Rokinon 35mm T/1.5: Worth keeping?

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FaustZ

Member
I know there are already quite a few threads about Rokinons, but as someone who likes to do research before I buy things, I always feel better getting second opinions. I'm also putting this thread out there in case someone else looking into this lens in the future has similar questions or issues. The more information that is available, the better.

I purchased this lens for my films, in order to have something a little closer to 50mm (35mm x 1.6 crop factor, courtesy of my T3i), to have a lens with a greater low light advantage over my 50mm f/1.8, and finally for the added benefit of focus and aperture gears (these will come in handy when I'm working with a rig+follow focus), as well as the de-clicked aperture. The specs-to-price ratio was too enticing, not to mention all the positive reviews. So I just received this lens today and obviously was excited to test it out. Here are some things I noticed:

- The image is very soft with noteworthy chromatic aberration all around at T/1.5

- There is a lot of breathing

- There seems to be a slight greenish tinge to the image

- Based on my measurements and calculations, the focal length seems to be at least 36mm, which results in a FOV equivalent of 57.6mm on the T3i (actually, this may be due to the breathing, which noticeably zooms the image when focusing).

- This is really a non-issue, but there is a noticeable squeaking sound when I stop down from around T/5.6 to T/8


Here are just a few test shots:


50 1.8 ("nifty fifty") in the center. This is the FOV difference between these lenses. The next shots also compare the sharpness while wide open.





For this test, I simply photographed a focus card on my computer monitor. The nifty fifty performed surprisingly well here, except for the fairly severe vignetting. The Rokinon is pretty soft at T1.5, but improves greatly past T2 and T2.8.



Finally, here is a practical example.




As you can see, the image is extremely soft. While I was aware that sharpness at T1.5 was a big issue for some people, I wasn't expecting this dramatic of a result (though to be fair, I didn't really have any expectations).
Having said that, is it possible that I've received a bad lens, and should I replace this one, or are these results pretty much always to be expected?

These problems are much less noticeable in video, and since I will mainly use this for films, the fact that it's not sharp when zoomed 350% isn't the biggest problem in the world. However, it is still disappointing that the image isn't really useable until past T/2.8.

However, my initial inclination is to keep it. Considering the specs this lens offer at the price that it is, would it be fair to say that this lens is worth keeping?
 
I adore the Rokinon cine set and have never come across any of these issues. I hardly ever shoot at less than T2.8 but do know they are quite unflatteringly soft wide open (Below 2.8 I consider them unusable for professional work). The sharpness when stopped down is superb and does wonders along with my Pro Mist filters.
I'd say; Keep it- You'll always need different lenses for different situations and the 35mm does perform beautifully under the right conditions.
 
Thanks guys. I think will keep it. I don't like how soft it is, but I will probably not shoot at T/1.5 unless I really need to anyway. The scraping sound when I stop down is quiet enough not to be annoying, and it's probably not making the sound due to damage. Do you guys hear it on yours? It happens when stopping down pretty slowly. For me, it's between T5.6 and T8.

Do you guys use your lenses with a rig? Would it be wise to use lens support? It is a really heavy lens.
 
FaustZ said:
Thanks guys. I think will keep it. I don't like how soft it is, but I will probably not shoot at T/1.5 unless I really need to anyway. The scraping sound when I stop down is quiet enough not to be annoying, and it's probably not making the sound due to damage. Do you guys hear it on yours? It happens when stopping down pretty slowly. For me, it's between T5.6 and T8.

Do you guys use your lenses with a rig? Would it be wise to use lens support? It is a really heavy lens.
Click to expand...

I don't hear any sound. As far as lens support goes I do use it but I also reckon most mounts are able to take the weight of the lens. I just prefer to be on the safe side.
 
I am wondering now as you mention noise when changing aperture if you have a problem lens? Maybe you should send it in?
 
Looking at your examples it reminds me my Rokinon 24mm T1.5. I thought (and heard) that 24 is the softest from the set and it seems to be valid (I own the set of 14mm, 24mm, 35mm and 85mm Rokinon lenses).
Maybe it's just the quality spread, but my 35mm is razor sharp compared to your examples. On the other hand my 24mm is more or less the way your 35 is @T1.5 in terms of sharpness and CA (sometimes I even wondered if theres any humidity inside, as it tends to "blur" the edges as if the glass was foggy).
 
hateom said:
Looking at your examples it reminds me my Rokinon 24mm T1.5. I thought (and heard) that 24 is the softest from the set and it seems to be valid (I own the set of 14mm, 24mm, 35mm and 85mm Rokinon lenses).
Maybe it's just the quality spread, but my 35mm is razor sharp compared to your examples. On the other hand my 24mm is more or less the way your 35 is @T1.5 in terms of sharpness and CA (sometimes I even wondered if theres any humidity inside, as it tends to "blur" the edges as if the glass was foggy).
Click to expand...

Uh oh. I guess I will have to send it back after all.

But otherwise, I am really liking this lens so far, so I will definitely exchange it for another one!
 
So here's an update on the lens situation. I got my replacement, hoping that the problems of the original one wouldn't be there. Well, the scraping sound is mostly gone, but the lens still doesn't seem any sharper than the original. In fact, it actually seems slightly softer. Here's a comparison I did between the original lens and the replacement lens.

As you can see, the original on the left seems slightly sharper (and with less fringing) than the other two images, which were both with the replacement lens (I tried twice to get exact focus, which is why there are two images). I wonder if there is actually some digital sharpening applied to the original image, making the others seem softer, but I'm not sure.

rokinon_comparison_zps1fd52b86.jpg~original


I know I shouldn't complain too much, as this is a $500 lens that is providing some of what a $4,000 lens does, but it's still a slight disappointment. I doubt I'll exchange it again though, as two lenses in a row indicate that this is just the quality to be expected from this line of lenses.
Another thing to consider is that a simple focus card like this is not the best way to judge image quality, just sharpness. There are a lot of other aspects of the lens that I do like, so I suppose I will keep it.
 
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As an interesting side note, I sat my lens next to a dehumidifier for about 45 minutes, because I remember what you said about moisture in the lens. I then tried it again, and it could be my imagination (then again, all of this could be my imagination), but it seemed sharper after sitting next the the dehumidifier. However, it was still seemingly not as sharp as my tests with the original lens. My main dilemma here is whether I should exchange this yet again (I am still set on this lens, I'm just not sure if this is unit is a dud/whether it's worth it to keep sending it back).
 
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The Rokinon lenses are what they are. Cheap bottom end lenses that offer some bang for the buck. Nothing more nothing less.

In terms of cine lenses you can't really go any lower, if you can consider them real cine lenses at all. So if you go in not expecting more than this you are golden.
 
Samyangs/Rokinons also have a real quality control problem (or had). I went through three 85mm 1.4 copies, and three 35mm 1.4 copies, and two 14mm, before I find some proper ones. Mechanically and optically wise. Front elements moving, grinding focus rings, misaligned optics, etc..I've still kept the 85mm though, a really special cheap lens. The 35mm was my second favourite from their set, maybe send your second copy back as well? From my experience a proper Samyang 35mm 1.4 is sharper than the Zeiss 35mm f/2 (at least my copies, at f/2), so it shouldn't look that soft.
 
Send it back. Tell them you are posting your problems to groups and they should replace it again. As I said I must be lucky, I bouhgt early maybe? I have not read that Samyang -Rokinon have had serious quality control problems. I have read some posts but all got proper replacements. I did a fair amount of research befor buying these lenses and never came across a legion of quality complaints. As for being cheap, not cine lenses, whatever works for you Sttratos and makes you happy go for it but there are many professional, experienced and well regarded people shooting with these lenses. I sold my Zeiss and like JPBlack love the 35, my 85 is very good.
 
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