You’re searching for a compact ultra-wide zoom that stays small, takes entrance filters, and nonetheless guarantees sturdy sharpness. In case you shoot interiors, actual property, or metropolis nights, check out this feature.
Coming to you from Jacek Sopotnicki, this sensible video places the Samyang AF 14-24mm f/2.8 by construct, optical, and backlight checks. The shell is high quality plastic with a steel mount and lightweight weather-sealing on the gasket, plus a USB-C port for firmware updates. Focus and zoom rings have distinct textures so your fingers know which is which in the dead of night. The shock is a 77mm entrance filter thread at 14mm, so you should utilize normal ND or safety with out big holders.
Sharpness at 14mm f/2.8 is healthier than you’d anticipate within the center and stays usable on the edges, then tightens at f/4. At 24mm, acuity holds in each heart and corners, however heart distinction dips barely vast open earlier than normalizing at f/4. Distortion tracks as anticipated: gentle barrel with a touch of mustache at 14mm that corrects cleanly, whereas 24mm is mainly straight. Vignetting is the primary catch at 14mm, with darker corners that enhance as you cease down but by no means absolutely disappear, so plan on a fast correction in submit somewhat than pretending it’s not there.
Low-light conduct is a pleasing shock. Coma stays managed so level lights don’t develop wings, and starbursts at f/11 look crisp with clear, even rays. Shut focus at 24mm reaches 18 cm, and in case you cease to f/4, the middle snaps up whereas the background stays calm as a substitute of breaking into busy texture. You may lean on f/2.8 for environmental element with out nervous bokeh that pulls consideration away out of your topic.
Then comes the gotcha that issues in case you like backlight. At 14mm, a yellowish inside reflection can seem when sturdy mild sits close to the body edge, and stopping down intensifies it somewhat than fixing it. The impact doesn’t present at 24mm, and a small pan or tilt usually clears it, however you’ll need to study the angles that set off it in case you shoot into laborious mild or stage fixtures.
Autofocus is fast, quiet, and reliable. On an a7 IV, response is snappy with minimal respiratory that received’t wreck your framing in video. The 445 g weight and compact size make 14mm handheld strikes steadier than you’d anticipate, which is useful for walk-throughs and scouting clips. Climate-sealing provides you leeway in drizzle or mud, although you continue to should be good about publicity to the weather.
Key Specs
Focal Size: 14 to 24mm
Aperture: Most f/2.8, Minimal f/22
Lens Mount: Sony E
Lens Format Protection: Full body
Minimal Focus Distance: 7.1″ / 18 cm
Magnification: 1:3.85 replica ratio (0.17 to 0.26x)
Optical Design: 15 components in 11 teams
Aperture Blades: 9
Focus Sort: Autofocus
Picture Stabilization: No
Filter Dimension: 77 mm (entrance)
Dimensions: ø 3.3 x L 3.9″ / ø 84 x L 98.6 mm
Weight: 15.7 oz / 445 g
The Schneider-Kreuznach collaboration helps clarify the small footprint and why coma and nook management exceed what you often see at this value. The 77mm filter thread at 14mm adjustments your out of doors workflow, since a typical ND or CPL turns into sensible for lengthy exposures or fast reflections management. The true tradeoffs are studying the flare angle at 14mm and budgeting a vignette repair into your submit routine somewhat than discovering each in the midst of a paid shoot. Try the video above for the complete rundown from Sopotnicki.
