Introduction
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X (also referred to as 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 presents an angle-of-view vary just like that of an 18mm optic in a 35mm full-frame system.
The optical formulation is comprised of 12 parts organized in 10 teams, together with 1 hybrid-aspherical, 1 aspherical and three extra-low dispersion parts.
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 by way of 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 facet, although, with the utmost diameter measuring 70.0mm.
As you’ll be able to see within the product photos, it enhances a small Fujifilm digicam just like the X-S10 fairly nicely, even with the provided lens hood hooked up. It would not really feel in any respect front-heavy and is an effective match for the physique when it comes to its construct high quality.
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X lens boasts a metallic mount, high-grade plastic barrel and it accepts 62mm filters by way of plastic threads on the entrance of the lens.
Considerably surprisingly given the modest asking value, this lens additionally boasts a weather-resistant construction to help capturing in additional inclement situations. Samyang state that “there’s 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 unfastened, and has a micro-patterned rubber grip band.
Handbook focusing is feasible by choosing it on the digicam physique or full-time guide focus override can also be potential when in AF mode.
Because the the main target ring isn’t mechanically coupled, there aren’t any exhausting stops at both finish of the 20cm-infinity vary, making it somewhat harder to set focus at infinity. Polariser customers needs to be happy that the 62mm filter thread would 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 would not function built-in optical picture stabilisation, relying as a substitute on the digicam physique’s stabilisation system.
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X lens utilises a linear AF motor that produces virtually silent, clean and snappy auto-focusing, making it well-suited to capturing each stills and video.
In the case of auto-focusing, it proved to be a satisfyingly fast performer on the Fujifilm X-S10 digicam that we examined it with. We did not expertise very a lot”searching”, both in good or unhealthy gentle, with the lens precisely focusing virtually the entire time.
In keeping 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 a great high quality case included within the field.
The hood merely twists by 45 levels after which locks into place, with the one on our evaluate pattern proving to be reassuringly tight when within the locked place.
Focal Vary
The 12mm focal size supplies an angle of view of 99.1°.
Chromatic Aberrations
Chromatic aberrations, sometimes seen as blue or purple fringes alongside contrasty edges, have been not likely obvious in our take a look at 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’s apparent gentle fall-off within the corners, requiring you to cease down by at the very least 3 f-stops to fully forestall it.
Distortion
Commendably the Samyang AF 12mm F2 X displays nearly no barrel distortion in both the JPEG or RAW recordsdata.
Sunstars and Flare
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X is able to producing fairly good sunstars when stopped-down to f/22, as proven beneath, though it’s a little vulnerable to flare when capturing instantly into the solar.
Macro
The Samyang AF 12mm F2 X 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 show simply how shut you will 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, equivalent to clean / creamy / harsh and many others.
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 any case an ultra-wide-angle lens.
We do realise, nevertheless, that bokeh analysis is subjective, so we have included a number of examples beneath to your perusal, all shot wide-open at f/2.
Sharpness
With a purpose to present you the way sharp the Samyang AF 12mm F2 X lens is, we’re offering 100% crops on the next web page.
