Introduction
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X (also called the Rokinon AF 12mm F2 X within the USA) is an ultra-wide-angle prime lens for the Fujifilm X-series vary of APS-C mirrorless cameras.
This weather-sealed 12mm F2 lens affords an angle-of-view vary much like that of an 18mm optic in a 35mm full-frame system.
The optical formulation is comprised of 12 components organized in 10 teams, together with 1 hybrid-aspherical, 1 aspherical and three extra-low dispersion components.
There’s additionally a close-focus level of 20cm (0.66ft) and 0.09x most magnification, iris diaphragm with seven rounded blades, high-speed auto-focusing achieved through a Linear Stepping Motor and a sophisticated model of the corporate’s UMC coating to assist minimise lens flare and ghosting.
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X lens is made in Korea. It’s available for purchase now priced at £399 / $499 within the UK and the US, respectively.
Ease of Use
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X is a compact ultra-wide-angle lens, particularly when in comparison with the opposite different lenses within the X-series line-up, just like the XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR and the XF 8-16mm F2.8 R LM WR zooms.
It measures 59.2mm / 2.3in in size and weighs in at 212g / 7.5oz. It’s a little on the bulbous aspect, although, with the utmost diameter measuring 70.0mm.
As you possibly can see within the product photos, it enhances a small Fujifilm digital camera just like the X-S10 fairly effectively, even with the equipped lens hood connected. It does not really feel in any respect front-heavy and is an efficient match for the physique by way of its construct high quality.
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X lens boasts a steel mount, high-grade plastic barrel and it accepts 62mm filters through plastic threads on the entrance of the lens.
Considerably surprisingly given the modest asking worth, this lens additionally boasts a weather-resistant construction to assist capturing in additional inclement circumstances. Samyang state that “there may be additionally climate sealing and rear protecting glass to guard the lens from gentle rain, snow, and dirt.”
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X has a plastic lens barrel with only a single management, the generously sized motor-assisted focusing ring, which is clean in motion with out being too free, and has a micro-patterned rubber grip band.
Handbook focusing is feasible by deciding on it on the digital camera physique or full-time guide focus override can be doable when in AF mode.
Because the the main focus ring just isn’t mechanically coupled, there are not any laborious stops at both finish of the 20cm-infinity vary, making it a bit tougher to set focus at infinity. Polariser customers needs to be happy that the 62mm filter thread does not rotate on focus.
In contrast to nearly all of Fujifilm X-series lenses, the Samyang AF 12mm F2 X doesn’t have a conventional aperture ring on the lens barrel.
The lens additionally does not function built-in optical picture stabilisation, relying as a substitute on the digital camera physique’s stabilisation system.
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X lens utilises a linear AF motor that produces nearly silent, clean and snappy auto-focusing, making it well-suited to capturing each stills and video.
In terms of auto-focusing, it proved to be a satisfyingly fast performer on the Fujifilm X-S10 digital camera that we examined it with. We did not expertise very a lot”searching”, both in good or dangerous gentle, with the lens precisely focusing nearly all the time.
Consistent with earlier Samyang lenses that we have reviewed, the AF 12mm F2 X commendably ships with entrance and rear lens caps, a petal-shaped lens hood and high quality case included within the field.
The hood merely twists by way of 45 levels after which locks into place, with the one on our assessment pattern proving to be reassuringly tight when within the locked place.
Focal Vary
The 12mm focal size offers an angle of view of 99.1°.
Chromatic Aberrations
Chromatic aberrations, sometimes seen as blue or purple fringes alongside contrasty edges, have been probably not obvious in our check photographs, solely showing in very excessive distinction areas.
Vignetting
With the Samyang AF 12mm F2 X lens set to its most aperture of f/2, there may be apparent gentle fall-off within the corners, requiring you to cease down by at the very least 3 f-stops to utterly forestall it.
Distortion
Commendably the Samyang AF 12mm F2 X reveals just about no barrel distortion in both the JPEG or RAW information.
Sunstars and Flare
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X is able to producing fairly good sunstars when stopped-down to f/22, as proven under, though it’s a little vulnerable to flare when capturing immediately into the solar.
Macro
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X just isn’t a macro lens, providing a most magnification of 0.09x, however it does present a usefully shut minimal focusing distance of 0.20m / 0.66ft. The next examples display simply how shut you may get to your topic.
Bokeh
Bokeh is a phrase used for the out-of-focus areas of {a photograph}, and is normally described in qualitative phrases, comparable to clean / creamy / harsh and so forth.
Within the AF 12mm F2 X lens, Samyang have employed an iris diaphragm with 7 rounded blades, which has resulted in fairly interesting bokeh for what’s in spite of everything an ultra-wide-angle lens.
We do realise, nonetheless, that bokeh analysis is subjective, so we have included a number of examples under in your perusal, all shot wide-open at f/2.
Sharpness
So as to present you the way sharp the Samyang AF 12mm F2 X lens is, we’re offering 100% crops on the next web page.
