So.. Rokinon/Samyang… Here Is Some Unsolicited Advice You Need Like A Hole In The Head.

So.. Rokinon/Samyang… Here Is Some Unsolicited Advice You Need Like A Hole In The Head.

Yeah, I know they will not pay me any mind, and rightfully so. I am just a camera nerd who ponders far more than necessary.

So here I go.

As I await the arrival of the TTArtisan 75mm f/2 AF Rokinon/Samyang came to mind.

Why? I am glad I imagined that you asked.

I have long considered getting another Rokinon/Samyang 75mm f/1.8. The issue is that I really did not like the build quality. This has become very important to me recently for some reason. If it cost less I might have gotten it again. Even at a lower price I would not have been thrilled though. But it goes for over $250 used. Not a large sum admittedly. And I really liked it’s IQ. It was great for stranger portraits in Harlem.

Wonderful. I could not ask for better.

What happened? Again. Thank you subconscious for imagining that anyone would ask such.

After tiring of switching lenses on the street and missing Harlem moments I pivoted to a zoom lens.

And the 75mm did not see the front of the camera the rest of the day, even after heading to The Village.

So… as much as makes no sense from that moment forward Tamron zoom lenses pretty much ruined most of my prime lenses for me. Put simply a good optical performance was not enough. They need to be “special”.

Insane performance or specs that a zoom lens can not match.

Build and feel surpassing the low and high grade plastic norm.

As much as I like the Rokinon/Samyang 75mm f/1.8 I sold it on. Other options on the market with special specs or top tier build were too large and/or expensive to make sense.

Then walks in TTArtisan with a similar spec, much better build quality, also AF, great IQ, a similar size for $199 new? Basically, they made the lens I was hoping the Rokinon was.

While I am glad Rokinon made the Remaster Slim kit I am surprised that they have not gone back and made gen II versions of their older lenses to keep them competitive. Same goes for their 45mm f/1.8. Many of their lenses seem to be chasing native or competitor specs that are already well represented.

Their 35-150mm f/2-2.8 falls on the heels of the awesome Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8. It may be a great lens but the Tamron already exists.

The 24-70mm f/2.8 was a big surprise. The reviews seem unfortunate.

I come in peace. I have been a great supporter of their products over the years.

Sony Third Party Lenses: Full Frame Trio w/ Rokinon/Samyang FE lens run down

Sony Third Party Lenses: Full Frame Tri.. nope f/1.8 Quartet w/ Rokinon/Samyang

The TTArtisan 75mm f/2? This is something Rokinon could have done. They could have just rehoused the original lenses and added an aperture ring and I would have likely bought them. Now other companies are cleaning up.

As mentioned I really like the IQ of their 45mm f/1.8,…

…50mm f/1.4,…

…35mm f/1.8,…

…and 35mm f/1.4.

All appreciated. None stuck around for the long haul. Again. Better build. Aperture rings. Updated AF. Smaller size. They could have just rehoused the original lenses and added an aperture ring and I would have likely bought them. Now other companies are cleaning up.

This is not an attack. I hope Rokinon/Samyang leans further into innovations like the Remaster Slim and revisits and polishes their former products. I want them to succeed.

Anyhoo.

If you have hung around this long… Thank you.

Happy capturing.

-ELW