I am not an enormous fan of ultra-wide angle lenses. Taking pictures at 12mm normally requires that you just get actually near your topic and create bizarre, warped-out-looking pictures, however I used to be lately employed for a job that required a large area of view. I ended up shopping for three lenses to search out the precise device for the job.
A couple of weeks in the past, I used to be employed to take images and movie a promo video for a brand new $12 million yacht. Though the rooms on this boat are gigantic in comparison with different boats, they’re fairly small in comparison with your common dwelling, and to seize them totally, I wanted an ultra-wide angle lens. However did I want an ultra-fast lens for this job? Often, once you’re taking pictures small areas, you need a deep depth of area, so I most likely would not be taking pictures at f/2.8 anyway.
Once I began trying up lens choices for my Sony cameras, I used to be shocked that there have been solely two lenses at 12mm with autofocus: the Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 for $2,900 and the Sony 12-24mm f/4 for $1,800. Can the f/2.8 model actually be value an additional $1,100? I additionally found a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 for simply $529. Why had been the costs of those lenses so totally different? I made a decision to get all three and put them to the take a look at.
Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 Overview
At $,2900, the Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 is likely one of the most costly lenses I’ve ever examined. Construct high quality is spectacular and the main focus and zoom rings really feel satisfyingly easy. What you are really paying for with this lens is sharpness at 12mm whereas taking pictures at f/2.8 all through the body, and this lens delivers. Though it suffers from vignetting at f/2.8, the lens seems to be nearly simply as sharp at f/2.8 as it’s at each different aperture. As with all Sony lenses, autofocus is quick, correct, and fully silent for each nonetheless and video taking pictures. For astrophotography, a lens like it will create gorgeous images at f/2.8, however for different genres of nonetheless pictures or video when a deeper depth of area could also be essential, this lens could also be overkill.
Sony 12-24mm f/4 Overview
Sony’s f/4 version of their 12-24mm seems to be like a barely smaller model of their f/2.8 model, however the construct high quality and the texture of the main focus and zoom rings are nearly equivalent to its greater brother. At 12mm, this lens can produce nice images, however you’ll discover important softening across the edges of the body. This lens additionally suffers from vignetting at f/4 and would require you to cease right down to f/5.6 to get a very clear picture. That being stated, I am probably not certain these shortcomings would ever be seen in regular images. In the true world, each the f/2.8 and f/4 variations of this lens created nearly identical-looking images and movies. For those who’re taking pictures one thing like actual property and also you want the large area of view however you do not essentially want the additional mild, the f/4 model of this lens looks as if a simple alternative.
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 for Sony Overview
The Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 has surprisingly good construct high quality for its low value of $529. The housing is steel and the main focus ring spins easily. The lens is surprisingly sharp at f/2.8, even within the corners, however it suffers from fairly important vignetting when it is large open. The photographs out of this lens seemed surprisingly just like the Sony opponents, however the lens has one main flaw. The autofocusing mechanism for this lens appears to “hunt” fairly jarringly for a topic. Not like the Sony lenses that may easily rack focus, the Rokinon lens makes an audible clicking sound and jumps into focus. The autofocus appeared correct sufficient for nonetheless pictures, however most likely not easy sufficient for video. That being stated, with ultra-wide angle lenses, the depth of area is normally so deep that autofocus will not be mandatory whereas filming.
Conclusion
Each occasionally, I overview a product that’s least expensive and in addition occurs to be the perfect, however within the case of Sony ultra-wide lenses, I am afraid you are going to get precisely what you pay for. The Sony 12-24 f/2.8 is certainly the perfect lens, however at $2,900, it actually ought to be. The f/4 model of the lens might be a more sensible choice in your common architectural photographer, and the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 is a cut price if zoom and autofocus aren’t requirements. Try the video above for my full ideas and pattern pictures.
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