is metal and the front of the barrel and the focus ring is plastic. It has a 67mm filter thread; my UV filter fits nicely and looks good. The aperture ring is a little small, but provides nice clicks with half stop adjustments. The aperture and focus rings are well-dampened, needing both fingers to turn. Close focus is a little less than .66m and it focuses a little past infinity, but there is a mark for infinity. The lens hood is a little cheap and also has a little play when mounted. Overall, the build quality is good and it would handle rough usage.
Performance: The lens performed very well for my uses. I'm only going to shoot landscapes and nightscapes with this lens. The center is sharp at F/2.0, peaking at about F/5.6. The corners are a bit soft wide open, but sharpen up dramatically at F/4.0. When focused to infinity at the stars, the corners were surprisingly good wide open. The coma was well controlled too. It can do up to a 25 second exposure without getting star trails. There is little distortion, and there shouldn't be a problem fixing it in post. It has strong vignetting at F/2.0, but improves at F/2.8. Overall, it has excellent performance for a $400 lens.
Other Thoughts: I set the C2 button on my A6000 to magnify so that it's easy to focus. It feels well balanced and is only a little heavier than the Sony E 50mm F/1.8. This lens is very aesthetic and looks even better on a black camera.
Update March 2016:
I use it primarily to photograph seascapes and for night timelapses. It's been splashed by ocean waves many times and it's still going strong. Compared to other wide angle lenses, this one is very small and light. It's perfect to take hiking if you want to bring the minimal amount of gear. I use a Tiffen 3-stop ND filter for shooting waterfalls and the ocean.
Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS Manual Focus Lens Sony E Mount Nex Series Mirrorless Cameras
4.4 | 666 ratings
Price: 239.95
Last update: 07-19-2024
About this item
Nano Crystal Coating System (NCS) for increased light transmission and reduced internal reflections
Aperture range f2.0-22, Ultra Wide 12mm Fixed Focal Length, minimum focusing distance of 7.9 inches
Optimized for excellent optical quality and true ultra-wide 110 degree edge to edge coverage with APS-C sensor digital cameras
Utilizes 3 high precision (2 Aspherical + 1 ED) lens elements for superior image quality
Built for Mirrorless cameras, takes a 67mm filter size. Focus type : Manual Focus
Aperture range f2.0-22, Ultra Wide 12mm Fixed Focal Length, minimum focusing distance of 7.9 inches
Optimized for excellent optical quality and true ultra-wide 110 degree edge to edge coverage with APS-C sensor digital cameras
Utilizes 3 high precision (2 Aspherical + 1 ED) lens elements for superior image quality
Built for Mirrorless cameras, takes a 67mm filter size. Focus type : Manual Focus
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 2.3 x 2.8 x 2.8 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 9.6 ounces |
| ASIN | B00JD4TAWI |
| Item model number | RK12M-E |
| Customer Reviews |
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars
666 ratings
4.4 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #110 in SLR Camera Lenses |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | March 24, 2014 |
| Manufacturer | Rokinon |
| Country of Origin | Korea, Republic of |
Top reviews from the United States
RaaA
Rokinon 12mm review. Great for landscapes.
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2014
RaaA
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2014
Performance: The lens performed very well for my uses. I'm only going to shoot landscapes and nightscapes with this lens. The center is sharp at F/2.0, peaking at about F/5.6. The corners are a bit soft wide open, but sharpen up dramatically at F/4.0. When focused to infinity at the stars, the corners were surprisingly good wide open. The coma was well controlled too. It can do up to a 25 second exposure without getting star trails. There is little distortion, and there shouldn't be a problem fixing it in post. It has strong vignetting at F/2.0, but improves at F/2.8. Overall, it has excellent performance for a $400 lens.
Other Thoughts: I set the C2 button on my A6000 to magnify so that it's easy to focus. It feels well balanced and is only a little heavier than the Sony E 50mm F/1.8. This lens is very aesthetic and looks even better on a black camera.
Update March 2016:
I use it primarily to photograph seascapes and for night timelapses. It's been splashed by ocean waves many times and it's still going strong. Compared to other wide angle lenses, this one is very small and light. It's perfect to take hiking if you want to bring the minimal amount of gear. I use a Tiffen 3-stop ND filter for shooting waterfalls and the ocean.
Images in this review
One Degree Life
Surprisingly great, wish I'd purchased the Cine
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2015
One Degree Life
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2015
I got this for use with my a6000 and it doesn't disappoint. It's about 18mm f/2 equivalent and it's actually pretty nice wide open - which isn't an easy task. It's small, light and produces great images considering the price. Images need some correction in post if you need straightness throughout, but big whoop. Look forward to finally taking a true wide to Africa this summer.
The locking fit isn't perfect on the Sony E mount (tad bit of play). The focus ring is smooth, but a little tight. Having recently purchased the Rokinon 135mm f/2 Cine DS, I wish I had done the same with this one, though the price would have been slightly higher. The focus ring is a bit smoother, but the 0.8mm pitch of the teeth on the Cine make for easier gripping and if I do want to use it with follow focus later, it would be easier. If you like a grippier focus ring (this is not rubber coated, rather plastic), you might want to consider the Cine as well, though the aperture ring can be shifted MUCH easier accidentally on the Cine.
Pros:
- Wide
- Fast
- Sharp (even wide IMO at the price)
- Very good lens hood and locks well into place, both ways
- Excellent value
Cons:
- MF only (duh)
- Focus ring is snug and not grippy
- No electronic chip, so the aperture value doesn't report to the EXIF data, so use the cell phone app/note pad if that's important to you
- Mount doesn't lock quite as securely as a native lens, leaving a slight bit of play so when you focus, the lens moves with it ever so slightly
If you have an APS-C E-mount camera and can't afford the 10-15mm f/4 Sony, this is a great option. The Sony has AF, OSS, is wider and can give you some reach, but is almost triple the cost and a stop slower. Up to you.
Some random samples below. The two of the dogs are around f/4 I think (again, no EXIF data) and the scapes in the 11+ range I think.
NOTE: The two underexposed sun star images were loaded to help a buyer who asked. They were NOT taken with the Sony mount version of this lens like the other images I posted. The sun stars were taken with the CINE version for the Fuji X system and I've yet to add a review of that lens for that mount.
Cheers
Images in this review
